Missile Defense, Simulated

The Missile Defense Agency this morning released a request for proposals for an effort to upgrade the agency's modeling and simulation efforts. According to a Federal Business Opportunities notice on the proposed "Objective Simulation Framework":

The current frameworks (the Digital Simulation Framework [DSA] and the Single Stimulation Framework [SSF]) integrate models from each of the Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS) program elements into a system that accurately represents the performance of fielded BMDS equipment against a variety of threats in realistic environments. The desired framework, hereafter called the Objective Simulation Framework (OSF), will leverage existing or mature capabilities, develop common interfaces, or propose a combination of both, to join digital and hardware-in-the-loop (HWIL) representations into a modular, scalable, reconfigurable, and compose-able system.

The MDA OSF contract includes: the development, deployment and sustainment of an OSF Modeling & Simulation (M&S) framework that will replace the existing digital (DSA) and hardware-in-the-loop (SSF) systems; the sustainment of the legacy framework/architecture as required until OSF is deployed, and; other requirements as detailed within the Request for Proposal (RFP) package.

MDA anticipates the award of a single OSF Indefinite-Delivery Indefinite-Quantity (IDIQ) contract with Cost-Plus-Incentive-Fee, Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee, Fixed-Priced-Incentive (Firm Target) and Firm-Fixed-Price pricing arrangements to occur by July 2011. The contract is expected to have a five (5) year period of performance without any option periods.

Northrop Grumman and Boeing announced last September that they intended to compete together for the contract, according to a statement the two companies released at the time:

"The MDA has an essential need to more efficiently validate Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS) performance through the increased use of modeling and simulation," said Karen Williams, vice president of Air and Missile Defense Systems for Northrop Grumman's Information Systems sector. "This partnership will provide the MDA with the best value and lowest risk approach to successfully develop and apply a comprehensive simulation framework toward that objective.

"Our team brings unsurpassed expertise across the full-spectrum of modeling and simulation domains, a comprehensive knowledge of the BMDS and experience in applying modeling and simulation tools across all the OSF use cases. The strategic partnership will allow us to bring our combined strengths, synergies and focus to this critical MDA program," added Williams.

In leading the Northrop Grumman-Boeing team, Northrop Grumman will draw on its experience as a leader of the modeling and simulation community for the MDA since 1995. As the prime contractor of the Joint National Integration Center Research and Development Contract (JRDC), Northrop Grumman has led a world-class team to conduct BMDS-level modeling and simulation, ground and flight tests, wargames, exercises, analysis and operational training in Colorado Springs, Co., Huntsville, Ala., and other locations. Boeing brings decades of experience in developing modular, scalable, maintainable and reconfigurable missile defense modeling and simulation products that focus on satisfying the full range of MDA and warfighter requirements.

"This partnership builds on our well-established relationship successfully executing the Groundbased Midcourse Defense program over the past 12 years as well as our years of experience in modeling and simulation development and execution," said Greg Hyslop, vice president and general manager of Boeing Strategic Missile and Defense Systems. "We look forward to working side by side with Northrop Grumman to deliver this important capability to our MDA customer."