Army releasing white paper request for next network capability set

The Army will release a request for white papers early next month to industry for the service's second integrated tactical network capability set.

According to a Dec. 10 Army notice, the service is considering using an other transaction agreement to procure Capability Set 23 solutions. Capability Set 23 will focus on increasing the network’s resiliency and capacity through satellite communications.

The notice lists six topic areas for the request for white papers: managed multi-orbit satellite communications services for operational and tactical forces; electronic warfare modular open suite of standards and radio waveforms; non-proprietary open suite of consolidated tools for unified network operations; separation of data by identity and access management; hardened network transport; and optimizing compute, storage and applications on a distributed computing architecture.

Col. Garth Winterle, project manager for tactical radios, told reporters last month the request for white papers was originally planned for mid-December. The service planned to review proposals in January and down-select candidates in February.

According to the notice, after a technical exchange meeting for Capability Set 23 was held on Nov. 20, the service decided to change the timeline for white papers "to prevent industry from working white paper responses over the holiday season and allow the government to bring forward more detailed topics."

White papers will be due on Jan. 28, according to the notice, followed by a solutions demonstration and project proposal. The service anticipates awarding an other transaction agreement in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2020.