Identify novel technologies that can help ships operating close to shore continuously detect, track, identify, and disrupt unauthorized drones

Overview

The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) will execute a prize challenge alongside Singapore’s Ministry of Defence (MINDEF), seeking solutions for novel maritime security and counter-unmanned aircraft systems (C-UAS).

This bilateral challenge will run as two synchronized calls by the Cap Vista Accelerator in Singapore and DIU in the U.S. and is a key collaboration initiative under the US-MINDEF Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for Defence Innovation cooperation.

A team of subject matter experts will evaluate applicants and select up to six companies per problem as finalists for participation in the virtual Pitch Day in December 2024. A total of $300,000 in awards will be awarded to the top performing company/companies.

The Defense Innovation Unit and the National Security Innovation Network reserve the right to cancel, suspend, and/or modify the Challenge, or any part of it, for any reason, at the Defense Innovation Unit and the National Security Innovation Network’s sole discretion.

Problem Statement

1. How might we continuously detect, track, identify and disrupt unauthorized small drones (UAS Classification: U.S. Group 1/2/3 or NATO Class 1) to protect ships and people operating close to shore?

The proliferation of drones poses potential security and safety threats to ships and people operating close to shore. There are also challenges to deploy counter drone solutions onboard ships. We are seeking both at sea and ashore C-UAS solutions to detect, track, identify and disrupt drone threats in the littoral/coastal environment. Solutions should be cost effective and address technical features listed below.

2. How might we ensure resilient communications with small commercial drones?

It is important to maintain pervasive data communications between small commercial drones (UAS Classification: US Group 1/2/3 or NATO Class 1) and their drone operators during Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) missions. We are seeking innovative solutions that enable resilient communication for small commercial drones. Cost effective, resilient communication solutions that are small in dimensions and light weight, which can be easily integrated into a small commercial drone (i.e. Class 1) are desired. Solutions should address stable data transmission from the drone to operator in a heavily contested and noisy RF environment as well as data security and encryption. We are also open to receiving innovative proposals that also allow for continuous navigation in GNSS-challenged environments, as an additional feature.

End-User: U. S. DoD

Key Dates

  • Sept. 19, 2024: Solicitation Release - Challenge.gov, NSIN website, DIU website

  • Oct. 9, 2024 from 5-6pm EDT: “Ask Me Anything” Session - Recording Available, Transcript, and Q&A

  • Oct. 10, 2024 (Oct. 11, 2024 9.30am SGT): Virtual Briefing Session by Singapore’s team

  • Oct. 30, 2024: Solicitation Closes & Down-selection Begins

  • Nov. 27, 2024: Down-selection Ends & Finalists Announced

  • Dec. 3, 2024: Pitch Rehearsal & Pre-recording

  • Dec. 5, 2024: Virtual Pitch Event

  • Week of Dec. 9, 2024: Winner Announced

Benefits of Participating

  • $300,000 in awards to the top performing company/companies
  • Exposure to leaders across multiple branches of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD)
  • Potential for follow-on opportunities such as Other Transaction (OT) Agreements, Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs), and other

Eligibility

  • U.S. owned and operated companies; OR companies from NATO, Five Eyes Alliance, USMCA, and TPP countries
  • Active registration in Sam.gov
  • Early-mid stage ventures (i.e., little to no DoD contracts, equal to or earlier than Series B); OR non-traditional defense contractors, as defined in the 2023 DoD Other Transactions Guide
  • Ability to demonstrate the solution’s capabilities by December 2024

Note: While not a requirement for this prize competition, UAS must be compliant with FY 2020 NDAA Section 848 and FY 2023 NDAA Section 817 prior to purchase by DoD components.

Judging Criteria

Applications and Pitches for both problem statements will be judged on five major criteria:

  • Technical Soundness & Innovation: Soundness, technical merit, innovation of proposed approach, and feasibility of the proposed solution.

  • Team Qualifications: Qualifications of proposed principals, support staff, and consultants.

  • Commercial Viability: Company has a technology solution that is viable in non-defense markets.

  • Quality of Pitch: Company presents a clear and concise overview of its company and technology, demonstrates how its technology solves one or more of the defined problem areas, and effectively answers questions from strategic advisors.

  • Operational Alignment: Proposed solution aligns with listed features and capabilities.

Technical Requirements & Guidelines:

Problem Statement 1: Maritime Security and CUAS

Key Metrics

  • Detection and engagement range (preferably >1km)
  • Tracking, identification speed
  • False alarm rates
  • Response time from detection to disruption (preferably <1 min)
  • SWAP
  • Cost effectiveness

Technology Should Demonstrate

  • Ability to track, identify and track class 1 drones accurately and effectively with a short response time
  • Ability to disrupt class 1 drones quickly
  • Minimal man-effort required to operate the system

Proposals Should

  • Propose a tech demonstration in a controlled environment (preferably at a harbor) in the first phase.
  • Provide a solution that is able to eventually integrate on a ship for testing purposes and also be demonstrated ashore.
  • Quote the unit price for the given range: 1-10, 10-20.
  • Quote the total cost for subsequent integration on other ship platforms.

Problem Statement 2: Resilient Communications

Key Metrics

  • Communication range & latency
  • Signal strength and stability
  • Transmission power
  • Frequency bandwidth utilization based on commercially available frequency bands
  • Size, weight and power (SWAP)
  • Cost effectiveness

Technology Should Demonstrate

  • Continuous transmission of video (not more than 3 sec in latency) in disrupted environments
  • The ability to recover connectivity following any disruption in the communication link
  • An ability to integrate with Class 1 drones easily
  • Best industry practices of commercial-grade transmission and communications security

Proposals Should

  • Provide a solution that is pre-integrated with a COTS Class 1 drone ready for testing purpose.
  • Propose a tech demonstration scope to showcase the tech capabilities as required in above mentioned sections.
  • Quote the unit price (without drone) for the given range: 1-50, 51-100, 101-150, 151-200.

Pitch Deck Submission Requirements:

Teams will submit a pitch deck outlining their technology capabilities that addresses the features listed above. Pitch decks should meet the following format requirements:

  • Sized 16:9 (1920x1080 pixels)
  • Horizontal presentation
  • PDF file
  • Maximum 10 slides

Submit Now

Participants must submit solutions for the U.S.-Singapore Joint Challenge via the link below.

Submit Now

Questions

Please direct your questions to prizechallenge@diu.mil.

About MINDEF

The mission of the Ministry of Defence and the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) is to enhance Singapore’s peace and security through deterrence and diplomacy, and should these fail, to secure a swift and decisive victory over the aggressor. The SAF is the bedrock of Singapore’s defence and security, respected as a credible and professional armed forces, and a source of pride and confidence for Singapore. We anticipate and respond quickly to new security challenges through continuous innovation, and we advance our national interests through the conduct of a full spectrum of operations.

About Cap Vista

As a fully-owned subsidiary of Defence Science and Technology Agency, a statutory board under Singapore’s Ministry of Defence, Cap Vista seeks innovative solutions to address challenges published for this US-Singapore Joint Challenge. We focus on accelerating the adoption of commercial technologies to solve real challenges at speed.

About the Defense Innovation Unit

The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) strengthens national security by accelerating the adoption of commercial technology in the Department of Defense and bolstering our allied and national security innovation bases. DIU partners with organizations across the DoD to rapidly prototype and field dual-use capabilities that solve operational challenges at speed and scale. With offices in Silicon Valley, Boston, Austin, Chicago and Washington, DC, DIU is the Department’s gateway to leading technology companies across the country.

About National Security Innovation Network

NSIN is a program office in the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), nested within the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU). We are set up to collaborate with a wide variety of innovators to include universities, researchers, students, entrepreneurs and start-ups. We create opportunities for collaboration across communities and connect those that might not traditionally work in national security. Together, we help drive national security innovation and develop technologies that directly support the individuals responsible for protecting our country.

For more information or interview requests with Team NSIN, please contact us at media@nsin.mil.

Intellectual Property Considerations: Applicants retain ownership of existing Intellectual Property (IP) submitted under this Challenge and agree that their submissions are their original work. Applicants are presumed to have sufficient rights to submit the submission. For any submission made to the Challenge, you grant DIU a limited license to use this IP for testing and evaluation for efforts specifically related to the Challenge. DIU will negotiate with individual competitors in the event additional usage, integration, or development is contemplated.


Other Transaction Authority: This DIU Challenge public announcement is an open call to small businesses and non-traditional defense contractors seeking innovative, commercial technologies proposed to create new DoD solutions or potential new capabilities fulfilling requirements, closing capability gaps, or providing potential technological advancements, technologies fueled by commercial or strategic investment, but also concept demonstrations, pilots, and agile development activities improving commercial technologies, existing Government-owned capabilities, or concepts for broad Defense application(s). As such, the Government reserves the right to award a contract or an Other Transaction for any purpose, to include a prototype or research, under this public announcement. The Federal Government is not responsible for any monies expended by the applicant before award and is under no obligation to pursue such Other Transactions.


Satisfying Competition Requirements: This DIU Challenge Open Call Announcement is considered to have potential for further efforts that may be accomplished via FAR-based contracting instruments, Other Transaction Authority (OTA) for Prototype Projects 10 USC 4022 and Research 10 USC 4021, Prizes for advanced technology achievements 10 USC 4025, and/or Prize Competitions 15 USC 3719. The public open call announcement made on the NSIN website is considered to satisfy the reasonable effort to obtain competition in accordance with 10 USC 4025(b), 15 USC 3719 (e) and 10 USC 4022 (b)(2). Accordingly, FAR-based actions will follow announcement procedures per FAR 5.201(b).