The Army on Jan. 24 released its request for candidates for the 15.1 Network Integration Evaluation (NIE) to be held October-November 2014.
The Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology (ASA(ALT)) System of Systems Engineering and Integration Directorate (SOSE&I) is looking for interested sources with mature solutions to enhance existing network systems capabilities to participate in the fall NIE at Ft. Bliss, Texas and White Sands Missile Range (WSMR), N.M.
The Jan 24 notice
is to identify emerging capabilities to be evaluated against a set of entrance criteria for an opportunity to participate in a training event before the NIE.
Solutions are sought with a narrow focus on a specifically identified gap in the current and evolving networked equipment solution set: Gap 13, which involves Home Station Training and the Integrated Training Environment (technology).
During the field events of NIE 15.1, the Army will be conducting a scheduled Network Baseline Assessment. Therefore, the number and type of new solutions for this event will be restricted to prevent the introduction of non-baseline equipment into the brigade’s networked systems.
The Army anticipates the early release of a Sources Sought for NIE 15.2 and NIE 16.1 to allow industry additional time to prepare candidate solutions for those events.
Due to the training nature of the single announced gap for NIE 15.1 not all the usual proposal submission requirements will need to be met.
The Army-hosted NIE is conducted twice a year for about two to four weeks. It uses a Brigade Combat Team (BCT) at Fort Bliss. The goal is to conduct parallel, systems tests of Army programs, evaluate new network technology capabilities, non-network capabilities and emerging in-theater capabilities and concepts. NIE events will include tactical exercises using current force equipment and emerging networked systems.
The entire financial burden of participating in the process will be borne by the respondents, which must also provide field support representatives to support the required events.
The point of contact for the sources sought announcement is Tyron Williams, 586-574-8116.