SAM #SSTI5_Call016

Space Cyber-Cognitive Overmatch (SCCO) Research and Development Solicitation

This opportunity seeks research and development proposals for the Space Cyber-Cognitive Overmatch (SCCO) initiative under the Space Strategic Technology Institute (SSTI), managed by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and the United States Space Force (USSF). - Government Buyer: - Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Department of the Air Force - United States Space Force (USSF) - Office of Naval Research (ONR) involved in project management and reporting - No specific Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) or commercial vendors are named - Products/Services Requested: - Research and development of disruptive, transformative technologies for space operations - Focus areas: threat sensing, cyber-hardening, AI autonomy, human-machine teaming, distributed computing, cognitive electronic warfare, digital engineering - Emphasis on cyber and electromagnetic spectrum solutions, distributed architectures (space, ground, and links), and advanced human-machine teaming - Solutions must optimize size, weight, and power (SWaP) and improve system resilience without degrading current mission viability - Project management and compliance reporting services, including: - Quarterly research progress reports - Financial and property reporting - Scientific/technical deliverables (e.g., software, datasets) - Intellectual property and invention utilization reporting - Annual audits and indirect cost proposals - Unique/Notable Requirements: - Lead university must manage a team of at least three universities, with at least 50% of funds allocated to supporting institutions - Research must enable new operational concepts and demonstrate readiness for transition to government or industry - Strict compliance with comprehensive project management and reporting requirements - No specific products, part numbers, or purchase quantities are listed

Description

The ultimate objective of this initiative is to create disruptive, cutting-edge technologies that fundamentally alter the strategic landscape of space operations. While proposed solutions must improve overall system resilience and strictly optimize size, weight, and power (SWaP) constraints, their true value will be judged by their capacity to enable entirely new operational concepts. The goal is not seeking merely incremental upgrades; it is for transformative capabilities spanning the cyber and electromagnetic (EM) spectrums, the entire distributed architecture (space, ground, and links), and advanced human-machine teaming. Crucially, this disruption cannot come at the cost of current mission viability. For example, a novel cyber defense mechanism will be deemed unviable if its computational overhead degrades primary satellite operations. Consequently, proposals will be rigorously evaluated on two interconnected fronts: their potential to achieve true cognitive and cyber overmatch, and their realistic maturity for transitioning out of the laboratory and into government program offices or industry applications.

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