SPACE TECHNOLOGY ADVANCED RESEARCH-FAST-TRACKING INNOVATIVE SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE (STAR-FISH) ARA - CALL 014 Topic Area 2. Space Data Networking Experimentation

Amendment 5: The Government uploaded Exhibit A - CDRLs and a revised version of Attachment 5 - Statement of Objectives to FA945321S0001 STAR-FISH announcement. Additionally, the Government uploaded a Questions and Answers document for all question received in response to this call. Interested parties are encouraged to thoroughly review this requirement and all new attachments in its entirety. Prior versions of the opporttunity are considered superceded as of this amendment. The most current questions and proposal due dates are seen herein and within the Request For Proposal Letter.

Amendment 4: The Government uploaded an additional attachment, entitled "(CUI) Attachment C - RAPID SDN NSO Specification.pdf" to FA945321S0001 STAR-FISH announcement. Interested parties are encouraged to thoroughly review this requirement and all new attachments in its entirety. Prior versions of the opporttunity are considered superceded as of this amendment. The most current questions and proposal due dates are seen herein and within the Request For Proposal Letter.

Amendment 3: The Government is re-opening this opportunity as a one-step call as outlined in the base FA945321S0001 STAR-FISH announcement. Interested parties are encouraged to thoroughly review this requirement and all new attachments in its entirety. Prior versions of the opprotunity are considered superceded as of this amendment. The most current questions and proposal due dates are seen herein and within the Request For Proposal Letter.

Amendment 2: The Government has decided to inactivate this opportunity while it assesses the program's direction. As a result, whitepapers are not being requested and questions will not be answered. The Government reserves the right to reactivate this post in the future, should it be determined in the Government's best interest. Should the Government reactivate this post in the future, response dates will be revised accordingly.

Amendment 1: The Government has revised the Call and SOO attachments to be unrestricted.

Technical Description

Space Data Networking Experimentation

RAPID is experimenting with a hybrid space architecture built from an ensemble of Department of Defense (DoD), allied and commercial satellite communication networks. The premise is that this approach introduces resilience by design and offers the ability to efficiently route data through space and terrestrial infrastructure to ensure reliable connectivity, but it requires managing network complexity dynamically in time and space. Several critical challenges impose risk to the development of a future space data network (SDN), and these must be explored through experimentation. This exploration will provide options to current and future programs of record as systems evolve to meet future needs.

Questions shall be submitted to the outlined Contracting Officer and Contract Specialist no later than close of business 10 September 2024. Questions submitted via email shall include "STAR-FISH Call 014" in the subject line. Questions submitted after will not be answered.