Notice2024-10553
Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA)-“Shoreside and Shipboard Open-Source Software Defined Radio (SDR) Technology”
Primary source
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Published
May 15, 2024
Issuing agencies
Homeland Security DepartmentCoast Guard
Abstract
The Coast Guard is announcing its intent to enter into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with General Dynamics Mission Systems (GDMS) to evaluate the suitability of implementing open-source-based SDR technologies on shore-side and shipboard environments. The effort would include evaluating the utility of a P25 Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA)-compliant interface for software defined radios (SDRs). This CRADA would leverage Coast Guard network infrastructure and shipboard IT communications systems to evaluate open-source SDR technologies and determine how they can be implemented to support multiple Coast Guard core mission areas for shore-side and shipboard use under a variety of scenarios. Technology researched, tested, and prototyped will adhere to all active Coast Guard, Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) standards and regulations. While the Coast Guard is currently considering partnering with GDMS, we are soliciting public comment on the possible nature of and participation of other parties in the proposed CRADA. In addition, the Coast Guard invites other potential participants, who have interest and capability, to consider submitting proposals for consideration in similar CRADAs.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 95 (Wednesday, May 15, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 95 (Wednesday, May 15, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42482-42483]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-10553]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
[Docket No. USCG-2024-0331]
Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA)--
``Shoreside and Shipboard Open-Source Software Defined Radio (SDR)
Technology''
AGENCY: Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security.
ACTION: Notice of intent; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is announcing its intent to enter into a
Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with General
Dynamics Mission Systems (GDMS) to evaluate the suitability of
implementing open-source-based SDR technologies on shore-side and
shipboard environments. The effort would include evaluating the utility
of a P25 Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA)-compliant
interface for software defined radios (SDRs). This CRADA would leverage
Coast Guard network infrastructure and shipboard IT communications
systems to evaluate open-source SDR technologies and determine how they
can be implemented to support multiple Coast Guard core mission areas
for shore-side and shipboard use under a variety of scenarios.
Technology researched, tested, and prototyped will adhere to all active
Coast Guard, Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and National
Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) standards and
regulations. While the Coast Guard is currently considering partnering
with GDMS, we are soliciting public comment on the possible nature of
and participation of other parties in the proposed CRADA. In addition,
the Coast Guard invites other potential participants, who have interest
and capability, to consider submitting proposals for consideration in
similar CRADAs.
DATES: Your comments and related material must reach the Coast Guard on
or before 30 days after the date of publication in the Federal
Register.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2024-0331 using the Federal portal at <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>. See
the ``Public Participation and Request for Comments'' portion of the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for further instructions on
submitting comments.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions about this
notice of intent, or wish to submit proposals for future CRADAs,
contact Mr. David Cote, GS-13 CIV, Project Official, IT and Network
Branch, U.S. Coast Guard Research and Development Center, 1 Chelsea
Street, New London, CT 06320, telephone 860-271-2693,
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#640005120d004a014a070b100124111707034a090d08"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="fb9f9a8d929fd59ed598948f9ebb8e88989cd5969297">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background and Purpose
The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) is investigating technologies to
facilitate transition from traditional radio systems, which are
typically implemented using hardware-based solutions, to open-source,
SDR technology. The USCG uses multiple radio frequencies (RF), within
multiple frequency bands, operating over multiple radio hardware
solutions. Current infrastructure creates challenges in flexibility,
cost-efficiency, upgradability, adaptability, and interoperability of
USCG field operators and command and control center personnel. The USCG
has initiated a push of some RF systems into cloud-based environments,
like Rescue-21 servers, and wish to continue examining how to move
additional RF environments into open-source, cloud-based service
platforms. The USCG strives to move to a multi-user, multi-mission RF
environment to exploit the RF spectrum and make it more user-friendly.
The USCG desires to take advantage of evolving ``open source'' SDR
technologies to enable enhancements to its communications operations
within its eleven mission areas. This CRADA intends to examine
technology that improves RF environment scalability, reduces
maintenance costs, deploys agile SDR systems with open application
programming interfaces (API), provides 24/7 remote operability and
configurability, and supports simple technology updates and
interoperability. Our desire is to identify non-federal partners that
can successfully configure an open source SDR across multiple
waveforms.
II. Public Participation and Request for Comments
We request public comments on this notice. Although we do not plan
to
[[Page 42483]]
respond to comments in the Federal Register, we will respond directly
to commenters and may modify our proposal in response to received
comments.
Comments should be marked with docket number USCG-2024-0331 and
should provide a reason for each suggestion or recommendation. You
should provide personal contact information so that we can contact you
if we have questions regarding your comments; please note that all
comments will be posted to the online docket without change and that
any personal information you include can be searchable online (see
DHS's eRulemaking System of Records notice, 85 FR 14226, March 11,
2020). We also accept anonymous comments.
We encourage you to submit comments in response to this notice of
inquiry through the Federal Decision-Making Portal at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>. If your material cannot be submitted using <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>, contact the Coast Guard (see FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT). Documents mentioned in this notice and all public
comments are in our online docket at <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a> and can
be viewed by following the website's instructions.
We accept anonymous comments. Comments we post to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> will include any personal information you have
provided. For more about privacy and submissions in response to this
document, see DHS's eRulemaking System of Records notice (85 FR 14226,
March 11, 2020).
III. Discussion
CRADAs are authorized under 15 U.S.C. 3710a.\1\ A CRADA promotes
the transfer of technology to the private sector for commercial use, as
well as specified research or development efforts that are consistent
with the mission of the Federal parties to the CRADA. The Federal party
or parties agree with one or more non-Federal parties to share research
resources, but the Federal party does not contribute funding.
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\1\ The statute confers this authority on the head of each
Federal agency. The Secretary of DHS's authority is delegated to the
Coast Guard and other DHS organizational elements by DHS Delegation
No. 0160.1, para. II.B.34.
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CRADAs are not procurement contracts. Care is taken to ensure that
CRADAs are not used to circumvent the contracting process. CRADAs have
a specific purpose and should not be confused with procurement
contracts, grants, and other type of agreements.
Under the proposed CRADA, the USCG Research and Development Center
(RDC) will collaborate with one or more non-Federal participants.
Together, the USCG RDC and the non-Federal participant will evaluate
the suitability of open-source software defined radio technology in a
shore-side and shipboard environment to conduct USCG missions.
We anticipate that the USCG's contributions under the proposed
CRADA will include the following:
1. Provide appropriate staff with pertinent expertise to take the
lead in accomplishing the required tasks; collaborate with selected
non-Federal participants to evaluate the suitability of open-source
software defined radio technologies;
2. Provide information regarding the USCG's interest in the open-
source software designed radio technology needed for creating the test
plan, and co-design specific operational test scenarios, bringing in
real-world maritime expertise;
3. Obtain, transport, and provide all of the ensemble items to be
used during the testing;
4. Provide personnel support to non-Federal participant to assist
with setting up and execute testing in accordance with the agreed upon
test plan;
5. Work with non-Federal participant to develop a final report,
which will document the methodologies, findings, conclusions, and
recommendations of this CRADA work.
We anticipate that the non-Federal participants' contributions
under the CRADA will include the following:
1. Provide appropriate staff with pertinent expertise to support
the above-mentioned tasks;
2. Provide all necessary facility resources needed to conduct open-
source software designed radio technology demonstrations and testing;
3. Provide technical support for all technology demonstrations and
proposed test plans;
4. Provide technical data for the equipment, software, and services
to be utilized;
5. Provide shipment and delivery of any equipment required to
conduct evaluations, demonstrations, and test events as described in
the CRADA;
6. Provide travel and associated personnel and other expenses, as
required, for subject work;
7. Provide test data upon completion of testing.
The Coast Guard reserves the right to select for CRADA participants
all, some, or no proposals submitted for this CRADA. The Coast Guard
will provide no funding for reimbursement of proposal development
costs. Proposals and any other material submitted in response to this
notice will not be returned. Proposals submitted are expected to be
unclassified and have no more than five single-sided pages (excluding
cover page, DD 1494, JF-12, etc.).
The Coast Guard will select proposals at its sole discretion based
on:
1. How well they communicate an understanding of, and ability to
meet, the proposed CRADA's goal; and
2. How well they address the following criteria:
a. Technical capability to support the non-Federal party
contributions described; and
b. Resources available for supporting the non-Federal party
contributions described.
Currently, the Coast Guard is considering GDMS, for participation
in this CRADA. This consideration is based on GDMS briefings to the
USCG's Command, Control, Communication, Computer, Cyber and
Intelligence Service Center (C5ISC) on its open-source software defined
radio technology plans and availability of appropriate facilities to
execute demonstrations and test scenarios. However, we do not wish to
exclude other viable participants from this or future similar CRADAs.
This is a technology suitability effort. The goal of this CRADA is
to evaluate the suitability of implementing open-source SDR
technologies on shore-side and shipboard environments. Special
consideration will be given to small business firms/consortia, and
preference will be given to business units located in the U.S. This
notice is issued under the authority of 5 U.S.C 552(a).
M.P. Chien,
Captain, Commanding Officer, U.S. Coast Guard Research and Development
Center.
[FR Doc. 2024-10553 Filed 5-14-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P
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