DSTG undertakes rigorous, scientifically based analysis of Defence operations and capabilities to provide independent, impartial and timely advice.

Our Mission is to develop and employ trusted analytical methods and decision support tools that give Defence and national security decision superiority across all aspects of force design, operational planning, command and control, and support to the Australian Defence Force on operations. DSTG and the state-based innovation networks are launching a call to academia to collaborate on a number of Defence OR topics through the Operations Research Network (ORnet).

The intention is that projects will run for a period of up to 12 months commencing in July 2021. Individual project proposals can indicate work up to $100K. UPDATE: In-kind contributions are welcome, however there is no expectation of their inclusion in a successful proposal.

Submissions are now closed.

Background

The ORnet is a collaborative initiative between Defence and academia that will bring together a network of universities to work on Defence problems. It was established to grow and strengthen the Australian operations research (OR) community’s ability to support Defence decision making, with a particular focus on Australian Defence Force design and employment. The intent of the ORnet is to provide coordinated pathways by which Defence can create enduring relationships between DSTG and academia to address challenging OR problems of national and strategic importance.

DSTG is seeking to revolutionise how we undertake OR to better handle the interaction of complex geopolitical, social, technological, economic and cultural factors impacting the capability of the current force and design of the future force.

Topics of Interest

This call will be comprised of two components:

• Philosophy of OR
• General Defence OR topics.

Universities who are signatories to the Defence Science Partnerships (DSP) 2.0 program are welcome to submit proposals to any/all topics contained in this call, and the Commonwealth reserves the right to fund all, some or none of the topic areas.

Philosophy of OR Topics

1. The Epistemic Challenge: Coping with Uncertainty, Complexity and Indeterminism

The epistemic challenge arises from the mismatch between the levels of certainty sought by decision-makers, the suite of formal techniques available to OR practitioners, and the nature of the most important planning and decision problems facing society.

Defence seeks to establish OR (and the broader science of decision-making) as the pre-eminent science for tackling complex, strategic and interconnected problems that are characterised by fundamental uncertainty, indeterminism and self-referentiality. At the strategic level uncertainty manifests in the limits to our knowledge of complex and changing decision problems subject to the actions of indeterministic exogenous influences, typically of human origin. Traditional OR methods are unable to adequately account for the inherent unpredictability of such contexts because they presuppose a degree of stationarity whereby future statistics remain the same as those of the past. This has led to the situation whereby practitioners concern themselves chiefly with the ‘concrete’ features of their decision problems, typically at a more functional level, and have avoided contexts featuring fundamental uncertainty.

In contrast, we seek to employ OR on complex, strategic and interconnected decision problems and therefore seek a new epistemological framework to guide methodology development in situations of fundamental uncertainty. The new framework will eschew the assumption that posits that limits on knowing represents the proper limits of applied science and prevent robust decision-making. Rather we seek a new epistemology that critically grapples with uncertainty and indeterminism whilst still providing for robust and effective decision making. Central to the project will be the attempt to deal critically with the challenges associated with bounding conditions on the uncertainty of properties of interest for decision-makers. These bounds capture information about what is knowable and unknowable within the decision problems and its environment. It is anticipated that the role of the practitioner in these contexts would be to determine the most effective bounding conditions to utilise in choosing courses of action designed to reduce surprise.

2. The Representational Challenge: Coping with Complexity and Interconnectedness

The representational challenge arises from attempts to bound decision problems of interest that are fundamentally distortive to wider (and potentially more important) problem contexts. It produces the phenomenon known as ‘sub-optimisation’ within OR.

Defence seeks to establish OR (and the broader science of decision making) as the pre-eminent science for tackling complex, strategic and interconnected problems that have, thus far, defied mathematical representation. At the strategic level decision-makers are confronted with complex webs of interconnected problems that impact upon each other in unpredictable ways. The context is characterised by huge numbers of potential variables and relations amongst them as well as connections to a vast array of additional problems. In such an environment mathematical representation has proved elusive, either because of the nature of our current knowledge, the nature of the phenomenon, or both. Because the dominant epistemology within OR seeks a mathematical representation of the systems that it studies, the discipline has, over time, become associated with more functional problems that have relatively low complexity and therefore unambiguous representations and solutions.

In contrast, we seek to employ OR on complex, strategic and interconnected decision problems and therefore seek a new epistemology from that of mathematical representationalism. The new epistemology will eschew the dominant ‘predict-and-prepare’ paradigm that sees the development and optimisation of representative models as the raison d’etre of OR. Rather it will seek a form of representationalism that critically grapples with the fact that models of complex decision problems have justification break-off points with respect to original problem boundaries and these may be distortive to wider ‘exogenous’ contexts that may be unknown and potentially more important to both clients and society writ large. Central to the project will be the attempt to deal critically with the challenges associated with defining systems/problems of interest and the presence of unknown, exogenous, unpredictable and changing variables and relations. It is anticipated that the new epistemology will posture Defence to better anticipate 2nd and 3rd order impacts associated with strategic decision problems and avoid adverse unanticipated consequences linked to the narrow problem boundaries.

3. The Teleological Challenge: Coping with Subjectivity and Purpose

The teleological challenge arises from attempts to justify the normative and axiological components of planning and decision-making.

Defence seeks to establish OR (and the broader science of decision making) as the pre-eminent science for tackling complex, strategic and interconnected problems that are permeated with normative, teleological, axiological and ethical considerations. At the strategic level decision-makers are confronted with complex decisions about imperatives, priorities and impacts that have the potential to affect a wide variety of stakeholder groups, some of which may not be involved in the decision process. Policy proposals are invariably relative to the original problem framing and therefore the contingent boundary judgements imposed upon the world by OR practitioners and their clients. Indeed normative judgements about imperatives and implications, costs and risks, values and criteria infuse all aspects of OR practice at the strategic level. This introduces a relative and subjective aspect to OR practice because different stakeholders are motivated by different imperatives which leads to different notions of improvement. Due to the fact that OR sees itself as a neutral, value-free, objective and empirically verifiable science the discipline has largely limited itself to the instrumental considerations of ‘means’ (as opposed normative considerations linked to ‘ends’). This has in-turn driven a focus on functional problems rather than strategic ones.

In contrast, we seek to employ OR on complex, strategic and interconnected decision problems and therefore seek new ethics for the discipline. The new ethical framework will eschew the dominant ‘given-the-problem’ school of thought that sees practitioners refer all teleological and axiological considerations to clients and concern themselves solely with finding the optimal means for achieving given ends. Rather Defence seeks an ethical framework that critically grapples with the fact that all recommendations from OR practice represents somebody’s solution to somebody’s problem and hence have a normative content in need of legitimation. Central to the project will be the attempt to deal critically with the challenges associated with subjectivity, purpose and power dynamics. It is anticipated that the new ethics of OR practice will posture Defence to better consider the organisational, social, political and ethical impacts associated with strategic decision problems and avoid the charge of advocacy analysis linked to the uncritical acceptance of the norms, values and purposes that infuse strategic decision problems.

4. The Meta-Methodological Challenge: Coping with Paradigmatic Incommensurability

The meta-methodological challenge arises from attempts to develop a comprehensive understanding of important decision problems by finding complementarities across disciplines and unifying these within a pluralistic meta-framework.

Defence seeks to establish OR (and the broader science of decision making) as the pre-eminent science for tackling complex, strategic and interconnected problems that defy comprehensive framing from within the methodological imperatives of a single discipline. At the strategic level decision-makers are confronted with complex decisions that require insights from numerous disciplines, each with their own ontological, epistemological, methodological and linguistic frameworks. However, we have no vantage point from which we can understand the complex relations between these disciplines and attempts to do so regularly underestimate the differences. Indeed the intellectual enterprise is characterised by constant flux in which overlappings appear at the edges of disciplines and, from these, new schools of thought are created, deconstructed and thence re-contextualised again and again. Moreover, meanings are changed from one context to the next and mutual understanding is often elusive. When faced with these challenges OR practitioners have tended to restrict their attention to more functional problems that can be adequately addressed from within a single ‘quantitative’ framework.

In contrast, we seek to employ OR on complex, strategic and interconnected decision problems and therefore seek a new meta-methodology for the discipline. The new meta-methodology will eschew approaches that pre-suppose a ‘god’s eye view’ above the disciplines, dissolve into an imperialistic ‘reconciliation under duress’ or rely on ill-defined (and gender-laden) dichotomies such as ‘hard’ vs ‘soft’. Rather Defence seeks a meta-methodological framework for OR that critically grapples with the need for insights from across the disciplines whilst simultaneously avoiding totalising frameworks/discourses and retaining the distinctiveness of each area. Central to the project will be the attempt to deal critically with the challenges associated with the fetishisation, reification and hegemony of dominant paradigms and the creation of legitimate spaces for incommensurate and otherwise dissonant approaches. It is anticipated that the new meta-methodological framework for OR will posture Defence to better understand the multifarious nature of complex strategic decision problems and identify paradigm-busting advancements that emerge from the interfaces between relevant disciplines.

Defence OR Topics

1. Visual Representation of Military Concepts using Virtual Environments

The representation of military concepts often takes the form of simple graphics and supporting text, which is inadequate for representing future complex operating environments or large complex capability systems with many dynamic elements. Consequently, there is a need for tools that enhance immersion and enable visualisation of new concepts, technologies and capability systems. We have recently explored the use of Virtual Reality (Unreal Engine/Infinite Studio and Occulus Rift) for this purpose. The project was successful as a ‘proof of concept’, but further work is needed to more rapidly generate and refine VR products from initial ideas, and incorporate richer tactical behaviour in the concepts. There are two, related projects that build on this work.

The first project would use VR to demonstrate how emerging technologies could be combined with future military systems and demonstrate the effects that could be generated (e.g., a high energy laser on an uninhabited ground vehicle). These artefacts would be used as an input to subsequent activities to design novel concepts for how military forces could employ the technologies. The aim is to improve the design process by using immersion to drive creativity and enable collaboration, communication and common understanding.

The second project would use VR to represent these concepts dynamically, showing the tactical employment of the technologies by the military force. This would be used to better communicate the concept to stakeholders, complementing simple graphics and supporting text, and helping reduce different interpretations of the concept which could arise.

2. New Methods for Forecasting Technology Convergence Points and Capability Effects

Technology foresight provides evidence-based decision support to strategic planners by forecasting potential impacts of new technological developments. While technology foresight research has largely been focussed on understanding and forecasting the implications of specific technologies in their own right, new foresight methodologies are required that determine how different technologies and tactics converge to deliver disruptive capability for the military & national security domain.

The scope for pursuing research that may address this challenge is broad and example research foci may include:

• Advanced foresight methodologies to support analysis and discovery of novel opportunities presented by emerging technologies in addition to addressing known capability gaps.
• Development of a systems-based view that defines capability as the capacity to deliver a desired effect. This systems-based view should aid Defence in discovering how convergence of technologies may deliver new effects.
• Development of methods to identify the opportunities presented by emerging technologies from the adversary perspective and potential operational models (red-teaming).

This research is intended to deliver the following:

• A methodological framework (e.g. a set of guiding principles and steps) for development of operational models that leverage emerging technologies and for elicitation of capability effects;
• of methods, tools and techniques that can be used within the methodological framework (this may include templates, software, remote-based options, indicative case studies);
• Validation frameworks for employing the selected methodology and methods (e.g. What ensures robustness of results? What is the scope for data triangulation? What is the Method Readiness Level?)
• Tools for iterative refinement and knowledge transfer (e.g. manuals, workshop scripts, ScriptsMap, etc.)

3. Comprehensive Simulation Meta-Modelling Capability

One of the key analytical activities in simulation analysis is the fitting of a ‘white-box’ meta-model approximation to a ‘black-box’ simulation through a design of experiments (DoE). Land Capability Analysis (LCA) branch’s meta-modelling currently relates individual outputs (at simulation termination) with input factors.

Suppose you run two simulation experiments. One with 5 Blue tanks and one with 10 Blue tanks (while all other inputs are held constant). At each simulation termination, a metric is recoded indicating whether Blue won or lost. Due to the stochastic nature of the simulation 100 replications of each experiment were performed.

Suppose the simulation data resulting from this experiment was Blue won 50 times with 5 Blue tanks and 80 times with 10 Blue tanks. From this data, one could test statistically the significance of the difference of the two success proportions and/or fit a regression model to quantify the effect on the probability of Blue success that changing the initial number of Blue tanks is predicted to have.

Extending this simple one-factor experiment to multiple inputs and their interactions via an appropriate DoE and multi-variate generalised regression modelling is a standard and effective way of characterizing the approximate functional relationship between simulation inputs and the value at termination of a simulation output of interest.

However, while this input-output regression analysis can answer ‘what’ questions, like ‘what is the expected increase in the probability of Blue success if the initial number of Blue tanks is increased by 5?’ it can say nothing about ‘how or why’ that effect occurs.

Most simulations record data on a large number of internal variables that change over (simulated) time. Necessarily this includes the initial values of the input factors and the terminating value of the metric of interest in the above design of experiment and regression analysis. But conceivably, every possible variable describing the complete state-space of the simulation could be captured. Our interest is in how this internal data can be exploited in answering the ‘how or why’ questions behind the ‘what’ answers of regression.

For the 50 replications where Blue won with 5 Blue tanks, is it possible to ‘analyse’ the associated internal data and ‘partition’ the 50 replications into a small number of subsets, each of which is ‘characteristic’ of a ‘different’ but ‘meaningful’ ‘path’ of progressing through the simulation to Blue success?

Suppose we could do likewise for the 80 replications where Blue won but with 10 Blue tanks. The idea is that a meaningful ‘comparison’ of the two sets of ‘paths’ to Blue success might suggest an ‘explanation’ of how or why the increase in the initial number of Blue tanks affected the probability of Blue success to the extent it did.

Under this Collaborative Research Project, LCA wishes to partner with University academics to develop a more comprehensive simulation meta-modelling capability, which can exploit these output metric correlations and internal simulation data.

4. Aggregation Level for Australian Campaign Simulation Tools

Australian Joint Force development requires a suite of simulation models to address questions at different levels of fidelity. This suite of simulations requires different levels of aggregation and because of the depth and breadth of the questions being addressed by them. For example, in providing evidence to support tactical land combat decision the simulations are fundamentally different to those required to support theatre level land combat decision. Domains, such as land, maritime and air, require different simulations because the features important in land tactical combat simulation are not necessarily present in maritime or air tactical combat simulation. When developing a suite of campaign level simulation tools for integrated joint (across all domain) force development it is necessary to use the right level of aggregation across these tools so that their results can be consolidated. This is likely to be a different level of aggregation to our larger allies simply because we have a smaller force. We are looking for an academic partner who can identify an evidence-based process to decide on the correct level of aggregation in each of the domains when looking at whole of ADF questions and work with us to implement that process.

5. Innovative Design

We are interested in academic partners who will work with us to develop innovative military-focused design approaches that will enable the development of force design options (organisational structures and capability systems) that will facilitate future operational success by the ADF. To design a robust and adaptive ADF we are looking for design approaches that generate options that are adaptive under disruptive innovation and technology change. The process must also ensure there is a key evidence base for any alternative design paradigms that are generated. We seek designs that are highly capable in the sets of scenarios we envisage spanning the space of potential futures but which can adapt to futures that were unforeseen in our scenarios. Ideally, the methodology developed will produce designs that disrupt our potential adversaries, creating surprise and imposing significant costs to counter.

6. An Extensible Framework to Compare Operations Research Methods

Australian Joint Force development requires analytical campaigns where multiple methods are used to develop a nuanced understanding of the problem and solution spaces, leading to appropriate coverage and allowing triangulation. We seek a general and extensible framework for the applicability of methods outlining under what circumstances each method would be used, situations in which particular multiple methods should be used together and articulation of the additional information provided by using specific sets of methods. In this project we seek the development or identification of an extensible framework for comparison and its application to the comparison of Qualitative Bayesian Belief Networks and the Delphi Process.

7. Understanding Future Robustness through Feasible Scenario Spaces

Understanding future robustness through Feasible Scenario Spaces has been proposed in Bowden et al. “Feasible Scenario Spaces: a new way of measuring capability impacts”. Feasible Scenario Spaces identify the futures that a given force option is able to address with acceptable risk. This and other measures of future robustness are critical to understanding the ability to deal with the irreducibly uncertain future for which Defence must prepare. These theoretical approaches need to be operationalised to allow them to be applied in practice. Operationalisation may require coupling of the Feasible Scenario Space approach to a method for systematic exploration of the parameter space such as General Morphological Analysis. We are interested in working with an academic partner to understand how we can measure the ability of a force option to deal with possible futures.

Call for proposals

Interested Australian universities are encouraged to identify relevant fields of endeavour or expertise where they would be willing to engage and partner with DSTG. Universities are requested to submit proposals in response to the OR topic of interest. Proposals should include

• the topic title(s)
• how they heard about this ORnet call for collaboration
• research methods proposed
• an outline of the research outcomes relevant to the topic(s)
• relevant research experience and papers
• a costing estimate.

Proposals should be a maximum of 2 pages. You are encouraged to use the template available in the Attached Files to format and articulate your proposal.

The selected applicants will then be invited to engage with the DSTG topic owners, to discuss and potentially develop a more detailed research program. 

Where appropriate, there will be an opportunity to aggregate multiple proposals into multi-party agreements at a later time, up to a maximum total value of $200k. DSTG will continue to play a central role in this relationship, but academic organisations may also wish to form their own connections and propose multi-party research teams to DSTG.

Schedule

Monday 1 March 2021 – Call for research collaboration proposals

Friday 26 March 2021 11:59 PM – Closing date for research collaboration proposal submissions

From Wednesday 7 April 2021 – Selected partners are notified and invited to begin discussions on details of the collaboration

Monday 12 April to Monday 31 May 2021 – Discussions about work program requirements with selected partners

Tuesday 1 June to Friday 2 July 2021 – Establishment and executions of collaborative research agreements

Monday 5 July 2021 to Thursday 30 June 2022 – Duration of collaborative research agreements

Submitting Expressions of Interest

To submit an EOI for one or more research topics, or if you have any queries about the process or topics, please e-mail ORnetCollaboration@dst.defence.gov.au.

Defence is seeking expressions of interest from Australian research partners to contribute as advisors to the co-design, implementation and quality assurance of the 'Operating in CBRN Environments' STaR Shot' research program.

The threat of Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) attacks against military forces and civilian populations is growing.

State and non-state actors are increasingly willing to use these indiscriminate methods, and knowledge of CBR agent manufacturing processes is proliferating. The ADF has the ability to survive the surprise created by CBRN weapons and improvised CBR devices, but there is a need to do more.

Our forces must be able to respond faster and more flexibly to CBRN events; achieve enhanced situational awareness; and manoeuvre safely, effectively and unimpeded in complex contaminated environments for prolonged periods of time. For this reason, a new ten-year Science, Technology and Research (STaR) program has been initiated by the Australian Department of Defence: the Operating in CBRN Environments (OCE) STaR Shot.

To meet its ambitious innovation targets, the OCE STaR Shot intends to create a Community Advisory Group that will be engaged in activities relating to the development, implementation and quality assurance of the STaR Shot research and innovation program.

This call for Expressions of Interest invites Australian universities, Australian research organisations and industry to partner with Defence and form a Community Advisory Group that will support and assist the development, implementation and quality assurance of activities under the OCE STaR Shot. The Advisory Group will assist the OCE STaR Shot leadership in the ongoing development of the OCE STaR Shot program; talent and activity identification; selection of implementation approaches; evaluation of STaR Shot products; and setting the direction of future research. The Community Advisory Group will be distinct from the OCE STaR Shot Community of Practice, which will provide members with a safe environment for collaboration. All entities across the national science and technology community with an interest in this STaR Shot will be able to join the Community of Practice, however only a selected team of domestic experts will make up the Community Advisory Group.

Participation in the Community Advisory Board does not disqualify the participating organisation from involvement in other STaR Shot activities.

Background

Operating in chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) threat environments is arguably the hardest assignment that warfighters have. Not only do they have to perform strenuous tasks such as keeping adversaries at bay or supporting civilians in the aftermath of a disaster, they have to do these tasks in the presence of dangerous and invisible threats that spread rapidly and widely if uncontained. 

Unfortunately, there are two major concerning trends. Firstly, it has become more likely that some state actors and non-state actors are willing to use CBRN agents despite the various international bans on the proliferation and use of weapons of mass destruction. Secondly, it is becoming increasingly easier to manufacture these threats.

These concerning developments are the reason why the Operating in CBRN Environments (OCE) STaR Shot has been created.

Operating in CBRN Environments (OCE) STaR Shot 

The OCE STaR Shot is a research and innovation program that aims to develop, integrate and demonstrate technologies that will enable the Australian Defence Force to operate in environments in which CBRN threats may be deployed by our adversaries. Given this aim, activities which the STaR Shot seeks to stimulate and sponsor within the Australian science, technology and innovation community cover a broad range of problem domains all of which will benefit from advancements in research and technology.

Inter alia, progress is needed in the following priority research areas:

• low-cost, robust sensors (including wearable) that detect and identify in near real-time advanced threats (especially chemical agents that are designed to be undetectable or virulent pathogens) and how much of them there are present;
• CBRN threat detection, identification and monitoring from a safe distance or without putting humans at risk. This includes detection of pathogens before they affect humans or before infected humans become contagious and spread a disease;
• new capabilities that predict where threats go and which, reliably and on time, push warning signals out to humans in danger, both military and civilian personnel. This warning system needs to be able to interoperate with Australian battle management systems, coalition systems and civilian communications systems;
• novel protection technologies and systems that safeguard mental, physical and physiological strength and allow humans to keep operating for extended periods of time. This protective gear cannot reduce significantly Australian warfighters’ freedom of manoeuvre;
• automation and autonomy technologies that reduce the risk of exposure to CBRN threats or may lead to new ways of operating in these environments;
• innovations that make military vehicles, ships and aircraft impenetrable to CBRN threats or, if chemicals or pathogens do penetrate, technologies that help characterise accurately which parts of the equipment are affected, contain the contamination or neutralise it effectively and efficiently;
• new ways of decontaminating infrastructure, sensitive equipment and people quickly and cost effectively. This includes technologies that allow for the assessment of the decontamination actions’ effectiveness; and
• technologies that facilitate movement between contaminated areas and clean areas without spreading the threat. This is particularly important when the ADF has to manage injured people, wounded people or sick people.

This call for Expressions of Interest is seeking Australian research partners to contribute as advisors to the co-design, implementation and quality assurance of the OCE STaR Shot’s research and innovation program.

Call for Partners

Defence is seeking to build, through partnership with Australian universities, research organisations and industry, an expanded Community Advisory Group to assist with the ongoing development, implementation and quality assurance of the research and innovation activities for the OCE STaR Shot.

The Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG) is proposing to engage with the partners through an ongoing advisory arrangement comprising a group of suitably qualified and driven partners. The preferred outcome is a multi-party approach to contribute in the areas of program co-design, generation of white papers, and to assist with the development, quality assurance and evaluation of complementary programs and activities. It is expected that Community Advisory Group partners have strong capabilities and existing research programs that could support innovation efforts in one or more of the following OCE areas:

• Fast, accurate and early detection, identification, source localisation and monitoring of low concentrations of chemical agents and/or biological pathogens at long stand-off distances and over large expanses of complex terrain;
• Near real-time integrated and multi-domain CBRN threat prediction, warning and reporting, including novel threat and environmental data collection methods in support of such knowledge management systems;
• Effective CBRN protection for individuals, groups, sensitive equipment, infrastructure and supply chains that does not impede, or only minimally impedes, ADF taskforce operations and freedom of manoeuvre;
• Fast and effective containment or neutralisation of CBRN threats;
• Rapid and efficient decontamination of affected people, sensitive equipment, platforms and infrastructure;
• Significantly enhanced human resilience to CBR agent exposure, physical and cognitive exhaustion.

It is expected that the Community Advisory Group will be able to identify activities which would lead to longer term mutual benefits.

Partnering Opportunities

This call for Expressions of Interest is a unique partnering opportunity being offered by DST Group that aims to develop a Community Advisory Group to co-design capability specifically in relation to the OCE STaR Shot.

DSTG will:

• commit to a Multi-Party Collaborative Agreement where the parties are named as part of the Community Advisory Group for this STaR Shot.
• provide access to data, information and other materials, to be used as inputs to develop outcomes sought by the STaR Shot.
• provide guidance and supervision where appropriate.

Essential Requirements

• Demonstrated capability and experience in one or more of the described priority research areas; and
• Capacity to work with Defence and other partners to co-design activities aligned with a provided mission such as: ‘to enable the joint taskforce to operate safely and effectively in CBRN threat environments’.

Desirable Requirements

DSTG is interested in fostering and building an enduring relationship with an appropriate partner. As such, the following will be considered desirable when assessing Expression of Interest submissions:

• Multi-Party submissions including stakeholders from across the Innovation system.
• Genuine interest to develop and grow a sovereign research capability within their organisation in a related field, and promote an ongoing partnership with Defence;
• Clear vision for the development of an ongoing capability;
• Capacity to:
• appoint an academic chair (or equivalent) to provide program oversight and set the foundation for an enduring capability driven partnership, and
• appoint a part-time postdoctoral fellow (or equivalent); and
• Support of their organisation(s) to undertake activities supporting the Community Advisory Group.

How to Apply

Submissions are now closed.

Engagement Model

Multi-Party agreements under the Defence Science Partnering Deed for universities, or via the appropriate MOU instrument where the partners are from research organisations or industry.

Contacts 

Technical Information and Requirements
Dr Axel Bender
Operating in CBRN Environments STaR Shot Leader
Telephone: 0427 767 992
Email: axel.bender@dst.defence.gov.au or STaRShot_CBRN@dst.defence.gov.au

Dr Amir Masoumi
Operating in CBRN Environments STaR Shot Program Manager
Telephone: (02) 6127 1466
Email: amir.masoumi@dst.defence.gov.au or STaRShot_CBRN@dst.defence.gov.au

Contracting and Administrative Support
Stephen Johns
Assistant Director: National Partnerships
Telephone: 0418 393 475
Email: stephen.johns@dst.defence.gov.au

The Space Capability call is seeking proposals for an innovative space-qualified Radio Frequency (RF) sensor payload.

What is the research problem?

Space capabilities will remain critical to Australian Defence Force (ADF) and coalition operations supporting broad and contested area situational awareness, force networking, and precision effects.

Space is now a contested domain and a new approach is needed to address threats to the current space system architecture and to develop innovative capabilities that will provide the ADF with a strategic advantage.

The Australian space capability for advanced payloads is still evolving. To focus on the development of the Advanced Radio Frequency Payload (ARFP), a reference application has been identified based on an affordable Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) sensor that would contribute to a broad area maritime surveillance capability.

ARFP will be capable of transmitting and receiving RF energy across a wide operating bandwidth and processing the received energy on-board the satellite to generate information that can contribute to timely situational awareness. Affordability and production scalability are key drivers in the final design for the ARFP consistent with the overarching operating concept based on the idea that a constellation of lower-cost satellites (<250kg) with ‘good enough’ performance working together in a coordinated and networked manner is likely to provide a better defence outcome than a few much larger more sophisticated (and expensive) satellites.

For the Reference Application, the ARFP would be capable of operating as a medium resolution, wide effective swath Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR). At the core of the system would be a Software Defined Radio (SDR) generating modulated baseband pulses to an RF processor. This RF processor would frequency convert and amplify the pulses for transmission through an antenna with beam steering capabilities to the surface. Returned energy would be collected by the aperture, amplified, frequency down-converted and A-D converted within the SDR into a digital signal. Fast on-board processing would process these returns into a radar image which would then be analysed on-board for targets of interest. Indicative parameters for the reference mode would include an operating frequency in either L-Band (1-2 GHz) or S-Band (2-4 GHz), an operating swath size of up to 300km, an instantaneous transmit power up to 5kW (with a transmit duty cycle of 10%) and spatial resolution suitable for detecting and tracking a broad class of maritime vessels.

Application process

Submissions are to be made via AusTender.

Potential suppliers wishing to respond to this procurement will be required to fully comply with and meet the following conditions for participation:

1. Clause 8 - Defence Security requirements; and
2. Applicants must hold an Australian Business Number (ABN) or a New Zealand Business Number (NZBN) to participate in this procurement.

Contact Officer and RFP Inquiries

Proposers are to direct any questions or concerns regarding this RFP in writing to the Contact Officer.

Email: SpaceTenders@dst.defence.gov.au

Proposers may submit questions or concerns to the Contact Officer up until five Working Days prior to the Closing Time specified in the Tender Details Schedule.

The call for proposals is now closed.

DSTG will provide a research program brief to all interested parties via Microsoft Teams on 15th February 2021 at 10:30am (ACDT).

This will provide an opportunity for clarifications and questions to be raised. Any further questions after this brief will need to be provided in writing with DSTG providing a written response that will be provided to all parties.

Nominations to attend the briefing are to be forwarded in writing to SpaceTenders@dst.defence.gov.au to be provided a Microsoft Teams invite.

For security purposes: Full Name, Organisation, Position, Mobile Telephone No. and email address of all nominated personnel are to be included at the time of nomination.

The Next Generation Technologies Fund seeks proposals from academia, industry, and Government-funded organisations for two leap-ahead Human Performance proposals: a Performance Patch project and a Cognitive Gut project.

Submissions are now closed.

Research areas and themes

The Performance Patch project aims to advance the real-time measurement and prediction of Warfighter readiness and performance. More Specifically:

1. To undertake innovative mechanistic and applied research that will explore the potential for molecular biomarkers that can predict cognitive and physical performance (and risk of physical injury) before and during military missions, for example in the coming 24-hr, 2-hr and 30-min time periods.
2. To pilot minimally invasive biofluid sampling options that might support a fieldable Performance Patch concept.
3. To explore the synergy of molecular biomarkers and non-invasive wearables to indicate an individual’s status to optimally perform.

Cognitive Gut

To undertake innovative mechanistic and applied research that will optimize and enhance cognitive performance through interventions of the gut microbiota. More specifically:

1. What gut bacterial species have the greatest effect on military cognitive performance?
2. How can these gut bacterial species be optimised or enhanced to induce the greatest benefit to military cognitive performance?
3. What are the gut bacterial species that are most negatively affected by military-relevant stressors?
4. What are the mechanisms responsible for the gut bacterial affecting cognitive performance?

Support for successful proposals

The NGTF is investing up to $7m over 3.5 years to deliver two parallel studies aimed at advancing either the measurement of warfighter performance, or its enhancement through modification. Funding for applicants is limited to 1.5 years in the first instance. Follow-on investment for the remaining two years is subject to a mid-point project review. This mid-point review will determine whether to continue, adjust, or stop the project. The results of this review will inform the case for future approval of the necessary funds from NGTF.

Am I eligible?

Potential suppliers wishing to respond to this procurement will be required to fully comply with and meet the following conditions for participation:

• Australian Citizenship for key researchers and the ability to obtain a Baseline security clearance is required due to the potential to work with official/sensitive information.
• Applicants will be encouraged to form multi-disciplinary, multi-institution, research, and development partnerships drawing on the world-class research capabilities within Australian and New Zealand in this rapidly developing field of innovation.
• Defence is seeking to build enduring science capability and is looking for partners willing to co-invest in the immediate research and intending to partner over a longer-term.

Additionally for the Performance Patch:

• A multi-disciplinary team of experts likely requiring multiple universities or industry partners in the areas of, but not limited to, immunology, biological ‘oimc fields, neuroscience, cognitive performance, physiological/physical performance, physical injury, and biostatistics.

Additionally for the Cognitive Gut:

• A multi-disciplinary team of experts likely requiring multiple universities or industry partners in the areas of, but not limited to, gut microbiology, cognitive performance, biostatistics, nutrition and metabolomics.

Research Briefing

DST will provide a research program brief to all interested parties via Microsoft Teams on Wednesday 27 January 2021. This will provide an opportunity for clarifications and questions to be raised. Any further questions after this brief will need to be provided in writing with DST providing a written response that will be provided to all parties. Nominations to attend the briefing are to be forwarded in writing to the Contact Officer by Lisa Headley via email (lisa.headley@dst.defence.gov.au) by 25th January to be provided a Microsoft Teams invite. For security purposes: Full Name, Organisation, Position, Mobile Telephone No., and email address of all nominated personnel are to be included at the time of nomination.

How do I apply?

Submissions are now closed.

Direct any questions or concerns you may have regarding this Request for Proposal (RFP) in writing to the Contact Officer at:

ehp-ngtf@dst.defence.gov.au.

Proposers may submit questions or concerns to the Contact Officer up until five working days prior to the Closing Time specified in the Tender Details Schedule.