OSW27BZ02-DV003 — Real-World Applications for Prototype ISAC Demonstrations (RAPID) Small Business

Design, develop and demonstrate an innovative 5G/6Gdual-use Integrated Sensing and Communications (ISAC) prototype that provides sensing capabilities without degrading communication performance.

The Department of War (DoW) seeks to accelerate U.S. leadership in Integrated Sensing and Communications (ISAC), a 5G-Advanced feasibility-study area and a key technology for 3GPP 6G specifications. This project addresses the challenge of adding sensing capabilities to communication networks without degrading the primary communication link across diverse missions and environments, from established bases to remote and contested areas. The goal is to develop innovative, dual-use ISAC prototypes that leverage existing cellular infrastructure including 5G, emerging Open RAN interfaces, and AI-native networking. These solutions should offer a smaller, more cost-effective footprint than separate radar and communication systems. The effort will focus on three pathways: ISAC on fixed infrastructure, ISAC on mobile platforms, and joint AI optimization of radio resources. Success of this project will reduce barriers to market entry, enable new ISAC and AI applications, and strengthen U.S. industrial competitiveness in a field receiving substantial investment from adversaries. The following documents are incorporated as part of this topic.   Appendix A - ISAC KPI Framework for RAPID RAPID Statement of Objectives (SOO)

This topic solicits Direct-to-Phase-II (D2P2) proposals only; Phase I proposals will not be accepted. Offerors must document that Phase I feasibility has already been established through prior work. Acceptable feasibility evidence includes results from prior research and development performed by the small business; prototype, breadboard, model, simulation, test, demonstration, or experimental results; analytical studies, calculations, trade studies, or modeling and simulation results; data demonstrating performance against relevant technical parameters; prior relevant contract, commercial, internal research, or customer-funded work performed by the small business; and/or peer-reviewed publications, technical reports, patents, or other supporting documentation directly relevant to the SBC’s approach. Existing research publications, analytical studies, simulation results, and prototype demonstrations have already established the technical feasibility of dual-use Integrated Sensing and Communications (ISAC) systems leveraging commercial cellular infrastructure, including 5G and emerging 5G-Advanced capabilities. Industry-led standardization efforts, including ongoing ISAC work within 3GPP Release 19 and related 5G-Advanced studies, further validate the viability of the underlying concepts and technologies. As a result, the fundamental scientific and technical feasibility questions that would normally be addressed during a Phase I effort should have already been sufficiently demonstrated. The remaining challenges are focused on system integration, prototype development, performance optimization, and operational evaluation in representative environments.

Design, implement, and demonstrate a prototype that has potential for both military and commercial use. The prototype, whether technology, product, or service—must meet the topic objectives (Attachment 1 and Appendix A) and account for both commercial and military deployment requirements.   Prototypes shall be demonstrated in the context of military and civilian scenarios such as non-RF emitting objects, Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) detection, vehicle detection, or biometrics. The prototype should support Open-RAN interfaces (e.g., 7.2x functional split, E2 Service Model and so on) and the prototype shall be integrated or interoperable with the Open Centralized Unit/Distributed Unit (OCUDU) software baseline, as published by the Linux Foundation where applicable. The design architecture shall utilize "Secure by Design" principles and align with the Department of War's (DoW) Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) framework.   Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) Refer to Appendix A - ISAC KPI Framework for RAPID for complete details.    Offerors, at a minimum, shall propose the below set of deliverables:              1. Program Kickoff- Format to be provided          2. Monthly Status Report- Format to be provided  3. Quarterly Technical Review- Format to be provided     4. Demonstration and Demonstration Report        5. Key Performance Indicators    6. Final implementation of the Phase 2 demonstrations   Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) Refer to  Appendix A - ISAC KPI Framework for RAPID for complete details.

Smart transportation and connected infrastructure: The firm may commercialize ISAC-enabled 5G-Advanced and future 6G network products for transportation agencies, roadway operators, ports, rail systems, airports, logistics centers, and smart-city providers. These capabilities could support collision warnings, intersection safety, autonomous-vehicle infrastructure, traffic-flow optimization, perimeter monitoring, and all-weather situational awareness. Industrial, warehouse, and critical-infrastructure monitoring: Private 5G networks deployed in manufacturing plants, warehouses, energy facilities, mining operations, and distribution centers could use ISAC to combine reliable wireless connectivity with passive sensing. This approach could reduce the cost, complexity, and maintenance burden associated with deploying separate radar, camera, and communications systems. Public safety, disaster response, and search-and-rescue: ISAC-enabled portable or fixed 5G infrastructure could support first responders operating during natural disasters, infrastructure failures, and mass-casualty events. Communications nodes could simultaneously restore broadband connectivity and assist with locating vehicles, personnel, or survivors in degraded-visibility environments. Commercial transition opportunities may include emergency communications providers, public-safety agencies, temporary-network vendors, and telecommunications equipment manufacturers. Installation protection and counter-unmanned aircraft system support: The firm may transition ISAC technology to fixed military installations, expeditionary bases, depots, airfields, ports, and other critical sites. Existing or deployed cellular and tactical-network infrastructure could be used as a distributed sensing layer to detect, localize, and track non-RF-emitting objects, including small, unmanned aircraft systems, ground vehicles, and personnel. Tactical edge sensing for distributed and contested operations: Mobile ISAC solutions may support mounted and dismounted formations, unmanned systems, tactical communications relays, and mobile command posts operating where Global Positioning System access, dedicated radar coverage, or reliable backhaul is degraded or unavailable. A mobile platform could maintain command-and-control or data-backhaul connectivity while using the same radio hardware and waveforms to identify obstacles, map local terrain, detect moving objects, and support route awareness. This would reduce the need to carry, power, protect, and sustain separate sensing systems.