ASCA releases first two capability problem statements

Defence’s Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator (ASCA) has released its first Approach to Market (ATM) for the Mission Program. Industry and research partners have been invited to respond to a Request for Proposal (RFP) to help co-design and deliver ASCA’s first missions.

The closing date for the RFP is 25 January 2024

 The two ATM capability problem statements are:

• How might we penetrate and degrade advanced integrated air defence systems so that Defence can conduct effective long-range strike operations, taking into account speed and scale required to operate in congested and contested environments that is faster than a potential adversary’s ability to react?
• How might we improve the processing and synthesis of large amounts of intelligence data to support the planning and apportionment of platforms, taking into account different classification levels of data, systems and allies data systems?

To Deliver its first Mission, ASCA will undertake a two-phased approach:

1. Phase 1: Mission Co-Design – 8 week initial period with optional 4 week extension
2. Phase 2: Mission delivery – up to three years

Phase 1 will require the successful respondents to design, in collaboration with Defence key stakeholders, the delivery methodology and approach to execute and implement a solution to a Problem Statement. The mission co-design needs to be completed by May 2024.

During this phase, the proposed solution will be refined. An evaluation of the Co-Design activity will be undertaken and successful respondents may be invited to participate in Phase 2.

Phase 2 will be the delivery of the solution refined in Phase 1.

Proposals can be submitted for either one or both problem statements, says ASCA. Should a Respondent wish to submit a response for both Problem Statements, these submissions must be submitted separately and as independent responses to the RFP.

ASCA’s is intended to respond to strategically directed Defence priorities, facilitate solutions to the most relevant and urgent capability problems, and take a more flexible and agile approach to procurement to accelerate the transition of innovation into capability solutions for the Australian Defence Force (ADF).