DoD Seeks Proposals From Nat’l Spectrum Consortium on USMC 5G Testbed Effort

The Department of Defense has issued requests for prototype proposals on a planned research and development effort focused on implementing 5G connectivity at a U.S. Marine Corps logistics base in Albany, Ga.

The three RPPs are open to members of the National Spectrum Consortium and covers 5G prototyping projects to develop a framework for deploying 5G in “smart warehouses” at MCLB Albany, NSC said Thursday.

Work under the program includes design, development, deployment and fielding of capabilities to support the effort’s testbed, enhancements and applications-focused increments.

Joseph Dyer, chief strategy officer of NSC, said the consortium has academic, industry and government members that work to solve challenges in 5G deployment.

“This is the first of four proposals that the DOD has released,” he said. “We encourage our membership, which is made up of traditional contractors and innovative startups, to collaborate and respond to these incredibly important RPPs.”

DoD also plans to issue RPPs on dynamic spectrum sharing and training concepts based on augmented and virtual reality.

NSC was established as part of an other transaction agreement with the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, Emerging Capabilities and Prototyping.