FedBizOpps Lists Request for Whitepapers for Quantum-Resistant Encryption Model

(BreakingDefense) The Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) is employing its Other Transaction Authority contracting capability to issue a request for whitepapers on a potential encryption model that can’t be broken by quantum computing. “One of the immediate concerns facing DoD has to do with public key cryptography data encryption,” states the requirement on FedBizOpps. “Theoretically, adversaries could utilize quantum computers to crack the code that is widely used for secure online transactions and communications. Certain algorithms currently utilized across the DoD on various systems are vulnerable to attacks from large-scale quantum computers.”
White papers up to 15 pages in length are due by the end of May, followed by a Request for Project Proposal to a vendor, then a project work statement, culminating in the award of a prototype OTA. The FedBizOpps solicitation did not specify a timeframe for the award.