We propose to develop a software tool, ASCEND, that enables an end user to search and identify potential suppliers capable of meeting specific DoD and non-DoD system requirements. ASCEND aims to provide operational acquisition professionals (end users) with the proper research and data required to make smart, defendable, and cost-effective purchasing decisions by unlocking latent information on supplier capabilities contained in non-DoD public and proprietary data sources. ASCEND will utilize a combination of advanced machine learning methods, including named entity recognition and deep neural networks, to infer suppliersÂ’ capabilities from unstructured text data, for example technical white papers and product specification documents. At a strategic level, ASCEND will enable senior DoD leaders to identify strengths and weaknesses in the national supply chain related to emerging technologies such as (but not limited to) urban/advanced air mobility (UAM/AAM).
