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Message Epidemiology Resource for Counter insURgencY (MERCURY)

Award Information
Agency: Department of Defense
Branch: Navy
Contract: N00014-09-M-0219
Agency Tracking Number: O072-CR1-8025
Amount: $100,000.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: OSD07-CR1
Solicitation Number: 2007.2
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2007
Award Year: 2009
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2009-03-16
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2010-03-15
Small Business Information
1408 University Drive East
College Station, TX 77840
United States
DUNS: 555403328
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Arthur Keen
 Senior Research Scientist
 (979) 260-5274
 akeen@kbsi.com
Business Contact
 Donielle Mayer
Title: Business Operations Manager
Phone: (979) 260-5274
Email: dmayer@kbsi.com
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

Knowledge Based Systems Incorporated (KBSI) proposes Message Epidemiology Resource for Counter insURgencY (MERCURY). MERCURY will provide reliable techniques to optimize influence operations campaigns on insurgencies. Influence operations applied to insurgencies are complicated by the fact that active insurgency participants typically represent a small component of the population (less than 1%). MERCURY will provide computer modeling of the spread of messages that will take into account the full heterogeneity of the host population response and contact rate. MERCURY will additionally identify the “super spreaders” of information in the population in order to accelerate the spread of the message. In the super spreader model relatively few individuals are responsible for most of the transmission. MERCURY will be applied to the dissemination of counterinsurgency messages using super spreaders to achieve more effective and efficient use of information in counter-insurgency operations. MERCURY applies techniques of “Viral marketing” in this approach. MERCURY will focus on developing a solid modeling capability for the phenomena and integrating the capability into operations support systems to enhance the effectiveness of military operations.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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