Software Developer (Replenishment at Sea Planner (RASP))

Title: Software Developer (Replenishment at Sea Planner (RASP))

Location: Remote

Client: Naval Postgraduate School-NPS

Background/Introduction:

The Replenishment at Sea Planner (RASP) is a flagship-level, NPS-designed, government-owned software platform for determining the best course of action in real-world logistics scenarios. It is currently being used both by headquarters functions as a planning and budgeting tool, as well as by deployed commanders (specifically, 5th and 7th Fleet N4) to determine the best ways to move supplies. In order to maintain compatibility with other software tools run on both unclassified and classified computers, RASP requires both web interfaces as well as interfaces to Microsoft Excel via Visual Basic for Applications (VBA). While computer programming and technical design are within the capability of faculty and students at the NPS Operations Research Department, the type of dedicated work required to build detailed interfaces is not an intended use of faculty labor, and delivering user-ready, professionally tested software is outside the scope of thesis students. Therefore, a dedicated contractor or employee to support this development is required

Tasks:

The contractor shall perform the following task(s) as follows:

• Develop and deploy user interface in Excel compatible with an updated, modernized RASP that includes multi-tier logistics modeling. This task will be satisfactorily completed with a successful local installation and user experience at client organization.
• Develop and deploy user interface using the Internet on NPS hosted computing environments, to include if able, the NVIDIA Compute stack currently being installed in Ingersoll hall. This task will be satisfactorily completed with a successful user experience at client organization using NPS-hosted internet environment(s).

• Develop code, tools, comments, and documentation. This objective will be successfully completed upon NPS acceptance of code base and associated documentation both as a code repository and, if desired, NPS technical report.

• Assist NPS in faculty and student research efforts related to RASP, including scenario design and analysis. This objective will be successfully completed upon Project lead's acceptance of effort.

• Maintain and update RASP interface to other funded Navy programs that align with the intent of RASP consistent with multi-tier logistics modeling. This task will be satisfactorily completed based on feedback from stakeholders in applicable programs.

Minimum Technical Requirements:

• 5+ years' experience with Python, Pyomo and other open-source software systems
• 5+ years' experience supporting DoN logistics commands in the area of replenishment at sea as evidenced by analysis of their operations, suggested improvements to their scheduling practices and participation in wargames, exercises or operations
• Master user of MS Office Suite, including VBA
• 5+ years of experience working in/developing Python web server environments
• Education level required is a Master of Science Degree

Deliverables:

The contractor shall be responsible for providing the following deliverables:

• Fully documented, executable code that runs RASP and associated routines from a local (on machine) installation with MS Excel as a front-end, and fully documented code.

• Fully documented, executable code that interfaces RASP and associated routines on an NPS Server.

• Transitioning of RASP MS Excel code to MS Office 365 complete with ability to validate and create informational products used by sitting schedulers in an operational environment.

• Updated instances of operational scenarios consistent with faculty and student research projects.