That tech area becomes available at level 3 in Intelligence Services. Improvements in the tech area will improve the efficiency of attack points for that area. The parenthesis with the range of levels shouldn't really be there since the projects themselves don't have levels, so I'll get rid of them for the next update. It's the intel area, such as Empire Wide - Espionage, that have actual levels.
Check the first page of the tech chart to see the format of the chart and explanations for abbreviations etc.