FOA Questions and Answers 10 July 2020.pdf

FOA Questions and Answers:

FOA-20-AFRL/RVKE-0001

10 July 2020

No. Question Answer

Is partnering with the identified AF installations and/or other DoD sites a programmatic requirement?

No, it is not a requirement. The FOA gives examples of locations where work has been completed in the past. All locations within the US will be considered.

1.a

Is the AFRL currently considering applications proposing partnerships with Air Force bases not listed in the RFP? Yes. See question 1 above.

Would a consortium of academic centers partnering to provide support of the DoD STEM mission be considered responsive to the solicitation?

Yes. Please reference to Section III. Eligibility Information for additional details.

Are multiple Principal Investigators (PIs) leading one submission, allowed? Or is only one principal investigator allowed per submission?

Yes. Please reference to Section III. Eligibility Information, "consortia of such institutions or industry may submit proposals under this FOA."

Multiple Principal Investigators can submit a single submission.

3.a

Would a team consisting of multiple PIs from multiple universities/institutions be eligible to apply? Can the collaborating universities/institutions be from different states?

Yes. Please reference to Section III. Eligibility Information for additional details. See Question 2 and 3 above.

Can you clarify whether this funding opportunity is open to any workforce development projects, or do they need to be focused on students who are veterans or otherwise associated with AFRL?

This FOA supports STEM Workforce Development programs or projects that align with the Federal STEM Strategy and the DoD STEM Mission.

Please reference Section I-Funding Opportunity Description, C. Program

Description for additional details. Proposed projects or programs do not have to focus on students who are veterans or otherwise associated with

AFRL.

5 Is there a font size requirement for graphics?

There is no font size requirement for the graphics. However, the graphics

(table of contents, charts, graphs, maps, photographs, and other pictorial presentations) must be legible, when printed using standard 8.5" by 11" paper with 1 inch margins (top, bottom, left, and right).

In addition to the general stipend, will the sponsor allow our proposal to include a modest additional stipend, based on need that will cover this potentially lost income to students?

Yes, a proposal may include additional stipends (based on need) in order to expand the reach of the proposed program or project. However, please note, per the FOA, the cost proposal, must provide a narrative explaining and justifying budget figures in enough detail so the Government can determine reasonableness.

6.a

Do the current AFRL scholars cover their own travel expenses, housing, and M&IE? Or do they receive payment for those expenses in addition to the stipends listed below?

Under the current AFRL Scholars program, Currently, program participants cover their own travel expenses, housing, and M&IE.

For information on the current Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL)

Scholars Program visit: https://dodstem.us/stem-programs

Are we able to request funding multiple programs using a single application?

Yes. This FOA supports STEM Workforce Development programs or projects that align with the Federal STEM Strategy and the DoD STEM

Mission. Please reference Section I-Funding Opportunity Description, C.

Program Description for additional details. Recipients may choose to submit programs or projects that support ALL or SOME of the type of program or projects described in section C. Program Description.

7.a

Does this mean we can apply for funding for these annual programs for the next five years?

This is a five year open Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) accepting proposals from the date of publication for award of grants and cooperative agreements, subject to the availability of funds. Per the FOA, proposed efforts may range in size, complexity and periods of performance.

7.b

I'm submitting an application or pre-application. What's the difference and how do I know which to submit?

A pre-application package is not required through Grants.gov.

However, per the FOA, Page 8, Prior to submitting an application through

Grants.gov, Recipients are required to submit via e-mail a Letter of Intent to the designated Grants and Agreements Officer and Contracting

Specialist listed in Section VII - Federal Awarding Agency Contact(s).

Does this funding opportunity require that students be educated on the

Kirkland AFB? No. Students are not required to be educated at KAFB.

We understand that within the Letter of Intent we are to summarize how our project will meet the AFRL Program’s Goals and Objectives.

Is it imperative we meet each and every goal and objective listed?

In particular, as our proposed project involves high school students, we are not sure how to meet #3 of the Objectives: Support graduate students pursuing advanced degrees (i.e. Masters and PhDs) in areas of relevance to STEM literacy, innovation, and employment.

This FOA supports STEM Workforce Development programs or projects that align with the Federal STEM Strategy and the DoD STEM Mission.

Please reference Section I-Funding Opportunity Description, C. Program

Description for additional details. Recipients may choose to submit programs or projects that support ALL or SOME of the type of program or projects described in section C. Program Description.

https://dodstem.us/stem-programs

9.a

Are applicants required to address all of the program goals and objectives, or prioritize strategies concentrating on a number of them?

See question 9 above.

When is the Deadline for the Letter of Intent (LOI)? The FOA states that the "Initial Submission Deadline for Proposals" to be July 21, 2020, 2pm EST. Is this the LOI Deadline or Full Proposal Deadline?

This is a five year open FOA accepting proposals from the date of publication for award of grants and cooperative agreements, subject to the availability of funds. Initial submission deadline for proposals is 21 July

2020, 2:00 PM EST. Proposals submitted during the initial submission deadline will be prioritized for evaluations.

Proposals may be submitted any time from the FOA issue date, until the final submission deadline for proposals and will be evaluated as they are received. Prior to submitting a proposal, Recipients are required to submit a Letter of Intent to the Points of Contact (POCs) listed in Section VII -

Federal Awarding Agency Contact(s).

Can workforce development plans include "University Project-based

Learning Programs" for Graduate Students, Undergraduate Students and includes K-12 Outreach Activities, and integrate with Summer

Internships and Fellowship/Residency Programs at relevant partnership

DoD or FFRDC labs?

Would you please advise such partnership plans would be allowed and/or encouraged in this program?

Yes. Recipients may choose to submit programs or projects that support

ALL or SOME of the type of program or projects described in section C.

Program Description.

See questions 7 and 9 above.

Please reference to Section III. Eligibility Information for additional details on Federally Funded Research & Development Centers (FFRDCs) participation.

Would research labs (e.g., JPL) collaborators serve as Co-PIs? Can a research lab serve as a partner (no funding request) and a host for summer intern students in this program?

Please reference to Section III. Eligibility Information for additional details on Federally Funded Research & Development Centers (FFRDCs) participation.

Can we consider the availability of student housing on the bases. Will the STEM program participants be allowed to access base student housing? If so are there any issues related to access control we should consider?

For base housing information at Kirtland AFB (KAFB), New Mexico, please visit:

https://www.kirtlandfamilyhousing.com/

Please note the following for KAFB housing ONLY:

Base housing is subject to availability and not guarantee to program participants.

Base housing is only available to those individuals with access to the base installation.

https://www.kirtlandfamilyhousing.com/

Base housing is not FREE and individuals will have to apply for base housing on an individual basis.

Military active duty members will have priority for base housing.

Recipients interested in base housing should contact the housing office at the interested military installation for additional information.

15 What are the USGOV sensitivities to having minors on base?

This FOA supports STEM Workforce Development programs or projects that align with the Federal STEM Strategy and the DoD STEM Mission, to include high school internship efforts. Additional details would have to be given in the Letter of Intent and proposal.

For information on the current Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL)

Scholars Program visit: https://dodstem.us/stem-programs and other DoD high school programs please visit https://dodstem.us/

Will it be possible to arrange travel for STEM participants via USAF transport planes, etc.?

No. USAF transport planes are not available for transport of STEM participants.

The FOA text regarding eligibility on page 7 begins with the following, stating that industry is allowed to apply: All responsible sources from industry, non-profit institutions, institutions of higher education, state and local government, or consortia of such institutions or industry may submit applications under this FOA. Can - For-profit organizations other than small businesses business apply for the FOA?

For the purpose of this FOA, responsible industry refers to the sector of institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations or institutions, States, local governments, and Indian tribes, in addition to consortia of such institutions or industry/sector.

Please see FOA Amend 001, Section III- Eligibility Information, A.

Eligible Recipients, for revised language.

17. a Can small businesses apply?

Small business that are registered as nonprofits having a 501 (c ) (3) may apply for this FOA.

17.b

As a small business owner, I would like to submit a proposal. Would it be possible if I submit a grant stating I would work with undergraduate or graduate students, with, or without a university?

This FOA supports STEM Workforce Development programs or projects that align with the Federal STEM Strategy and the DoD STEM Mission.

Please reference Section I-Funding Opportunity Description, C. Program

Description for additional details.

17. c Is profit or fee allowed? No. Profit or fee is unallowable under this FOA (pg. 9).

17. d

Is industry eligible to submit a Letter of Intent and Proposal for the subject Funding Opportunity Announcement? See question 17 above.

https://dodstem.us/stem-programs https://dodstem.us/

What exactly does “Place of Performance” mean in this proposal?

What role would an IHE be able to provide? Will all work take place at the place of performance, or will some work be allowed elsewhere?

Please reference FOA Questions and Answers: Notice of Intent 05 June

2020. See Questions 16 and 28 for additional details.

Subject to the proposal type, institutions of higher education (IHE) may provide a range of roles, such as but no limited to primary Recipients of a proposed effort.

19 Are we required to submit a Letter of Intent prior to the proposal?

Yes. Please reference to Section III. Eligibility Information for additional details.

Can our Team have conference call with you before submitting a Letter of Intent?

No. However, please note that Recipients may be contacted by the

Program Manager(s) to discuss the proposed effort in the Letter of Intent after the Letter of Intent has been reviewed.