QA_BAA 75D301-20-R-67922.docx

Questions & Answers Broad Agency Announcement Underground Mine Evacuation Technologies and Human Factors Research

Question 1: In the RPF it was mentioned that “The PI must be employed by an academic department that offers (2) graduate programs in both mining and explosives engineering.”

We are planning on submitting a collaborative proposal; below are the details of the investigators:

· Dr. XXXXXXX, PI – University A

· Dr. XXXXXXX – Co-PI, University B

· Dr. XXXXXXX - Co-PI, University C I would like to serve as the PI on this proposal and I am from University A. At our university we offer graduate programs in Mining Engineering but not a separate program in explosives engineering, however, we do offer courses in explosives and blasting to our and our students conduct research in these areas. In this regard, I was wondering if I am eligible to serve as a PI on this proposal?

Answer 1: The language in the Congressional Appropriation was quite specific, requiring an offeror to have graduate programs in both mining and explosives engineering. While an offeror must make its own determination, an offeror with courses in blasting and explosives without a graduate program with students focused in explosives engineering does not meet this criteria.

Question 2: My name is XXXXX, and I am an assistant professor of Mineral Engineering at the University A. I just received the solicitation from our department chair. I was wondering if you can answer the following questions:

University A offers a graduate mining degree with a specialization in explosive engineering. I was wondering if you can tell me if based on the BAA language, we are qualified to submit a proposal.

Can we have Co-PIs from other universities that do not have a mining program or do not have the requirements of this BAA? Specifically, can we use other universities' facilities under this BAA?

Answer 2: A preliminary analysis by the NIOSH Mining Program showed that University A met the criteria established in the Congressional Appropriation – it would be up to University A to provide data in the response to the solicitation to support your program qualifications.

With regard to your questions about Co-PIs and other university facilities, that would be dependent on the nature of your proposal and the amount of work done under the proposal outside of University A. Since Congress directed the funding to mining programs that also include graduate programs in explosives engineering, the tie with your existing graduate programs should be a consideration as well.

Question 3: I had a question about the BAA listed above. On page 11 there is a paragraph discussing submission, please see below.

2. Method of Submission: Full proposals shall be submitted electronically by email to vyh1@cdc.gov. Proposals sent via email must be time stamped by the time indicated above (Note: the email date and time becomes the official "time stamp" for electronic submissions.). Electronic files must be submitted as a MS Word document with the exception of the cover page.

Then on page 12 it lists the following below.5. Address for the Submission of Proposals -Full proposals shall be submitted electronically by email to LKriel@cdc.gov.

Please advise which email we should submit to.

Answer 3: Both e-mail addresses belong to the same recipient, you can submit your response to either one of those e-mail addresses.

Question 4: I’d like to verify that University A satisfies the eligibility criteria. We have a full Mining graduate program. Our material science graduate program has a focus in Explosives Formulation and Characterization.

Answer 4: The Congressional Appropriation language stated the funds were for universities with graduate programs in mining and explosives engineering. Explosives Formulation and Characterization is not consistent with Explosive Engineering. The example University A cites does not meet that criteria.

Question 5: This is XXXXXXX from the University A. I have two questions about the Solicitation number: 75D301-20-R-67922.

a) Our University is an ABET-accredited institution offering Mining Engineering at the undergraduate level. We also offer a graduate program in MS and Ph.D. levels under the name of “Mineral Resources Engineering” which is an umbrella for all fields of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering (including mine blasting and explosives research). For example, I have a Ph.D. student working on mine blasting optimization currently. Am I eligible to apply for this solicitation?

b) Is it possible to budget for the salaries of Principal Investigator or Co-Principal Investigators?

I appreciate your response in advance.

Answer 5:

a) The Congressional Appropriation language stated the funds were for universities with graduate programs in mining and explosives engineering. For your department to meet this criterion, you would have to demonstrate that you have a graduate program that focuses on explosives engineering with specific courses as part of your curriculum and that you have graduate students in this field of study. Your department would have to provide detail as to how you meet the Congressional Appropriation language in your response to the solicitation.

Your question doesn’t have enough detail for a definitive response but one graduate student working on mine blasting optimization without a formal graduate program with defined courses and other graduate students would not meet the criteria.

b) The offeror should include all costs associated with the project in the business proposal.