Air Force X20.R Commercial Solutions Opening Amendment 1_04062020 FINAL.pdf

DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE (AF)

SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH (SBIR) PROGRAM

X20.R SBIR COMMERCIAL SOLUTIONS OPENING (CSO)

AF VENTURES DIRECT TO PHASE II TOPIC AF20R-DCSO1

AMENDMENT 1

6 April 2020

The subject solicitation is hereby amended to reflect the following changes:

1. Section 2.1, Objectives, is changed as follows:

a. “The DoD 10 Technology Focus Areas representing AF Strategic priorities are listed below. An additional Focus Area, number 11, COVID-19, has been added to address the current pandemic. Proposals are not required to address one of these areas.”

b. Added to the list of Focus Areas: “11. COVID-19 - The AF COVID-19 Operational

Planning Team (OPT) has assembled to identify key interest areas supporting COVID-19 defeat and mitigation related to AF operations and activities. The areas of interest identified by the AF COVID-19 OPT are found at Attachment 1. Please note, number 6 is open to solutions not contemplated under 1-5.”

2. Section 6.0, Direct to Phase II Evaluation Criteria, is replaced in its entirety with the following:

All Phase I and II proposals will be evaluated and judged on a competitive basis. Proposals will be initially screened to determine responsiveness. Proposals passing this initial screening will be peer reviewed by engineers or scientists to determine the most promising technical and scientific approaches. Each proposal will be judged on its own merit. AF is under no obligation to fund any proposal or any specific number of proposals under this topic. It also may elect to fund several or none of the topic’s proposed approaches.

Proposals will be peer reviewed based on the criteria below. Selections will represent best value to the Government considering the following factors listed in descending order of importance:

a. The potential for commercial (Government or private sector) application and benefits expected to accrue from commercialization. The SBC’s record of commercializing SBIR or other research, the existence of Phase II follow-on commitments for the subject research, and matching funding, whether from

Government or private sources, are evidence of commercialization potential.

b. The appropriateness, relevance, and specificity of an identified Defense Need. A complete, signed, and cogent Air Force Customer Memorandum is an indicator of the appropriateness, relevance, and specificity of an identified Defense

Need. Adequacy of the proposed effort and its relationship to fulfilling the identified Defense Need.

c. The soundness, technical merit, and innovation of the proposed approach and its incremental progress toward fulfilling the identified Defense need and the qualifications of the proposed Principal Investigators/Project Managers, supporting staff, and consultants to execute against the proposed approach

Price reasonableness will be considered to the extent appropriate.

Peer reviewers will base their conclusions only on information contained in the proposals except when specified, e.g., the ‘100-second video’. It cannot be assumed that reviewers are acquainted with the firm or key individuals or any referenced experiments.

IAW 15 USC 638(dd)(7), investment by venture capital, private equity firms, or hedge funds shall not be used as an award criterion.

Other Factors Considered During the Selection Process:

- Possible duplication with other R/R&D;

- Potential integration with other Air Force or DoD Programs;

- Phase III potential;

- Funding limitations;

- Innovativeness;

- USAF SBIR program balance;

- Applicant small business size/status pursuant to 13 CFR 121.701-705; demonstrations of eligibility through registrations pursuant to FAR Subpart 4.11 and 4.18; and applicant responsibility pursuant to FAR Part 9;

- National security concerns.

The effort’s cost to the Government may be considered to determine the successful offeror when more than one proposal is found to be essentially equal in merit.

3. Section 10.0, Direct to Phase II Topic, is changed as follows:

a. The topic number is changed from “AF201-DCSO1” to “AF20R-DCSO1”.

b. Areas of Focused Defense Need: The final sentence in the paragraph, i.e., “Link:

https://afwerx.af.mil/sbir.html”, is deleted in its entirety.

All other content of the subject solicitation remains unchanged and in full effect.

https://afwerx.af.mil/sbir.html