Attachment_C_ExPEDitions_Full_Proposal_Guidance_Planning_Purposes.docx

PS DARPA-PS-26-118

For Planning Purposes Only Expeditionary Power- and Energy-Dense Implementations (ExPEDitions) Full Proposal Package Guidance

1. Overview:

This document highlights the major process for Full Proposal Package, and the instructions are not all comprehensive. Only major procedures are highlighted here for information only. Below is the Full Proposal Package general guidance for planning purposes only. In the event the instructions in this guidance deviate or conflict from the Invitation to Submit a Full Proposal for ExPEDitions, the instructions in the invitation will take precedence.

2. Important Dates:

· Full Proposal Package Questions Due: August 10, 2026 (anticipated)

· Full Proposal Package Submission Due Date: August 17, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. (anticipated)

3. Full Proposal Submission Guidelines

All Full Proposal Packages are required to be submitted via DARPA’s Broad Agency Announcement Tool (BAAT). Please visit Proposer Instructions: General Terms and Conditions- Unclassified Submission Instructions for instructions on how to submit your Full Proposal through BAAT no later than August 6, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. (anticipated). Note: This is the same submission portal used for abstract submission.

4. Full Proposal Package Instructions & Process Once abstract review is completed, the proposers for selected abstracts will be sent an invitation to submit an Full Proposal package, in which the proposers will be asked to provide further details on their proposed solution. The Full Proposal content and format (to include templates, submittal instructions for Full Proposals, evaluation criteria, and proposed presentation dates for oral presentations) will be provided in the invitation to submit an Full Proposal to those being selected present an oral presentation.

a) Title Page (.pdf) Include Proposer Name, Title, Date, Technical and Administrative Points of Contact Names (including email address, phone number, and work address for each), Place(s) of Performance, Proposal Validity Period (minimum 180 days), and Other Team Members (sub-awardees and/or consultants, if any). The title page does not need to be briefed.

The proposer shall include a statement on the title page that no people on the proposer’s team(s) work for DARPA as scientific, engineering, and technical assistance (SETA), advisory and assistance services (A&AS), or similar support services on an active contract or subcontract (including those awarded through DARPA agents), as DARPA policy prohibits support contractor individuals and entities from concurrently working as research and development performers.

The proposer shall also include a statement that identifies and substantiates which of the following condition(s) are met to permit use of OTs for Prototypes in accordance with 10 U.S.C. § 4022(d)(1):

i. There is at least one nontraditional defense contractor or nonprofit research institution participating to a significant extent in the prototype project;

ii. All significant participants in the transaction other than the Federal Government are small businesses (15 U.S.C. § 638) or nontraditional defense contractors;

iii. At least one third of the total cost of the prototype project is to be paid out of funds provided by sources other than the Federal Government; or

iv. The senior procurement executive for the agency determines in writing that exceptional circumstances justify the use of a transaction that provides for innovative business arrangements or structures that would not be feasible or appropriate under a contract, or would provide an opportunity to expand the defense supply base in a manner that would not be practical or feasible under a contract.

COST SHARING: Cost sharing is not required unless the proposer is a traditional defense contractor, who is not working with a non-traditional defense contractor to a significant extent.

b) Full Proposal (.pptx) (For informational purposes only AND SUBJECT TO CHANGE) Specific Proposal Instructions issued in conjunction with abstract responses within the Invitation to Submit a Full Proposal Package shall supersede any guidance contained within the solicitation. Proposers will be asked to outline their approach to developing a manufacturable, rechargeable secondary battery with both high-energy-density and high-power-density. Proposers will need to clearly explain the technical and scientific basis of their approach to finding a solution that meets the program objectives.

Note to Proposers: This solicitation is for Battery Developers only. Proposers are not required to include an End User or an integration partner on their team at this stage. As detailed in the 'Showcase and Expo' section, DARPA will provide a curated group of End Users via a separate solicitation to act as transition partners in Phase 2.

Proposals will need to include, at a minimum, the following information within Volume I -Technical and Management (Attachment G Proposal Summary Slide and Attachment H Proposal Instructions within this document):

· A detailed technical rationale of how the proposed solution can achieve the program goals and metrics, including, but not limited to, supporting empirical data, relevant literature citations, and/or calculations. Any quantitative performance figures must be supported by discussion or mathematical theory.

· A clear definition of the current benchmark performance characteristics for their device technology and how these benchmarks compare to the program metrics.

· Explicit definition of the physical form factor of the proposed battery cell. The proposal must either (1) Identify a standard cylindrical cell format (e.g., 18650, 21700) or (2) State that a pouch or prismatic cell will be used and provide the precise external dimensions (Length, Width, Height) of the cell's maximum bounding box. Failure to provide the information above will render the proposal non-conforming.

· At least one clearly defined (military or commercial) use case for the proposed technology and a rationale explaining the selection of that particular application. While a specific use case must be identified, proposers are encouraged to explicitly detail how their core battery architecture remains platform-agnostic and broadly applicable to other devices.

· A preliminary analysis of the manufacturability and materials costs for the proposed solution.

· A preliminary analysis of the supply chain for key battery materials and components. This should identify any high-risk or long-lead-time items and outline a preliminary strategy to ensure a stable supply chain for the fabrication of prototypes in both Phase 1 and Phase 2.

· A detailed plan for their BMS, which can involve either developing a new system or adapting an existing solution, to include commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) solutions, along with projected performance of cell-level vs. pack-level characteristics (including the BMS, casing, and thermal management). This analysis should justify the expected overhead losses.

· A detailed plan for the fabrication and delivery of 10 prototype battery packs to support End User integration and evaluation in Phase 2. Proposers must explicitly budget for these units in their cost proposal.

· Identification of risks associated with Phase 1 and Phase 2 and a risk mitigation plan with clearly defined risk metrics and success criteria.

· A description of the proposer’s technical capabilities for fabricating multiple battery prototypes. This description must emphasize the proposer's capability to execute high-volume, iterative cell production runs that allow for rapid design adjustments and fast-paced testing.

· A staffing plan with relevant expertise to support Phase 1 (Base) and Phase 2 (Option) tasks in electrochemistry and battery material design and integration.

· An outline of the management approach to ensure successful execution of the proposed effort.

· Explicit alignment of cost and technical volumes: Proposals must demonstrate consistency between the 'Schedule of Milestones and Payments' (submitted with the TDD) and the detailed 'Cost Proposal'. The descriptions, delivery dates, and pricing for every milestone and deliverable must match exactly across all documents. Any discrepancy between these sections may result in the proposal being deemed not selectable.

· ExPEDitions is not soliciting primary battery proposals or fuel cell proposals without a fuel regeneration component. Additionally, all proposers must answer the entire solicitation; ExPEDitions does not solicit partial solutions to the problem posed above.

c) Other Transaction (OT) for Prototype Agreement Proposers would need to complete and submit the Model Other Transaction (OT) for Prototype (Attachment K within this document) as part of the Full Proposal package. DARPA has provided the model OT in order to expedite the negotiation and award process. The Model Other Transaction (OT) for Prototype is representative of the terms and conditions that DARPA intends to award for ExPEDitions and includes the following eight (9) attachments:

1. Task Description Document (Same as Attachment L within this document)

2. Report Requirements

3. Schedule of Milestones and Payments (Same as Attachment M within this document)

4. Agreement Officer’s Representative Appointment Memo

5. Certifications for Agreement

6. Property and Equipment list (if applicable)

7. Performer Attestation

8. Associate Performer Agreement template (Same as Attachment F within the PS)

9. IP Assertion (if applicable)

Data Rights: As part of the IP Assertion, identify the proposed patent or data rights to be given to the Government under this agreement for the components of the proposed solution. For IP developed prior to the start of the agreement that will be utilized during program activities, clearly identify that IP and the anticipated level of IP rights that will be given to the Government. In particular, explain any anticipated license restrictions on the data to be delivered in Phase 2, if known.

d) Cost Spreadsheet and Milestone Schedule Proposers would need to complete Volume II - DARPA Cost (Attachments I Proposal Instructions and Attachment J DARPA Cost Spreadsheet within this document) for ExPEDitions. Both the prime and proposed subperformers must complete individual cost spreadsheets for each entity using the provided cost spreadsheet template. Budget estimation must be completed for the entire program, which includes a Phase 1 (base) and Phase 2 (option).

Milestones: In an Other Transaction (OT) for Prototype awards, milestones represent a complete event. Milestone schedule is based on key observable events on the critical path to accomplish program objectives. Payable milestones are technically, relevant, tangible events/tasks/items (a report, completion of a task, reaching an intermediate or final metric) on the critical path for which there is a deliverable and payment is rendered by DARPA. Fixed payable milestones are payments based on successful completion of the payable milestones as agreed to within the milestone plan and documented within the Schedule of Milestone and Payment (Attachment M in this document) Attachment M is the Schedule of Milestones and Payments, which contains the core payable milestones for the program. Proposers may suggest modifications or additions to the Schedule of Milestones and Payments; Please note that suggested edits may not be accepted by DARPA. Proposers must include a proposed payment for each of the payable milestones, and payments are triggered by completed performance of observable technical events (milestones).

5. Full Proposal Package Evaluation and Selection

a. Proposal Evaluation Proposals will be evaluated using the following criteria listed in descending order of importance. Overall Scientific and Technical Merit; Cost and Schedule Realism; and Proposer’s Capabilities or Related Experience.

· Overall Scientific and Technical Merit: The proposed technical approach is innovative, feasible, achievable, and complete. Detailed technical rationale is provided delineating why the proposed approach can achieve the program goals and metrics. Task descriptions and associated technical elements provided are complete and logically sequenced with all proposed deliverables clearly defined so the final outcome of the award’s work achieves the program’s goal. The proposal identifies major technical risks and planned mitigation efforts that are clearly defined and feasible.

· Cost and Schedule Realism: The proposed costs and schedule are realistic for the technical and management approach and accurately reflect the technical goals and objectives of the solicitation. The proposed costs are consistent with the proposer's Statement of Work and reflect a sufficient understanding of the costs and level of effort needed to successfully accomplish the proposed technical approach. The costs for the prime proposer and proposed sub-awardees are substantiated by the details provided in the proposal (e.g., the type and number of labor hours proposed per task, the types and quantities of materials, equipment and fabrication costs, travel and any other applicable costs and the basis for the estimates). The proposed schedule aggressively pursues performance metrics in an efficient time frame that accurately accounts for the anticipated workload. It is expected that the effort will leverage all available relevant prior research in order to obtain the maximum benefit from the available funding. For efforts with a likelihood of commercial application, appropriate direct cost sharing may be a positive factor in the evaluation. DARPA recognizes that undue emphasis on cost may motivate proposers to offer low-risk ideas with minimum uncertainty and to staff the effort with junior personnel in order to be in a more competitive posture. DARPA discourages such cost strategies.

· Proposer’s Capabilities or Related Experience: The proposer's prior experience in similar efforts clearly demonstrates an ability to deliver products that meet the proposed technical performance within the proposed budget and schedule. The proposed team has the expertise to manage the cost and schedule. Similar efforts completed/ongoing by the proposer in this area are fully described including identification of other Government sponsors.

b. Review and Selection DARPA’s policy is to ensure impartial, equitable, and comprehensive proposal evaluations based on the evaluation criteria listed above and to select the source (or sources) whose proposal meets the Government's technical, policy, and programmatic goals. DARPA will conduct a review of each conforming Full Proposal. All Full Proposal evaluations will be based solely on the evaluation criteria.

Using the applicable evaluation criteria, the Government will evaluate each Full Proposal in its entirety, documenting the strengths and weaknesses relative to the evaluation criteria. Based on the identified strengths and weaknesses, DARPA will determine whether an Full Proposal is selectable. DARPA will not evaluate individual submissions against each other during the scientific review process, but rather evaluate each individual submission on its own merit to determine how well the proposal meets the criteria stated in this PS.

DARPA may make an award to a proposer whose Full Proposal is determined to be selectable by the Government, consistent with applicable instructions and evaluation criteria and based on availability of funding. Given the limited funding available, not all proposals considered selectable may be selected for a potential award.

For the purposes of this proposal evaluation process, DARPA defines a “selectable” Full Proposal as follows:

· Selectable: A selectable Full Proposal is one that the Government has evaluated against the applicable evaluation criteria, and the positive aspects outweigh the negative aspects.

For the purposes of this proposal evaluation process, DARPA defines a “non-selectable” Full Proposal as follows:

· Non-Selectable: A non-selectable Full Proposal is one the Government has evaluated against the applicable evaluation criteria, and the positive aspects do not outweigh the negative aspects.

6. List of Attachments

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Attachment_G_Proposal_Summary_Slide_Template.pptx

Full Proposal Title Organization Name(s); Technical POC Name(s)

Provide graphic.

Describe the risks of the effort.

Describe new ideas.

Describe the team and responsibilities.

Source Selection Information – Distribution with Agreements Officer’s authorization only

DARPA-PS-26-118 ExPEDitions

Proposal Summary Slide Template

CONCEPT

RISKS

TEAM

APPROACH

image4.png image2.emf

Attachment_H_Proposal_Instructions_and_Volume_I_Template_Technical_and_Management.docx DARPA-PS-26-118: Expeditionary Power- and Energy-Dense Implementations (ExPEDitions)

Proposal Instructions and Volume I Template

Use of this template is mandatory for all proposal submissions to this PS. Proposers must include Attachments C through J. Proposals not meeting the format prescribed herein may not be reviewed.

This document must include all components described herein and must be submitted in PDF or Microsoft Word formats.

All submissions must be written in English, and all pages shall be formatted for printing on 8-1/2 by 11-inch paper with 1-inch margins and font size no smaller than 12-point. Font sizes of 8 or 10-point may be used for figures, tables, and charts.

Proposers are encouraged to submit concise but descriptive proposals. Specific examples of problems, approaches, or goals are preferred to qualitative generalities. The Government will not consider pages in excess of the page count limitations, as described herein. Proposals with fewer than the maximum number of pages will not be penalized. Additional information not explicitly called for in the Technical and Management Volume must not be submitted with the proposal but may be included as links in the bibliography. Such materials will be considered for the reviewers’ convenience only and not evaluated as part of the proposal.

Technical and Management Volumes shall not exceed a maximum of 20 pages.

Page limit includes:

Page limit does NOT include:

Sections 2-7

Cover Sheet

Technical figures, tables, charts

Official transmittal letter (Section 1)

Table of Contents

Sections 8-15

Resumes (Optional)

References/Bibliography (Optional)

Technical Papers (Optional, no more than 3)

Proposals must be submitted per the instructions outlined herein and received by DARPA no later than the due date and time listed in the Overview Information section. Proposals received after this time and date may not be reviewed. Please visit Proposer Instructions and General Terms and Conditions for instructions on how to submit your proposal through the Broad Agency Announcement Tool (BAAT).

COVER SHEET

[PRIME ORGANIZATION LOGO]

Proposal Title

Proposer Organization

Type of Organization

Choose all that apply: Large Business, Small Disadvantaged Business, Other Small Business, HBCU, MI, Other Educational, or Other Nonprofit.

Proposer Reference Number, if any

Technical Point of Contact (POC)

Name:

Address:

Telephone:

Email:

Administrative POC

Name:

Address:

Place(s) of Performance

Period(s) of Performance

Months

Other Team Members (subawardees and consultants), if any

Technical POC Name:

Organization:

Organization Type:

Total Proposed Cost (by Contractor Fiscal Year)

Year 1: $

Year 2: $

Year 3: $

Year 4: $

Total: $

SAM.gov Unique Entity ID (UEI)[endnoteRef:2] [2: The SAM-generated UEI becomes the official identifier for doing business with the U.S. Government. This replaces DUNS.]

Taxpayer identification number (TIN)[endnoteRef:3] [3: See https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/taxpayer-identification-numbers-tin for information on requesting a TIN. Note, requests may take from 1 business day to 1 month depending on the method (online, fax, mail).]

Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) code[endnoteRef:4] [4: A CAGE Code identifies companies doing or wishing to do business with the Federal Government.]

Administration Office POC at Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA)[endnoteRef:5] or Office of Naval Research (ONR)[endnoteRef:6], if known [5: https://pubapp.dcma.mil/CASD/CasdSearch.do.] [6: http://www.onr.navy.mil/Contracts-Grants/Regional-Contacts.aspx.]

Name:

Address:

Audit Office POC at Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA)[endnoteRef:7], if known [7: http://www.dcaa.mil/Home/Locator?title=Locator]

Name:

Date Proposal was Prepared

AI-Generated Material, if any

Did you use AI tools to assist in preparing this proposal? (If yes, what tools did you employ?)

Proposal Validity Period (minimum 120 days)

Table of Contents

1. Official Transmittal Letter 4

2. Proposal Summary 4

3. Goals and Impact 4

4. Technical Plan 4

5. Capabilities 4

6. Task Description Document (TDD) 5

7. Schedule and Milestones 5

8. Management Plan 5

9. Personnel, Qualifications, and Commitments 6

10. Organizational Conflict of Interest Affirmations and Disclosure 6

11. Novelty of Proposed Work 7

12. Representations and Certifications 7

13. Intellectual Property (IP) 7

14. Bibliography (Optional) 8

DARPA-PS-26-118 Volume I: Technical and Management Proposal Template

Source Selection Sensitive – Distribution with Agreement Officer’s authorization only

2 | Page

Official Transmittal Letter

[Attach the official transmittal letter from the prime proposer organization.]

Proposal Summary

[Provide a top-level synopsis of the proposed project, including answers to the following questions:

· What is the proposed work attempting to accomplish or do?

· How is the work performed today (what is the state of the art or practice), and what are the limitations?

· Who will care, and what will be the impact if the work is successful?

· How much will it cost, and how long will it take?

· What is new in your approach, and why do you think it will be successful?

The summary should include a description of the key technical challenges, a concise review of the technologies proposed to overcome these challenges and achieve the project’s goal, and a clear statement of the novelty and uniqueness of the proposed work.]

Goals and Impact

[Describe what you are trying to achieve and the difference it will make (qualitatively and quantitatively) if successful. Describe the innovative aspects of the project in the context of existing capabilities and approaches, clearly delineating the uniqueness and benefits of this project in the context of the state-of-the-art, alternative approaches, and other projects from the past and present. Describe how the proposed project is revolutionary and how it significantly rises above the current state of the art. Describe the deliverables associated with the proposed project and any plans to commercialize the technology, transition it to a customer, or further the work. Discuss the mitigation of any issues related to the sustainment of the technology over its entire lifecycle, assuming the technology transition plan is successful.]

· Identify one or more potential use-cases for the proposed battery technology and provide a clear justification for each.

Technical Plan

[Outline and address technical challenges inherent in the approach and possible solutions for overcoming potential problems. Demonstrate a deep understanding of the technical challenges and present a credible (even if risky) plan to achieve the project’s goal. Discuss mitigation of technical risk. Provide appropriate measurable milestones (quantitative if possible) at intermediate stages of the project to demonstrate progress and a plan for achieving the milestones. List Government-furnished materials or data assumed to be available.]

Capabilities

[Describe the organizational experience in the relevant subject area(s), existing intellectual property, or specialized facilities. Discuss any work in closely related research areas and previous accomplishments. Identify other Government solicitation(s) to which this concept has been proposed. If applicable, state whether funding or a positive funding decision has already been received and from which agency.]

Provide the following technical details and plans:

1. Battery Technical Specifications: A clear definition of the battery technology's physical and operational parameters, including:

· Form Factor: Identify a standard cylindrical cell format (e.g., 18650, 21700), or State that a pouch or prismatic cell will be used and provide the precise external dimensions (Length, Width, Height) of the cell's maximum bounding box.

· Operating Conditions: Specified voltage, capacity, charge/discharge rates, and environmental tolerance (e.g., temperature, humidity, vibration).

· Environmental Management: Define the battery's operational limits and performance characteristics under real-world environmental conditions.

· Baseline Performance: The battery's projected energy and power density without future technological improvements.

2. Battery Management System (BMS) Development Plan: A comprehensive plan outlining the strategy for designing, developing, and integrating a compatible BMS.

3. System Safety Analysis: An assessment of safety considerations for the entire proposed system. This must include a risk analysis, as well as hazard mitigation and prevention strategies.

4. Manufacturability/Critical Materials Considerations: An analysis of the battery's production feasibility and supply chain integrity. This section must address:

· Manufacturability: A plan for achieving scalable production.

· Supply Chain: An assessment of the reliance on critical minerals and other key materials, including sourcing strategies and plans to mitigate supply chain vulnerabilities and risks.

Task Description Document (TDD)

[Complete Attachment H to provide a detailed task breakdown by Contractor Fiscal Year, citing specific tasks and their connection to the interim milestones and metrics, as applicable. Do not include proprietary information.

For each defined task and subtask, provide:

· A general description of the objective.

· A detailed description of the approach to be taken to accomplish each defined task/subtask.

· Identification of any tasks/subtasks that will involve human subjects or animals.

· Identification of any tasks/subtasks that will be performed on campus at a university.

· Identification (by name) of the primary organization (prime contractor, sub-awardee (s), consultant(s)) responsible for task/subtask execution.

· A measurable milestone (e.g., a deliverable, demonstration, or other event/activity that marks task completion).

· A definition of all deliverables (e.g., data, reports, software) to be provided to the Government in support of the proposed tasks/subtasks.

· Identification of the proposed classification for each task/subtask.

· For all tasks and subtasks proposed to be unclassified, identify if the task/subtask is proposed as fundamental research or controlled unclassified information (CUI).

· Provide a short explanation for why each task/subtask should be categorized as fundamental research or CUI.]

Schedule and Milestones

Schedule and Milestones must be consistent with the TDD and Attachment I Schedule of Milestones and Payment. [Provide a detailed schedule showing tasks (task name, duration, work breakdown structure element as applicable, performing organization), milestones, and the interrelationships among tasks. The task structure must be consistent with that in the TDD. Measurable milestones should be clearly articulated and defined in time relative to the start of the project.]

Management Plan

[Provide a summary of the proposed team, including any subawardees/consultants and key personnel who will be executing the work (please use table below). Identify a principal investigator (PI) for the project. Provide a clear description of the team’s organization, including an organization chart that illustrates, as applicable, the relationship of team members, unique capabilities of team members, task responsibilities of team members, teaming strategy among the team members, and key personnel with the amount of effort to be expended by each person during the project. Provide a detailed plan for coordination, including explicit guidelines for interaction among collaborators/subawardees of the proposed project. Include risk management approaches. Describe any formal teaming agreements that are required to execute this project.]

Prime

Individual Name:

Organization:

Non-U.S. Organization: ¨ Yes ¨ No

Non-U.S. Individual: ¨ Yes ¨ No

FFRDC: ¨ Yes ¨ No

Government Entity: ¨ Yes ¨ No

Individual Name:

Organization:

Non-U.S. Organization: ¨ Yes ¨ No

Non-U.S. Individual: ¨ Yes ¨ No

FFRDC: ¨ Yes ¨ No

Government Entity: ¨ Yes ¨ No

Subawardees/Consultants

Individual Name:

Organization:

Non-U.S. Organization: ¨ Yes ¨ No

Non-U.S. Individual: ¨ Yes ¨ No

FFRDC: ¨ Yes ¨ No

Government Entity: ¨ Yes ¨ No

Personnel, Qualifications, and Commitments

[List key personnel (no more than one page per person), showing a concise summary of their qualifications, discussion of previous accomplishments, and work in this or closely related research areas. Indicate the level of effort in terms of hours to be expended by each person during each contract year and other (current and proposed) major sources of support for them and/or commitments of their efforts. DARPA expects all key personnel associated with a proposal to make substantial time commitment to the proposed activity, and the proposal will be evaluated accordingly. It is DARPA’s intention to put key personnel conditions into the awards, so proposers should not propose personnel that are not anticipated to execute the work.]

Organizational Conflict of Interest Affirmations and Disclosure

[In accordance with the requirements of the PS, provide the following information.]

a. Are any of the proposed individual team members or their respective organizations (whether prime or subawardee or consultant) currently providing SETA, A&AS or similar support to DARPA? ¨ No ¨ Yes

b. Did any of the proposed individual team members or their respective organizations (whether prime or subawardee or consultant) provide SETA, A&AS or similar support to DARPA within one calendar year of this proposal submission? ¨ No ¨ Yes

[If you answered “Yes” to 10.a OR 10.b, provide the following information for each applicable team member:

· The name of the DARPA office receiving the support;

· The prime contract number;

· Identification of proposed team member (subawardee, consultant) providing the support; and

· An OCI mitigation plan in accordance with FAR 9.5.]

c. Are there any other potential Organizational Conflicts of Interest involving any of the proposed individual team members or their respective organizations (whether prime or subawardee or consultant)? ¨ No ¨ Yes [If yes, provide the following information for each applicable team member:

· Identification of applicable team member; and

· An OCI mitigation plan in accordance with FAR 9.5.]

Novelty of Proposed Work

[Has the proposed work been submitted to any other Government solicitation?

¨ No ¨ Yes [If yes, provide the following information]

· Solicitation number ________________________

· Agency _________________________

· Proposed work has already received funding or a positive funding decision.

¨ No ¨ Yes ¨ Decision pending]

Representations and Certifications

Complete Attachment J Other Transaction Certification Template.

Intellectual Property (IP)

Please provide the following information, as applicable. Note: The Government will assume unlimited rights to all IP not explicitly identified as restricted in the proposal.

a. Technical Data and Computer Software

Are you asserting any IP restrictions on any technical data or non-commercial computer software that will be delivered to the Government? ¨ No ¨ Yes

[If yes, list all proprietary claims to results, prototypes, deliverables or systems supporting and/or necessary for the use of the proposed research, results, prototypes and/or deliverables. Provide a short summary for each item asserted with less than unlimited rights that describes the nature of the restriction and the intended use of the intellectual property in the conduct of the proposed research. Use the following format for these lists.]

NONCOMMERCIAL

Technical Data and/or Computer Software To be Delivered with Restrictions

Summary of Intended Use in the Conduct of the Research

Basis for Assertion

Asserted Rights Category

Name of Person Asserting Restrictions

Are you proposing any commercial software that will be delivered to the Government? ¨ No ¨ Yes

[If yes, please provide licensing terms.]

COMMERCIAL

Technical Data and/or Computer Software To be Delivered with Restrictions

Summary of Intended Use in the Conduct of the Research

Basis for Assertion

Asserted Rights Category

Name of Person Asserting Restrictions

b. Patents

Does the proposed effort involve using patented inventions that are owned by or assigned to the proposing organization or individual? ¨ No ¨ Yes [If yes, provide documentation proving ownership or possession of appropriate licensing rights to all patented inventions to be used for the proposed project. If a patent application has been filed for an invention, but it includes proprietary information and is not publicly available, provide documentation that includes: the patent number, inventor name(s), assignee names (if any), filing date, filing date of any related provisional application, and summary of the patent title, with either: (1) a representation of invention ownership; or (2) proof of possession of appropriate licensing rights in the invention (i.e., an agreement from the owner of the patent granting license to the proposer).]

DSO Fundamental Defense Research Talent Award (FDRTA) OR DSO Industry Immersion Program (IIP) Option (Optional)

[FDRTA Option should include (not to exceed 2 pages): A description of the additional research scope the student will lead while working alongside the rest of the performer team supporting the primary award. The additional scope should be distinct from, but related to, the main effort. The description should include a brief explanation of how this award will enhance the educational and research experience of the individual and contribute to the overall research goals of the program. A description of how the funds will be used to support a specific student or researcher (e.g., stipend, tuition, travel, research materials). The name and credentials (CV or resume) of the proposed individual (they must be proposed as Key or Senior Personnel, and thus will need FRRBS documentation). University confirmation of U.S. citizenship.]

[IIP Option should include (not to exceed 3 pages): A plan for the nine-month immersion, including research objectives and expected outcomes, and a rationale for the timing relative to the base award work plan. The name and credentials of the proposed individual, if known. If an individual is not identified, the proposal must describe the planned selection process. A letter of support from the corporate partner confirming their willingness to host the student/researcher. A description of the mentorship plan for the student/researcher at the corporate partner facility. A detailed cost breakdown, including estimated labor, travel, lodging, and per diem expenses.]

Bibliography (Optional)

[A brief (no more than 5 pages) bibliography may be provided with links to relevant papers, references, reports, etc.] image3.emf

Attachment_I_Proposal_Instructions_and_Volume_II_Template_Cost.docx DARPA-PS-26-118 Volume 2: Cost Volume Template

Source Selection Information – Distribution with Agreements Officer’s authorization only

DARPA-PS-26-118: Expeditionary Power- and Energy-Dense Implementations (ExPEDitions)

Cost Proposal Instructions and Volume II Template

The Cost Volume must address the full program (base + options) and must include all components described herein. No page limit is specified for the Cost Volume. Information incorporated into the Cost Volume that is not related to cost will not be considered.

Full proposals must use this form. All proposers must also use Attachment F: MS ExcelTM DARPA Standard Cost Proposal Spreadsheet.

All pages shall be formatted for printing on 8-1/2 by 11-inch paper with 1-inch margins and font size no smaller than 11-point. Font sizes of 8 or 10-point may be used for figures, tables, and charts. Submissions must be written in English. The Cost Volume must be in PDF or Microsoft Word formats. Spreadsheet files must be included as a separate file in the full proposal package.

The Government requires that proposers use the provided Attachment F: MS ExcelTM DARPA Standard Cost Proposal Spreadsheet in the development of their cost proposals. All tabs and tables in the cost proposal spreadsheet should be developed in an editable format with calculation formulas intact to allow traceability of the cost proposal. This cost proposal spreadsheet must be used by the prime organization and all subcontractors. In addition to using the cost proposal spreadsheet, the cost proposal still must include all other items required in this announcement that are not covered by the editable spreadsheet. Using the provided cost proposal spreadsheet will assist the Government in a rapid analysis of your proposed costs and, if your proposal is selected for award, speed up the negotiation and award execution process.

Costs must be traceable between the prime proposer and all subawardees/consultants, as well as between the cost volume and the SOW. This includes ensuring a consistent task structure across all proposal documents. For example, if the Statement of Work shows a task 1.1, then the cost proposal spreadsheet should show a task or a tab 1.1 and an explicit cost for that task. Cost information must be provided in sufficient detail to substantiate the proposed prices.

The prime proposer is responsible for the compilation and submission of all non-proprietary subawardee cost proposals. Proposal submissions will not be considered complete until the Government has received all subawardee cost proposals.

DARPA-PS-26-118 Volume 2: Cost Volume Template

Source Selection Information – Distribution with Agreements Officer’s authorization only

Proprietary subawardee cost proposals may be included as part of the Cost Volume or emailed separately by the subawardee to the email address listed in the Overview Information section of the PS. Email messages must include “Subawardee Cost Proposal” in the subject line and identify the principal investigator, prime proposer organization, and proposal title in the body of the message.

HR0011XXS00XX Volume 2 1

2 | Page

COVER SHEET

[PRIME ORGANIZATION LOGO]

Proposal Title

Proposer Organization

Type of Organization

Choose all that apply: Large Business, Small Disadvantaged Business, Other Small Business, HBCU, MI, Other Educational, or Other Nonprofit.

Proposer Reference Number, if any

Technical Point of Contact (POC)

Name:

Address:

Administrative POC

Name:

Address:

Place(s) of Performance

Period(s) of Performance

Months

Other Team Members (subawardees and consultants), if any

Technical POC Name:

Organization:

Organization Type:

Total Proposed Cost (by Contractor Fiscal Year)

Year 1: $

Year 2: $

Year 3: $

Year 4: $

Total: $

SAM.gov Unique Entity ID (UEI)[endnoteRef:2] [2: The SAM-generated UEI becomes the official identifier for doing business with the U.S. Government. This replaces DUNS.]

Taxpayer identification number (TIN)[endnoteRef:3] [3: See https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/taxpayer-identification-numbers-tin for information on requesting a TIN. Note, requests may take from 1 business day to 1 month depending on the method (online, fax, mail).]

Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) code[endnoteRef:4] [4: A CAGE Code identifies companies doing or wishing to do business with the Federal Government.]

Administration Office POC at Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA)[endnoteRef:5] or Office of Naval Research (ONR)[endnoteRef:6], if known [5: https://pubapp.dcma.mil/CASD/CasdSearch.do.] [6: http://www.onr.navy.mil/Contracts-Grants/Regional-Contacts.aspx.]

Name:

Audit Office POC at Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA)[endnoteRef:7], if known [7: http://www.dcaa.mil/Home/Locator?title=Locator]

Name:

Date Proposal was Prepared

Proposal Validity Period (minimum 120 days)

Table of Contents

Cost Summary 3

Cost Details 3

1. Direct Labor 3

2. Indirect Costs 3

3. Materials 3

4. Equipment Purchases 3

5. Travel 4

6. Other Direct Costs (ODCs) 4

7. Cost Sharing 4

8. Consultant Costs 4

9. Subawardee Costs 4

10. Rate Agreements 4

11. Requirements for proposers requesting an Other Transaction for Prototypes 4

Cost Summary

[Provide the following cost summary information:

· Cost Summary by Phase:

· Provide total effort cost by phase (or by base effort and options) and by contractor fiscal year. Costs must be broken down by major cost items to include labor costs, materials, travel, consultants, subawards, other direct charges (ODCs), indirect costs (overhead, fringe, general and administrative (G&A)), and any proposed fee for the project. Proposers are required to use Attachment F: MS ExcelTM DARPA Standard Cost Proposal Spreadsheet to provide the detailed cost summaries for each phase (or base effort and any proposed options) by contractor fiscal year.

Cost Details

[Provide the cost details broken down by the following. Include supporting documentation describing the method used to estimate costs:

· Phase

· Contractor fiscal year

· Month

· Statement of work task]

1. Direct Labor

[Provide individual labor categories or persons with associated labor hours and direct labor rates. In addition, in order to assess the cost realism of each task and subtask, each task and subtask should include all proposed labor categories with associated labor hours proposed.]

2. Indirect Costs

[Identify all indirect cost rates (Fringe Benefits, Overhead, G&A, Facilities Cost of Money, etc.) and the basis for each.]

3. Materials

[Provide an itemized list of all proposed materials, including quantities, unit prices, proposed vendors (if known), and the basis of estimate (e.g., quotes, prior purchases, catalog price lists, etc.). Any item that exceeds $5,000 must be supported with backup documentation, such as a copy of catalog price lists or quotes prior to purchase.]

4. Equipment Purchases

[Provide an itemized list of all proposed equipment, including quantities, unit prices, proposed vendors (if known), and the basis of estimate (e.g., quotes, prior purchases, catalog price lists, etc.). Any item that exceeds $5,000 must be supported with backup documentation, such as a copy of catalog price lists or quotes prior to purchase. Include any requests for Government-furnished equipment or information with cost estimates and delivery dates.]

5. Travel

[Provide the purpose of the trip, number of trips, number of days per trip, departure and arrival destinations, number of people, etc.]

6. Other Direct Costs (ODCs)

[Provide an itemized breakdown with costs. Backup documentation must be submitted to support proposed costs. An explanation of any estimating factors, including their derivation and application, must be provided.]

7. Cost Sharing

[Provide the source, nature, and amount of any industry cost-sharing.]

8. Consultant Costs

[Provide a copy of all consultants’ proposed SOWs as well as signed consultant agreements or other documents that verify the proposed loaded daily / hourly rate, hours, and any other proposed consultant costs (e.g., travel).]

9. Subawardee Costs

[For each proposed subawardee, provide the information requested above in Sections 1-7. All documentation must be prepared at the same level of detail as that required of the prime proposer.

Provide the following for all proposed subawardees, as applicable:

· A copy of the proposed TDD as well as any documents that verify the proposed loaded daily / hourly rate, hours, and any other proposed costs (e.g., travel).

· Interdivisional work transfer agreements or evidence of similar arrangements.

· Status of any subcontract letters of commitment and/or teaming agreements and estimated time to finalize subaward(s).

10. Rate Agreements

[Provide any available approved rate information or other documentation that may assist in expediting negotiations (e.g., Forward Pricing Rate Agreement, Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), or Office of Naval Research (ONR) rate agreements).]

11. Requirements for proposers requesting an Other Transaction for Prototypes

[Provide the following information where applicable.

Proposers must indicate whether they qualify as a nontraditional Defense contractor,[endnoteRef:8] have teamed with a nontraditional Defense contractor, or are providing a one-third cost share for this effort. Provide information to support the claims. [8: For definitions and information on Other Transaction agreements see http://www.darpa.mil/work-with-us/contract-management#OtherTransactions.]

Provide a detailed list of milestones. Complete Attachment I Schedule of Milestones and Payment to include description, completion criteria, due date, and payment/funding schedule (to include, if cost share is proposed, contractor and Government share amounts). Milestones must relate directly to the accomplishment of technical metrics as defined in the solicitation and/or the proposal. While agreement type (fixed price or expenditure-based) will be subject to negotiation, the use of fixed price milestones with a payment/funding schedule is preferred. Proprietary information must not be included as part of the milestones.] image4.emf

Attachment_J_DARPA_Cost_Proposal_Spreadsheet Expeditions 0519.xlsx

SUMMARY

SUMMARY OF THE TOTAL PROPOSED COST

Direct Costs $ - 0

Fringe Costs $ - 0

Overhead Costs $ - 0

Subcontract Costs (if applicable) $ - 0

Subcontract Overhead $ - 0

Total Consultant Costs $ - 0

OTHER DIRECT COSTS

Materials/Supplies $ - 0

Equipment $ - 0

Travel $ - 0

Other ODC's $ - 0

Total Other Direct Costs $ - 0

TOTA Material Handling Costs $ - 0

SUBTOTAL COSTS $ - 0

G&A/F&A COSTS $ - 0

TOTAL COSTS $ - 0

TOTAL Cost of Money (COM) $ - 0

Fee/Profit (If applicable) $ - 0

FDRTA/ IIP Option $ - 0

TOTAL COST PLUS FEE (OR TOTAL PRICE) $ - 0

Total Amount

DARPA Streamlined Cost Proposal Spreadsheet JAN-2026 - See Detailed Instructions Below Cost Information and User Guide on Last Tab

Highlighted cell color corresponds to notes below (some cells also have notes for additional guidance)

**All calculations in cells must have a traceable formula**

Proposer Name:

Date of Proposal or Revision Submission:

Prime or Subcontractor (dropdown): (Fill-in)

CAGE CODE: (Note 2) (Note 2)

Base Phase 1 (CFY #1 MM/YY to MM/YY) Base Phase 1 (CFY #2 MM/YY to MM/YY) Base Phase 1 (CFY#3 (complete only if 3 FYs are applicable in Phase 1) MM/YY to MM/YY) (Option) Phase 2 (CFY# [ fill in ] MM/YY to MM/YY) (Option) Phase 2 (CFY # [ fill in ] MM/YY to MM/YY) Total

Direct Labor (DL) Enter Project PoP as "MM/YY to MM/YY" 18 Months Enter Project PoP as "MM/YY to MM/YY" 18 Months 36 Months wade.wargo: Indicate the actual number of total months for the Base and Options.

Proposer's Labor Category (Note 1) DARPA Labor Category (Note 1) Name (Last, First) Hours Direct Rate Direct Cost Fringe Benefits Rate Fringe Benefits Cost tc={90A6E888-1A75-4266-98F9-4B8314C515C6}: [Threaded comment]

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Comment:

Insert formulas in Column as appropriate. See Note 3 Overhead Rate Overhead Cost tc={37D6EDB9-9504-49E9-B8D5-667BE466E0CD}: [Threaded comment]

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Comment:

Insert formulas in Column as appropriate. See Note 3 Burdened Labor $ Hours Direct Rate Direct Cost Fringe Benefits Rate Fringe Benefits Cost tc={274927CE-D48C-4461-ACC5-6763DC3F958C}: [Threaded comment]

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Comment:

Insert formulas in Column as appropriate. See Note 3 Overhead Rate Overhead Cost Burdened Labor $ Hours Direct Rate Direct Cost Fringe Benefits Rate Fringe Benefits Cost tc={1D08FF4B-5966-4642-B19B-D25B04A61208}: [Threaded comment]

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Comment:

Insert formulas in Column as appropriate. See Note 3 Overhead Rate Overhead Cost Burdened Labor $ Hours Direct Rate Direct Cost Fringe Benefits Rate Fringe Benefits Cost tc={E374389D-2B3C-4089-B85A-FEBDFFCA2F7F}: [Threaded comment]

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Comment:

Insert formulas in Column as appropriate. See Note 3 Overhead Rate Overhead Cost Burdened Labor $ Hours Direct Rate Direct Cost Fringe Benefits Rate Fringe Benefits Cost tc={68F51A89-1F22-4FE7-9CD3-A891344E3A10}: [Threaded comment]

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Comment:

Insert formulas in Column as appropriate. See Note 3 Overhead Rate Overhead Cost Burdened Labor $ Hours Subtotal

$ - 0 $ - 0 $ - 0 $ - 0 $ - 0 $ - 0 $ - 0 $ - 0 $ - 0 $ - 0 $ - 0 $ - 0 $ - 0 $ - 0 $ - 0 $ - 0 $ - 0 $ - 0 $ - 0 $ - 0 - 0 $ - 0