CSO HR001122SC001_Frequently Asked Questions_04.24.23.pdf

CSO # HR001122SC001

Amendment 1 – April 24, 2023

DARPA Commercial Strategy:

Commercial Solutions Opening

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

GENERAL INFORMATION

1. Does the first bullet of Attachment 1, the Statement of Work (SOW) template, require that a highly qualified, entrepreneurially-experienced individual be identified prior to award in order to lead the execution of the proposed SOW task?

A: CSO Section 3.3.2.2.g only requires that the offeror “Identify the knowledge, skills, and experience the team would seek in an embedded entrepreneur to augment the team to execute the Go-to-Market Plan.”

2. Attachment 1, the Statement of Work (SOW) template states that we should propose to create a job description and description of the opportunity that can be used to help find appropriately Embedded Entrepreneur. Is this correct?

A: Yes. If an embedded entrepreneur is proposed, then the desired qualifications should be described in the Commercial Solutions Proposal (CSP) section “Offeror and Embedded Entrepreneur Qualifications and Capabilities” including their proposed level of effort.

3. Is there general information about how to estimate the cost for the proposed Embedded

Entrepreneur?

A: Yes. See Section 1 General Information: “This Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) is solicited by DARPA Commercial Strategy within the Director’s Office, which includes the Embedded Entrepreneurship Initiative (EEI), and awardees may participate in EEI described at https://eei.darpa.mil/.”

4. Will offerors have access to the DARPA Commercial Strategy, including EEI program resources?

A: If an offeror is selected for funding under this CSO, the offeror will have access to DARPA Commercial Strategy, including EEI resources, larger expertise, and network, including finding a suitable Embedded Entrepreneur candidate.

5. Is the suggested SOW content in the Commercial Solutions Proposal separate or included in the eight-page limit?

A: A proposed SOW should be included in the eight-page limit of the CSP.

6. Is there a funding range or ceiling, especially given that the max PoP is 24 months?

A: No, this CSO is solicited by DARPA Commercial Strategy within the Director’s Office, which includes the Embedded Entrepreneurship Initiative (EEI), and awardees may participate in EEI described at https://eei.darpa.mil/. This CSO may lead to funding of efforts in line with the EEI program as described, but there is no funding limitation for this CSO. The offeror should provide sufficient justification for the amount of funding proposed.

7. What exactly is considered derived DARPA R&D as referenced in Section 1.1.2.3?

A. The offeror should provide sufficient evidence to meet one of the conditions of derived DARPA R&D provided in Section 1.1.2.3 a-c. The requirement of evidence for the Compliance Brief is described in Section 3.2.1.3 b. and Section 3.4.1 for the Commercial Solution Proposal. The provided evidence will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis; therefore, Offerors should propose sufficient context (e.g., timeline, history, contract numbers, program names) and explanation of how the technology is https://eei.darpa.mil/ https://eei.darpa.mil/

CSO # HR001122SC001

Amendment 1 – April 24, 2023 genuinely derived from DARPA.

8. Section 1.1.3. describes Funding Restrictions for Large Businesses, can you please confirm that large traditional defense contractors are not eligible for funding under this CSO?

A. Generally, DARPA will not award funding to a large business traditional defense contractor for an embedded entrepreneur. However, DARPA will consider the use of Commercial Strategy resources to assist the large business in eliminating transition barriers under this CSO. The Offeror’s price proposal may provide whether the large business will use IRAD funding. The Price Proposal shall include prices for any testing, validation, or scaling requirements. If the Technical Proposal includes an MVP, the Price Proposal shall price the MVP separately from the balance of the work to deliver the proposed solution.

As stated in Section 1.1.3., DARPA may use other Commercial Strategy resources to help the large business achieve the EEI program goals by eliminating specific barriers to transition.

9. Can I submit a Commercial Solutions Proposal without submitting a Compliance Brief?

A. Per section 3.3.1., Commercial Solution Proposals from Offerors who have not been invited to submit may not be reviewed.

10. If I submit a Compliance Brief and a full Commercial Solutions Proposal is requested, is there a deadline to submit?

A. Although there is no deadline to submit after a full Commercial Solution Proposal is requested, be aware the deadline to submit to the DARPA Commercial Strategy Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) is September 14, 2023.

11. Is the Price Proposal, identified in pg.7, 3.3.2.3 of the CSP, included in the 8-page count of the

CSP as a whole?

A. No, the price proposal is not included in the 8-page count.

12. Can the budget narrative/supporting documentation for the price proposal be delivered in a separate attachment (i.e., not part of 8 page limit)?

A. Yes, the budget narrative/supporting documentation for the price proposal may be delivered in a separate attachment.

2. Attachment 1, the Statement of Work (SOW) template states that we should propose to create a job description and description of the opportunity that can be used to help find appropriately Embedded Entrepreneur. Is this correct?