2010 PART II BAA_MAY2010.doc

Part II:

TECHNICAL SUBMISSION PROCESS

LONG RANGE BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT

BAA 10-01

FOR

THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DIRECTORATE

INTRODUCTION:

This is a Long Range Broad Agency Announcement (LRBAA) as contemplated in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 6.102(d) (2) and 35.016. A formal Request for Proposal (RFP) will not be issued.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science & Technology (S&T) Directorate will not issue paper copies of this Announcement. DHS S&T reserves the right to select for award and fund all, some, or none of the Full Proposals received in response to this Announcement. No funding for direct reimbursement of proposal development costs will be allowed. Technical and cost proposals (or any other material) submitted in response to this BAA will not be returned. However, depending on the markings on the proposal, DHS S&T will adhere to FAR policy on handling source selection information and proprietary proposals. It is the policy of DHS S&T to treat all proposals as sensitive competitive information and to disclose their contents only for the purposes of evaluation.

Multiple awards are anticipated to be issued through this BAA and will be based on an assessment of the overall best value to the government. Awards will be made based upon the proposal evaluation, funds availability, and other programmatic considerations. Awards may take the form of contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, or other transaction agreements (OTAs). Therefore, the applicable laws and regulations governing the legal vehicle used for award will depend on the legal vehicle chosen by DHS S&T. In the event an Offeror or subcontractor is a Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC), Department of Energy National Laboratory, or other Federally funded entity, DHS S&T will work with the appropriate sponsoring agency to issue an interagency agreement pursuant to the Economy Act (31 U.S.C. 1531) or other appropriate authority.

DHS S&T also issues Targeted BAAs. Given the intentionally broad scope of the Long Range BAA, we encourage you to first consult the open Targeted BAAs. If none of these Targeted BAAs relate to your interests and goals, then we encourage you to carefully consider how such interests and goals address DHS capability gaps identified in Part I of this Announcement. Your conclusions based on this analysis must be clearly articulated in your submission.

This document is Part II of the Long Range BAA. Part I of this BAA contains the Technical areas of interest and Divisional requirements. Please refer to Part I to determine if your specific area of interest will assist a DHS Division in fulfilling its goals. If you conclude that your idea will be of interest to DHS S&T, please print Part II (this document), which guides Offerors through the Long Range BAA submission process. Part II provides details on what must be included in your White Paper or Full Proposal, explanations of how to submit and steps in the process, as well as the evaluation Factors and elements.

Ethical Considerations Regarding Competitive Information

Once a White Paper or a Full Proposal has been submitted, the evaluation period remains active and pending until the LRBAA BAA Contracting Officer issues an official notification letter to the Offeror. At any point in time during the evaluation period, no communication shall occur between S&T personnel and the Offeror regarding the submission or its general subject matter, except as noted below.

During the evaluation period, the LRBAA Contracting Officer must be the focal point of any exchange with Offerors. The LRBAA Coordinator may be contacted via email solely for administrative assistance and guidance regarding the submission process, status updates, or administrative matters.

If you feel it is in your best interest to pursue projects for which blueprint requirements are specified, please refer to one of the open Targeted BAAs.

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

Points of Contact:

W. Adrian Groth

Long Range Broad Agency Announcement Coordinator

Department of Homeland Security

Science & Technology Innovation Division

245 Murray Lane, SW

Mail Stop 2100

Washington, DC 20528-2100 adrian.groth@hq.dhs.gov| Cherita Thomas Contracting Officer

Department of Homeland Security

Office of Procurement Operations

Science & Technology Acquisition Division

245 Murray Lane, SW Mail Stop 2100

Washington, DC 20528-2100 cherita.thomas@dhs.gov

1. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number – 97.065

2. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Title – Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency

3. Other Information – This Announcement is restricted to work relating to basic and applied research and that portion of advanced technology development not related to a specific system or hardware procurement. Purchase of capital equipment for experimental research may be allowed provided that such purchase fulfills DHS requirements and represents significant benefit to the Government. Contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, and other transaction agreement awards made under this BAA are for scientific study and experimentation directed towards advancing the state-of-the art or increasing knowledge or understanding.

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT DOES NOT COVER SUPPORT SERVICES such as technical services, engineering services, or other kinds of support services. Submissions indicating this intent will be rejected for non-compliance by the Long Range BAA Advisory Board and receive no further consideration. The Contracting Officer will send a letter stating the submission was non-compliant with the scope of this LRBAA.

II. AWARD INFORMATION

The award value and period of performance of each selected Full Proposal will vary depending on the research area and the technical approach to be pursued by the selected Offeror.

Offerors who seek to extend, through this LRBAA, work previously completed must clearly articulate where the old work ended, where the new work begins, and what new advances are expected from the work contemplated under this BAA. Please ensure it is clear that the work now being submitted is independent of previous work (i.e. the next logical step in the research, or investigating a situation that was discovered and not funded under the previous award). Submitting existing Statements of Work and indicating which steps have been completed is not sufficient justification for an independent award under the LRBAA.

DHS S&T reserves the right to select for award and fund all, some, or none of the Full Proposals received in response to this Announcement. If an award decision is made, understand that a negotiation process will determine how much of the selected proposal is actually funded. A proposal may be selected, but only specific portions may be of interest.

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

This LRBAA is open to ALL responsible sources. Foreign or foreign-owned Offerors are advised that their participation is subject to foreign disclosure review procedures, applicable export control laws, and other applicable Federal laws, regulations, and policies pertaining to U.S Government business with foreign entities.

Offerors may include single entities or teams from private sector organizations, Government laboratories, airport authorities, Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs), and academic institutions.

Federally Funded Research & Development Centers (FFRDCs), including the Department of Energy National Laboratories and Centers, are eligible to respond to this LRBAA, individually or as a team member of an eligible principal Offeror, as so long as they are permitted to respond to Announcements/solicitations such as this under the applicable sponsoring agreement between the Government and the specific FFRDC.

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), Minority Institutions (MI), Small Business concerns, Small Disadvantaged Business concerns, Women-Owned Small Business concerns, Veteran-Owned Small Business concerns, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business concerns, and HUBZone Small Business concerns are encouraged to submit proposals and to join other entities as team members in submitting proposals.

Independent organizations and teams are encouraged to submit proposals. However, Offerors must be willing to cooperate and exchange software, data and other information in an integrated program with other contractors, as well as with system integrators, selected by DHS S&T.

Organizational Conflict of Interest issues will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis as outlined below. Offerors who have existing contract(s) to provide scientific, engineering, technical and/or administrative support directly to DHS S&T will receive particular scrutiny.

Organizational Conflict of Interest:

(a) Disclosure. In a Full Proposal submission, Offerors must represent to the best of their knowledge: (1) whether any of their current employees were previously employed at DHS S&T, and whether any of their former employees are now DHS S&T employees; (2) awareness of any facts that create any actual or potential organizational conflicts of interest relating to the award of this contract; and (3) full disclosure of all current information bearing on the existence of any actual or potential organizational conflicts of interest, and including a mitigation plan in accordance with paragraph (d) of this provision.

(b) Determination. The Contracting Officer may determine that this effort may result in an actual or potential conflict of interest, or may provide one or more Offerors with the potential to attain an unfair competitive advantage based on the information provided or based on knowledge of the Contracting Officer.

(c) If any such conflict of interest is found to exist, the Contracting Officer may (1) disqualify the Offeror, or (2) determine that it is otherwise in the best interest of the United States to contract with the Offeror and include the appropriate provisions to mitigate or avoid such conflict in the contract awarded. After discussion with the Offeror, the Contracting Officer may determine that the actual conflict cannot be avoided, neutralized, mitigated, or otherwise resolved to the satisfaction of the Government, and the Offeror may be found ineligible for award.

(d) Mitigation/Waiver. If an Offeror with a potential or actual conflict of interest or unfair competitive advantage believes it can be mitigated, neutralized, or avoided, the Offeror may submit a mitigation plan to the Contracting Officer for review. Award of a contract where an actual or potential conflict of interest exists shall not occur before Government approval of the mitigation plan.

(e) Other Relevant Information. In addition to the mitigation plan, the Contracting Officer may require further relevant information from the Offeror. The Contracting Officer will use all information submitted by the Offeror, and any other relevant information known to DHS, to determine whether an award to the Offeror may take place, and whether the mitigation plan adequately neutralizes or mitigates the conflict.

(f) Corporation Change. The successful Offeror shall inform the Contracting Officer within thirty (30) calendar days of the effective date of any corporate mergers, acquisitions, and/or divestures that may affect this provision.

(g) Flow-down. The contractor shall insert the substance of this clause in each first tier subcontract that exceeds the simplified acquisition threshold.

IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

1. Application and Submission Process -

Oral Presentations – Prospective Offerors are NOT provided the opportunity to make oral presentations as part of the submission process for the LRBAA.

Submitting a response to this BAA:

A. Submission instructions for the BAA Website.

Offerors and their organizations shall register at https://baa.st.dhs.gov to participate in this LRBAA. White Paper and Full Proposal submissions will not be accepted from unregistered organizations. There will be no exceptions. It is very important to follow the registration instructions. Offerors shall coordinate with all members of their team to ensure the registration process is done correctly.

To begin the registration process, go to https://baa.st.dhs.gov and select BAA 10-01 from the list on the left side of the screen. Next, select the appropriate topic area. Upon proper selection, buttons for registration and submission will appear. Select the appropriate registration button and fill in the requisite fields, then submit your registration for White Paper (or Full Proposal) submission.

Once this registration process is complete, registrants will receive a control identification number via email. This control number is necessary to begin the White Paper submission process. It is not used internally at DHS to track your paper. Upon receipt of your submission through the Website, a sequential number is assigned to your submission for tracking purposes. You will receive this reference number in an email confirming your submission, and it should be cited in future correspondence concerning your submission.

Submission of a White Paper is Mandatory. Offerors shall first submit a White Paper, as specified below, prior to submitting a Full Proposal. If an Offeror submits a Full Proposal directly without first submitting a White Paper, the Full Proposal will be rejected as non-compliant with the requirements of this LRBAA and will not be evaluated.

To submit a White Paper, select the appropriate submission button, fill out the requisite fields, upload the files and then submit. Again, users will receive confirmation of their submission via email. There is no limit to the number of White Paper submissions per Offeror; however, if a White Paper or Full Proposal is not accepted, do not resubmit the same White Paper or Full Proposal under this LRBAA with the intent to have another division evaluate it. The Advisory Board (AB) pre-screens all submissions and will reject a submission that does not comply with the LRBAA instructions.

The AB then forwards compliant submissions to the relevant division(s) and SMEs to evaluate in accordance with the evaluation factors as stated within this Announcement.

In teaming situations, the lead organization must remain the same on both the White Paper and, if selected, the Full Proposal. Any Full Proposal submitted by entities that were not the prime for the White Paper submission will be considered non-compliant and rejected.

For either White Papers or Full Proposals, only unclassified volumes are to be submitted via the LRBAA Website.

The official evaluation period commences when a White Paper or a Full Proposal is submitted through the LRBAA’s official Website. For the duration of an evaluation period, communications must cease between SME/Division personnel and the Offeror with regard to its LRBAA submission.

The evaluation period officially ends when a DHS S&T Contracting Officer issues a notification letter via email. Only a DHS S&T Contracting Officer can issue this notification letter. In addition, only a DHS Contracting Officer will communicate with an Offeror whose evaluation is pending if and when specific facts in the submission require further clarification, e.g., confirmation of a delivery date.

The website will be modified to not accept a Full Proposal unless there is an accompanying White Paper number. To remain impartial and not provide any Offeror with information not available to all potential Offerors, once a White Paper is submitted by the Offeror, SMEs/Division personnel will not be permitted to engage in a discussion regarding the content of the White Paper, except as provided below.

The only exceptions will be handled by the Contracting Officer who may contact the Offeror for clarification on a specific statement, like a delivery date (as an example).

If the Offeror receives a notification of encouragement to submit a Full Proposal, the SME/Division personnel and the Offeror may discuss the scope of work, and resources required to execute the scope, and must include a Contracting Officer in this process. Price SHALL NOT be discussed.

If an Offeror is discouraged from submitting a Full Proposal based upon SME/Division review of the Offeror’s White Paper, the Offeror is still not precluded from submitting a Full Proposal.

However, an Offeror whose White Paper is not selected may not contact the SME/Division after receiving notification.

Please note that a Full Proposal is admissible and evaluated only after its corresponding White Paper has first been evaluated.

Once the Full Proposal has been submitted, all dialogue between SME/Division personnel and the Offeror must cease. Any communication between the Offeror and DHS at that point must only occur via the Contracting Officer. Communication between the Offeror and the SME/Division personnel may resume only after the Contracting Officer’s Notification Letter has been issued to the Offeror and must involve a Contracting Officer.

A Full Proposal comprised of a detailed Technical and Cost Proposal will be subsequently encouraged from those Offerors whose proposed technologies have been selected through the aforementioned notification as being of "particular value" to DHS S&T. However, any such selection does not assure a subsequent award.

Due to the large number of White Papers typically submitted, DHS S&T may not offer debriefings to Offerors who are not encouraged to submit a Full Proposal.

Full Proposal submissions will be protected from unauthorized disclosure in accordance with FAR 15.207, applicable law, and DHS regulations. Offerors are expected to appropriately mark each page of their submission that contains proprietary information.

Submitting Classified Documents: For classified submissions, see Section IV, Paragraph 5 below for handling instructions; additionally, Offerors shall submit to the website a placeholder portable document format (PDF) file consisting of a single page with the words “Classified Volume Forthcoming” in the center of the page.

This Announcement will remain open until December 31, 2010, 11:59 PM, Eastern Standard Time (EST), during which time White Papers and Full Proposals may be submitted in accordance with Section IV, Paragraph 1, of this Announcement. Submissions received after this date will be processed and evaluated according to the guidelines of a new Long Range BAA if and when it is published.

White Papers or Full Proposals will not be accepted for this particular BAA after December 31, 2010, 11:59 PM, EST, with the exception of a Full Proposal that resulted from a White Paper Selected near that date. A new deadline will be provided to these select Offerors, and their subsequent submissions will subject to the current year’s LRBAA 10-01 guidelines.

2. Content and Format of White Papers/Full Proposals - The Proposals submitted under this BAA are expected to be unclassified. However, classified proposals are permitted. All proposal submissions will be protected from unauthorized disclosure in accordance with FAR 15.207, applicable law, and DHS regulations. Offerors are expected to appropriately mark each page of their submission that contains proprietary information.

White Paper Format and Content

· Offerors shall use the Format included as Appendix 1 to this LRBAA.

· The following link to the Help section of the U.S. Grants website offers some valuable resources for file-conversion needs: http://grants.gov/help/download_software.jsp.

· Classified volumes must follow the same submission process as provided below in Section IV, Paragraph 5; additionally, Offerors shall submit to the website a placeholder PDF file consisting of a single page with the words “Classified Volume Forthcoming” in the center of the page.

· Cover Sheet – The Cover Sheet is automatically generated during the submission of the White Paper to the BAA website.

· Include a statement specifying compliance with FAR Clause 52.222-54 “Employment Eligibility Verification”.

Full Proposal Format – Volume 1: Technical and Volume 2: Cost Proposal

· Paper Size – 8.5 x 11 inch paper

· Margins – 1 inch

· Spacing – single or double-spaced

· Font – Times New Roman, 12 point

· Number of Pages – Volume 1 is limited to no more than 40 single-sided pages. Volume 2 has no page limitations. Limitations within sections of the Technical Proposal are indicated in the individual descriptions shown below. The cover page, table of contents, and resumes are excluded from the page limitations. See description of a cover page and cover sheet below.

· Files are not to exceed 10 megabytes in size. A proposal shall consist of ONE electronic file in portable document format (PDF), readable by IBM-compatible personal computers (PCs) and excel spreadsheet (include all calculations).

· Full Proposals exceeding the page/file size limit may not be evaluated and shall be considered unresponsive.

· Classified volumes must follow the same submission process as provided below in Section IV, Paragraph 5; additionally, Offerors shall submit to the website a placeholder PDF file consisting of a single page with the words “Classified Volume Forthcoming” in the center of the page.

Full Proposal Content

Volume 1: Technical Proposal Volume 1 of the Full Proposal must include the following sections.

· Cover Sheet: The Cover Sheet is automatically generated during the submission of the White Paper to the BAA website. This is not the same as the Offeror’s Cover Page.

· Cover Page: This shall include the words “Technical Proposal” and the following:

1) BAA Number 10-01

2) Title of Proposal

3) Topical Area and its reference code (as described in Part I, Paragraph 5);

4) Identity of prime Offeror’s name and address and complete list of subcontractors name and address, if applicable;

5) Technical contact (name, address, phone/fax, electronic mail address);

6) Administrative/business contact (name, address, phone/fax, electronic mail address); and,

7) Duration of effort (separately identify the basic effort and any options)

8) DHS S&T Point of Contact (name of the S&T individual that was contacted prior to submission). A list of organizations is provided in Section I, Paragraph 6 of this BAA.

9) Dunn & Bradstreet Number;

10) Acknowledgement the Offeror is registered in Central Contractor registration (CCR);

11) Statement specifying compliance with FAR Clause 52.222-54 “Employment Eligibility Verification”.

12) Identify any proposed personnel or subcontractors that are not U.S. citizens.

· Official Transmittal Letter: This is an official transmittal letter with authorizing official signature. For an electronic submission, the letter can be scanned into the electronic proposal. The letter of transmittal shall state whether this proposal has been submitted to another government agency, other than DHS S&T, and if so, which one and when.

· Table of Contents

· Executive Summary: Summarize the proposal and the expected benefits of the solution.

· Proposed Use for DHS S&T: A detailed summary of how the proposal’s product(s) supports the targeted end user (e.g., the first responder community) in an operational context. Include quantitative specifications for how the products will improve operational performance.

· Technical Concept: – A description of the technical concept, including anticipated risks and approaches to mitigate the risks. Describe the basic scientific or technical concepts that will be used in each component or subsystem comprising your proposed solution to the problem described above. What particular scientific, technical and/or engineering issues need to be addressed and resolved to demonstrate feasibility? What is unique about your solution and what advantages might it afford compared to alternative approaches others have taken? What has been the extent of the Principal Investigators’ past experience in, and qualifications or educational background for, developing the technologies in your proposal?

· Operational Concept: – A description of the operational concept used in the proposed technical solution to accomplish the objectives. Explain how the performance of your proposed solution can be expected to meet or exceed and be measured against each of the specific technical attributes and/or performance enhancements. What are the key scientific, technical, or engineering challenges and the timing for each that must be met in order to successfully complete this project? Describe all required material and information, which must be provided by the Government to support the proposed work.

· Operational Utility Assessment Plan: A detailed plan for demonstrating and evaluating the operational effectiveness of the Offeror’s products in exercises, including evaluation metrics. Explain your view of the requirements gap to be filled, what capability will be provided upon successful completion of the proposed effort, and what are the technical risks associated with successful maturation of the proposed effort to achieve operational utility. Explain your concept of how you will develop and demonstrate a system or system component. Identify and explain the critical path technologies or key technical challenges you will face when building this system or component and your plans for meeting these challenges. Explain how you will demonstrate the system or component performance relative to the performance or enhancement goals described in the proposal.

· Statement of Work: A Statement of Work (SOW) and a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) clearly detailing the scope and objectives of the effort, the technical approach, and the performance goals. It is anticipated that the proposed SOW and WBS will be incorporated as an attachment to the resultant award instrument. Therefore, the Proposal must include a severable stand-alone SOW and WBS without any proprietary restrictions. The WBS must include a detailed listing of the technical tasks/subtasks in hierarchical fashion for the tasks required to accomplish the effort. The WBS format must be complete to at least WBS level 3. Each task in the SOW shall describe the work to be carried out, the end result of the task, the time allocated, the organization performing the task, the predecessor tasks, the performance goals of the task, and the resources (labor, materials, and services) required. The resources shall be costed to provide a baseline budgeted cost for the applicable task. The SOW shall be at a level sufficient to define the nature of the work to be carried out, measure progress, and understand the relationship of the tasks to one another.

· Project Schedule and Milestones: A summary of the schedule of events and milestones.

If applicable, identify the critical path.

· Assertion of Data Rights: Include here a summary of any assertions to any technical data or computer software that will be developed or delivered under any resultant award. This includes any assertions to pre-existing results, prototypes, or systems supporting and/or necessary for the use of the research, results, and/or prototype. Any rights asserted in other parts of the proposal that would impact the rights in this section must be cross-referenced. If less than unlimited rights in any data delivered under the resultant award are asserted, the Offeror must explain how these rights in the data will affect its ability to deliver research data, subsystems, and toolkits for integration as set forth below. Additionally, the Offeror must explain how the program goals are achievable in light of these proprietary and/or restrictive limitations. If there are no claims of proprietary rights in pre-existing data, this section shall consist of a statement to that effect.

Proposals submitted in response to this Announcement shall identify all technical data or computer software that the Offeror asserts will be furnished to the Government with restrictions on access, use, modification, reproduction, release, performance, display, or disclosure. Offeror's pre-award identification shall be submitted as an attachment to its offer and shall contain the following information:

(1) Statement of Assertion. Include the following statement: “The Offeror asserts for itself, or the persons identified below, that the Government's rights to access, use, modify, reproduce, release, perform, display, or disclose only the following technical data or computer software should be restricted:”

(2) Identification of the technical data or computer software to be furnished with restrictions. For technical data (other than computer software documentation) pertaining to items, components, or processes developed at private expense, identify both the deliverable technical data and each such item, component, or process as specifically as possible (e.g., by referencing specific sections of the proposal or specific technology or components). For computer software or computer software documentation, identify the software or documentation by specific name or module or item number.

(3) Detailed description of the asserted restrictions. For each of the technical data or computer software identified above in paragraph (2), identify the following information:

(i) Asserted rights. Identify the asserted rights for the technical data or computer software.

(ii) Copies of negotiated, commercial, and other non-standard licenses. Offeror shall attach to its offer for each listed item copies of all proposed negotiated license(s), Offeror's standard commercial license(s), and any other asserted restrictions other than Government purpose rights; limited rights; restricted rights; rights under prior government contracts, including SBIR data rights for which the protection period has not expired; or government’s minimum rights.

(iii) Specific basis for assertion. Identify the specific basis for the assertion. For example:

(A) Development at private expense, either exclusively or partially. For technical data, development refers to development of the item, component, or process to which the data pertains. For computer software, development refers to the development of the software. Indicate whether development was accomplished exclusively or partially at private expense.

(B) Rights under a prior government contract, including SBIR data rights for which the protection period has not expired.

(C) Standard commercial license customarily provided to the public.

(D) Negotiated license rights.

(iv) Entity asserting restrictions. Identify the corporation, partnership, individual, or other person, as appropriate, asserting the restrictions.

(4) Previously delivered technical data or computer software. The Offeror shall identify the technical data or computer software that are identical or substantially similar to technical data or computer software that the Offeror has produced for, delivered to, or is obligated to deliver to the Government under any contract or subcontract. The Offeror need not identify commercial technical data or computer software delivered subject to a standard commercial license.

(5) Estimated Cost of Development. The estimated cost of development for that technical data or computer software to be delivered with less than Unlimited Rights.

(6) Supplemental information. When requested by the Contracting Officer, the Offeror shall provide sufficient information to enable the Contracting Officer to evaluate the Offeror’s assertions. Sufficient information must include, but is not limited to, the following:

a. The contract number under which the data or software were produced;

b. The contract number under which, and the name and address of the organization to whom, the data or software were most recently delivered or will be delivered; and

c. Identification of the expiration date for any limitations on the Government’s rights to access, use, modify, reproduce, release, perform, display, or disclose the data or software, when applicable.

(7) Ineligibility for award. An Offeror's failure to submit or complete the identifications and assertions required by this provision with its proposal may render the Offeror ineligible for award.

Please Note: The section entitled “Assertion of Data Rights”, must be severable, i.e., it must start on a new page. It is anticipated that the proposed Assertion of Data Rights section will be incorporated as an attachment to the resultant award instrument. Proposals must include a severable self-standing Assertion of Data Rights section without any proprietary restrictions, which can be attached to the contract or agreement award.

· Deliverables: A detailed list and description of all deliverables and data deliverables the Offeror proposes to provide to the Government, the schedule for delivery, and acceptance criteria.

The Deliverables information must be a separate section in the Offeror’s proposal and begin on a new page.

It is anticipated that the proposed detailed list and description of all deliverables will be incorporated as an attachment to the resultant award document. Proposals must include a severable self-standing detailed list and description of all deliverables without any proprietary restrictions, which can be attached to the award document.

· Qualifications: A discussion of the Offeror’s previous accomplishments and work in this area, or closely related area, and the qualifications of the investigators. If the proposal involves development or testing scientific and/or engineering concepts, the principal investigators must demonstrate education and/or managerial expertise in these fields. Key personnel resumes must be attached to the proposal and do not count toward the page limitations.

· Detailed Risk Mitigation Plan: Discuss in detail the technical, cost, and schedule risk(s) involved with the project and how each risk will be mitigated.

· Management Approach: A discussion of the overall approach to the management of the effort, including brief discussions of the total organization, use of personnel, project, function, and subcontractor relationships, government research interfaces, and planning, scheduling and control practice. Identify which personnel and subcontractors (if any) will be involved. Include a description of the facilities that are required for the proposed effort with a description of any Government-Furnished Equipment/Hardware/Software/Information required, by version and/or configuration.

· Small Business Considerations: If the prime Offeror is a large business, a commitment of the Offeror to the use of small business concerns. All Offerors shall indicate their business size status and list all subcontractors and its business size status. Include a Subcontracting Plan, if applicable.

VOLUME 2: Cost Proposal

· Cover Sheet: The Cover Sheet is automatically generated during the submission of the White Paper to the BAA website. This is not the same as the Offeror’s Cover Page.

· The Cost Proposal must consist of a cover page and two parts.

· The following information must be provided for the basic and any proposed Option(s)

· Part 1 must provide a detailed cost breakdown of all costs by cost category by calendar and Government fiscal year. (Provide a time-phased spend plan)

· Part 2 must provide a detailed cost breakdown by task/sub‑task using the same task numbers in the Statement of Work. (Provide Basis of Estimates – Contractor format is permitted)

· Identify any cost drivers

· Options must be separately priced

The cost of preparing White Papers and/or Full Proposals in response to this Announcement is not considered an allowable direct charge to any resulting contract or any other award, but may be an allowable expense to the normal bid and proposal indirect cost specified in FAR 31.205-18. The final allowability of costs shall be determined by the type of award vehicle used.

Note: In the event that an Offeror is selected for award, the Offeror may be required to submit certified cost or pricing data as a condition of award.

· Cover Page: The use of the SF 1411 is optional. The words “Cost Proposal” must appear on the cover page in addition to the following information:

1) BAA Number 10-01

2) Title of Proposal;

3) Topical Area and reference code (see Part I, Paragraph 5);

4) Identity of prime Offeror’s name and address and complete list of subcontractors name and address, if applicable;

5) Technical contact (name, address, phone/fax, electronic mail address)

6) Administrative/business contact (name, address, phone/fax, electronic mail address);

7) Duration of effort (separately price out the basic effort and any options) and;

8) DUNS number and CAGE code.

9) Statement on whether or not the Offeror has been audited by a Government organization (Defense Contract Audit Agency, Office of Naval Research, etc.), and if the Offeror has a Government-approved accounting system.

10) DCAA Point of Contact (Name and email address) Part 1: Detailed breakdown of all costs by cost category by calendar and Government fiscal year and include a summary explaining how each element is applied in the cost proposal:

· Direct Labor – Individual labor category or person, with associated labor hours and unburdened direct labor rates;

· Indirect Costs – Fringe Benefits, Overhead, G&A, COM, etc. (Must show base amount and rate);

· If available, a copy of the Offeror’s Forward Pricing Rate Agreement (FPRA) or Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) Approved and/or Recommended Rates. Identify if there are outstanding CAS violations.

· Travel – Separate by destinations and include number of trips, durations-number of days, number of travelers, per diem (travel costs, hotel and meals in accordance with the Federal Travel Regulations and FAR PART 31), airfare, car rental, if additional miscellaneous expense is included, list description and estimated amount, etc.;

· Subcontract – A cost proposal as detailed as the Offeror’s cost proposal will be required to be submitted by the subcontractor. The subcontractor’s cost proposal can be provided in a sealed envelope with the Offeror’s cost proposal or will be requested from the subcontractor at a later date. The subcontractor’s cost proposal must include on company letterhead the complete company name and mailing address, technical and administrative/business point of contacts, email address, and telephone number. Include the DUNS number. Include the DCAA Office and POC with telephone number.

· Consultant – Provide consultant agreement or other document which verifies the proposed loaded daily/hourly rate and labor category;

· Materials must be specifically itemized with costs or estimated costs. Where possible, indicate purchasing method (e.g., competition, engineering estimate, market survey, etc.). Include supporting documentation, i.e. vendor quotes, catalog price lists, and past invoices for similar purchases;

· Other Directs Costs (ODCs), particularly any proposed items of equipment or facilities. Equipment and facilities generally must be furnished by the Offeror. Justifications must be provided when Government funding for such items is sought.

· Fee/Profit including fee percentage.

· Provide a time-phased spend plan which includes all costs proposed, i.e., labor, travel, materials, and ODCs (contractor format is acceptable).

· Provide a basis of estimate (BOE) for all proposed labor. The BOE must provide the rationale for the proposed labor category(ies) and proposed labor hours for each labor category (contractor format is acceptable).

Part 2: Cost breakdown by task/sub‑task using the same task numbers in the Statement of Work.

3. Significant Dates and Times -

This Announcement will remain open until December 31, 2010, 11:59 PM, EST, during which time White Papers and Full Proposals may be submitted in accordance with Section IV, Paragraph 1. Submissions received after this date and time will be processed and evaluated according to the 2010 Long Range BAA guidelines if and when they are published.

Evaluations and awards will occur on “rolling selection” basis. Generally, evaluations will occur within 60 days from receipt of the White Paper or Full Proposal. This is not a firm commitment to 60 days, as Subject Matter Experts must balance their simultaneous commitments and projects, which frequently require travel. Nevertheless, it is in everyone’s best interest for the Long Range BAA to remain open for submissions throughout the year and, regardless of certain temporary circumstances, every effort will be made to conduct reviews as expediently as possible.

Contract awards resulting from a selected Full Proposal are projected to occur within approximately 90 days after award notification (i.e. approximately 150 days after submission), contingent upon successful negotiations and/or subject to availability of funds. Full Proposals submitted should cite a validity timeframe of 150 days.

4. Address for Submission of Classified White Papers and Full Proposals – CLASSIFIED SUBMITTALS CANNOT BE TRANSMITTED VIA THE WEB SITE. Regardless, the submitter must first register online following the registration instructions provided in Section IV, Paragraph 1 to obtain a registration number. Offerors shall print out the registration form and attach it as a coversheet to the classified submittal located after the classification coversheet. Offerors shall submit to the website a placeholder PDF file consisting of a single page with the words “Classified Volume Forthcoming” in the center of the page. The classified submittal must be submitted via proper classified courier or proper classified mailing procedures as described in the National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (NISPOM). Offerors may view the NISPOM document online at http://www.dss.mil/isec/nispom.htm. Classified submittals must include ten (10) printed copies and one electronic copy on compact disc recordable (CD-R) media (do not use re-writable media, e.g. CD-RW/RW-/RW+). Each copy must be accompanied by the coversheet, which does not count towards the page limitations described in Section IV, Paragraph 1.

Classified documents MUST be received by December 31, 2010, 11:59 PM, EST.

Classified proposals can be emailed to:

christopher.featherston@dhs.sgov.gov and shane.davis.ctr@dhs.sgov.gov.

NOTE: Please send an unclassified alert email to cshane.davis.ctr@dhs.sgov.govhristopher.featherston@dhs.sgov.gov, , and and BAA10-01@dhs.gov before emailing classified information.

Submission of a hard copy Classified White Paper or Full Proposal must be coordinated with the the LRBAA Contracting Officer identified in para. I. GENERAL INFORMATION.

Classification does not eliminate the requirement for Offerors to comply with all instructions and deadlines in this BAA.

5. Further Assistance Needed for this BAA

The applicable electronic address for all correspondence for this BAA is: BAA10-01@dhs.gov.

6. Proprietary Protection

S&T has contracted for various business and staff support services, some of which require contractors to obtain administrative access to White Papers, Full Proposals, and Offerors’ presentations (all of which may include proprietary information). Contractors involved in providing technical assistance and administrative assistance to S&T have signed general non-disclosure agreements and organizational conflict of interest statements. Any objection to contractor access for purposes of technical assistance or administrative assistance must be in writing to the LRBAA Contracting Officer and shall include a detailed statement of the basis for the objection.

Proposals will be considered source selection information and will be protected accordingly, if appropriately marked. Proposals will be reviewed only by authorized Government representatives and assigned evaluators, which may include support contractors. Only Government representatives will make selection decisions.

V. EVALUATION INFORMATION

1. White Papers and Full Proposals will be evaluated in accordance with the following Factors and elements.

White Papers and Full Proposals will be evaluated according to the following Factors and elements. The elements are specified under each Factor. Evaluation factors A and B listed below are of equal importance, and more important than Factors C, D, and E. Factors C, D, and E are listed in descending order of importance. Each element under its Factor is of equal weight within the Factor.

A. Overall scientific and technical merits of the proposal.

1. The degree of innovation and potential to offer a revolutionary increase in capability or a significant reduction in cost commensurate with the potential risks of the innovative approach;

2. The soundness of the technical concept;

3. The Offeror’s awareness of the state-of-the-art and future technology trends;

4. The Offeror’s understanding of the scope of the problem and the technical effort needed to address it;

5. Intellectual property rights offered, and,

6. The Offeror’s understanding of the project’s risks, and how these risks have been identified and how they are being addressed, as well as how the proposed solution compares to similar work performed.

B. Mission Relevance. Extent to which the work proposed applies to one of DHS’s operational security environments and the needs of S&T as stated in Research Opportunities of Strategic Interest in Part I, Paragraph 5, of this Announcement.

C. The Offeror’s capabilities, related experience, and past performance, including the qualifications, capabilities, and experience of the proposed principal investigator and personnel.

1. The quality of technical personnel proposed; proposed key personnel

2. The Offeror’s experience in relevant efforts with similar resources; and

3. The ability to manage the proposed effort.

4. Provide a list of similar contracts, delivery orders, purchase orders, and/or subcontracts (hereafter referred to as "contracts") completed during the past 3 years, a list of similar contracts currently in process, or a combination of both. Similar contracts listed may include any contract entered into with the Federal

Government, agencies of state and local governments, and commercial customers.

Offerors that are newly formed entities without prior similar contracts shall associate proposed personnel with similar current or completed contracts. Include the following information for each contract, if unclassified and disclosable:

· Name of Contracting Activity

· Contract Number

· Contract Type

· Total Contract Value

· Description of Contract Work

· Contracting Officer name and e-mail address

· Contracting Officer's Technical Representative name and telephone number (if applicable)

· Administrative Contracting Officer's name and telephone number (if different from the Contracting Officer listed above)

· List of First-Tier Subcontractors D. Cost/Price, including cost realism and reasonableness analyses. Each response will be reviewed for cost realism, reasonableness, and overall best value to the Government. Members of the evaluation team may presume that the Offeror’s technical approach serves as a rationale for the labor mix and labor hours used.

E. Extent of subcontracting commitment. For proposed awards to be made as contracts to large businesses, the small business consideration section of each proposal will be evaluated based on the extent of Offeror’s commitment in providing meaningful subcontracting opportunities for small businesses, small disadvantaged businesses, woman-owned small businesses, HUBZone small businesses, veteran-owned small businesses, service disabled veteran-owned small businesses, historically black colleges and universities, and minority institutions. All Offerors shall indicate their business size status (listed above) and list each subcontractor and its business size status.

The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) requires that a large business Offeror be Encouraged to utilize small business opportunities. This satisfies the FAR requirement. While this is only applicable to large businesses, all Prime Offerors are required to identify its business size status listed above and list its subcontractors’ business size status.

The final evaluation will be based on an assessment of the overall best value to the Government based on these Factors and elements. Awards will be made based on proposal evaluation, funding availability, and other programmatic considerations, including awards to lesser rated proposals where competing or alternate technologies are deemed to reduce technical risk or are otherwise more technically advantageous.

VI. AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

1. Administrative Requirements –

· The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code – The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this announcement is 541712 with a small business size standard of 500 employees.

· CCR - Successful Offerors not already registered in the Central Contractor Registry (CCR) will be required to register in CCR prior to award of any grant, contract, cooperative agreement, or other transaction agreement. Information regarding CCR registration is available at http://www.ccr.gov/.

· Certifications – In accordance with FAR 4.1201, prospective Offerors for contracts, and other transaction agreements involving prototypes, shall complete the Online Representations and Certifications Application (ORCA) at http://orca.bpn.gov. Offerors shall make mention of its ORCA completion in its proposal, and provide its “Certification Validity” period. Successful Offerors will be provided additional information with regards to certification for grants, cooperative agreements, or other transaction agreements (other than for prototypes) proposals.

· Subcontracting Plans - Successful contract proposals that exceed $550,000, submitted by all but small business concerns, will be required to submit a Small Business Subcontracting Plan in accordance with FAR 52.219-9, prior to award.

· Federal Travel Regulations (FTR) – Information on per diem rates based on travel locations are provided on www.gsa.gov. Also, refer to FAR PART 31 for information regarding travel costs.

2. Reporting -

The following are samples of data deliverables that are typically required under a research effort:

· Technical and…