FINAL FY22 DMCSP NOFO For Publication.pdf

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Notice of Funding Opportunity

AGENCY: Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation, Department of Defense

ACTION: Notice of Funding Opportunity

NOTICE: The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 (P.L. 117-103) provides $30 million for this program.

SUMMARY: This notice announces an opportunity to obtain designation as a “Defense Manufacturing Community” as well as funding under the Defense Manufacturing Community Support Program for Fiscal Year 2022. This notice includes proposal submission requirements, instructions, eligibility and selection criteria that will be used to evaluate proposals.

This notice includes requirements for the two-step process. On the basis of submitted proposals, regional consortia will: 1) compete to be designated as a Defense Manufacturing Community; and, 2) on the basis of a Defense Manufacturing Community designation, respond to an invitation to submit a grant application and obtain funding. This is a final Notice of Funding Opportunity announcement. Interested responders must submit a proposal based on the instructions provided in Section D., paragraphs 1-3 of this notice.

NOTE: Consortia that received Defense Manufacturing Community designation and grant funding in Fiscal Year 2020 or Fiscal Year 2021 as a result of the first two (2) rounds of program funding are precluded from any additional designation or funding under this announcement.

Where authorized by statute, the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation may transfer funds to another Federal agency for award.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

a. Federal Awarding Agency: Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation, Department of Defense.

b. Funding Opportunity Title: Defense Manufacturing Community Support Program.

c. Announcement Type: Notice of Funding Opportunity.

d. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 12.600.

e. Key Dates: The Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation will hold a pre-proposal webinar at 11:00 a.m. PDT on June 1, 2022 and again at 11:00 a.m. PDT on June 15, 2022 to review the goals and objectives of this notice and answer questions from interested respondents. Details about participation in this pre-proposal webinar will be available on the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation webpage at https://oldcc.gov/Defense-Manufacturing-Community-Support-Program. Complete proposals for Defense Manufacturing Community designations must be received by the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation by 5:00 p.m. PDT on July 19, 2022 (the Proposal Deadline). All proposals will be ranked for final approval by the Under Secretary of Defense (Acquisition and Sustainment). If designated by the Under Secretary of Defense (Acquisition and Sustainment) as a Defense Manufacturing Community, the Director, Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation, on or about August 17, 2022, will assign Project Managers to assist the successful consortia and invite the submission of a grant application. In the event a designated Defense Manufacturing Community is unable to submit an application or it is determined the invited Defense Manufacturing Community’s application materially differs from the proposal that was considered by the review panel, another Defense Manufacturing Community may be invited to submit an application based upon their competitive ranking.

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:

The defense industrial base is key to national security and contributes to the economic prosperity of communities across the United States. The Department of Defense seeks to build domestic competitiveness and ensure companies are modernizing and innovating to better enable the warfighter with the latest technology.

The Defense Manufacturing Community Support Program, authorized under Section 846 of the Fiscal Year 2019 National Defense Authorization Act (P.L. 115-232), supports long-term investments in critical skills, facilities, research and development, and small business support in order to strengthen the national security innovation and manufacturing base by designating and supporting consortiums as defense manufacturing communities. The program also seeks to ensure complementarity of those communities so designated with existing Department of Defense Manufacturing Innovation Institutes.

Department of Defense Manufacturing Innovation Institutes are manufacturing ecosystems established since 2012 with common manufacturing and design challenges revolving around specific technologies. To date, the Department of Defense has established nine (9) Manufacturing Innovation Institutes (for a complete roster of all existing manufacturing innovation institutes, see https://www.manufacturingusa.com/institutes).

To be designated as a “Defense Manufacturing Community,” consortia composed of members of academia, defense manufacturers, workforce organizations, defense industry and association-led organizations, non-profit organizations, State and local government organizations and various combinations thereof, may apply under this notice. The designation of a “Defense Manufacturing Community” is based on a competitive selection subject to the criteria in Section E. below, and is a pre-requisite for applying to obtain funding or project management technical assistance.

Only consortia designated as a Defense Manufacturing Community in 2022 may be invited by the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation to apply for financial and project management technical assistance as broadly outlined in Section B. below.

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 (P.L. 117-103) provides $30 million for this program.

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION:

Complete proposals for Defense Manufacturing Community designation must be received by the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation by 5:00 p.m. PDT on July 19, 2022 (the Proposal Deadline).

Proposals will be ranked by an interdepartmental/interagency Defense Manufacturing Community Review Panel against the selection criteria provided in Section E., paragraph 1 of this notice. All proposals will be ranked for final approval by the Review Panel. If designated as a Defense Manufacturing Community, the Director, Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation, on or about August 17, 2022, will assign Project Managers to assist the successful consortia and invite the submission of a grant application. In the event a designated Defense Manufacturing Community is unable to submit an application or it is determined the invited application materially differs from the proposal that was considered by the review panel, another Defense Manufacturing Community may be invited to submit an application based upon their competitive ranking.

https://www.manufacturingusa.com/institutes

For designated 2022 Defense Manufacturing Communities, Defense Manufacturing Community Support Program grant awards may vary in size, but in no case will exceed $5 million per award. Periods of performance for an Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation grant award may also vary, but in no case may exceed five (5) years. Cost overruns are the responsibility of the recipient. Individual designation proposals requesting more than $5 million in the Defense Manufacturing Community Support Program will not be accepted for review. All proposals for designation must result in a complete project, with specific start and end date.

The final amount of each award will be determined by the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation based on the recommendation of an internal Technical Review Committee in conformance with 2 CFR Part 200, “Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards,” and subject to the availability of appropriations for this program. If awarded a grant, the grantee shall ensure requests for disbursements under this award are in proportion to the Federal and non- Federal portions of the total approved project costs. (For example, for every $1 in eligible costs on a project with a 50% Federal contribution, requests for disbursements should ensure Federal funds do not exceed 50% of the expenditures for the project at any point over the term of the award).

Each Defense Manufacturing Community designation shall be for a period of five (5) years. Eligible communities may submit for renewal of their designation for up to two (2) additional two-year periods.

Defense Manufacturing Community designation shall not exceed a total of nine (9) years.

C. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION:

1. Eligible Organizations:

Proposals for designation as a Defense Manufacturing Community must be submitted by a “Lead Organization” on behalf of a regional consortium as part of the proposal being submitted. A Lead Organization may be any of the entities identified in Section A. above.

NOTE: Consortia which received Defense Manufacturing Community designation and grant funding in Fiscal Year 2020 or Fiscal Year 2021 as a result of the first two (2) rounds of this competition are precluded from any additional designation or funding under this announcement.

For the purpose of this announcement, a “consortium” is an association of persons and organizations/ entities with associated focuses on common challenges in defense manufacturing or defense-related technology. These consortia represent active networks of similar, synergistic or complementary organizations engaged in a particular defense manufacturing industry sector or vertical, with active channels for business transactions, communications, dialogue, and workforce development that share specialized infrastructure, labor markets and services.

While consortia members are generally located within a specific and geographically-bounded region, this does not preclude the inclusion of a member with significant and relevant capabilities and capacities which are outside of the geographic region of the majority of the consortia members.

A Lead Organization of a consortium applying for Defense Manufacturing Community designation must exhibit the following characteristics:

o an established entity with a defined management structure, and the authority to bind the consortium to deliver the proposed strategy;

o is recognized as a Lead Organization by key partners and stakeholders through formal written documentation; and, o must be one of the following entities:

• Institution of higher education or a consortium of higher education institution,

• Public or private non-profit consortium of defense industry, or

• State, local or tribal government organization.

Additionally, the consortium seeking Defense Manufacturing Community designation:

o may be composed of members from academia, defense industry, Federal laboratories, commercial industry, Department of Defense Manufacturing Innovation Institutes, and State and local government organizations;

o must demonstrate regional collaboration capabilities and technological or industrial base supply chains that are determined critical to national security; and, o must demonstrate complementarity with Defense Manufacturing Innovation Institutes.

The membership size of the consortium should demonstrate optimal composition that promotes effectiveness, collaboration, and efficiency that strengthens the defense industry’s innovation base.

Consortia membership is not limited to a geographic service area. However, as a practical management matter, the majority of the consortia members are expected to be located in a relatively close geographic region and possess no national security conflicts linked to foreign investors.

The Lead Organization will serve as the consortium representative, presenting the consensus opinion of their respective consortium, coordinating strategy implementation and service delivery in their respective region, and receiving any grant funding on behalf of the consortium. All members of the consortium must sign a letter of commitment or a Memorandum of Understanding documenting their contributions to the consortium as per the instructions in Section D. of this notice. Should a consortium be designated as a Defense Manufacturing Community and later invited to apply for grant funding, formal, executed Memorandums of Understanding (such as sub award agreements) to execute the proposed project must be provided to the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation before any funding will be disbursed to the Lead Organization on behalf of the consortium. The Lead Organization must be legally able to receive grant funding from the Federal government and registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) at https://sam.gov. The Lead Organization may be requested to provide such documentation upon request.

Consortia seeking Defense Manufacturing Community designation are encouraged to coordinate with the Defense Manufacturing Innovation Institutes well in advance of their submission under this notice to ensure their strategies align directly with the priorities of the Department of Defense. To learn more about current Defense Manufacturing Innovation Institutes, visit https://www.dodmantech.mil/Manufacturing- Innovation-Institutes/.

2. Geographic Scope:

Consortia seeking Defense Manufacturing Community designation may define the regional boundaries of their consortium based on the respective region’s capabilities, key technologies, or industrial base supply chains that are determined critical to national security. For the purposes of this announcement, Section 3 of the Department of Defense report: “State of Competition Within the Defense Industrial Base” (link:

https://media.defense.gov/2022/Feb/15/2002939087/-1/-1/1/STATE-OF-COMPETITION-WITHIN-THE- DEFENSE-INDUSTRIAL-BASE.PDF), released February 15, 2022, by the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, and “Securing Defense-Critical Supply Chains – An Action Plan in Response to President Biden’s Executive Order 14017” (link:

https://media.defense.gov/2022/Feb/15/2002939087/-1/-1/1/STATE-OF-COMPETITION-WITHIN-THE-DEFENSE-INDUSTRIAL-BASE.PDF https://media.defense.gov/2022/Feb/15/2002939087/-1/-1/1/STATE-OF-COMPETITION-WITHIN-THE-DEFENSE-INDUSTRIAL-BASE.PDF https://media.defense.gov/2022/Feb/24/2002944158/-1/-1/1/DOD-EO-14017-REPORT-SECURING- DEFENSE-CRITICAL-SUPPLY-CHAINS.PDF) released February 24, 2022, by the Deputy Secretary of Department of Defense, are the most relevant in delineating “capabilities, key technologies, or industrial base supply chains” for this announcement. However, other documents from the Department of Defense or the Military Services including the February 1, 2022, Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering “Technology Vision for an Era of Competition,” (link: https://www.cto.mil/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/usdre_strategic_vision_critical_tech_areas.pdf) may also be relevant, and applicants are encouraged to consult them. As indicated in these reference documents, the Department of Defense is specifically working with its private sector and non-profit partners to develop and otherwise expand capabilities in: biotechnology, hypersonics, kinetic capabilities, energy storage and batteries, castings and forgings, microelectronics, submarine and shipbuilding workforce. The Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation encourages consortia seeking Defense Manufacturing Community designation to submit proposals in these specific areas. The geographic size of the consortium need not be limited by traditional jurisdictional boundaries, but should demonstrate an optimal composition that promotes the effectiveness, collaboration and efficiency that strengthens the defense industry’s innovation base.

In general, the geographic scope of consortia seeking Defense Manufacturing Community designation should be large enough to contain critical elements of the key defense technologies or supply chains prioritized by the applicant, but small enough to enable close collaboration (e.g., generally, larger than a city but smaller than a state). The proposed Defense Manufacturing Community should identify and provide evidence that their service area ranks high in the nation for the colocation of specific key defense manufacturing technologies or supply chains. Alternatively, the consortium should provide evidence of how any proposed resourcing would catalyze the formation of a regional defense innovation base.

Consortia seeking Defense Manufacturing Community designation should use validated data with citations as an indicator of how the region ranks in the nation for the focus being proposed. The data used by the consortium should indicate a top third national ranking in the consortium’s region with regard to key defense manufacturing technologies or supply chains.

3. Cost Sharing or Matching:

Proposers must demonstrate, at the time of proposal, commitment to a matching share, in cash or in kind (including calculated value of personnel, goods, and services, including direct and indirect costs), of at least twenty percent (20%) of the entire proposed program (i.e., twenty percent (20%) of the entire cost of the program, regardless of the source of funding for the program).

For each organization providing matching share, including the Lead Organization if applicable, proposers must submit a commitment letter or equivalent document signed by an authorized representative of that organization demonstrating that the matching share will, at the time of the application, be committed to the project for the period of performance. Non-Federal cost share contributions to be used for the required matching share must consist of contributions directly related to the proposed project, such as services, personnel, equipment, or space.

For Defense Manufacturing Community designees, additional documentation may be requested by the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation during the grant application process to substantiate the availability of the matching funds. The Director of the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation, as the Grant Officer, may waive a match requirement in consideration of reasons related to national security priorities.

https://media.defense.gov/2022/Feb/24/2002944158/-1/-1/1/DOD-EO-14017-REPORT-SECURING-DEFENSE-CRITICAL-SUPPLY-CHAINS.PDF https://media.defense.gov/2022/Feb/24/2002944158/-1/-1/1/DOD-EO-14017-REPORT-SECURING-DEFENSE-CRITICAL-SUPPLY-CHAINS.PDF https://www.cto.mil/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/usdre_strategic_vision_critical_tech_areas.pdf

These matching funds may not count as non-Federal match for other project funding, and the ability to use other Federal funds as a match contribution will be determined by the authority and appropriation providing those funds as well as whether the relevant Grantor provides approval. Funding proposed as a source for the non-Federal share must be expended either within the proposed project period commencing from the date of award or no earlier than the August 13, 2018, enactment of the Fiscal Year 2019 National Defense Authorization Act.

4. Eligibility of Proposed Activities:

As part of the proposal for Defense Manufacturing Community designation, each “Lead Organization” will present a designation concept briefing (PowerPoint format) and white paper (Word format), the components of which are complementary of each other. The concept briefing is essentially a summary of the white paper, and the white paper is the comprehensive narrative. If designated as a Defense Manufacturing Community, the concept and the white paper will form the basis for any follow-on grant application, if invited by the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation.

Within the concept and white paper, Lead Organizations may include descriptions of the following types of activities and investments:

o equipment or facility upgrades;

o workforce training, retraining, or recruitment and retention, including that of women and underrepresented minorities;

o business incubators;

o advanced research and commercialization, including with Federal laboratories and depots;

o supply chain development; and, o small business assistance.

Investments supported by Defense Manufacturing Community Support Program grants may not include activities already provided for by Defense Manufacturing Innovation Institutes.

Funding is not sufficient in this Fiscal Year to support major construction involving ground disturbing activities; therefore, Fiscal Year 2022 applications should not propose such activities. Regarding facility upgrades, any requests related to facility upgrades must be contained within the existing facility footprint and be for the purpose of modernizing or enabling innovation activities. Proposed projects which include facility upgrades and/or purchase capital equipment must assure Federal Interest in the improvement and/or equipment provided by the Defense Manufacturing Community Support Program grant is maintained through the Federal Interest Period, as will be specified in the award terms and conditions.

Funds available under this program should not supplant funding or activities otherwise eligible for/funded through other Federal programs. Respondents are encouraged to submit proposals that demonstrate appropriate leverage of all public and private resources and programs, such as:

o U.S. Department of Commerce National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program for the provision of relevant assistance to the region’s manufacturers that operate as part of the Defense supply chain;

o State, regional, and local economic development organizations working with Defense supply chain matters;

o U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration’s grantees, including Economic Development Districts and University Centers;

o Small Business Administration (SBA) Regional Innovation Clusters or other involvement with SBA District offices, Small Business Development Centers, SCORE chapters, or Women’s Business Centers; and, o U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration grantees, including local Workforce Investment Boards and/or American Job Centers.

In instances where applicants are aware proposed activities are seemingly eligible for other programs of Federal assistance (e.g., workforce development assistance from the Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration), justification for not pursuing those funds from the other Federal source should be provided in the narrative portion (Word document) of the application. Funds provided under this program may not be used to directly identify or assist a business, including a business expansion, in the relocation of a plant, facility, or operation from one Labor Market Area (LMA) to another if the relocation is likely to result in the loss of jobs in the Labor Market Area from which the relocation occurs.

D. PROPOSAL AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION:

1. Address to Request Application Package:

Proposals must be submitted electronically as described in Section D., paragraph 3 below.

2. Content and Form of Proposal Submission:

NOTE: Consortia which received Defense Manufacturing Community designation and grant funding in Fiscal Year 2020 or Fiscal Year 2021 as a result of the first two (2) rounds of this Program are precluded from any additional designation or funding under this announcement.

Consortia seeking Defense Manufacturing Community designation must submit a complete proposal through Grants.gov not later than the Proposal Deadline date (see Section D., paragraph 3). Grants.gov requires all proposers to complete the Standard Form 424. Please refer to the instructions provided with this Grants.gov notice on how to complete the Standard Form 424.

In addition to the Standard Form 424, “Lead Organizations” will submit the following proposal components in order for their respective consortium to be considered for designation as a Defense Manufacturing Community:

o Part 1: Defense Manufacturing Community Designation Concept – Slide Presentation;

o Part 2: Defense Manufacturing Community Designation White Paper; and o Part 3: Any Necessary Supporting Documentation.

Parts 1 and 2 are complementary of each other: The concept (slide presentation) is a summary of the white paper, and the white paper is the comprehensive narrative that fleshes out the concept. Parts 1 and 2 shall be structured similarly.

Defense Manufacturing Community designations will be competitively selected based solely on the components listed above. Those consortia designated as a Defense Manufacturing Community may then be invited to submit a Defense Manufacturing Community Support Program grant application to the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation for funding and technical assistance. In the event the designated Defense Manufacturing Community is unable to submit an application or it is determined the invited application materially differs from the proposal that was considered by the review panel, another

Defense Manufacturing Community may be invited to submit an application based upon their competitive ranking.

Below is a detailed description of the required components to be designated as a Defense Manufacturing Community:

A. PART 1: Defense Manufacturing Community Designation Concept Brief: No more than a ten

(10) page PowerPoint presentation (including all relevant maps/drawings/diagrams) that outlines the following:

Slide 1: Consortium Information

- Name of Defense Manufacturing Community - Consortia

- Name of “Lead Organization”

- Headquarters location (City, State)

- Website

- Contact Person (First Name, Last Name)

- Contact Email Address

- Contact Phone Number

- Additional contact, if applicable

Slide 2: Mission, Vision and Summary

- What is the consortium’s mission/vision in one sentence?

- How would you summarize your proposed project in two to three sentences?

- How would the consortium’s mission/vision enhance the defense industrial base and will complement Defense Manufacturing Innovation Institutes?

Slide 3: Consortium Makeup and Leadership Structure

- Who comprises the consortium?

- How is the consortium optimally composed to perform the proposed work?

Slide 4 and 5: Service Area Identification and Regional Assessment: NOTE - The white paper should include more detail and shall include an integrated, evidence-based assessment of the local defense industrial ecosystem (i.e., the whole range of workforce and training, supplier network, research and innovation, infrastructure/site development, operational improvements, and capital access components needed for manufacturing activities) as it exists today in the region defined by the applicant. The assessment should provide a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats analysis as it pertains to supporting the manufacturing ecosystem of the region.

- What area are you serving? This could include cities, counties, regions, states, etc.

- What are the specific defense manufacturing technologies and/or supply chains on which the consortium will focus?

- How are the identified technologies/supply chains considered top-ranked in the nation?

- How do they tie into Defense Critical Technologies Areas?

- What are the key gaps and opportunities within the service area?

Slides 6 and 7: Scope of Work / Implementation Strategy

- A scope of work linked to the project’s purpose with key milestones and deliverables, which must clearly indicate the specific activities that are part of the scope of work of the proposed project.

- A description of how the proposed implementation strategy will enhance the defense industrial base and will complement Department of Defense Manufacturing Innovation Institutes.

Slides 8: Logic Model and Proposed Performance Metrics

- A concise presentation of the resources and activities envisioned in the proposal to produce specific outputs and outcomes (short and long-term).

- A description of 3-5 performance metrics that will be used measure the proposed outcomes.

- A description of the evaluation methods including methods of tracking impact on underserved populations.

Slide 9: Estimated Budget

- Estimated, high-level budget and matching, to include an estimate of the overall cost of the project tied to the proposed activities and staffing plan under the project, as well as an estimate of non-Federal matching funds planned to be dedicated to the project.

Budget must provide sufficient detail so Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation staff may understand what funding will be applied to which task and/or sub-tasks. This slide should include more detail than simply the categories on the Standard Form 424A.

Slides 10: Sustainability Plan

- What resources/model will you leverage/follow to encourage sustainability?

B. PART 2: Defense Manufacturing Community White Paper: A proposal of no more than twenty

(20) pages (1-inch margins, 1.5-line spacing, 11 point Times New Roman font, Microsoft Word only, and including all relevant maps/drawings/diagrams). The white paper shall follow the same structure as Part 1 (concept) and will add clarifying detail to the concept. The white paper should include the following sections (correlation to Part 1 is identified by slide):

a. Abstract and Executive Summary (no more than 2 pages): Abstract is a 3-4 sentence, non-technical description of the issue the project will address, how the project will address that issue, and expected outcomes of the project. The Executive Summary should expand upon the Abstract with more detail and may address key points, which are found deeper in the application. The summary should describe how the proposed implementation strategy will enhance the defense industrial base and will complement Defense Manufacturing Innovation Institutes.

b. Introduction (builds upon slides 1 and 2): This section should provide an overview of the consortium; its mission, vision, goals and objectives; and how it will enhance the defense industrial base and will complement Defense Manufacturing Innovation Institutes.

c. Consortium Leadership Structure (builds upon slide 3): This section should provide a description of the leadership structure of the regional partners that comprise the consortium in order to carry out the proposed strategy. The description of the leadership structure should clearly demonstrate the specific roles and responsibilities of each member of the consortium as well as explain how workflow, accountability, and authority will be administered. Proposers should attach letters of commitment or a signed Memorandum of Understanding documenting consortium members’ contributions to the partnership in Part 3.

d. Geographic scope (builds upon slides 4 and 5): Description of the regional boundaries of the consortium and the basis for determining that the area’s manufacturing concentration ranks high in the nation for Key Technology or Supply Chains (KTS) by either location quotient for employment or firms in the Key Technology or Supply Chain, or in terms of employment or firm numbers. Other metrics can be used to determine a top third national ranking for the proposer’s Key Technology or Supply Chain region, but data sources and methods used to calculate the top third ranking must be well-documented in the application.

e. Regional Assessment (builds upon slides 4 and 5): An integrated, evidence-based assessment of the local defense industrial ecosystem (i.e., the whole range of workforce and training, supplier network, research and innovation, infrastructure/site development, operational improvements and capital access components needed for manufacturing activities) as it exists today in the region defined by the applicant. The assessment should provide a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats analysis as it pertains to supporting the manufacturing ecosystem of the region.

f. Scope of Work / Implementation Strategy (builds upon slides 6 and 7): An evidence-based path for developing chosen components of this ecosystem (e.g., infrastructure, business development, workforce development, etc.) by making specific investments to address gaps and make a region uniquely competitive. The scope of work must clearly indicate the specific activities and how they are linked to the project’s purpose, key milestones, and deliverables. A description of how the proposed implementation strategy will enhance the defense industrial base and will complement Defense Manufacturing Innovation Institutes.

g. Logic Model and Proposed Performance Metrics (builds upon slide 8): A logical flow of resources and activities envisioned in the scope of work section to produce specific outputs and outcomes of the proposed activities. A description of outcome-based performance metrics to be tracked, and evaluation methods to be used (experimental or high quality quasi-experimental designs using control groups, etc.) over the course of the implementation to gauge whether the proposed outcomes are achieved and what the impact has been on underserved populations.

h. Estimated Budget (builds upon slide 9): An estimated, high-level budget and matching share (to include information from the Standard Form 424) of the overall cost of the project tied to the proposed activities and staffing plan under the project, as well as an estimate of non-Federal matching funds planned to be dedicated to the project. The program requires a match of at least twenty percent (20%) of the total project cost from non-Federal sources. Proposers seeking a waiver of the match requirement should include any relevant information linked directly to reasons of national security that would warrant consideration of a waiver. Such information will count toward the application page limit.

i. Sustainability Plan (builds upon slide 10): A description of resources and models to be used to encourage sustainability of the consortium’s objectives.

C. PART 3: Supporting Documentation: No more than twenty-five (25) single sided pages in Word or .pdf format (.pdf format must be compatible with Adobe Acrobat Pro 2017; NOTE: Adobe “portfolio” documents will not be accepted) which outlines the following:

a. Submitting Official: Documentation that the Submitting Official is authorized by the applicant to submit a proposal and subsequently apply for assistance (1 page).

b. A statement attesting the applicant/s already have obtained or have started the process to obtain a SAM registration (documentation of SAM registration or proof that SAM registration has been initiated must be submitted along with the Concept Proposal) (1 page).

c. A signed letter of commitment in lieu of a completed Memorandum of Understanding (or Memorandum of Understanding if complete upon proposal submission) documenting consortium members and contributions to the partnership.

d. Additional letters of support/matching fund commitment may be attached to the application as applicable but will count toward the application page limit (as needed).

e. A transparent statement documenting any foreign investment within the consortium membership where direct or indirect exposure to any aspect of the project exists.

To the extent practicable, proposers are encouraged to provide data and evidence of all project merits in a form that is publicly available and verifiable.

3. Submission Dates and Times:

The Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation is publishing on Grants.gov a Notice of Funding Opportunity notice for a 60-day solicitation period. The Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation will hold a pre-proposal webinar at 11:00 a.m. PDT on June 1, 2022, and again at 11:00 a.m. PDT on June 15, 2022, to review the goals and objectives of the notice and answer questions from interested respondents.

Details about participation in this pre-proposal webinar will be available on oldcc.gov at link https://oldcc.gov/Defense-Manufacturing-Community-Support-Program. The Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation must receive complete proposals for Defense Manufacturing Community designations by 5:00 p.m. PDT on July 19, 2022 (the Proposal Deadline). All proposals will be ranked by a Defense Manufacturing Community Review Panel for final approval by the Under Secretary of Defense (Acquisition and Sustainment). If designated by the Under Secretary of Defense (Acquisition and Sustainment) as a Defense Manufacturing Community, the Director, Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation, on or about August 17, 2022, will assign Project Managers to assist the successful consortia and invite the submission of a grant application. In the event the designated Defense Manufacturing Community is unable to submit an application or it is determined the invited application materially differs from the proposal that was considered by the review panel, another Defense Manufacturing Community may be invited to submit an application based upon their competitive ranking. All grant agreements must be issued and countersigned prior to September 23, 2022, so the appropriated funds can be obligated no later than September 30, 2022.

E. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION:

1. Defense Manufacturing Community Selection Criteria:

Proposal review and evaluation will be performed as follows:

Proposals for Defense Manufacturing Community designation will be reviewed by an interdepartmental/interagency Defense Manufacturing Community Review Panel composed of representation from the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment; the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering; the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation; the Economic Development Administration; and the National Institute of Standards and Technology—Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program.

The Defense Manufacturing Community Review Panel will consider each of the following ranking criteria, with relative weights (the more responsive the proposal is to a need in these areas, the higher the score) as a basis to confer a Defense Manufacturing Community designation:

https://oldcc.gov/Defense-Manufacturing-Community-Support-Program https://oldcc.gov/Defense-Manufacturing-Community-Support-Program

a) Strategy/activities proposed by the consortia: the extent to which the strategy and activities proposed enhance the region’s ability to narrow gaps and build upon opportunities identified in the proposal, ultimately amplifying the development of key technologies, workforce, and/or support industrial base/supply chains that are determined critical to national security (0-30 points);

b) Identification of service area, regional specialization and correlation to Department of Defense priorities: the extent to which the service area of the consortium is clearly identified, to include geographic bounds, identification of regional specialization in a specific set of defense manufacturing technologies and/or supply chains, and the use of data to validate that the service area ranks high in the nation for the technologies/supply chains identified, or the extent of the level of need in building out a regional defense innovation ecosystem; the extent to which the regional specializations correlate findings and/or priorities outlined in Department of Defense source documents (e.g., the National Defense Strategy; Section 3 of the Department of Defense report: “State of Competition Within the Defense Industrial Base” (link:

https://media.defense.gov/2022/Feb/15/2002939087/-1/-1/1/STATE-OF-COMPETITION- WITHIN-THE-DEFENSE-INDUSTRIAL-BASE.PDF), released February 15, 2022, by the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, “Securing Defense-Critical Supply Chains – An Action Plan in Response to President Biden’s Executive Order 14017” (link: https://media.defense.gov/2022/Feb/24/2002944158/-1/-

1/1/DOD-EO-14017-REPORT-SECURING-DEFENSE-CRITICAL-SUPPLY-

CHAINS.PDF) released February 24, 2022, by the Deputy Secretary of Department of Defense; and/or stated Military Service or Secretary of Defense modernization priorities such as the February 1, 2022, Under Secretary of Defense Research and Engineering “Technology Vision for an Era of Competition” (link: https://www.cto.mil/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/usdre_strategic_vision_critical_tech_areas.pdf).

Submissions will be reviewed under this criterion also for their responsiveness to the following areas where the Department is specifically working with its partners to develop and otherwise expand capabilities: biotechnology, hypersonics, kinetic capabilities, energy storage and batteries, castings and forgings, microelectronics, and shipbuilding (0-25 points);

c) Region’s assessment of gaps and opportunities: the quality and relevance of the region’s assessment of gaps and opportunities rooted in the regional specializations identified by consortium (0-20 points);

d) Leadership capacity and commitment of the consortium: the strength of the consortia’s leadership capacity, commitment and its ability to leverage regional partners to execute the proposed activities, as demonstrated through the soundness of its governance structure and management plan, composition of regional partners, and matching fund commitment (0-15 points); and,

e) Complementarity to defense Manufacturing Innovation Institutes, industry-led initiatives and whole of government approach: the extent to which the proposed activities complement and/or leverage defense Manufacturing Innovation Institutes, industry-led, workforce-led, and association-led initiatives (e.g., Industry 4.0), and leverage the whole of Federal government resources to amplify the execution of its proposed activities (0-10 points).

https://media.defense.gov/2022/Feb/15/2002939087/-1/-1/1/STATE-OF-COMPETITION-WITHIN-THE-DEFENSE-INDUSTRIAL-BASE.PDF https://media.defense.gov/2022/Feb/15/2002939087/-1/-1/1/STATE-OF-COMPETITION-WITHIN-THE-DEFENSE-INDUSTRIAL-BASE.PDF https://media.defense.gov/2022/Feb/24/2002944158/-1/-1/1/DOD-EO-14017-REPORT-SECURING-DEFENSE-CRITICAL-SUPPLY-CHAINS.PDF https://media.defense.gov/2022/Feb/24/2002944158/-1/-1/1/DOD-EO-14017-REPORT-SECURING-DEFENSE-CRITICAL-SUPPLY-CHAINS.PDF https://media.defense.gov/2022/Feb/24/2002944158/-1/-1/1/DOD-EO-14017-REPORT-SECURING-DEFENSE-CRITICAL-SUPPLY-CHAINS.PDF

2. Defense Manufacturing Community Support Program Grant Application Invitation:

Once an eligible consortium has been designated as a “Defense Manufacturing Community,” the Defense Manufacturing Community will be invited by the Director, Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation to submit a detailed grant application in accordance with Section F. that reflects the project included in the initial proposal that led to this designation. In the event the designated Defense Manufacturing Community is unable to submit an application or it is determined the invited application materially differs from the proposal that was considered by the review panel, another Defense Manufacturing Community may be invited to submit an application based upon their competitive ranking.

F. AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION:

1. Award Notices:

All Defense Manufacturing Community proposals will be evaluated as identified in Section E. The Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation will notify the applicant on or about August 17, 2022, whether their proposal was successful. All decisions are final and not subject to appeal within the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation.

Unsuccessful proposers will be notified by mail or email that their proposal was not selected for further action and funding, and may request a debriefing on their submitted proposal. Requests to schedule a debriefing must be submitted within seven (7) business days of notification of an unsuccessful proposal.

If designated as a “Defense Manufacturing Community,” the Director of the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation will assign Project Managers to advise and assist designated Defense Manufacturing Communities in the preparation of a follow-on Defense Manufacturing Community Support Program grant application. The Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation is committed to conducting a transparent financial assistance award process and publicizing information about decisions.

In the event the designated Defense Manufacturing Community is unable to submit an application or it is determined the invited application materially differs from the proposal that was considered by the review panel, another Defense Manufacturing Community may be invited to submit an application based upon their competitive ranking. Grant applicants are advised that their respective applications and information related to their review may be shared publicly. In the event of a grant award, information about a project’s progress and related results may also be made publicly available.

In the event a grant is awarded, the successful applicant (Grantee) will receive a notice of award in the form of a grant agreement, signed by the Director, Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation (Grantor), on behalf of the Department of Defense. The grant agreement will be transmitted electronically.

Recipients must accept the terms of these awards by counter-signing the grant agreement by September 23, 2022, so the funds may be obligated prior to the end of Fiscal Year 2022. Once obligated, the funding remains available for expenses for up to 5 years, as approved by the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation in the grant terms and conditions.

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements:

The Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation will follow applicable regulations in administering this program. A Grantee receiving funds under this opportunity and any consultant or pass-thru entity operating under the terms of a grant shall comply with all Federal, State, and local laws applicable to its activities. Federal regulations that will apply to an Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation grant include administrative requirements and provisions governing allowable costs as stated in:

o 2 CFR part 200, ‘‘Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards’’;

o 2 CFR part 25, ‘‘Universal Identifier and System for Award Management’’;

o 2 CFR part 170, ‘‘Reporting Sub-award and Executive Compensation Information’’;

o 2 CFR part 1125, Non-procurement Debarment and Suspension; and, o 32 CFR part 28, ‘‘New Restrictions on Lobbying.’’

As applicable, compliance with:

o National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA);

o National Historic Preservation Act; and o Buy American Act and Hire American Act.

All applicable requirements will be included in the grant award terms and conditions.

3. Defense Manufacturing Community Support Program Grant Award Determination:

Selection of an organization as a “Defense Manufacturing Community” under this notice does not constitute approval of the proposed project’s request for funding as submitted, nor does it obligate the Department of Defense to ultimately award the selected organization any financial or technical assistance due to that designation.

Before any funds appropriated for the Defense Manufacturing Community Support Program are awarded to the “Lead Organization” on behalf of a consortium designated as a Defense Manufacturing Community, the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation may enter into negotiations about matters such as program components, staffing and funding levels, and administrative systems in place to support implementation of the award. The amount of available funding may require the final award amount to be less than that originally requested by the applicant. If the negotiations do not result in a mutually acceptable submission, the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation reserves the right to terminate the negotiations and decline to fund the application. The Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation further reserves the right not to fund any proposal or application received under this Notice of Funding Opportunity.

In the event the applicant is awarded a grant that is less than the amount requested, the applicant will be required to modify its grant application to conform to the reduced amount before execution of the grant agreement. The Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation reserves the right to reduce or withdraw the award if acceptable modifications are not submitted by the awardee within fifteen (15) working days from the date the request for modification is made. Any modifications must be within the scope of the original application.

4. Performance Reporting:

The Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation requires performance reports in intervals no less frequent than annually nor more frequent than quarterly except in unusual circumstances, for example, where more frequent reporting is necessary for effective monitoring or could significantly affect deliverables. The Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation’s notice of award will include a schedule to identify reporting type, frequency, and due dates. All performance reports will be submitted electronically.

o The Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation will rely significantly on onsite technical inspections and certified percentage of completion data to monitor progress under awards and sub-awards. The Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation may require additional performance reports when considered necessary.

o Significant developments. Events may occur between the scheduled performance reporting dates that have significant impact upon the supported activity. In such cases, the non-Federal entity must inform the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation as soon as the following types of conditions become known:

• Problems, delays, or adverse conditions that will materially impair the ability to meet the objective of the Federal award. This disclosure must include a statement of the action taken, or contemplated, and any assistance needed to resolve the situation;

• Favorable developments that enable meeting time schedules and objectives sooner or at less cost than anticipated, or producing more or different beneficial results than originally planned; and

• The Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation may make site visits as warranted.

The final…