FOA Questions and Answers 16 July 2021.docx.pdf

FOA Questions and Answers:

DRAFT PIA-FOA-21-AFRL-0001

15 June 2021 16 July 2021

No. Question Answer

1 Would like to receive a copy of the draft FOA.

DRAFT copy of the revised DRAFT FOA has been posed on Grants.gov (PIA-FOA-21- AFRL-0001, 11 June 2021). Please note, DRAFT FOA is subject to change.

2 Do you anticipate expanding eligibility (Nonprofit 501(c) 3) or staying with the types of institutions listed (Public and state controlled institutions of higher education)?

Please see Section III-Eligibility Information of DRAFT FOA for additional information.

Domestic non-profits entities are eligibility as Sub-recipients and/or Sub-awardees.

3 Would you consider a PIA partner who has relationships with higher level research institutions in the state of NM, but maintains our corporate presence outside of New Mexico (example MD) with a small office in NM to work/facilitate Tech transfer with the research institutions?

Domestic entities are eligible to participate as sub-recipients or sub-awardees under this FOA. For-profit entities, educational institutions, and nonprofits that are incorporated (or otherwise formed) under the laws of a particular state or territory of the United States and have a physical location for business operations in the United States are eligible to apply for as sub-recipient and/or sub-awardees. Please note, sub-recipient and/or sub-awardees DO NOT have to have a physical location in the state of New Mexico.

4 Would you be willing to discuss the use of our existing PIA to facilitate your objectives (MIPRing) as opposed to awarding a new PIA?

No. This is stand-alone Partnership Intermediary Agreements (PIA). AFRL is seeking proposals from New Mexico Public or State research universities that share AFRL’s desire to improve New Mexico’s education landscape, have a legacy of operating in New Mexico, have insights into the unique NM education and economic development ecosystems, and have broad and deep contacts and connections in the state of New Mexico.

5 Would like to receive a notice when the solicitation is issued.

Recipients wishing to receive additional information on this FOA, including future notifications, amendments, should register in Grant.gov as soon as possible.

Recipients will only receive an email when an amendment is posted on Grants.gov, if the Recipient is registered for email notifications for the FOA in Grants.gov. The Government recommends email registration as soon as possible after the release of the FOA to ensure notice of any amendments or other FOA information.

6 Would NMSU have to offer the proposal for funding? Is it OK if I write the proposal for their signature? Would my small business submit the proposal? Or, is my company to be listed as a sub-contractor?

See Question 2. Small Business enterprises are eligible to participate as sub-recipients or sub-awardees under this FOA.

7 I shall also propose a XXXX for the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs under solicitation AFOSR-BAA-2021.

Would there be any conflict there with a separate XXXX with XXX in XXX?

NOTE: This question has been edited to protect the integrity of the interested Recipient.

This is stand-alone Partnership Intermediary Agreements (PIA). This PIA is not a BAA requirement and should be treated as a stand-alone application. Interested Recipients and/or Sub-Recipients should read the FOA Section I for Program Description information.

6 Do you have a specific format that you require the response to be in?

Please see Section IV- Application and Submission Information for format information. In addition, please see Section I Program Description, for programs goals and objectives.

19 Do you know if there is interest from NM State? And do you have a POC?

Due to Organizational Conflict of Interest, the Government cannot provide any POC's to the state of New Mexico universities.

10 Where can I learn more about AFRL's PIA's?

To learn more the Air Force Technology Transfer and Transition Partnership Intermediary Agreements (PIAs) please visit: https://www.aft3.af.mil/PIAs/

11 This PIA requires cost share. Providing cost share will be an extreme hardship for the Hispanic Serving Institutions in New Mexico. Would it be possible to get a waiver for the cost share requirement?

An overall waiver to the cost-share requirement is not anticipated. Please note revisions have been made to the Section II- Federal Award Information, C. Minimum and Maximum Award Size Estimates, which may impact the total cost-share.

12 Is collaboration among New Mexico institutions of higher education allowed? Or, encouraged?

Yes, collaboration among New Mexico institutions of higher education is allowed.

The interested Recipients should make determination on the extent of their collaborative effort. Please refer to Section III - Eligibility Information.

13 The draft FOA mentions “Workforce development” on page 7: “The FOA goals and objectives include promoting a skilled and productive U.S. workforce, spurring economic development, job creation, support, R&D innovation, technology transfer, technology assessment activities and assist in transferring dual-use technologies into government.” Would workforce development include graduate education aligned with the goals of the FOA?

The Government is seeking Partnership Intermediary Agreements (PIAs) with entities that facilitate joint projects and accelerate technology transfer between the lab and the commercial market. These intermediaries help companies to identify federal technologies that can be licensed and commercialized; and work to increase the likelihood of successful cooperative activities between the lab, small businesses, academia and industry.

Please note, this section is trying to summarize the overall FOA Program Objectives listed on Section I-Funding Opportunity Description, and does not specifically mention "workforce development".

https://www.aft3.af.mil/PIAs/

14 What percentage of the proposed effort should be devoted to workforce development?

The interested Recipients should make the determination on proposed effort.

15 Would workforce development include undergraduate education (for example through targeted internships with DoD or DD contractors)?

The objectives of this PIA do not include undergraduate or graduate research internships programs. However, Recipient's proposed programs/projects may be supported by undergraduate students, graduate students, and professors, etc.

16 What percentage of the proposed effort could be devoted to K-12 STEM outreach?

See Question 15.

17 Regarding SBIR and STTR support. We have extensive demonstrated capability and expertise in this area including advising, education, proposal development assistance and commercialization strategy. Our university also has broad and specialized research and development capabilities in key areas of interest for AFRL.

a) Please, confirm whether a PIA with tasking to provide SBIR/STTR support would, in any way, preclude the university research organizations from participating in research for AFRL sponsored STTR or SBIR opportunities.

b) Please, describe any limitations or other relevant criteria for participation in SBIR/STTR projects with AFRL.

This is stand-alone Partnership Intermediary Agreements (PIA). However, future Recipients are expected to "support the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs by performing technology scouting to identify and recruit small businesses to those programs."

Please refer to the SBIR website (https://www.sbir.gov/about ) for SBIR/STTR criteria and additional information.

18 We have key capabilities in the form of facilities and expertise in test and evaluation, particularly for department of defense applications. This capability is relevant to “objective 5. RDT&E collaboration agreements”.

a) Will the SIT PIA scope include the performance of test and evaluation and/or management of the test and evaluation of technologies? For example, a technology of interest is identified by AFRL, and the PIA could support technology and market assessments. We also, when applicable, envision managing and/or performing actual test and evaluation in our labs or facilities.

b) Would testing and/or the management of testing and evaluation be enabled and funded by this SIT PIA?

PIAs may provide a variety of services that can be used to support technology transfer and commercialization activities, but can NOT be used to conduct R&D (please see 15 U.S.C 3715). However, may support organizations (both public and private) to evaluate and explore commercialization avenues for DoD technology and assist with prototype design and production for DoD operational testing. Please see revisions on Section I-Funding Opportunity Description, C. Program Description.

https://www.sbir.gov/about

19 The FOA refers to eligible sub awardees, sub recipients, small businesses, consultants, etc. as part of a team. Given that the FOA is directed to NM higher education institutions, there are limited number of eligible applicants. Although AFRL reserves the right to make multiple awards, does the AFRL seek a single broad, statewide collaboration among the institutions for all aspects of the FOA goals and objectives?

See Question 3 and Question 13. Additionally, the Government reserves the right to fund, in whole or in part, any, all, or none of the proposals submitted in response to this FOA and the Government reserves the right to enter into one, multiple or no agreements pursuant to this FOA.

20 It is believed by many that New Mexico tech ecosystem will benefit and grow by stronger collaboration with out of state universities. This may also benefit AFRL. Are relationships and programs with other US universities working towards the growth of the Space and Directed Energy sectors allowed? Or, encouraged?

See Questions 3 and Question 13. Partnership and collaboration with out of state universities is allowed.

21 The FOA specifies applicant eligibility including a strong graduate STEM education program. Goals and objectives also specify promoting a skilled and productive US Workforce. Objective 7 emphasizes K-12 STEM education outreach and programs. STEM workforce development approaches are evolving to address the needs of a rapidly changing economic landscape and to build a meaningful pipeline of talent for the future. Is the AFRL emphasizing near term programs for STEM graduates? Or long-term programs for pipeline?

The FOA specifically calls out K-12 STEM Education Programs in the program objectives. These programs may supported by undergraduate students, graduate students, professors, and others involved in mentoring and leadership, but the objectives of this PIA do not include undergraduate or graduate research internships.

22 What are some examples of activities supported under a

PIA?

Examples of services that may be supported by partnership intermediaries include but are not limited to technology scouting, horizon scanning, design reviews, prototyping, technology/IP assessments and evaluations, technology acceleration/commercialization, business development, marketing and outreach, training, and events.

16 July 2021

23 Would these institutions serving as the prime for the PIA also be eligible for a cost share waiver for this program?

NOTE: This question has been edited to protect the integrity of the interested Recipient.

See Question 11.

24 Is it allowable as part of this PIA to also partner with universities, non-profits, and for-profit organizations from outside the state of New Mexico?

NOTE: This question has been edited to protect the integrity of the interested Recipient.

See Question 2 and 3.

25 Can an eligible bidding entity (NM higher education institute) bid both, as a prime, and as a sub-awardee on another prime bidder’s team?

Each application will be treated as a stand-alone proposal. A Recipient may be a Prime and a sub-awardee on another Prime Recipient’s proposal.

26 Is a State of NM agency (for example, NM Economic Development Department) eligible to be a sub awardee on one or more teams?

Each application will be treated as a stand-alone proposal. Per Section III- Eligibility Information “State, local and tribal governments” entities are eligible to participate as sub-recipients or sub-awardees under this FOA.

27 The FOA is posted on grants.gov now, will the final funding solicitation be released on grants.gov?

Yes. Final FOA will be posted on Grants.gov.

28 The FOA notes that applicants shall follow the SF-424 application. There are several versions of SF-424 shown on Grants.gov but not one for AF, AFRL or DOD. Do you intend to add one AFRL specific SF 424?

Recipients must use Application for Federal Assistance SF 424 (R&R). OMB Number:

4040-0001. A copy of the form can be found at:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/r-r-family.html

29 Will an AF Form 813- Request for Environmental Impact Analysis be required for this funding opportunity? It is not listed on the FOA.

The AF Form 813- Request for Environmental Impact Analysis may be conducted after contract award, subject to the proposal.

30 The summary paragraph on Page 3 of 30 and 6 of 30 states an anticipated $75,000,000.00 of funding is anticipated under this FOA. Page 8 of 30 Ceiling states the maximum amount for a proposed effort to be $55,000,000. Please, The Science, Innovation & Technology Partnership Intermediary Agreement (SITPIA) program is currently at $75M. The ceiling (i.e., the maximum amount for an individual award made under this announcement): The maximum amount for a https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/r-r-family.html clarify if the total award ceiling is $75M, but a single award will be capped at $55M.

proposed effort will be $55,000,000.00. Applicants for larger amounts may be considered based on funding availability.

31 The FOA describes application sections very clearly, including a project schedule and milestones for the entire proposed effort. Can there be a number of defined projects addressing the stated goals and objectives proposed by a single applicant? Or is the entire PIA viewed as a project?

Recipients are required to respond to ALL the above Program Objectives as part of the Project Narrative or Technical Volume. However, the Recipient may propose additional programs and/or projects that bolster R&D innovation, increase the maturity and market readiness of DoD relevant technologies to prepare them for transfer and commercialization that support DoD needs. The overall effort is expected to be made up of numerous projects and/or programs supporting the Program Goals and Objectives of the FOA.

NOTE: The FOA will be updated to reflect revised language as follows:

“Recipients are required to respond to ALL the above Program Objectives as part of the Project Narrative or Technical Volume. However, the Recipient may propose additional programs and/or projects that bolster R&D innovation, increase the maturity and market readiness of DoD relevant technologies to prepare them for transfer and commercialization that support DoD needs.”

32 A. The FOA to support AFRL in the dynamic space and directed energy sectors, is there a planned mechanism for proposing and implementing new projects and concepts during the 5-year POP under the PIA? Given the specific information requested in the application, , i.e. project milestones, cost, schedule, for the 5 year period of performance, it appears that there is not an opportunity to address new ideas in the rapidly changing sector. Is that correct?

B. If so, will AFRL consider additional task or project proposals under this award within the POP?

A. The Government anticipates using the Go/No Go Decision Plan and perform a Go/No Go decision review as mechanism to evaluate overall contribution of the program goals and objectives. As a result of this evaluation, the Government may, at its discretion, recommend redirection of proposed efforts. Please note, the Government may review the Go/No Go Decision plan at any time during the life of the Award. This review will provide the Government with the opportunity to address new ideas in the rapidly changing sector.

B. See Question 31.