FY22 ARI NOFO Q&As_2022 0510.pdf

Questions and Answers for the FY22 CWMD Academic Research Initiative (ARI) NOFO

As of May 10, 2022

1. The Topic #3 description mentions “Materials of interest…”. Is this topic limited to the development of materials that can act as indicators, or would you also consider optical sensor technologies?

A. This topic is intended to develop and demonstrate novel indicators that provide rapid, unique spectral or optical responses to airborne TICs and CWAs. While such materials could ultimately find application in chemical sensing technologies, the topic is not intended for advanced sensor instrument development.

2. For Topic #3, what is the definition of “low cost”?

A. Offerors should determine the approach which they believe will achieve the best results with respect to indicator materials costs vs. performance, keeping the desired capabilities and ultimate end users in mind. Potential end users include DHS operational personnel;

other federal field personnel; state, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) first responders, and industry.

3. Topic #1 states that a university team working in collaboration with an industry partner or national laboratory that can test the material in accordance with Technical Capability Standards for Radiological Detection is of interest. Can DHS provide a list of companies/national labs which can do the testing, or help find the right partner?

A. DHS cannot provide recommendations for laboratory or industry partners. Please see references #2 and #3 under this topic for more details on Technical Capability Standards for Radiological Detection.

4. In reference to Topic #3, are subwavelength grating metamaterial waveguides that can improve optical absorption sensitivity of chemical threats of interest for this topic, if we integrate the metamaterial waveguides as a sensor/instrument platform?

A. This topic is intended to develop and demonstrate novel indicators that provide rapid, unique spectral or optical responses to airborne chemical threats, with the TICs and CWAs of highest interest listed in the topic. The topic is not intended for advanced sensor instrument development.