FY25 NANS BAA N00019-25-S-0001 04SEPT25 FINAL.pdf

NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND (NAVAIR)

NAVAL AVIATION NORTH STARS (NANS)

ENTERPRISE-WIDE BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT (BAA)

N00019-25-S-0001

THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.0 OVERVIEW INFORMATION

1.1 Required Overview Content

1.1.1 Federal Awarding Agency Name

1.1.2 Funding Opportunity Title

1.1.3 Announcement Type

1.1.4 Funding Opportunity Number

1.1.5 Key Dates

1.1.6 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS)

1.1.7 Agency Contact

2.0 FULL TEXT OF ANNOUNCEMENT

2.1 Program Description

2.2 Interest Areas / Topics

2.3 Federal Award Information

2.3.1 Awards

2.3.2 Fundamental Research

2.3.3 Disclosure of Information and Compliance with Safeguarding Covered Defense Information Controls

2.3.4 Funded Amount and Period of Performance

2.3.5 Instrument Type(s)

2.4 Eligibility Information

2.4.1 Eligible Applicants

2.4.2 Cost Sharing or Matching

2.4.3 Submission

2.4.4 Unclassified and Classified Delivery Instructions

3.0 PHASE I – White Paper and QUAD Chart

3.1 Phase I, Step 1: White Paper and QUAD Requirements

3.1.1 White Paper Format - (see Appendix 1 for white paper template)

3.2 Phase 1, Step 2 – White Papers of Interest (BY INVITATION ONLY)

4.0 PHASE II – Full Technical/Cost Proposal (BY INVITATION ONLY)

4.1 Application Review Information

4.1.1 Evaluation Criteria

4.1.2 Review and Selection Process

4.2 Federal Award Administration Information (Phase II)

4.2.1 Administrative and National Policy Requirements

4.2.2 Reporting

APPENDIX 1 – WHITE PAPER TEMPLATE

APPENDIX 2 - REQUIREMENTS APPLICABLE TO CONTRACTS (Phase II) APPENDIX 3 - REQUIREMENTS APPLICABLE TO OTHER TRANSACTION AGREEMENTS (Phase II)

1.0 OVERVIEW INFORMATION

This publication constitutes a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) for awards across the Naval Aviation Enterprise including, Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), United States Marine Corp Aviation, the Program Executive Offices (PEOs), Naval Air Warfare Centers (NAWCs), and Fleet Readiness Centers (FRCs), on behalf of NAVAIR (hereinafter referred to as “the Government”) as contemplated in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 6.102(d)(2) and 35.016, DFARS 235.016, and Department of Defense (DoD) Other Transaction (OT) Guide, July 2023. Negotiations and/or awards for contracts will use procedures under FAR 15.4; and negotiations and/or awards for OTs will use procedures at 10 USC § 4022. Compliant and relevant proposals received in response to this BAA shall be evaluated in accordance with the evaluation criteria specified herein through a scientific review process. Formal Requests for Proposal (RFP), solicitation, and/or additional information regarding this announcement will not be issued.

This BAA is intended for white papers/proposals related to basic research, applied research, advanced technology development, advanced component development, and prototypes intended for scientific study and experimentation directed towards advancing the state-of-the-art or increasing knowledge or understanding, rather than focusing on a specific system or hardware solution. Additionally, this BAA is intended for prototype projects directly relevant to enhancing the mission effectiveness of personnel of the Department of Defense or improving platforms, systems, components, or materials proposed to be acquired or developed by the Department of Defense, or improvement of platforms, systems, components, or materials in use by the armed forces.

This BAA is not for the acquisition of support services, i.e. technical, engineering, or other support services.

Regarding this BAA, the Government:

• will not issue paper copies of this announcement.

• reserves the right to fund all, some, or none of the proposals received under this BAA.

• provides no funding for direct reimbursement of proposal development costs.

• will not return Technical and Cost proposals (or any other material) submitted in response to this BAA.

• will treat all proposals submitted under this BAA as sensitive competitive information and disclose their contents only for the purposes of evaluation, per Government policy.

1.1 Required Overview Content

1.1.1 Federal Awarding Agency Name

Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) 47123 Buse Road, Building 2272 Patuxent River, MD 20670

Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) 21983 Bundy Road, Building 441, Patuxent River, MD 20670

Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWCWD) 1 Admin Circle China Lake, CA 93555

Commander, Fleet Readiness Centers (COMFRC)

47060 McLeod Road, Building 447 Patuxent River, MD 20670

1.1.2 Funding Opportunity Title

Projects in Support of Naval Aviation Integrated Warfighting Capability

1.1.3 Announcement Type

Initial Announcement

1.1.4 Funding Opportunity Number

N00019-25-S-0001

1.1.5 Key Dates

This announcement will remain open for one (1) year from the date of publication, or until replaced by a successor BAA. White papers may be submitted at any time during this period. The period of performance for the solution submitted via white paper is separate from the one year rolling admission period for white paper submissions. Solution period of performances are a topic of discussion during Phase II of the BAA.

1.1.6 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS)

The NAICS codes included under this announcement are:

• 541713, Research and Development in Nanotechnology;

• 541714, Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology);

• 541715, Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except

Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)

Types of instruments that may be awarded include Procurement contracts and Other Transactions.

1.1.7 Agency Contact

BAA Coordinator: navalaviationnorthstarsbaa@us.navy.mil

ATTN: <N00019-25-S-0001>

mailto:navalaviationnorthstarsbaa@us.navy.mil

2.0 FULL TEXT OF ANNOUNCEMENT

2.1 Program Description

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT FOR THE ACQUISITION OF TECHNICAL, ENGINEERING

AND OTHER TYPES OF SUPPORT SERVICES.

The Government is interested in receiving white papers for research and development, which may include but is not limited to, rapid prototyping, demonstration and experimentation projects that offer potential for advancements and improvements in Integrated Warfighting Capability (IWC) across the Naval Aviation mission areas supporting Naval Operations and as applicable to NAVAIR and subordinate commands including: NAVAIR Headquarters; Program Executive Offices (PEOs); Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD), Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division (NAWCTSD); Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWCWD); Commander, Fleet Readiness Centers (COMFRC) and the Fleet Readiness Centers (FRCs), as well as other NAVAIR operations at all Echelon levels.

All interested parties should note that this announcement is to declare the Government’s broad role in competitive funding of meritorious rapid development, prototyping, experimentation, demonstration, and integration research projects leading to warfighting capability solutions that may be pursued further using adaptive acquisition pathways and naval warfare investments across the spectrum of science, engineering, and digital transformation disciplines related to Naval Aviation technologies, strategies, initiatives, and integration.

Priority will be placed on potential solutions that achieve or enable the Naval Aviation North Stars, which are top warfighting capabilities. Stakeholders and organizational leaders align the North Stars to the Programs of Record (POR), advanced concepts and technologies and enabling acquisition, engineering, test and sustainment resources. The Naval Aviation North Stars include, but are not limited to:

• Nuclear Command and Control Strategic Platform / Systems

• Unmanned Carrier Aviation / Manned-Unmanned Teaming

• Maritime Intelligence Surveillance, Reconnaissance (MISR)

• Strike Fighter and Air Wing 4th / 5th Generation Aircraft Integration

• Long Range Fires (LRF)

• Counter Command, Control, Computers, Communication, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, & Targeting (C-C5ISRT)

• Defend the Force / Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW)

• Force Mobility / Precision Approach and Landing Capability

The Government is interested in rapidly prototyping projects that:

• Use mature and innovative technologies to address warfighting capability gaps

• Mitigate Risk to Mission and or Risk to Force

• Accelerate development and test of material and non-material solutions within the Fiscal Year Defense

Program (FYDP).

• Create pathways for accelerated maturation and/or operational introduction of promising material and non-material solutions.

The primary objective is to identify operational prototype solutions for research that can demonstrate integrated interoperable and cyber-resilient performance through a brief cycle (i.e., 6-18 months) of Live-Virtual- Constructive (LVC) and/or test and evaluation activities that may culminate in operational Fleet / Force assessment at a Naval Experiment, Joint or Large Force Exercise.

The secondary objective is to identify key enablers the Government needs to establish the infrastructure and workforce that ensure the successful accelerated acquisition, delivery and deployment of emergent and advanced solutions.

2.2 Interest Areas / Topics

The organization has identified various areas of interest needed to address immediate challenges and future technology essential to the warfighter in order to take action on operational capability gaps, mitigate risk to mission and or risk to force, and accelerate development and test of material and non-material solutions utilizing mature and innovative technologies. Interest areas are organized by Mission Areas for operational context, cross-cutting Key Capability Focus Areas for technologies, Enabling Science and Engineering, and Enabling Digital Transformation activities for advancement and support processes, tools, and methods. Interest areas are defined in detail below and include:

1. Joint & Naval Aviation Mission Areas

a. Surface Warfare (SUW)

b. Strike Warfare (STW)

c. Air Warfare (AW)

d. Anti-submarine Warfare (ASW)

e. Electronic Warfare (EW)

f. Mobility (MOB)

g. Logistics (LOG)

2. Key Capability Focus Areas

a. Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA)

b. Command, Control, Communications, Computing, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance and

Reconnaissance (C5ISR)

c. Counter-C5ISR and Targeting

d. Maritime ISR (MISR)

e. Unmanned Carrier Aviation

f. Manned-Unmanned Teaming

g. Carrier Air Wing 4th/5th GEN Integration

h. Long Range Fires (including kinetic and non-kinetic effects)

i. Weapons Capability & Capacity

j. Offensive and Defensive Cyber Operations / Cyber Resilience

k. Contested Logistics Environment

3. Enabling Science and Engineering Areas

a. Cyber-Resilient, Secure Communications & Networks

b. Avionics, Sensors & Electronic Warfare

c. Readiness and Sustainment

d. Systems Engineering

e. Test and Evaluation Engineering

f. Human Systems Integration and Performance

g. Mission Engineering and Warfare Analysis

4. Enabling Digital Transformation Areas

a. Multiple-Level Security (MLS) Technologies and Architectures

b. Data Architecture and Management

c. Enterprise Product Lifecycle Management

d. Predictive Analytics/Business Intelligence/Visualization

e. Development Security Operations (DevSecOps)

f. Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML)

g. Business Transformation

h. Digital/Data Careers and Organizational Strategies

i. Digital Innovation / Emerging Technologies / Disruptive Digital Technology

j. Live, Virtual, and Constructive (LVC) and Synthetic-Injected-To-Live (SITL) infrastructure, technologies, and integration to enable Testing and Training

In support of this NAVAIR North Stars BAA, additional details and definitions of the Naval Aviation Mission Areas, Key Capability Focus Areas, Enabling Science and Engineering Areas, and Enabling Digital Transformation Areas are as follows:

Joint & Naval Aviation Mission Areas. Naval Aviation executes in the context of Joint and Naval doctrine.

Joint Maritime Operations (Joint Publication 3-32, Change 1 September 2021) provides military guidance for the exercise of command authority, for preparing and executing plans and orders, and for operations and training. The Universal Naval Task List (UNTL) (OPNAV Instruction 3500.38C, April 2022) and the Naval Mission Areas (OPNAVINST C3501.2K, 17 February 2023, Chapter 1) provide the foundation to define performance and effectiveness by identifying the conditions and metrics for readiness assessment of specific mission threads where potential prototypes may be exercised. Priority Mission Areas are described below:

• Surface Warfare (SUW). That portion of maritime warfare in which operations are conducted to destroy or neutralize enemy naval surface forces and merchant vessels.

• Strike Warfare (STW). Naval operations to destroy or neutralize enemy targets ashore, including attacks against strategic or tactical targets, such as manufacturing facilities and operating bases, from which the enemy is capable of conducting air or supporting air, surface or subsurface operations against friendly forces.

• Air Warfare (AW). Operations conducted with the intention to destroy or neutralize enemy aircraft or missiles in the atmosphere, including nullify or reduce their effectiveness.

• Antisubmarine Warfare (ASW). Operations conducted with the intention of denying the enemy the effective use of submarines.

• Electronic Warfare (EW). Operations involving use of electromagnetic and directed energy to control the electromagnetic spectrum or to attack the enemy.

• Mobility (MOB). A quality or capability of military forces which permits them to move from place to place while retaining the ability to fulfill their primary mission.

• Logistics (LOG). The science of planning and carrying out the movement and maintenance of forces.

Key Capability Focus Areas. Emergent Naval doctrine and concepts like Distributed Maritime Operations (DMO), Expeditionary Advanced Basing Operations (EABO) and Logistics Operations in a Contested Environment (LOCE), create trade-space for rapid prototyping and experimentation to achieve disruptive effects. The Key Capability Focus Areas described below further define the attributes of innovative solutions for insertion and integration into the fielded naval force structure across the Air-Sea-Undersea-Space- Cyberspace domains:

• Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA). MDA is the effective understanding of anything associated with the maritime domain that could impact the security, safety, economy or environment. Obtaining and maintaining accurate MDA is a key enabler of an active and layered maritime defense in depth and facilitates more expeditious and precise actions by decision-makers working from an integrated and Common Operating / Intelligence / Tactical Picture (COP/CIP/CTP).

• Command, Control, Communications, Computing, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance and

Reconnaissance (C5ISR). C5ISR is the Joint construct that frames the Naval Operational Architecture (NOA). For DMO, Project Overmatch is responsible for developing the networks, infrastructure, and data architecture that support the operational and development environment. The Naval Tactical Grid (NTG) defines the organic “edge” of the NOA and the linkage to the Joint All Domain Command and Control and Project Convergence initiatives.

• Counter-C5ISR and Targeting. Involves enhancing platforms, sensors, and weapons to reduce risk to current manned forces by enhancing the resilience of U.S. forces and applying countermeasures to exploit and degrade adversary awareness.

• Maritime ISR (MISR). MISR takes a platform and sensor agnostic approach to traditional methods that employs effects-based tasking and tactics to shape knowledge of the maritime domain.

• Unmanned Carrier Aviation. Integration of unmanned assets into carrier operations and mission areas is a force-multiplier: for carrier air wing refueling and range; extending the reach of sensors for battlespace awareness and targeting; and enabling command and control at the operational and tactical levels of warfighting.

• Manned-Unmanned Teaming. Unmanned systems have the potential to provide increased lethality, capacity, survivability operational tempo, deterrence and readiness. Autonomy and integration provide additional warfighting capability and capacity, allowing increased risk acceptance while maintaining tactical and strategic advantage.

• Carrier Air Wing 4th/5th GEN Integration. Rapid employment of strike fighter capabilities especially those emergent from hands-on experimentation with advanced concepts and technologies – are essential for disruptive effects. Seamless integration of existing and next generation capabilities provides a foundation for accelerated learning about system and system-of-system employment advantages/risks.

• Long Range Fires (including kinetic and non-kinetic effects). The Chief of Naval Operations 2024 Navigation Plan and DMO concepts call for dynamic kill chains that employ modernized and integrated solutions based on fielded current capabilities to extend kinematics and effects, including Over-The- Horizon and Third Party Targeting, beyond current design limitations. The USMC further defines this capability as the ability to provide and sustain fully integrated ground- based long-range anti-ship and land attack weapon systems in order to increase the lethality of the Force.

• Weapons Capability & Capacity. Naval Operations against peer competitor adversaries demand rapid response to ensure all Joint and Naval Mission Areas are equipped with weapons that incorporate advanced capabilities at increased capacity. This area includes offensive and defensive kinetic and non-kinetic solutions, as well as weapons planning for employment and resupply.

• Offensive and Defensive Cyber Operations / Cyber Resilience. The ability to anticipate, withstand, recover from, and adapt to adverse conditions, stresses, attacks or compromises to enable mission objectives to be achieved in a contested environment.

• Contested Logistics Environment. An environment in which the armed forces engage in conflict with an adversary that presents challenges in all domains and directly targets logistics operations, facilities and activities in the U.S., abroad or in transit.

Enabling Science and Engineering Interest Areas. Laboratory and range infrastructure, equipment and process enablers may include multi-level secure digital analytics and visualization; data handling aggregation and protection processes; system virtualization, modeling and simulation; digital engineering and test; virtual operator and maintainer training and deployment methods. In addition, proposed projects may address the need for shared Government / Industry access to unique resources within the Industrial Base (e.g., technology-specific expertise and data; models and development benches; hardware, software and system integration laboratories, testbeds; systems, devices, virtual environments to aid planning, training, tactics development etc.).

The Priority Science and Engineering Interest Areas described below provide further amplifying and clarifying information:

• Cyber-Resilient, Secure Communications & Networks: Areas of research, experimentation, and prototyping include, but are not limited to: data and communications networks for C5ISRT and C- C5ISRT with consideration for autonomous applications, and the impact on Carrier Air Wing (CVW), Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft (MPRA) and Helicopter Maritime Strike (HSM) operations.

• Avionics, Sensors & Electronic Warfare: Areas of research, experimentation, and prototyping include, but are not limited to: passive/active sensor systems (RF, EO/IR, and acoustic), advanced/alternative precision navigation and timing (PNT), advanced computational/open system architectures including Open Mission Systems (OMS), advanced signal and image processing, flight information and control systems, and advanced concepts in electronic warfare and protection systems.

• Readiness and Sustainment. Areas of research, experimentation, and prototyping include but are not limited to the following: support, launch and recovery equipment operations in the contested environment; automated sustainment environment, diagnostics and prognostics, predictive maintenance, additive manufacturing, corrosion prevention, non-destructive inspection, digital thread integration, logistics modeling and simulation, and condition-based maintenance improvements.

• Systems Engineering. Areas of research, experimentation, and prototyping includes but are not limited to the following: integrated modeling environments, model based systems engineering methodology, integration of system models and physics-based models, systems safety engineering, air platform development and integration, system of systems architectures, aviation/ship integration, combat survivability, reliability and maintainability engineering, anti‐tamper engineering, electromagnetic environmental effects engineering, manufacturing and cost analysis.

• Test and Evaluation Engineering. Areas of research, experimentation, and prototyping includes but are not limited to the following: telemetry, communications, data links and data acquisition, signature technologies, mission system testing, system of systems testing environments, virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), extended reality (XR), target engineering, airborne threat simulation, integrated battle‐space simulation (Live Virtual Constructive Environments), hardware‐in‐the‐loop testing, flight instrumentation, ground radar analysis, test article configuration, navigation, and identification, manned-unmanned teaming, advance training systems to include instructional techniques and strategies, and game-based training.

• Human Systems Integration and Performance. Areas of research, experimentation, and prototyping include but are not limited to the following: large-scale distributed LVC environments for mission planning, operator and maintainer in-the-loop engineering, analysis and training; human performance assessment and modeling, cognitive performance/ workload, human-machine interface/ teaming, protective equipment, controls and displays, ergonomics, anthropomorphic measurement, virtual environments, and human factor engineering (social, behavioral, health, and cultural).

• Mission Engineering and Warfare Analysis. Areas of research include but are not limited to the following: injection of LVC data for interactive, iterative updates to traditional operations research and warfare analysis processes, operational suitability, signal extraction, clutter reduction, modeling and simulation, maritime effectiveness, vulnerability and capability-based assessment, and conceptual aircraft design.

Enabling Digital Transformation Areas. Advances in digital technology and data integration are being harnessed to improve material readiness, increase speed in the delivery and sustainment of warfighting capability, advance & integrate training & training systems, and accelerate business operations. The digital transformation journey requires leveraging digital tools to implement fundamentally different business models across the enterprise, including all business, technology development, workforce, and mission operation domains in support of the Naval Aviation and the Naval Aviation North Stars. These support areas may align to the following:

• Multi-Level Security (MLS) Technologies and Architectures

• Data Architecture and Management

• Enterprise Product Lifecycle Management

• Predictive Analytics/Business Intelligence/Visualization

• Development Security Operations (DevSecOps)

• Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML)

• Business Transformation

• Digital / Data Careers and Organizational Strategies

• Digital Innovation / Emerging Technologies / Disruptive Digital Technology

• Live, Virtual, and Constructive (LVC) and Synthetic-Injected-To-Live (SITL) infrastructure, technologies, and integration to enable Testing and Training

The digital transformation strategy focuses on providing the digital infrastructure to create an agile ecosystem of accessible data sources, along with visualization and analytic tools, to support a self-service environment to speed mission outcomes. The vision is a digital culture that empowers the workforce to accelerate, innovate, collaborate, develop, and deliver capabilities to meet fleet requirements.

2.3 Federal Award Information

2.3.1 Awards

Multiple awards are anticipated. The level of funding for individual awards made under this BAA has not been predetermined and will depend on the quality of the white papers received and the availability of funds.

Awards will be made to proposers whose white papers are determined to be the most advantageous to the Government, all factors considered, including the potential contributions of the proposed work, overall funding strategy, and availability of funding.

The Government reserves the right to:

• select for negotiation all, some, one or none of the proposals received in response to this BAA

• make awards without discussions with proposers

• conduct discussions with proposers if it is later determined to be necessary

• segregate portions of the resulting awards into pre-priced options

• accept proposals in their entirety or to select only portions of proposals for award

• fund proposals in increments and/or with options for continued work at the end of one or more phases

• request additional documentation once the award instrument has been determined (e.g., representations and certifications)

• remove proposers from award consideration should the parties fail to reach agreement on award terms within a reasonable time or the proposer fails to provide requested additional information in a timely manner.

Proposals selected for award may result in a procurement contract or Other Transaction (OT) depending upon the nature of the scope proposed, the required degree of interaction between parties, and other factors.

Proposers looking for innovative, commercial-like contractual arrangements are encouraged to consider requesting OT agreements. Please refer to the DoD “Other Transactions Guide” dated July 2023 to understand the flexibility and options associated with OTs.

In accordance with 10 U.S.C. § 4022(f), the Government may award a follow-on production contract or OT subsequent to a prototype OT awarded under this BAA if the participant in the prototype OT, or a recognized successor in interest to the OT, successfully completed the prototype project.

In all cases, the Government contracting officer shall have sole discretion to select award instrument type, regardless of instrument type proposed, and to negotiate all instrument terms and conditions with proposers.

The Government will apply publication or other restrictions, as necessary, if it determines that the research resulting from the proposed effort will present a high likelihood of disclosing performance characteristics of military systems or manufacturing technologies that are unique and critical to defense. Any award resulting from such a determination will include a requirement for Government permission before publishing any information or results on the program. For more information on publication restrictions, see the section below on Fundamental Research.

2.3.2 Fundamental Research

It is DoD policy that the publication of products of fundamental research will remain unrestricted to the maximum extent possible. National Security Decision Directive (NSDD) 189 defines fundamental research as follows:

‘Fundamental research’ means basic and applied research in science and engineering, the results of which ordinarily are published and shared broadly within the scientific community, as distinguished from proprietary research and from industrial development, design, production, and product utilization, the results of which ordinarily are restricted for proprietary or national security reasons.

Normally, fundamental research is awarded under grants with universities and under contracts with industry.

Non-fundamental research is normally awarded under contracts and may require restrictions during the conduct of the research and DoD pre-publication review of such research results due to subject matter sensitivity. As of the date of publication of this BAA, the Government expects that program goals as described herein either cannot be met by proposers intending to perform fundamental research or the proposed research is anticipated to present a high likelihood of disclosing performance characteristics of military systems or manufacturing technologies that are unique and critical to defense. Therefore, the Government anticipates restrictions on the resultant research that will require the awardee to seek the Government’s permission before publishing any information or results relative to the program.

Proposers should indicate in their proposal whether they believe the scope of the research included in their proposal is fundamental or not. While proposers should clearly explain the intended results of their research, the Government Contracting Officer shall have sole discretion to select award instrument type and to negotiate all instrument terms and conditions. Appropriate language will be included in resultant awards for non-fundamental research to prescribe publication requirements and other restrictions, as appropriate.

For certain research projects, it may be possible that although the research to be performed by a potential awardee is non-fundamental research, its proposed sub awardee’s effort may be fundamental research. It is also possible that the research performed by a potential awardee is fundamental research while its proposed sub awardee’s effort may be non-fundamental research. In all cases, it is the potential awardee’s responsibility to explain in its proposal which proposed efforts are fundamental research and why the proposed efforts should be considered fundamental research.

2.3.3 Disclosure of Information and Compliance with Safeguarding Covered Defense Information Controls

The following provisions and clauses, or their replacements as applicable, apply to all contracts awarded under this BAA; however, the definition of “controlled technical information” clearly exempts work considered fundamental research and therefore, even though included in the contract, will not apply if the work is fundamental research.

DFARS Clause 252.204-7000, “Disclosure of Information” DFARS Clause 252.204-7008, “Compliance with Safeguarding Covered Defense Information Controls” DFARS Clause 252.204-7012, “Safeguarding Covered Defense Information and Cyber Incident Reporting” (DEVIATION 2024-O0013)

Compliance with the above requirements include the mandate for proposers to implement the security requirements specified by National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Special Publication (SP) 800- 171 Revision 3, “Protecting Controlled Unclassified Information in Nonfederal Information Systems and Organizations.” The replacement or superseding version shall apply (available via the internet at https://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/SpecialPublications/NIST.SP.800-171r3.pdf)).

2.3.4 Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) on Non-DoD Information System

In addition to classified information, certain types of unclassified information also require application of access and distribution controls and protective measures for a variety of reasons. This information is referred to collectively as Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI). DoD CUI is government-created or owned information based on laws, regulation, or government-wide policy. DoD CUI Categories are located at https://www.dodcui.mil/. For further information consult DoD Instruction (DoDI) 5200.48, “Controlled Unclassified Information” and website listed above.

All non-DoD entities under contract or agreement with NAVAIR are expected to adhere to the following procedural safeguards, in addition to any other relevant federal or DoD specific procedures:

• Do not process Government CUI on publicly available computers or post Government CUI to publicly available webpages or websites that have access limited only by domain or Internet protocol restriction.

• Ensure that all Government CUI is protected by a physical or electronic barrier when not under direct individual control of an authorized user and limit the transfer of Government CUI to subcontractors or teaming partners with a need to know and commitment to this level of protection.

• Ensure that all Government CUI is only processed on information technology systems meeting NIST SP 800-171 or DoDI 8582.01 requirements.

• Ensure that Government CUI on mobile computing devices is identified and encrypted and all communications on mobile devices or through wireless connections are protected and encrypted.

• All wireless telephone transmission of CUI will be avoided when there are other options available.

• Sanitize or destroy media containing CUI before disposal or release for reuse in accordance with NIST SP 800-88 and DoDI 5200.48.

Questions regarding CUI should contact NAVAIR Security through NavalAviationNorthStarsBAA@us.navy.mil with attention to PMA-298 Collateral Security.

https://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/SpecialPublications/NIST.SP.800-171r3.pdf https://www.dodcui.mil/ mailto:NavalAviationNorthStarsBAA@us.navy.mil

2.3.5 Funded Amount and Period of Performance

The funded amount and period of performance of each proposal selected for award may vary depending on the research area and the technical approach to be pursued by the proposers selected.

2.3.6 Instrument Type(s)

Awards may take the form of contracts, or other transaction agreements, as appropriate. The following provides brief descriptions of potential instrument types:

a. Procurement Contract: A legal instrument, consistent with 31 U.S.C. 6303, which reflects a relationship between the Federal Government and a state government, a local government or other entity/contractor when the principal purpose of the instrument is to acquire property or services for the direct benefit or use of the Federal Government.

b. Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) for Prototype: A legal instrument, consistent with 10 U.S.C. § 4022 which may be used when the use of a contract, grant, or cooperative agreement is not feasible or appropriate for prototype projects directly relevant to enhancing the mission effectiveness of military personnel, and the supporting platforms, systems, components, or materials proposed to be acquired or developed by the Department of Defense, or for improvement of platforms, systems, components, or materials in use by the armed forces. To the maximum extent practicable, the effort covered under a Prototype OTA shall not be duplicative of effort being conducted under an existing DoD program. Refer to the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition “Other Transactions Guide,” version 2.0, dated July 2023, or a superseding version that may be published during the timeframe of this announcement for additional information.

2.4 Eligibility Information

2.4.1 Eligible Applicants

White papers will not be accepted unless the entity is registered in the System for Award Management (SAM).

Registration in SAM now includes the acceptance of Certifications and Assurances. SAM may be accessed at https://www.sam.gov/.

Entity must always maintain an active SAM registration with current information during which it has an active Federal award or a white paper under consideration by any agency; and provide its SAM Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) on Table I in each white paper or proposal.

Interested parties are encouraged to check SAM (https://www.sam.gov) website for updates and amendments to the BAA.

All responsible sources capable of satisfying the Government’s needs, including academia (colleges and universities); businesses (large, small, small disadvantaged, etc.); other organizations (including non-profit);

and entities (foreign and domestic) may submit proposals under this BAA. Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Minority Institutions (MIs) are encouraged to submit white papers and join others in https://www.sam.gov/ https://www.sam.gov/ submitting white papers. However, no portion of this BAA will be set aside for Small Business or other socio-economic participation. All businesses, both small and large, are encouraged to submit white papers and compete for funding consideration.

Federally Funded Research & Development Centers (FFRDCs), including Department of Energy National Laboratories, are not eligible to receive awards under this BAA. However, teaming arrangements between FFRDCs and eligible principal proposers are allowed so long as such arrangements are permitted under the sponsoring agreement between the Government and the specific FFRDC.

Navy laboratories, military universities, and warfare centers as well as other Department of Defense and civilian agency laboratories are also not eligible to receive awards under this BAA and should not directly submit either white papers or full proposals in response to this BAA. As with FFRDCs, these types of federal organizations may team with other eligible sources from academia and industry that are submitting white papers under this

BAA.

University Affiliated Research Centers (UARCs) are eligible to submit white papers under this BAA unless precluded from doing so by their Department of Defense UARC contract.

Non-traditional defense contractors (as defined in 10 USC 3014), in addition to traditional defense contractors, may submit white papers. For these non-traditional defense contractors, the Government can use statutory authorities to employ award mechanisms that allow commercial companies to continue using their internal business processes and permits flexibility in negotiating most terms and conditions in any resultant agreement.

For example, OTs for prototypes could be used when the main focus of the agreement is to create a prototype that the Government may acquire, even when significant research is necessary to create the prototype. The Government has wide latitude to use this authority, but it has a statutory requirement that the proposer’s team will have at least one “non-traditional defense contractor” or will cost share one-third of the project’s costs, unless higher level approval is obtained in accordance with the statute.

Non-U.S. organizations and/or individuals may participate to the extent that such participants comply with any necessary nondisclosure agreements, security regulations, export control laws, and other governing statutes applicable under the circumstances.

Teams are also encouraged and may submit proposals in all areas. However, proposers 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 the Government.

2.4.2 Cost Sharing or Matching

Cost sharing is not required; however, it will be carefully considered where there is an applicable statutory condition relating to the selected funding instrument (e.g., OTAs under the authorities of 10 U.S.C. § 4022).

2.4.3 Submission

White papers may be submitted at any time up until September 4, 2026, 5:00 PM Eastern time. Any white paper that is received after this time is late and will not be considered under this BAA.

The submission process is two-phased. No further Request for Information (RFI) or other announcement of this opportunity will be made. The two phases are as follows:

1. PHASE I White Paper & QUAD Submission and Evaluation

2. PHASE II – Full Technical/Cost Proposal (BY INVITATION ONLY).

All submissions will be protected from unauthorized disclosure in accordance with FAR Subpart 15.207, applicable law, and DoD/DoN regulations. Proposers are expected to appropriately mark each page of their submission that contains proprietary information.

Evaluation of the white papers is anticipated to be conducted on a quarterly basis; however, the Government reserves the right to evaluate submissions at any frequency or priority. Additionally, any such review does not assure a subsequent award.

Non-compliant white papers will be ineligible for consideration. Offerors will be notified by e-mail from the Government, if their white paper is found to be non-compliant. In such cases, Offerors may choose to resubmit the white paper in accordance with the BAA instructions.

Proposers are instructed to submit white papers only for actual technologies within the areas of interest. Each white paper should state that it is submitted in response to this BAA and cite the applicable areas of interest as it relates to Mission Areas, Capability Focus Areas, Enabling Science and Engineering Interest Areas, and/or Enabling Digital Transformation Areas, as outlined in section 2.2. Proposers may provide solutions that are applicable to multiple areas of interest in a single white paper as appropriate. Additionally, proposers may submit more than one white paper on each research topic if a separate solution or approach is being proposed.

Proposers are encouraged to submit white papers on topics not specifically mentioned in the BAA. However, the proposed areas must be logically inter-connected to existing BAA topics.

2.4.4 Unclassified and Classified Delivery Instructions

Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI)

Submit encrypted using Option 1 or Option 2.

Option 1:

Request a DoD SAFE Drop-Off link via email from the BAA Coordinator:

navalaviationnorthstarsbaa@us.navy.mil

To encrypt the files in DoD SAFE:

1. Check the box for Encrypt every file (REQUIRED FOR CUI, PII AND PHI) located next to the note block.

2. Enter the desired Encryption Passphrase in the Encryption Passphrase pop-up window.

3. Send this passphrase to all Drop-off Recipients in a separate email.

Option 2:

Email: navalaviationnorthstarsbaa@us.navy.mil Document title marked with CUI ((CUI) Demo Document Name.doc) Email Subject Line: (CUI) NANS BAA WP Submission Email marked CUI on top and bottom.

Email Example:

Classified -

Proposers shall first notify the intent to submit a classified white paper by emailing the BAA Coordinator:

navalaviationnorthstarsbaa@us.navy.mil.

The email must include the following information: Purpose, Title, Classification Level, File name and extension of all items on the CD, and Technical Security points of contact.

Passwords shall be provided via separate email correspondence to the BAA Coordinator:

navalaviationnorthstarsbaa@us.navy.mil.

Classified white papers shall be properly marked in accordance with the applicable Security Classification Guide(s) governing all contributing technology programs.

Classified white paper(s) shall be provided via CD and mailed to the following address with the inner wrapper marked:

ATTENTION: PMA298 GSSO

Program Management Office 800 Department of the Navy 391 Brookley Avenue, Suite #2187 Joint Base Anacostia – Bolling Washington, DC 20373-5123

3.0 PHASE I – White Paper and QUAD Chart

3.1 Phase I, Step 1: White Paper and QUAD Submission Requirements

3.1.1 White Paper Format - (see Appendix 1 for white paper template)

• Written in English

• Paper Size – 8.5 x 11inch paper

• Format – Portrait

• Margins – One (1) inch

• Spacing – single-spaced

• Font – Times New Roman or Calibri, 12 point. Smaller fonts within graphics and diagrams are allowable and should be legible.

• Must be a Microsoft Word 2010 compatible or Adobe Portable Document Format

• Page limit – Five (5) pages for white paper, exclusive of cover page and quad chart. Note:

Any pages submitted exceeding the page limit shall be disregarded and not reviewed.

• The electronic file name must not exceed 68 characters in length, including the file extension.

• Title given to the white paper should be descriptive of the work they cover and not merely a copy of this solicitation.

3.1.1.1 White Paper Cover Page

WHITE PAPER

BAA Number: N00019-24-S-0001

Project Title * Prime Vendor Name * Vendor Technical Point of Contact * (Name / Phone / Email)

Vendor Administrative/Business Contact **

Sub-Vendor/Associate Name **

Mission Area ** Key Capability Focus Area ** Enabling Science & Engineering Area ** Enabling Digital Transformation Area ** Prime Vendor SAM / UEI * Prime Vendor CAGE Code * Government and/or Military Navy Lead **

* Mandatory ** Optional and/or As Applicable Note: Mission Area - Key Capability Focus and/or Enabling Science & Engineering Area are mandatory.

Note: Digital Transformation Area - Mission, Key Capability Focus, Enabling Science & Engineering are optional.

3.1.1.2 Body of White Paper

Proposers are encouraged to review the evaluation criteria in section 4.1.1.

White Papers shall include the following:

• Mission Impact: A description of the potential contributions of the proposed effort and the relevancy to NAVAIR and the Department of the Navy mission.

• Technical Maturity/Concept/Approach: An overview of the innovative technology and a brief technical approach with descriptions of major tasks/milestones to be performed. Identify pertinent Technology Readiness Level (TRL), major technical risks, feasible risk mitigation efforts, and anticipated schedule.

Level Definition TRL 9 Actual system proven through successful mission operations.

TRL 8 Actual system completed and qualified through test and demonstration.

TRL 7 System prototype demonstration in an operational environment.

TRL 6 System/subsystem model or prototype demonstration in a relevant environment.

TRL 5 Component and/or breadboard validation in a relevant environment.

TRL 4 Component and/or breadboard validation in a laboratory environment.

TRL 3 Analytical and experimental critical function and/or characteristic proof of concept.

TRL 2 Technology concept and/or application formulated.

TRL 1 Basic principles observed and reported.

• Affordability/Cost and Period of Performance (PoP): Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) cost estimate, anticipated PoP and, if applicable, the anticipated cost sharing arrangement.

• Forecasted Award Instrument Type: Provide anticipated award instrument, such as procurement contract or Other Transaction. Provide justification for suitability of the requested instrument type and intended structure of the instrument if determined appropriate.

• Government Provided Information/Equipment/Material (GPI/E/M): List any known GPI/E/M that may be required, if applicable. State “Not required” if no GPI/E/M is required.

3.1.2 QUAD Chart Requirements

• Submit QUAD as a separate file.

• Format - Landscape

• Limited to one (1) page.

• Paper Size – 8.5 x 11inch paper.

• The size of an individual quadrants may be adjusted as needed as long the QUAD does not exceed 1 page.

3.1.2.1 QUAD Chart Format

3.2 Phase 1, Step 2 – White Papers of Interest (BY INVITATION ONLY)

Notification and instructions for qualification will be provided to proposers via email. Further guidance will be provided by the BAA coordinator in that email.

Papers determined to be of interest, based on impact to the mission, technical maturity / approach and affordability or require technology solution clarification may be invited to a Technical Interchange Meeting (TIM) and/or virtual presentation/demonstration, called by the relevant stakeholders for that technology.

Virtual presentations/demonstrations are not required for qualification to Phase II; however, will be carefully considered for selection to Phase II. Virtual presentations/demonstrations will be permitted utilizing Microsoft Teams and shall include slides in PDF or PowerPoint format to be provided electronically no later than time of presentation. The Government reserves the right to record the presentations.

4.0 PHASE II – Full Technical/Cost Proposal (BY INVITATION ONLY)

Selected white papers that meet existing or future program requirements are eligible for PHASE II, where the proposers will be contacted and invited to submit a PHASE II – Full Technical/Cost Proposal (Full Proposal).

If no request for a Phase II proposal is received, do not submit a Full Technical/Cost Proposal. Request for submission of a Full Technical/Cost Proposal does not guarantee an award.

All proposal submissions will be protected from unauthorized disclosure in accordance with FAR Subpart 15.207, applicable law, and DoD/DoN regulations. Proposers shall appropriately mark each page of their submission that contains proprietary information.

General guidelines for full proposal instructions are provided in Appendix 2 and 3. The Contracting Officer may determine that portions of these instructions may not be required for individual efforts based on circumstances such as value, contract type, entity type, etc.

• Requirements/Proposal Instructions Applicable to Contracts; See Appendix 2

• Requirements/Proposal Instructions Applicable to Other Transaction Agreements; See Appendix 3.

Note: If the Government determines appropriate, Scope of Work (SOW) collaboration activities may commence between the selected members and the Government following selection notification.

4.1 Application Review Information

4.1.1 Evaluation Criteria

Phase I white papers, virtual presentations/demonstrations, and Phase II proposals shall be evaluated using the following criteria. Criteria 1, 2, and 3 are equally important.

1) Mission Impact –

Potential contribution and relevance to the Navy/Government’s mission. This criterion rates the degree to which the potential contribution of the proposed effort increases the Government’s understanding of the Integrated Warfighting Capability of Naval Aviation in support of Naval Operations. This criterion includes: 1) the potential for the proposed effort to characterize an existing and defined warfighting gap that prevents Naval Aviation from achieving desired effects on the battlefield [Understanding the Problem]; 2) the potential for the proposed effort to achieve specific warfighting effects to close that gap [Understanding the Solution]; 3) the potential for the proposed effort to demonstrate how the outcome can be observed and measured [Measuring Progress/Outcome]; and 4) the potential for the proposed effort to consider any proposed…