Amendment 13 Questions and Answers.pdf

BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT

HDTRA1-20-S-0002

AMENDMENT 13

This Amendment provides a copy of the briefing slides presented at the DTRA Strategic Trends Division Industry Day/Research Topic Information Session on October 19, 2021.

This event corresponded with the publication of Amendment 12. It also includes a summary of the questions and answers posed prior to, during, and following, that event.

The information contained herein should be reviewed with the information included in Amendment 12.

STRI RTIS Briefing Slides:

STRI RTIS - Oct21 final.pdf

Questions & Answers:

White Paper Submissions

1) Are the submission dates listed in Amendment 12 for white papers or proposals? What are the email submission addresses?

ANSWER: The identified dates are for white paper submissions. For priority FY22 funding consideration, please submit Thrust Area 2 (Strategic Dialogues) white papers to dtra.belvoir.si.mbx.hdtra1-stri-ta2@mail.mil. The due date is November 9, 2021. Thrust Area 1 (Studies) white papers should be submitted to dtra.belvoir.si.mbx.hdtra1-stri-ta1@mail.mil. The due date is November 16, 2021. Thrust Area 3 (TTX) white papers should be submitted to dtra.belvoir.si.mbx.hdtra1-stri-ta3@mail.mil. They are due November 23, 2021.

2) Can I submit a white paper/proposal to Thrust Area 1 and another white paper/proposal to Thrust Area 2?

ANSWER: There is no limit to the number of white papers a single individual or organization can submit. Accordingly, you can submit one paper to Thrust Area 1 and another to Thrust Area 2, etc. However, they must be different papers.

3) Can we submit an interrelated series of white papers/proposals that address a single topic, but are for different project types (e.g. a study, dialogue, tabletop exercise etc.)?

ANSWER: Yes, but each white paper/proposal must stand alone. The technical evaluation panel will review each separately according to the published evaluation criteria. Proceed with caution as there’s a risk that DTRA may elect to invite a proposal (and award) for one, but not the others, for example.

4) We have a proposed project that touches upon Thrust Area 1, but may apply to other thrusts. How should we submit?

ANSWER: Please select the thrust area that best aligns with the proposed project and submit to that thrust area. Consider the overall objective/intended output. If the output is a tabletop exercise (TTX), submit to Thrust Area 3. If the output is a dialogue, submit to Thrust Area 2. If the dialogue or TTX is a component of, or input to a study (which is the intended output), submit to Thrust Area 1.

5) We have a three-tiered project that begins with a study, but that study can be reinforced, and significantly improved, by a dialogue and a TTX. We plan to submit to Thrust 1 because the study could be stand-alone, but list in the white paper how the study can be improved with a dialogue and TTX. Is that the preferred way to address this?

ANSWER: Please submit to Thrust Area 1. Within the technical concept portion, discuss how you will use a dialogue and TTX as an input to the study. Be sure to explain the benefit of this multipronged approach and estimate the overall cost accordingly.

Should you be invited to submit a proposal, DTRA will weigh in on the technical approach and may ask for adjustments if needed.

6) Can you share an example of a successful white paper?

ANSWER: We do not share examples. Please follow the instructions in the BAA.

7) Amendment 12 says not attach multiple files in the email, but it also refers to 5 possible attachments. It also states to not attach the SOW to the technical proposal. Should I send fives files or one?

ANSWER: The instruction not to attach multiple files refers to the phase I (white paper) submission. The instruction that refers to multiple attachments refers to the phase II submission (proposal). Please send a single attachment in accordance with the white paper instructions. Should you be invited to submit a full proposal based on the white paper, DTRA will provide instructions on proposal submission. DTRA includes the proposal instructions in the amendment for reference.

Dialogues

8) Many of the examples of dialogues mentioned during the industry day don’t directly relate to weapons of mass destruction (WMD). For example, a Track 1.5 with India on Indian Ocean access. Can WMD be a secondary focus in the white paper or proposal?

ANSWER: WMD has to be a central component of any dialogue. So, if there are four key topics that will be explored in four dialogue panels, at least one (and better, two) topics should be WMD- related. The white paper should make clear the benefit of the dialogue for DTRA in the objective statement.

9) If DTRA is already funding another organization to execute a specific dialogue, can another organization submit a white paper for a dialogue that involves that same country, but perhaps with a narrower focus? Or are we better off avoiding that?

ANSWER: All organizations are invited to submit white papers regardless of whether DTRA SI-STT is currently funding a related or similar project. Each white paper is evaluated based on the published evaluation criteria. While past performance is considered as part of the evaluation process (including the quality of that performance), DTRA SI-STT does not guarantee further/future funding simply because a specific organization has a history of performing a certain project. Continued funding of specific dialogues is not guaranteed from year to year.

10) Is DTRA interested in dialogues focused on maritime security issues?

ANSWER: As this is a federal procurement activity, we are unauthorized to state whether a particular research idea will be well received prior to white paper submission.

DTRA will evaluate all properly submitted white papers from eligible organizations based on the criteria published in the BAA. As DTRA is a WMD-focused agency, we require WMD to be a central component to any dialogue we sponsor. Your white paper should explain how you will integrate those two topics and the associated benefit (for DTRA and DoD) of a dialogue that focuses on both sets of issues. Please review Amendment 12 for more details about the kinds of dialogues we are prioritizing.

Tabletop Exercises (TTX)

11) What does "experiential learning platform" mean in the context of TTXs?

ANSWER: DTRA views TTXs as a component of workforce development. DTRA SI- STT refers to them as experiential learning platforms because they provide the participants with hands-on experience working through a problem set/scenario. Please review Amendment 12 for more details.

12) Can we propose a scenario-based TTX?

ANSWER: Scenario-based TTXs are welcome. We expect each applicant to describe the proposed game structure and mechanics.

13) Can we propose a track 1.5 TTX (with participation from current government/military officials in their private capacity) or should it be track 2?

ANSWER: As noted in Amendment 12, TTXs proposed under Thrust 3 should "involve participation from DTRA and the larger DoD, as well as other experts as appropriate."

There is no need to reference or distinguish between Track 1.5 and Track 2 in TTX white papers. That's only required for Thrust Area 2 (Strategic Dialogue) white papers. Thrust Area 3 white papers should provide sufficient detail about the types of experts you plan to involve in the TTX if awarded. For example, you should describe the proposed level of seniority, the kinds of organizations the individuals will represent, the kinds of expertise they possess, etc. As a reminder, if the TTX is intended to be an input to a larger study (and is not the single intended outcome), it should be submitted to Thrust Area 1. If you are proposing a TTX that is a component of a dialogue, please submit the white paper to Thrust Area 2.

Contracting

14) How early can we get started on the project if awarded?

ANSWER: The technical evaluation panel will review all white paper submissions received by the priority review period deadlines specified in Amendment 12 starting on that date. We will not hold anything until later. We will try to turn decisions around as quickly as possible on white papers and (if invited) proposals. Contracts will not be awarded until Calendar Year 2022. As several factors influence award date, DTRA SI- STT is unable to specify a planned award date.

15) What does contract option mean? Does it mean that after three iterations of the same dialogue/TTX, we should think of other initiatives? Or does it mean we could propose a dialogue or TTX series (one iteration per year) for three years, in one white paper/proposal (meaning no need to submit white papers each year)?

ANSWER: Applicants are welcome to propose a series of up to three TTXs or dialogues that build on one another and explain how all three would be accomplished in a single white paper with corresponding cost summary. Each iteration of the dialogue or TTX should be accomplished in twelve months or less and the required deliverables are expected at the end of each period. Should the research project be awarded, DTRA would issue a single contract for the full proposed period of performance (up to 36 months) and you would not be required to submit a new white paper/proposal each year.

DTRA would make the decision whether to execute the option period based on the results of the project during the initial (base) period of performance (and, as applicable, the first option period). There is no guarantee that DTRA will elect to execute the option period(s).

16) Amendment 12 references a requirement for a cost sheet. However, the explanation makes it sound like it is not requested until the proposal. This differs from Amendment 8 where there is a proper template to be used. Can you please clarify if we no longer need to submit a cost sheet? If we do need a cost sheet, can you share what is needed and clarify where to find the proper cost sheet format?

ANSWER: Amendment 12 highlights changes or additions to previous amendments.

Your white paper needs to include all of the elements listed in section IV ("Phase 1 - White Paper Submission Information" of Amendment 8 (starting on page 6) and Amendment 12 (starting on page 9). This includes a cover page, technical concept, and a cost estimate. There is no required format for the cost estimate that is included in the white paper, but it should include the information that is identified in section IV of Amendment 8 under "cost estimate" (page 7). The cost sheet referenced in Amendment 8 and 12 (Attachment 1) refers to a spreadsheet that needs to be included in the cost proposal. DTRA will provide that template should your organization be invited to submit a proposal based on the white paper review/decision.

Foreign Organizations

17) What are the opportunities for non-U.S. organizations to submit white papers and proposals? Can a U.S.-based organization propose a foreign entity as a sub-contractor or consultant? For example, a European think tank?

ANSWER: At present, foreign organizations should partner with U.S. organizations with the U.S. organization serving as the prime contractor. The U.S.-based organization should submit the white paper and (if invited) proposal as the prime contractor. There is no prohibition to proposing a foreign entity such as a European think tank as a sub-contractor or consultant. However, they must be citizens of ally or partner nations.

Per Amendment 3, we also have citizenship requirements for Principal Investigators (PIs) and research team members (e.g. those who work in the prime contractor organization and provide direct support to the project). As referenced there, "Principal Investigators are limited to US personnel only. Research teams may include foreign nationals from allied nations. Please keep in mind that foreign nationals’ access may be restricted for Government meetings and briefings.”

18) I am a U.S. citizen based at a foreign university. I have colleagues at my university who are conducting research that we believe would be directly relevant to some of the priority areas identified in Amendment 12 and at the industry day. Is it possible for us to submit a white paper or proposal with me as the PI, but conduct the work primarily with colleagues based at my university? Or should we partner with a U.S. institution as the prime contractor?

ANSWER: At this time, we request that you partner with a U.S. institution as the prime contractor. It is acceptable for you to involve other colleagues from your university as research team members should they meet the requirements identified in Amendment 3 as referenced above.

Government Entities

19) Does DTRA fund government entities such as professional military educational (PME) institutions under this BAA? How does the submission process differ for faculty members at PME institutions? Should they submit to the same email addresses as identified in Amendment 12?

ANSWER: We fund non-governmental, quasi-governmental, and some governmental entities. Please consult the BAA for full eligibility requirements. PMEs should submit under the corresponding Government Call. However, the submission process is the same as identified in Amendment 12. Please specify you are applying under the Government Call. These submissions should also be sent to the email addresses specified in Amendment 12.

20) Do all organizations need to ensure WMD is a main focus of all proposed projects? For example, PMEs?

ANSWER: Yes, DTRA's WMD mission should be central to every submitted white paper, regardless of the organization type.