RIF Amendment 0001.pdf

The purpose of Amendment 0001 to the DoD Rapid Innovation Fund (RIF) Broad Agency Announcement is to:

1. In Section 4.1, Funding, replace “The amount of resources made available to this BAA will not exceed $27.5 million and will depend on the quality of the proposals received” with “The amount of resources made available to this BAA are $27.5 million, this is contingent upon receipt of acceptable proposals. The Government may provide additional funds, but there is no commitment by the Government that the total amount of awards will exceed $27.5 million.”

2. In Section 5.3.1, Content of White Papers, Volume One – Cover Sheet, delete the below bullet point. Offerors do not have to identify the JUON, ACAT, or Critical National Security Need.

Identify JUON, ACAT or Critical National Security Need (select all that apply) o JUON, specify: ________________ o ACAT, specify: _________________ o Critical National Security Need, specify:______________

3. In Section 5.3.3, Content of White Papers, Volume Three – Quad Chart, replace “landscape orientation” with “portrait orientation.”

4. In Section 5.3.3, Content of White Papers, Volume Three – Quad Chart, delete the Quad Chart sample. An updated fully functional (editable) Quad Chart template can be found as an attachment, titled Appendix 1 – Quad Chart on FedBizOpps. This standardized template must be used by offerors to create their Quad Chart.

5. In Section 10.1, Introduction and Priorities Table, add “The list of JUONs is classified and will not be provided as part of this announcement.”

6. In Section 10.1, Priorities Table, add a check mark in the Other Critical National Security Need column for Requirement Number CBD-11-BAA-RIF-0001.

7. In Section 10.2, Component Requirements, Requirement Number CBD-11-BAA-RIF-0001 add “The Joint Chemical and Biological Defense Program was established under Public Law 103-160, Section 1703. This CBD requirement applies to the other critical national security need of Chemical Biological Medical Systems (CBMS) Joint Program Executive Office's Bioscavenger program.”

8. In Sections 10.1 and 10.2, the requirements marked [Reserved] will not be included. After further review, it was determined the six reserved requirements will not be incorporated into this BAA. No further information will be provided.

9. The following answers are provided to the first round of submitted questions. The final cut-off date for questions is Friday, October 7, 2011.

Q1) Where can the JUONs list be found?

A1) As stated in Section 10.1 of the BAA, the JUONs list is classified and will not be provided as part of this announcement.

Q2) If a small business had received a previous Phase II SBIR contract that has expired, but supports the same technology that would be proposed under this BAA, would that innovative technology still be categorized as an SBIR Phase II contract or does the SBIR Phase II contract need to be active?

A2) The SBIR Phase II contract does not need to be active.

Q3) Can we propose the same set of technologies for two different RIF requirements within the DoD RIF BAA? Can we propose the same set of technologies to the Army, Navy, and/or Air Force BAAs?

A3) You may propose the same technology for SOCOM, DTRA, MDA, and/or CBD requirements as well as to the Army, Navy and Air Force RIF BAAs. However, if the technology is selected for more than one award, offerors are prohibited from receiving funding for the same technology. If the same technology is proposed to multiple RIF requirements and/or to other agencies, the offeror must identify the agency, solicitation, and/or contract/grant number for the essential equivalent technology. See Section 9.7 of the BAA.

Q4) If we have two different technology areas can we submit one white paper to each BAA?

A4) Please refer to Section 5.1. Each white paper should focus on one requirement per paper.

There is no limit on the number of white papers an offeror may submit in response to this

BAA.

Q5) Is the Rapid Innovation Fund, BAA No. HQ0034-11-BAA-RIF-0001 limited to small businesses only, or can large businesses propose solutions also?

A5) Please refer to Section 2.1 of the BAA.

Q6) How many awards to you anticipate making?

A6) Please refer to Section 4.1 of the BAA.

Q7) Can the White Paper address just one sub-paragraph of Requirement Number SOCOM-

11-BAA-RIF-0001?

A7) Yes, a white paper may address just one sub-paragraph of SOCOM-11-BAA-RIF-0001.

Q8) The BAA indicates that technologies from Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)

Phase II projects can be used in the White Paper submissions. Do the SBIR projects have to be previously sponsored by the RIF Components (SOCOM, DTRA, MDA, or CBD)?

A8) No, the SBIR projects do not have to be previously sponsored by one of the participating DoD components (SOCOM, DTRA, MDA, or CBD).

Q9) Can firms team with Government offices on the Rapid Innovation Fund?

A9) There are no restrictions against teaming with Government offices for DoD’s Rapid

Innovation Fund.

Q10) In the white paper submission instructions, we are required to identify a JUON, ACAT or

Critical National Security Need. What should be entered in this section?

A10) Per this amendment, offerors are not required to identify the JUON, ACAT, or Critical

National Security Need.

Q11) It is our understanding that there may be a quarterly release of the BAA and there may be other BAAs releases related to the RIF funding. Is that correct?

A11) We do not plan a quarterly release. It is the discretion of the other departments as to how they manage their RIF BAA.

Q12) Can you provide contact information for technical POCs on the requirements in Section

10.2?

A12) No, technical point-of-contacts will not be provided. All questions, including those of a technical nature, shall be submitted in accordance with Section 3.0.

Q13) Requirement Number DTRA-11-BAA-RIF-0002 contains several areas: biological, chemical, explosive, nuclear, etc. Would long range stand-off detection of trace chemicals for identification of facilities involved in production, processing, or proliferation of nuclear or radiological WMD materials meet the needs of this topic?

A13) Yes, this type of capability would be considered if submitted.

Q14) For Requirement Number SOCOM-11-BAA-RIF-0001, what current TRL requirement is needed for an innovative technology that the small business applicant proposes to adapt for this BAA? That is, should the current TRL of the proposed technology be TRL 2/3, TRL 4, etc., to meet the minimum requirements for JUONs?

A14) The current TRL should be high enough for the technology to mature to even higher TRL (6-9) by the end of 24 month or less project.

Q15) Can letters of support be included in the initial submission?

A15) No, letters of support should not be included in the white paper submission.

Q16) Are the requirements listed in section 10.2 of the BAA the only topics that offerors can respond to?

A16) The participating DoD components compiled their highest priorities into the BAA and only seek white papers related to the requirements listed in the BAA.

Q17) The BAA released by the Washington Headquarters Service has a white paper deadline of October 31, 2011, whereas the BAA released by the Navy’s Office of Naval Research has a white paper deadline of November 7, 2011. Please clarify?

A17) The Washington Headquarters Services (WHS) BAA and the ONR BAA are two separate BAAs. If offerors would like to submit a white paper in response to the requirements in Section 10.2 of WHS's BAA they must do so by October 31, 2011. If offerors would like to submit a white paper in response to the Navy ONR's BAA the must do so by November 7, 2011, unless the closing date is otherwise changed through an amendment.

Q18) On FedBizOpps that there are two BAA for the RIF. The Department of the Navy BAA

(ONRBAA-032) and a DoD RIF BAA (HQ0034-11-BAA-RIF-0001). They seem to have the same content and dates. Are they two separate BAAs or is everything wrapped under the ONR BAA?

A18) They are two separate BAAs. The content and dates are different. The WHS BAA is not wrapped under the ONR BAA.

Q19) Can you please advise where we can obtain unclassified copies of the JUON, ACAT and

Other Critical National Security Needs documents?

A19) Please refer to Section 10.0.

Q20) In regards to the Rapid Innovation Fund BAA, under topic SOCOM-11-BAA-RIF-0001

(Mobility) there is no mention as to the size of the unmanned and manned mobility platforms. Would small robotic (<150 lbs) platforms and small unmanned air vehicles (<30 lbs) be responsive to the solicitation topic.

A20) The platforms in question would be responsive to the BAA.

Q21) May federal labs submit white papers for this BAA?

A21) Federal labs that can accept contracts with the federal government and/or receive grants may apply.

Q22) Does the transition plan in the white paper and proposal require a government service to provide a written support statement for insertion conditional of the successful technical effort or is it adequate to describe the approach with such entity for technology insertion?

A22) No, the transition plan does not require a government service to provide a written support statement. It is adequate to describe the approach.

Q23) Will the funds include travel funds, contract funds, and reimbursable funds? Will there be any travel funds or reimbursable associated with government oversight/PM?

A23) For the white paper submission, a cost or price proposal is not required, only a description of the estimated costs for the proposed technical approach. If travel, contract funds, and reimbursable funds are part of your approach, then they should be included in the estimate. If required, specific travel costs will be outlined in the proposal invitation, if the offeror is invited to submit a full cost or price proposal.

Q24) What will the CDRLs be under an issued contract?

A24) The Contract Data Requirements List (CDRL) will vary per funding agreement. If invited to submit a proposal, the CDRL will be addressed with the awarding contracting officer.

Q25) If a white paper is not selected for a funding agreement, will that white paper proposal be automatically reconsidered for an award when more funding is made available, or will the proposal have to be resubmitted?

A25) At this time, there is no plan for release of additional funds for the RIF program. Please refer to Section 4.1 of the BAA.

Q26) Is there flexibility to fund the development and transition of systems not listed under this

BAA. Also, are separate JUONs going to be listed in the agency specific sub-calls?

A26) Please see response to Question 16. We are not aware of the other agency’s intentions to list JUON Challenge Areas.

Q27) What type of funding is allotted to the RIF?

A27) It is FY 2011 RDT&E funding.

Q28) In Sections 5.3.2(3) and 6.3.2(3), the BAA states “Transition to military systems or programs is expected within 24 months of award.” Does this mean that the proposal should include all development and testing necessary to have the project ready for production/fielding to the operational forces at the end of 24 months? Or does it mean that the path to transition it to a Program of Record (POR) with a Program Office is identified for final testing/production/fielding, wherein the actual testing/ production/fielding can occur after the 24 months contract completion milestone?

A28) This depends on whether the technology is a stand-alone system or whether it is meant to be a subsystem of another technology. Stand alone technologies should have all development and testing necessary for production/fielding completed within the allotted 24 months. Subsystems need to have the path to transition into a Program of Record identified, and the actual testing/production/fielding of the full system can occur after the 24 months.

Q29) In the BAA, there is a requirement to register via the website - www.dodsbir.net/rif prior to being able to submit a whitepaper. It appears as though one cannot register until October 1st, and I just wanted to make sure that this also includes any required pre-registration?

A29) The RIF submission site will open for registration on October 1, 2011. There is no other pre-registration required.

Q30) Several questions were submitted by firms describing their capabilities and requesting the government to advise if their capabilities meet the guidelines to submit a white paper for the RIF BAA.

A30) The government has made an effort to make the RIF BAA as broad as possible. The government prefers firms to review the RIF requirements and use their discretion to determine if their capabilities meet the requirements identified in the RIF BAA. The government has identified its highest priorities in Section 10.2, Component Requirements. The government seeks solutions that are related to the requirements in this BAA.

Q31) Are the Army and/or Air Force going to release RIF BAAs?

A31) The Army and Air Force are in the process of preparing RIF BAAs. We do not have any additional information at this time other than the Army and the Air Force will be releasing separate BAAs.

Q32) Is there any preference in the RIF for Service Disabled, Veteran Owned, Small

Businesses companies? If so, what kind of preferences will be given?

A32) Please refer to Section 7.4, Selection Preferences.

Q33) For Requirement Number SOCOM -11-BAA-RIF-0001, is 15% weight reduction on ballistic armor acceptable?

A33) The words in the BAA state a goal of 25% reduction in weight. It does not specify this for just ballistic armor.

Q34) For Requirement Number SOCOM-11-BAA-RIF-0005, which language and culture is being referred to? Or is the requirement for multiple languages and cultures?

A34) Multiple languages and cultures.

Q35) For Requirement Number SOCOM-11-BAA-RIF-0005, can more information be provided regarding the "system" that is required? On what platform is the training desired (e.g., PC-based, web-based, mobile devices)?

A35) No further information will be provided. All ideas will be assessed.

Q36) For Requirement Number SOCOM-11-BAA-RIF-0005, which mission skill sets need to be addressed?

A36) Looking at mission skill sets across the entire USSOCOM mission - not focusing on any one particular skill set.

Q37) Requirement Number SOCOM-11-BAA-RIF-0005 seems to addresses a variety of unrelated topics. Will each item within SOCOM-11-BAA-RIF-0005 be handled separately, or does the contractor need to meet all the requirements listed?

A37) Each item can be handled separately.

Q38) For Requirement Number SOCOM -11-BAA-RIF-0005, can offerors use patent pending technologies for this item?

A38) Yes.

Q39) For Requirement Number SOCOM-11-BAA-RIF-0008, can an offeror propose a hybrid power system (instead of only batteries) to enhance the life of the battery by over a million charge cycle times instead of few hundred times at the present battery technology?

A39) As long they meet the intent listed, then yes.