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RCPP# HQ003420RCPPKRM091820
INSTITUTE FOR NASCENT INNOVATIONS (I4NI)
REQUEST FOR CONSORTIUM PROTOTYPE PROPOSAL (RCPP)
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
| 1 |
| Can you please tell us what the estimated annual dollar spend will be under this OTA? |
| The government is unable to provide an estimate at this time. |
| 2 |
| Our consortium membership is over 3,400 non-traditionals. Each member company provides their NAICS codes, CAGE code, address, POCs and what type of business they are (ex: SDVOSB, WOSB) when they register. In lieu of going out to all 3,400 for their Affirmation of Business Status Certification, could we provide this information in an excel sheet for purposes of the proposal submission? We are happy to obtain actual signatures if required in execution of the contract. |
| At this time, only the consortium manager submitting a proposal should complete the Affirmation of Business Status Certification (ABSC). |
The RCPP has been updated for clarity.
| 3 |
| Clarification request: The government states “Develop a multi-year operating process for the network to create tools, techniques and methodologies for solving complex DoD sponsored problem sets” as a responsibility of the consortium manager. Could the government please clarify – does this mean the consortium manager should create a process to discover the process/tools/techniques/methodologies and how to bring them into the network? |
| Yes, the consortium manager should create a process to discover the process/tools/techniques/methodologies and how to bring them into the consortium. |
| 4 |
| Under Proposal Format/General, it states “The proposal template is provided as an attachment to this RFP.” We do not see a proposal template available. Can the government please provide or confirm that there is no template? |
| There is no template. |
The RCPP has been updated.
| 5 |
| The government states that “NSIN requires an unrivaled problem-solving network, through a non-profit…”does this mean that only non-profits are eligible for this award? |
| Yes, only non-profits are eligible for this award. |
| 6 |
| I am from the Naval Postgraduate School and we are a Government Academic Institution/Lab. Are we allowed to participate as a partner on the I4NI RFP? |
| Yes. |
| 7 |
| Who will the coalition lead report to? Who will prioritize the needs/pain points the coalition is solving? |
| The consortium manager will report to the managing director of NSIN. |
The managing director of NSIN will prioritize the problem sets for the Consortium to solve.
| 8 |
| Will the consortium be allowed to include any traditional defense contractors? Often a small business isn’t poised to scale up production and requires a traditional contractor to partner with. |
| Yes. |
| 9 |
| Will they be required to use any specific SOPs? |
| There are not specific SOP’s at this time. Specific SOP’s will be issued once the consortium is active. |
| 10 |
| Does the “response cell” have to be in the DC area? |
| A presence in the National Capital Region is preferred but not required. |
| 11 |
| Is this coalition staff a staff that solves problems, or do they parse out the challenge to their network of innovation hubs that is best suited to solve the challenge? |
| Both. |
| 12 |
| I wanted to clarify if all respondents to the RCPP must be non-profits or if a for profit business may respond to serve as consortium managers. |
| The consortium manager should be a non-profit. |
| 13 |
| The Request for Consortium Prototype Proposal states a need to create a community capable of addressing emerging challenges, such as challenges in material sciences, deep learning, cyber security, and high-performance computing. Do these four technology focus areas represent the initial communities to be engaged and later expanded based upon emerging needs, or is the consortium expected to encompass a broader range of Technology Focus Areas from the onset? |
| These were provided as examples. |
| 14 |
| Are the prototyping efforts under the resulting agreement funded through DIU/NSIN funding, customer funding, or both? |
| The government is unable to provide an answer at this time. |
| 15 |
| The period of performance is specified as 5 years with an option for an additional 5 years. What is the total ceiling amount available in the first 5 years? In other words, how many dollars can pass through the OTA in the first 5 years? |
| The government is unable to provide an estimate at this time. |
| 16 |
| Page 5, Bullet 2 of the Request for Consortium Prototype Proposal identifies "Letters of Commitment.” Are Letters of Commitment synonymous with the "Affirmation of Business Status Certification" Form on page 6? |
| No. |
| 17 |
| Page 3, Section VIII of the Request For Consortium Prototype Proposal, entitled "Export Control" states: "Research findings and technology developments arising from the resulting RWP may constitute a significant enhancement to the national defense and to the economic vitality of the United States. As such, in the conduct of all work under the subsequent PPA(s), the recipient will comply strictly with the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (22 CFR 120-130), the National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (DoD 5220.22-M) and the Department of Commerce Export Regulation (15 CFR 730-774)." Has the Government pre-determined that all prototype projects to be conducted under the proposed OTA are Export Controlled? If yes, will the Consortium Manager selected be responsible for managing export controls for the network and training members entities on export control requirements, or will the subsequent projects be awarded directly from the Government to the awarded member entities who will then be responsible for Export Controls? |
| The government has not made a pre-determination on exportability. |
| 18 |
| Does the Government envision allowing individual members and/or student members to join the consortium as problem-solvers or hackathon participants, or are members restricted to incorporated entities? |
| Members are not restricted to incorporated entities. |
| 19 |
| Page 1, bullet 4 of the Request for Consortium Prototype Proposal states that the consortium manager will "Act as an integrator and program manager to support the Government and consortium members in solving DoD’s emergent threats problem sets." Does the Government expect the Consortium Manager to be the prime awardee on each prototype project, responsible for technical delivery of the solution, with the member entity (and ultimate technology provider) serving as a sub-awardee to the effort? |
| The Consortium Manager will be the prime awardee for each prototype other transaction, the consortium member entity will serve as the sub-awardee to the Consortium Manager. |
| 20 |
| Will all subprojects be fixed priced or will there be both fixed price and cost type subprojects? |
| The government is open to the various payment structures allowable under 10 USC 2371b. |
| 21 |
| What is the expected turnaround time expected from the time the Government issues a “call for problem solution (subproject request)” to I4NI member(s) “solutions proposal (response to subproject request)”? |
| The government is unable to provide an answer at this time. |
| 22 |
| Does NSIN have experience supporting funds committed and obligated from other Government agencies, such as the Department of Transportation or Department of Energy? |
| The government is unable to provide an answer at this time. |
| 23 |
| Please clarify the definition of “participant.” Are participants the entities engaged in the technical and administrative functions of the Consortium (The Consortium Manager and Teammates)? Or is a participant a member of the Consortium (The member entity technology providers)? |
| “Participant” refers to the contractor team proposed to support &/or supporting an other transaction agreement. |
| 24 |
| Please clarify the meaning of “technical” and “administrative.” Is the Consortium expected to provide expertise on the given technology solution to members for subprojects?; or conversely, does "technical" refer to assisting member entities in understanding the problem/requirements, special terms and conditions, proposal requirements, etc.? |
| The Consortium Manager is expected to have some knowledge on the technical focus areas outlined in the RCPP to better assist the members. |
| 25 |
| Is the OTA referenced a new OTA (yet to be created), or is it an existing OTA? |
| The OT agreement referenced has not been created. |
| 26 |
| Is there an estimated annual OTA transaction budget? If yes, then what dollar amount is that annual budget estimate? |
| The government is unable to provide an estimate at this time. |
| 27 |
| Is there an existing budget to support this OTA? If yes, then what DOD office/component is providing this budget? |
| The government is unable to provide an estimate at this time. |
| 28 |
| Can the prime-contracted OTA Consortium Manger be a for-profit, in partnership with a non-profit Consortium Membership Organization? |
| The prime Consortium Manager should be a non-profit. |
DOD Washington Headquarters Service