MTO_Office-Wide_BAA_HR001122S0030_FAQ_20240412.pdf

HR001122S0030: Microsystems Technology Office (MTO) Office-wide Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

April 12, 2024

Q1: What would be the best way to get the budget submitted if we do not need the DARPA Cost Proposal Template since we are an academic institution?

A1: Go to https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/r-r-family.html and scroll down to “Research & Related Budget” and click the PDF form.

Q2: There is no SF-424 field for the budget. Could you please clarify what format our educational institution should use to prepare the cost proposal?

A2: Go to https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/r-r-family.html and scroll down to “Research & Related Budget” and click the PDF form.

Q3: Regarding Note 3 on pages 32-33 of the guidelines, are University proposers who are requesting a grant, cooperative agreement, or Other Transaction for Research, required to provide the aforementioned cost breakdown in an editable MS Excel spreadsheet, or can this be provided in a Word/PDF document along with the RR Budget?

A3: Please see the BAA Section IV.B.2, “Full Proposal Format,” Note 4:

University proposers requesting a grant, cooperative agreement, or Other Transaction for Research do not need to use the MS ExcelTM DARPA Standard Cost Proposal Spreadsheet.

Instead, a proposed budget and justification may be provided using the SF-424 Research & Related Budget forms provided via https://www.grants.gov. The primary budget form can be found by navigating to https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/r-r-family.html, scrolling down to “Research & Related Budget,” and clicking the PDF form.

Q4: If we are to propose 2 phases, both with durations of 12 months costing $500,000 or less, would we be able to use the streamlined proposal preparation process?

A4: Please see the BAA Section II.A, “General Award Information”:

Proposals for studies that are 12 months or less in duration, cost $500,000 or less, and for which the performer is seeking an assistance instrument (grant or cooperative agreement) are provided a streamlined proposal preparation process (see Section IV.B.2, “Full Proposal Format”).

Q5: Is there a requirement to format all pages of the proposal with 1-inch margins?

A5: There are no margin restrictions.

Q6: Would the inclusion of a list of references to academic papers to cite relevant state of the art as well as previous team accomplishments in a submitted abstract count towards the 6-page limit?

A6: References to team accomplishments should be included within the 6-page limit. The bibliography list can be excluded from this page count. All other details should follow the format described in the BAA Section II. Abstract Details.

Q7: The Accelerated Contract Award Option requires participants to possess a "DCAA-approved accounting system." Please explain what this means.

A7: For the purpose of the accelerated award option under this BAA, a DCAA-approved accounting system is one that DCAA has reviewed and determined in writing to be acceptable in accordance with DFARS 252.242-7006(a)(1), which defines an acceptable accounting system as:

“a system that complies with the system criteria in paragraph (c) of this clause to provide reasonable assurance that— Applicable laws and regulations are complied with;

The accounting system and cost data are reliable;

Risk of misallocations and mischarges are minimized; and Contract allocations and charges are consistent with billing procedures.”

Please see the following link for more information:

https://www.dcaa.mil/Portals/88/Documents/Guidance/Audit%20Overview/c_Accounting_Syste m_2018-10-01%20(Releasable).pdf?ver=2019-10-10-153710-007