COVID-19 BAA Q and A Round 4.pdf

IARPA-BAA-20-01

COVID-19 Seedling Research Topics

BAA Questions 42 through 46 - Round 4

The Round 4 Questions and Answers (Q&As) below are being posted after the submission period for proposals has started. Offerors that have already submitted proposals that now require an update due to the Round 4 Q&As, shall contact the Contracting Officer via the email address in the BAA for instructions on how to update your proposal.

Q42: Will the agency accept additional questions after the stated Q&A period, if during its proposal creation, an Offeror comes across an ambiguity or requires some clarification as to the proposal expectations for Phase A and/ or B or the directions for either which could not have reasonably been foreseen?

A42: The BAA Q&A period closed on June 1, 2020, however, if after this period, an Offeror notices a significant error, omission or ambiguity, please submit to the email address identified in the BAA and the Contracting Officer will determine whether a BAA amendment is warranted.

Q43. Is a goal of detecting viral DNA in environmental samples consistent with the Areas of Interest in IARPA-BAA-20-01?

A43. Yes, detecting viral DNA in environmental samples would fall under “Tools for field monitoring of RNA/DNA (eDNA) (e.g., in wastewater or other environmental samples) to detect nascent viral outbreaks such as COVID-19 and estimate their scale and geographic footprint.”

Q44. Can an Offeror submit parallel or sequential related seedling efforts under this BAA?

A44. Offerors are permitted to submit more than one proposal to the BAA (see BAA section 3.2).

Each proposal will be evaluated as set forth in the BAA (see BAA Section 3.1). IARPA will adhere to the Phase A and B project structure and maximum budget and time period specified in the BAA section 2.3 (see below).

BAA Section 3.2:

“Organizations may participate as a prime or subcontractor in more than one submission to the BAA. However, if multiple submissions to the BAA which include a common team member are selected, such common team members shall not receive duplicative funding (i.e., no one entity can be paid twice to perform the same task).”

BAA Section 2.3:

“The Government anticipates that proposals submitted in response to this BAA will be UNCLASSIFIED. Proposals must address two independent and sequential project phases:

Phase A - Initial Proof of Concept (base) and Phase B - Demonstration (option). The periods of performance for these phases shall not exceed 4 months for Phase A and 8 months for Phase B. Combined Phase A and Phase B shall not exceed 12 months. Specific technical objectives to be achieved within the topic areas listed above, task descriptions, intellectual property rights, milestone schedule, and deliverables shall be addressed in the proposal. Detailed proposal preparation instructions are provided in Section 5. The total award value for the combined Phase A base and Phase B option shall be less than $1,000,000.”

BAA Section 3.1 states:

“Awards under this BAA shall be made to Offerors on the basis of the Evaluation Factors listed herein, as well as successful completion of negotiations.”

The BAA shall result in awards for both Phases of the program. Exercise of the Phase B option shall depend upon performance during Phase A - base as well as program goals, the availability of funding, and IARPA priorities. Exercising of the Phase B option is at the sole discretion of the Government.

Multiple awards are anticipated. The amount of resources made available under this BAA shall depend on the quality of the proposals received and the availability of funds.

The Government reserves the right to select for negotiation all, some, one, or none of the proposals received in response to this solicitation and to make awards without discussions with Offerors. The Government also reserves the right to conduct discussions if determined to be necessary. Evaluation and award of proposals will follow FAR Part 35 processes as described herein.

Proposals selected for negotiation may result in a procurement contract.

Awards under this BAA shall be made to Offerors on the basis of the Evaluation Factors listed herein, as well as successful completion of negotiations.

The Government will contact Offerors whose proposals are selected for negotiations to obtain additional information required for award. The Government may establish a deadline for the close of fact-finding and negotiations that allows a reasonable time for the award of a contract. Offerors that are not responsive to Government deadlines established and communicated with the request may be removed from award consideration. Offerors may also be removed from award consideration should the parties fail to reach agreement within a reasonable time on contract terms, conditions, and cost/price.”

Q45. For prior IARPA BAAs, potential Offerors were allowed to contact IARPA Program Managers to discuss project concepts and/or to submit abstracts for IARPA review in advance of proposal submission. Should that process be followed for this BAA?

A45. No. For this quick-turnaround requirement, there was a Q&A period set forth in the BAA during which Offerors had the opportunity to submit questions. That period closed on June 1, 2020. Of course, if an Offeror notices a significant error, omission, or ambiguity in the BAA, please submit to the email address provided in the BAA and the Contracting Officer will determine if the BAA needs to be amended. All answers to questions will be posted to beta.SAM.gov.

Q46. What is the difference between an IARPA Seedling and an IARPA Program?

A46. Seedlings are short-term, limited scope research efforts in topic areas that are not addressed by emerging or ongoing IARPA programs or other published IARPA solicitations.

Seedlings are primarily, but not solely, intended for early stage research that may lead to larger, focused Programs through a separate BAA in the future. IARPA Programs are larger in scope, of longer duration (typically 3-5 years), and apply rigorous and independent T&E to results. Due to their larger scope, duration, and complexity, Programs are funded at higher levels than Seedlings.