N68335-26-R-0458.pdf

Broad Agency Announcement

N68335-26-R-0458

Broad Agency Announcement to Support the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division Webster Outlying Field Airborne Systems Integration Division

POSTED DATE: 10 April 2026

Prepared by: NAVAL AIR WARFARE CENTER AIRCRAFT DIVISION, Lakehurst Procurement Group, Highway 547, Bldg. 120, Lakehurst, NJ 08733

*Offerors that submitted a proposal to N68335-25-R-0403 are requested to not submit an additional proposal abstract to this BAA, unless otherwise requested.

*FAR, DFARS, and NMCARS clauses referenced throughout this Broad Agency Announcement may have changed locations, added language or have been removed in their entirety due to the updates made from the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul. Reference https://acquisition.gov/far-overhaul for those changes.

Broad Agency Announcement – N68335-26-R-0458 V 00.1

Table of Contents

1 Introduction 2 Background

2.1 Research Areas of Interest

3 Federal Award Information

3.1 Awards

3.2 Contracted Fundamental Research

3.3 Instrument Type(s)

4 Proposal Submission

4.1 Phase I - Proposal Abstract Requirements

4.2 Phase I – Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM)

4.3 Phase II – Full Technical/Cost Proposal (BY INVITATION ONLY)

5.3.1 General Information

5 Evaluation Criteria

5.1 Primary Evaluation Criteria

5.2 Additional Evaluation Criteria

6 Federal Awarding Agency Contacts 7 Appendices

Appendix 1 – Requirements / Proposal Instructions Applicable to Contracts… Appendix 2 – Requirements / Proposal Instructions Applicable to Other Transaction

Agreements

Table of Contents

Table 1 – Technology Readiness Levels and Descriptions Table 2 – Quad Chart Format

1 INTRODUCTION

This Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) is intended for proposal abstracts “for the acquisition of basic and applied research and that part of development not related to the development of a specific system or hardware procurement” according to Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 35. This BAA is not intended for the acquisition of technical, engineering, or other support services. This solicitation is specific to research and development support in technologies that are applicable to the following: air platforms, manned and unmanned payloads, advanced computing and processing, air platform support systems, advanced air system security and protection, and improved Naval air capabilities. Example focus areas include improved technologies, techniques or advanced applications of communications, Electro-Optical (EO), Infrared (IR), Radio Frequency (RF), acoustic and non-acoustic sensors, persistent surveillance technologies, and special sensor systems for Navy manned aircraft and Unmanned Air Systems (UAS).

Technologies proposed should emphasize rapid development, assessment, integration, and demonstration to the warfighter.

2 BACKGROUND

The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) Webster Outlying Field (WOLF) Airborne Systems Integration (ASI) Division develops advanced air platforms, sensors (e.g., acoustics, EO/IR, radar, magnetics, and other special sensors), and systems to meet current and future Naval capability demands. The purpose of these platforms, sensors and systems is to support a variety of aviation missions including distributed maritime surveillance, Air Undersea Warfare (USW), airborne strike, air warfare, counter-air, close air support and interdiction, defense suppression, advanced communications, digital interoperability, electronic attack, naval warfare and amphibious strike, Counter Unmanned Systems (C-UxS), anti-surface warfare, and contested logistic support. Most of the air platforms will be small Group 1 to Group 4 UAS or modifications to existing larger manned and unmanned air platforms. Sensors could be air deployed (via manned or unmanned aircraft), ground, surface, or undersea deployable as driven by the mission needs. Advanced computing and processing will be focused on air vehicle, payload, edge computing, artificial intelligence and machine learning, or multi-platform collaborative solutions supporting all aspects of mission information from pre-deployment, SOL – Broad Agency Announcement

TITLE – Broad Agency Announcement to Support the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division Webster Outlying Field Airborne Systems Integration Division

RESPONSE DATES – Phase I: Responses may be submitted at any time up until the closing date of the BAA (10 April 2027) and the time identified in the sam.gov posting of the BAA.

Phase II: BY REQUEST ONLY

AGENCY – NAVAL AIR WARFARE CENTER AIRCRAFT DIVISION

Procurement Group, Highway 547, Bldg. 120, Lakehurst, NJ 08733

This notice constitutes a Broad Area Announcement as contemplated by FAR Subparts 6.102(d)(2) and 35.016, DFARS 235.016, and the Department of Defense Other Transactions Guide, July 2023.

through operations, to post deployment and sustainment. Advanced air system security and protection will be focused on securing information, transmissions, anti-tampering, and reduced probability of compromise of existing technologies or technologies in development. Improved naval capabilities will focus on key naval focus areas or capability gaps supporting improved lethality, availability, and affordability.

This BAA not only includes air vehicle systems, mission systems, sensors, sensor data processing, and sensor systems, but it also includes mathematical modeling of the sensors and air platforms, communication techniques between the sensors and/or platforms, interfaces, software development, the fusion and exploitation of multi-sensor data, studies, artificial intelligence, deep learning, machine learning, advanced algorithms, and other techniques used to develop advanced capabilities and reduce the cost of transitioning sensors technologies to the fleet. Furthermore, this BAA shall cover development and analysis of related air, sea, and land detection models using relevant data.

Though availability and affordability are not common topics within research and development, they are essential to meeting the Navy’s needs for today and tomorrow. As such, research and development activities that provide technologies that improve system availability and/or could result in potential future cost savings to the government are included within this BAA.

As NAWCAD WOLF ASI’s mission is to rapidly develop, evaluate, demonstrate, integrate, field, and transition airborne systems and advanced technologies to meet Warfighter needs; most BAA efforts will focus on mid- to high- Technology Readiness Level (TRL) technologies that can be rapidly demonstrated or used to support fleet experimentation, evaluate novel concepts for near-term future use, or evaluate technologies that could resolve critical functions or gaps.

2.1 Research Areas of Interest

The NAWCAD WOLF ASI Division is interested in, but not limited to, researching the following areas:

2.1.1 Platform Related Areas of Interest

UAS/Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV)/Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (UUV) autonomous operations, unique payload capabilities, Size Weight and Power (SWAP), powertrain, flight dynamics, and engine enhancements

UAS powertrain improvements to include improvements in safety, flight duration, solar technologies, alternative power technologies, power capacity, increased performance, and or logistical improvements

Manned and UAS audio, visual, heat, and/or RF noise dampening/cancellation techniques Contested airspace payload/remote payload delivery Expendable/low-cost surveillance, communications relay, and/or edge processing capabilities Innovative technologies for disadvantaged platforms Capabilities, improvements, or technologies to increase air systems operational availability and or decrease air platform life cycle cost Roll on or bolt on capability enhancements to existing manned and unmanned systems.

Enhancements in air system survivability

2.1.2 Payload Related Areas of Interest

Non-acoustic Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) sensors and systems Acoustic ASW sensors and systems Magnetic sensors and systems Research involving the interrelationship of acoustic and non-acoustic phenomena applicable to ASW Acoustic and optical Mine Counter Measure (MCM) sensors and systems EO systems engineering methodologies, technologies, and techniques Laser Identification Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) components and systems Hyperspectral components and systems Laser components and systems Electronic Warfare (EW) and cyber capabilities Enhanced airborne networking of autonomous vehicles, manned aircraft, and ground/afloat systems Adapted commercial networking technologies on military platforms Unattended remote controlled sensor technology RF techniques and radar technologies for land and maritime target detection, geolocation, Moving Target Identification (MTI), Multi-Moving Target Identification (MMTI), Inverse Synthetic-Aperture Radar (ISAR), passive bi-static or multi-static, tracking, and imaging

Data link communication technologies and techniques that provide reduced probability to detect, anti-jamming capability, high data throughput, or resilient communications

RF antenna technologies and communications techniques Lightweight sense and avoid technologies Low SWAP edge computing with reduced power consumption and heat generations Alternative position, navigation, and timing technologies Passive sensing technologies Reduction of size, weight, power, and cost of proven technologies for implementation in small UAS

2.1.3 Advanced Computing and Processing Areas of Interest

Signal processing Information processing Telemetry methods for off-board sensors to and from various platforms Mathematical modeling and techniques for analyzing ASW effectiveness and performance In-sensor acoustic signal processing Techniques for quantum encryption, coding, and computation Multi-domain and UAS networking and communications technologies and techniques Sensor correlation, dissemination, reduction, and recording technologies and techniques

Insertion of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) techniques into airborne sensors for situational optimization Multi-source data correlation fusion including tracks, sensors, and other multi-spectrum inputs Rapid precision detection, identification and targeting technologies and techniques Computational electromagnetic modeling and analysis techniques Precision geolocation technologies and techniques RF analysis and fusion technologies and techniques RF Signal analysis and processing technologies and techniques Machine or deep learning for raw data and/or pattern analysis Autonomy techniques, algorithms, or capabilities that increase lethality, readiness, or effectiveness

2.1.4 Advanced Air System Security and Protection Areas of Interest

Technologies or techniques to increase sensor and airframe survivability to include advancements in countermeasure techniques.

Near real time Cross Domain Solutions New kinetic and non-kinetic techniques for defeat Technologies or techniques to reduce airframe detection from active and passive remote sensors to include techniques to reduce airframe RF, visual, infrared, and acoustic signatures.

Advancements in secure communication, storage, and tamper resistant non-recoverable system hardening.

Advancements in tools, techniques, and technologies that provide enhanced Multi-Level Security (MLS) and Multiple Independent Level of Security (MILS).

Advancements in cyber hardening techniques and technologies that improve system integrity and survivability against cyber threats

Technologies or techniques that reduce security concerns with high probability of loss unmanned vehicles and sensors and or expendable unmanned vehicles and sensors.

2.2 Specific Areas of Interest

Proposals are being solicited in the following areas but are not limited to:

2.2.1 Collaborative multi-sensor payloads with onboard enhanced data fusion and autonomous operations focused on reducing data throughput on disadvantaged communication links, reducing operator workload, and enhancing multi-domain critical information sharing.

2.2.2 Enhanced manned and unmanned airborne payloads providing greater maritime situational awareness with increased effectiveness, reduced SWAP, and reduced total ownership cost.

2.2.3 Modification of Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) UASs for military application to include ruggedization, adaptation of engines utilizing non-explosive fuels, hybrid or long endurance engines, implementation of cyber safe software coding and UAS controls, implementation of secure data links, improvements in battery and solar technologies, improved shipboard launch and recovery, and multi-system collaboration and automation.

2.2.4 UAS solutions that significantly decrease launch and recovery and support equipment footprint while expanding capability for launch and recovery to alternative operational sites that lack an organic UAS capability and support structure.

2.2.5 Advancements in UAS and UAS technologies that provide new and unique capabilities to the Warfighter.

2.2.6 Advancements in technologies that provide precision geolocation and network timing in in a contested environment, increase airframe survivability, and decrease probability of system detection.

2.2.7 Persistent air, ground, and ship communications data links that enable the warfighter to share data securely amongst unmanned and manned assets within line of sight and Over The Horizon (OTH) to include advancement in technologies, techniques, or alternative methods to automate, reduce, secure, and/or condense mission critical information and/or increase throughput, reduce probability of detect, increase availability, or miniaturize OTH communications.

2.2.8 Enhanced naval capabilities that can be implemented within a minimally invasive roll-on or bolt-on configuration to existing or emerging naval platforms utilizing open or existing standards and protocols.

2.2.9 Technologies or techniques that support increasing operational availability for existing or emerging platforms and or reducing total ownership cost.

2.2.10 Manned and unmanned systems, sensors, and sensor technologies that increase naval capabilities by providing new systems or advancements to existing systems through advanced data processing and detection, advanced algorithms, reduced processing and dissemination time, improved detection, reduced SWAP, increased detection range, increased survivability, decreased probability of detection while reducing total ownership cost.

2.2.11 Provide technologies, techniques, or alternative methods to provide lightweight low-cost expendable air launched, ship launched, or ground launched UAS and sensor technologies to provide sense and avoid, provide early warning detection, increase lethality, increase probability to detect, support increased survivability of nearby protected platforms, act as force multiplier and/or improve existing naval capabilities at lower total ownership cost.

2.2.12 Advancements in human-machine teaming technologies, autonomy, machine learning, or advancements focused on reducing threats to Warfighter, increasing effectiveness, consolidation of mission critical actionable information, increasing lethality, and/or acting as a force multiplier.

2.2.13 Advancement in technologies, techniques or alternative methods to provide a robust immersive training, maintenance, and operational simulation environment focused on providing realistic venues to increase Warfighter proficiency, increasing capabilities to conduct complicated and or high-risk scenarios in a virtual environment, low-cost risk reduction, and provide remote support in a contested environment.

2.2.14 Novel approaches to improve readiness, improve resilience, or add capability to existing naval air platforms that can be fielded in a rapid manner with minimally intrusion into the air platform.

2.2.15 Novel approaches to mission system and communication systems that improve cyber resilience, reduce size weight and power, and provide open systems approach that enables an agile and adaptable mission system to support the fleet with capabilities needs for now and in the future.

3 FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

3.1 Awards

Multiple awards are anticipated. The level of funding for individual awards made under this solicitation have not been predetermined and will depend on the quality of the proposals received and the availability of funds. Awards will be made to Offerors with proposals determined to be the most advantageous to the Government. Factors to consider include potential contributions of the proposed work, overall funding strategy, and availability of funding.

The Government reserves the right to:

Select for negotiation all, some, one, or none of the proposals received in response to this solicitation;

make awards without discussions with Offerors;

conduct discussions with Offerors if it is later determined to be necessary;

segregate portions of the resulting awards into pre-priced options;

accept proposals in their entirety or to select only portions of proposals for award;

fund proposals in increments and/or with options for continued work at the end of one or more phases;

request additional documentation once the award instrument has been determined (e.g., representations and certifications); and remove Offerors from award consideration should the parties fail to reach agreement on award terms, including intellectual property rights, conditions and cost/price within a reasonable time, or if the Offeror fails to provide requested additional information in a timely manner.

There is no commitment by the Navy to be responsible for any monies expended by the Offeror before award of a contract/agreement. For awards made as contracts, the socio-economic merits of each proposal will be evaluated based on the commitment to provide meaningful subcontracting opportunities with Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Minority Institutions, Tribal Colleges and Universities, Small Businesses, Small Disadvantaged Businesses, Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Businesses, HUBZone Small Businesses, Veteran Owned Small Businesses, and Women Owned Small Businesses.

Proposals selected for award may result in a procurement contract or Other Transaction (OT) depending upon the nature of the work proposed and other factors.

Offerors looking for innovative, commercial-like contractual arrangements are encouraged to consider requesting OTs. Please refer to the Department of Defense Other Transactions Guide, dated July 2023 to understand the flexibility and options associated with OTs.

In accordance with 10 U.S.C. § 4022(f), the Government may award a follow-on production contract or OT subsequent to a prototype OT awarded under this this BAA if: (A) competitive procedures were used for the selection of parties for participation in the transaction; and (B) the participants in the transaction successfully completed the prototype project provided for in the transaction.

(In all cases, the Government Contracting Officer shall have sole discretion to select the award instrument type, regardless of instrument type proposed, and to negotiate all instrument terms and conditions with selectees. The Organization will apply publication or other restrictions, as necessary, if it determines that the research resulting from the proposed effort will present a high likelihood of disclosing performance characteristics of military systems or manufacturing technologies that are unique and critical to defense. Any award resulting from such a determination will include a requirement for the Organization’s permission before publishing any information or results on the program. For more information on publication restrictions, see the section below on Contracted Fundamental Research.

3.2 Contracted Fundamental Research

It is Department of Defense (DoD) policy that the publication of products of fundamental research remain unrestricted to the maximum extent possible. National Security Decision Directive (NSDD) 189, National Policy on the Transfer of Scientific, Technical and Engineering Information defines fundamental research as follows:

‘Fundamental research’ means basic and applied research in science and engineering, the results of which ordinarily are published and shared broadly within the scientific community, as distinguished from proprietary research and from industrial development, design, production, and product utilization, the results of which ordinarily are restricted for proprietary or national security reasons.

With regard to any restrictions on the conduct or outcome of work funded under this BAA, the Organization will follow the guidance on and definition of “contracted fundamental research” as provided in the Under Secretary of Defense (Acquisition, Technology and Logistics) Memorandum of 24 May 2010.

As defined therein the definition of “contracted fundamental research,” in a DoD contractual context, includes research performed under grants and contracts that are (a) funded by Research, Development, Test and Evaluation Budget Activity 1 (Basic Research), whether performed by universities or industry or (b) funded by Budget Activity 2 (Applied Research) and performed on campus at a university. The research shall not be considered fundamental in those rare and exceptional circumstances where the applied research effort presents a high likelihood of disclosing performance characteristics of military systems or manufacturing technologies that are unique and critical to defense, and where agreement on restrictions have been recorded in the contract or grant.

Pursuant to DoD policy, research performed under contracts that are a) funded by Budget Activity 2 (Applied Research) and NOT performed on-campus at a university or b) funded by Budget Activity 3 (Advanced Technology Development) does not meet the definition of “contracted fundamental research.” In conformance with the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics guidance and National Security Decision Directive 189, the Organization will place no restriction on the conduct or reporting of unclassified “contracted fundamental research,” except as otherwise required by statute, regulation, or executive order.

For certain research projects, it may be possible that although the research being performed by the prime contractor is restricted research, a subcontractor may be conducting “contracted fundamental research.” In those cases, it is the prime contractor’s responsibility to identify and describe the subcontracted unclassified research in the proposal to include a statement confirming that the work has been scoped, negotiated, and determined to be fundamental research according to the prime contractor and research performer.

Non-fundamental research may require restrictions during the conduct of the research in addition to a DoD pre-publication review of such research results due to subject matter sensitivity. As of the date of publication of this BAA, the Government cannot identify whether the work under this BAA may be considered fundamental research and may award both fundamental and non-fundamental research.

Offerors should indicate in their proposal whether they believe the scope of the research included in their proposal is fundamental or not. While Offerors should clearly explain the intended results of their research, the Government shall have sole discretion to select award instrument type and to negotiate all instrument terms and conditions with selectees. Appropriate clauses will be included in resultant awards for non-fundamental research to prescribe publication requirements and other restrictions, as appropriate.

Relative to contracts (excluding OTs), FAR Part 35 restricts the use of BAAs, such as this, to the “acquisition of basic and applied research and that portion of advanced technology development not related to the development of a specific system or hardware procurement.” Contracts made under BAAs are for scientific study and experimentation directed towards advancing the state of the art and increasing knowledge or understanding.

3.3 Instrument Type(s)

Awards may take the form of contracts and Other Transaction Agreements (OTA), as appropriate.

The following provides brief descriptions of potential instrument types:

(a) Procurement Contract: A legal instrument, consistent with 31 U.S.C. 6303 that reflects a relationship between the federal Government and a state government, a local government, or other entity/contractor when the principal purpose of the instrument is to acquire property or services for the direct benefit or use of the federal Government.

(b) Other Transactions (OTs).

i. Research OTs: Assistance Transaction other than a Grant or a Cooperative Agreement (see 32 CFR Part 37). A legal instrument, consistent with 10 U.S.C. 4021, for basic, applied, and advanced research projects. To the maximum extent practicable, the research contemplated in the instant project does not duplicate research being done under other DoD programs. and the to the maximum extent practicable, the funds from the Government do not exceed the total amount provided by the other parties. This resource-sharing requirement is intended to highlight the dual use focus of this authority and show commitment on the part of the performing team to pursue and/or commercialize the technology in the future. While the default position in the statute is generally a 50-50 resource share, the final amount of the share should be based on full consideration of factors such as the performing partner’s resources, prior investment in the technology, commercial versus military relevance, unusual performance risk, and precompetitive nature of the project.

ii. OT for Prototype/Prototype OTAs: A legal instrument, consistent with 10 U.S.C.

4022, for prototype projects that are directly relevant to enhancing the mission effectiveness of personnel of the Department of Defense or improving platforms, systems, components, or materials proposed to be acquired or developed by the Department of Defense, or to improvement of platforms, systems, components, or materials in use by the armed forces… The Prototype OT must satisfy at least one of the following conditions:

1. There is at least one NDC or non- profit research institution participating to a significant extent in the prototype project.

2. All significant participants in the transaction other than the Federal Government are small businesses, including those participating in the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) or Small Business Technology Transfer programs, or NDCs. 15 | OUSD (A&S) OT Guide

3. At least one-third of the total cost of the prototype project is to be paid out of funds provided by parties other than the Federal Government. • The SPE for the agency determines in writing that exceptional circumstances justify the use of a transaction that provides for innovative business arrangements or structures that would not be feasible or appropriate under a contract or would provide an opportunity to expand the defense supply base in a manner that would not be practical or feasible under a contract.

iii. In order to comply with 10 U.S.C. §4022(f) for follow-on Production OTs,:

1. Award may be made without additional competitive procedures to a participant in the prototype OT if:

1. Competitive procedures were used for the selection of parties for participation in the prototype OT; and

2. The participant in the prototype OT successfully completed the prototype project.

2. If the performer is a consortium, the Department determines that the participants successfully completed an individual prototype or prototype subproject as part of a consortium

Please refer to the Department of Defense Other Transactions Guide, dated July 2023.

4 PROPOSAL SUBMISSION

The submission process is two-phased, as described below. No further Request for Information (RFI), solicitation, or other announcement of this opportunity will be made.

All proposal submissions will be protected from unauthorized disclosure in accordance with FAR Subpart 3.104-4 and 15.207, applicable law, and DoD/Department of the Navy regulations.

Offerors are expected to appropriately mark each page of their submission that contains proprietary information.

PHASE I – Proposal

Phase I proposals may be submitted at any time up to and including the closing date of the BAA (DD Month 2026). Any Offeror that does not submit a proposal before the specified due date and time is not eligible to participate in Phase II and is not eligible for funding.

Offerors are instructed to not submit general capability statements in response to this BAA.

Proposals shall only be submitted for actual technologies or scientific research within the areas of interest in Section 2.2, Specific Areas of Interest. Offerors are encouraged to submit proposals on topics not specifically mentioned in the BAA; however, the proposed areas must be logically interconnected to existing BAA topics. Each proposal should state that it is intended for submission in response to this BAA and should cite the particular Research Area(s) of Interest in Section 2.1, as well as the Specific Area(s) Of Interest in Section 2.2, that the proposal is specifically addressing. Offerors may provide solutions that are applicable to multiple research topics in a single proposal, as appropriate. Additionally, Offerors may submit more than one (1) proposal abstract on each research topic if a separate solution or approach is being proposed.

Proposal Evaluation/Notification: Government evaluations of the proposals are anticipated to be conducted on a periodic basis; however, any such review does not assure a subsequent award.

Any Offeror whose proposal was not identified as being of particular value to the Government is ineligible to submit a full proposal under this BAA.

4.1 Phase I - Proposal Abstract Requirements

(a) Proposal Abstract Format

Paper Size – 8.5 x 11 inch paper Margins – one (1) inch on all four (4) sides Spacing – single-spaced Font – Times New Roman, 10–12 point Page limit – five (5) pages for proposal abstract, exclusive of cover page and Quad

Chart. Quad Chart is limited to one (1) page.

Note: Any pages submitted exceeding the page limit shall be disregarded and not evaluated.

Additionally, the electronic file name for all documents submitted under this solicitation must not exceed sixty-eight (68) characters in length, including the file name extension.

(b) Proposal Abstract Submission

E-mail submission is required (per the instructions below). The proposal must be Microsoft Word 2016 compatible or in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) and attached to the email. There is an email size limit of seven (7) MB.

E-mail submissions should be sent to the attention of the BAA Contracting Personnel at:

robert.a.megill2.civ@us.navy.mil, kyle.j.perry13.civ@us.navy.mil and truman.b.harris3.civ@us.navy.mil. Submissions that contain Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) are to be encrypted in accordance with DODI 5200.48 and submitted digitally using a DoD SAFE Drop-off. In such case, request a DoD SAFE link via email to any of the persons aforementioned.

The subject line of the email shall include reference to BAA number N68335-26-R-0458 and list the Research Opportunity Area of Interest by section and subsection, as applicable.

Do not send ZIP files or password protected files.

Note: Proposals submitted to individuals other than the three email addresses above will not be accepted.

(c) Proposal Abstract Content:

Proposal abstracts shall include the following:

Cover Page: The cover page shall be labeled “PROPOSAL ABSTRACT” and shall include: the BAA number, organizational name, other team members and type of business for each, Technical Points of Contact (TPOCs) (including telephone number, and email information), Administrative Point of Contact (POC), and one (1) paragraph that summarizes the relationship between the proposal and the BAA.

Technical Abstract and Approach: This section should include a description of the particular Research Area(s) of Interest in Section 2.1, as well as the Specific Area(s) Of Interest in Section 2.2, to which the Offeror is responding and how it ties to the Offeror’s response, how the fleet will benefit after transition (including commercial applications) due to the project research conducted, the technology challenges that must be overcome, the brief technical approach, a brief description of the facilities involved, a brief resume of the key personnel, the operational payoff using measures of performance, and potential Program Management Activity (PMA) sponsors and/or users.

Cost and Period of Performance (PoP): Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) cost estimate (per year) for each concept paper, PoP from start through technology insertion into the fleet, and the anticipated cost sharing agreement, if applicable. If concept proposal may result in a potential cost savings to the government, please include pertinent information about the potential cost savings to include any specifics that may be available. (I.e.

technology could be produced at significantly lower cost than current technology, technology could replace multiple existing technologies at a lower cost, technology could reutilize or extend life of existing system...)

Instrument Type: Specify the award instrument requested (procurement contract, Research OT, Prototype OT, follow-on production OT).

Provide the anticipated Department of Defense Technology Readiness Level (TRL), defined in Table 1, per fiscal year. Proposal abstracts shall begin at TRL 4, at a minimum.

Quad Chart: Completed Quad Chart with format in accordance with Table 2 for each concept paper.

The concept abstracts will be evaluated (at a minimum) upon submission with an approximate Government response time of sixty (60) days after submission.

Note: Typically research findings result in the need for additional services/supplies that are not possible to anticipate or project in to the future. Contract modifications may be executed to satisfy these requirements, thereby providing flexibility in technology assessment (with technology transition serving as the ultimate goal). In the event that this is required, it shall be considered to be within the scope of this BAA and the resulting contract, and therefore will have met the requirements of the FAR/Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) and the Competition in Contracting Act.

4.2 Phase I – Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM)

Unique Entity Identifier and SAM - All Offerors submitting proposals or applications must:

be registered in the SAM prior to submission;

maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which there exists an active Federal award or an application under consideration by any agency;

and provide the Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number in each application or proposal submitted to the agency.

SAM may be accessed at https://www.sam.gov/

Effective 27 April 2018, all new entities registering in SAM, as well as existing registrations being updated or renewed, will require the submission of an original, signed notarized letter identifying the authorized Entity Administrator for the entity associated with the DUNS number before the registration will be activated. Please be aware that processing this additional information may take several days and offerors are advised to be proactive in maintaining their SAM registration in an “Active” status as the government cannot award to an entity without an active SAM registration. More information can be found at https://www.sam.gov/.

TRL Definition Description

4 Component and/or breadboard validation in a laboratory environment.

Basic technological components are integrated to establish that they will work together. This is relatively “low fidelity” compared with the eventual system. Examples include integration of “ad hoc” hardware in the laboratory.

5 Component and/or breadboard validation in a relevant environment.

Fidelity of breadboard technology increases significantly.

The basic technological components are integrated with reasonably realistic supporting elements so they can be tested in a simulated environment. Examples include “high-fidelity” laboratory integration of components.

6 System/subsystem model or prototype demonstration in a relevant environment.

Representative model or prototype system, which is well beyond that of TRL5, is tested in a relevant environment.

Represents a major step up in a technology’s demonstrated readiness. Examples include testing a prototype in a high-fidelity laboratory environment or in a simulated operational environment.

7 System prototype demonstration in an operational environment.

Prototype near or at a planned operational system.

Represents a major step up from TRL 6 by requiring demonstration of an actual system prototype in an operation environment (e.g., in an aircraft, in a vehicle, or in space).

8 Actual system completed and qualified through test and demonstration.

Technology has been proven to work in its final form and under expected conditions. In almost all cases, this TRL represents the end of true system development. Examples include developmental test and evaluation (DT&E) of the system in its intended weapon system to determine if it meets design specifications.

9 Actual system proven through successful mission operations.

Actual application of the technology in its final form and under mission conditions, such as those encountered in operational test and evaluation (OT&E). Examples include using the system under operational mission conditions.

Table 1 – Technology Readiness Levels and Descriptions

Organization / Company Project Title Project Goal / Description: In one concise phrase describe the effort

Picture that captures essence of the project

Operational Payoff/Transition Targets: Describe how the system would provide new or enhanced operational capability to the Warfighter. Use measures of effectiveness - % increase or decrease in either a technical parameter and/or an operational parameter. Describe any cost savings. Describe any impacts on quality of service. List potential and/or actual transition sponsors PMAs/PEOs.

Deliverables: What is the final product(s)? Include reports, databases, hardware, software, prototypes, demonstrations, standards, processes, etc.

Technical Objective: In one concise sentence, describe the technical objective of the effort.

Technical Challenges / Risks: Why is this difficult? What challenges must be overcome?

Technical Approach: Specifically, how will the problem be approached. Describe major tasks to be performed.

Cost and Schedule: Outline major tasks and their duration start and end dates. Provide planned milestone decision points and demos or experiments. Provide funding for each planned year of the program.

TRL: Provide beginning, current, and projected end state TRL at the completion of the stated effort.

Contact Info: Phone and Email

4.3 Table 2 - Quad Chart Format Phase II – Full Technical/Cost Proposal (BY

INVITATION ONLY)

4.3.1 General Information

ONLY OFFERORS WITH A PHASE I – PROPOSAL ABSTRACT CONSIDERED CAPABLE

OF MEETING EXISTING OR FUTURE PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS AND HAVE A HIGH

PROBABILITY OF BEING FUNDED WILL BE ASKED TO SUBMIT PHASE II – FULL

TECHNICAL/COST PROPOSAL. A REQUEST FOR SUBMISSION OF A FULL PROPOSAL

DOES NOT GUARANTEE AWARD SELECTION. PROPOSAL ABSTRACTS

CONSIDERED CAPABLE WITHOUT A HIGH PROBABILITY OF FUNDING WILL NOT

BE ASKED TO SUBMIT A PHASE II HOWEVER WILL BE ARCHIVED FOR POTENTIAL

FUTURE CONSIDERATION IF FUNDING PROBABILITY WERE TO CHANGE.

See the following Appendices for Phase II submission instructions:

Appendix 1 Requirements/Proposal Instructions Applicable to Contracts

Appendix 2 Requirements/Proposal Instructions Applicable to Other Transaction Agreements

5 EVALUATION CRITERIA

The Government will evaluate proposals responsive to any or all areas of interest discussed herein. Proposals will not be evaluated against each other since each proposal represents a unique technology with no common work statement. Determination of total value of the concepts will have the following evaluation criteria:

5.1 Primary Evaluation Criteria

(a) The primary evaluation criteria, which are of equal importance, are: Scientific and technical merits of the proposed research to include, (1) the degree to which proposed research and development objectives support the targeted technical topic and (2) validity of the technical basis for the approach offered; and

(b) Potential contributions to DoD, Navy, NAVAIR, NAWCAD WOLF ASI Division to include (1) relevance to the stated technology areas of interest; (2) anticipated operational military (or commercial, if applicable) utility; (3) ability of proposed system/study to be rapidly ready for field-testing; (4) suitability for inclusion in a warfighting experiment (results of a simulation/study may be suitable for inclusion, but a contractor proposing paper vice hardware, needs to specifically address this evaluation factor); (5) projected affordability of transitioning the technology to the fleet or a commercial activity (for any developed hardware); (6) logistics and fleet supportability of proposed solution; and (7) data rights.

5.2 Additional Evaluation Criteria

Other evaluation criteria, of lesser importance than 5.1 (a) and (b), but equal to each other, are:

(a) the Offeror’s capabilities, related experience, past performance on similar efforts, research personnel, facilities, techniques, or a unique combination of these that are integral factors for achieving the proposal objectives; and

(b) the realism and reasonableness of cost, including proposed cost sharing (if any).

6 FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY CONTACTS

Robert Megill, e-mail: robert.a.megill2.civ@us.navy.mil, Kyle Perry, email kyle.j.perry13.civ@us.navy.mil and Truman Harris, e-mail: truman.b.harris3.civ@us.navy.mil.

7 APPENDICES

Appendix 1 Requirements/Proposal Instructions Applicable to Contracts

Appendix 2 Requirements/Proposal Instructions Applicable to Other Transaction Agreements

APPENDIX 1 – Requirements/Proposal Instructions Applicable to Contracts

A. Application and Submission Information.

Content and Form of Application Submission

Full Proposals

Instructions for Contracts

Content and Form Application:

Applicants must submit a full proposal in accordance with the instructions provided below and contained within a formal Request for Proposal (RFP). Files must be in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF), Microsoft Word 2016 compatible and Microsoft Excel 2016 compatible. Do not password protect documents.

Offerors are responsible for clearly identifying proprietary information. Submissions containing proprietary information must have the cover page and each page containing such information clearly marked.

Full Proposal Format

Paper Size – 8.5 x 11inch paper Margins – one (1) inch on all four (4) sides Spacing – single-spaced Font – Times New Roman, 12 point Technical Proposal Page limit – twenty-five (25) pages, exclusive of cover page.

There are no page limitations for the Cost Proposal or the remaining submission requirements.

Note: Any pages submitted exceeding the page limit shall be disregarded and not evaluated.

Additionally, the electronic file name for all documents submitted under this solicitation must not exceed sixty-eight (68) characters in length, including the file name extension.

The following documents, with attachments, comprise a complete proposal package as described below:

Cover Page: The cover page must include the following:

(a) BAA Number: N68335-26-R-0458;

(b) Title of Proposal;

(c) Identity of prime applicant and a complete list of subcontractors, if applicable;

(d) Type of organization selected from the following categories: Large Business, Small Disadvantaged Business, Other Small Business, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Minority Institutions, Other Educational, or Non-Profit;

(e) Technical Points of Contact (TPOCs) (name, address, telephone number, fax number, email address);

(f) Administrative/business contact (name, address, telephone number, fax number, email address);

(g) Total amount of the proposed effort;

(h) Place(s) and period of performance (identify both the base period and any options, if included);

(i) Award instrument requested;

(j) Proposal validity period (minimum one hundred and twenty (120) days);

(k) Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number;

(l) Taxpayer identification number;

(m) Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) code.

Note: In all cases, the Government Contracting Officer has sole discretion to select award instrument type, regardless of instrument type proposed, and to negotiate all instrument terms and conditions with selectees.

Table of Contents: A listing of the sections within the proposal to include corresponding page numbers.

Proposal Adequacy Checklist in accordance with DFARS 252.215-7009

If contained within the RFP, the Offeror shall complete the proposal adequacy checklist contained in DFARS 252.215-7009 providing the location of requested information or an explanation as to why the requested information is not provided. In preparation of the checklist, Offerors may elect to have their prospective subcontractors use the same or similar checklist as appropriate.

Executive Summary: Provide a synopsis of the proposed project including answers to the following questions:

- What are proposed efforts attempting to accomplish?

- How are efforts accomplished today and what are the limitations?

- Who or what will be affected and what will be the impact if efforts are successful?

- How much will it cost and how long will it take?

- What are the teaming/subcontracting relationships, if applicable? What unique skills and knowledge does each team member have? What role will each team member perform?

The executive summary should include a description of the key technical challenges, a concise review of the technologies proposed to overcome these challenges and achieve the project’s goal, and a clear statement of the novelty and uniqueness of the proposed work.

Technical Proposal: The technical proposal must describe the research in sections as described below:

(a) Technical Concept and Approach: Describe the basic scientific or technical concepts that will be investigated, giving the complete research plan. Describe what is innovative about the proposed approach. Provide the proposed approach compared to alternate approaches other researchers in this field have taken. Given successful completion, describe the results, new knowledge, or insights.

(b) Future Naval Relevance: A description of potential naval relevance and contributions of the effort to the agency’s specific mission.

(c) Project Schedule and Milestones: A summary of the schedule of events and milestones to includes major tasks and their duration start and end dates. Include any planned decision points and demonstrations or experiments.

(d) Provide a detailed roadmap of the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) progression to include beginning, current, and final TRLs in accordance with the Department of Defense (DoD) description in Table 1 (located in Section 4, page 13), as applicable. Also describe how the TRL self-assessment is validated through quantifiable measures.

(e) Stand-alone non-proprietary Statement of Work (SOW): The SOW must clearly define the technical tasks/subtasks to be performed, their durations, and interdependencies. For each task/subtask, provide:

‒ A detailed description of the approach to be taken to accomplish each defined task/subtask

‒ Identification of the primary organization responsible for task execution (prime contractor, subcontractor(s), consultant(s)), by name

‒ Measurable milestones (e.g., a deliverable, demonstration, or other event/activity that marks task completion)

‒ A definition of all deliverables (reporting, data, reports, software, etc.) to be provided to the Government in support of the proposed research tasks/subtasks

‒ Clearly identify any tasks/subtasks (to be performed by either a prime or subcontractor) that will be accomplished on-campus at a university, if applicable

‒ Any optional tasking shall be separately identifiable within the document

Note: It is recommended that the SOW be developed so that each phase of the program is separately defined. The SOW shall be submitted in Microsoft Word format.

(f) Staffing and Key Personnel Qualifications: A detailed description of the proposed staffing by labor category. Include a discussion of the qualifications of all key personnel.

Include resumes or curricula vitae for any key personnel and consultants.

(g) Facilities, Equipment, and Government Furnished Information/Equipment/Material (GFI/E/M): Describe facilities available for performing the proposed research and any additional facilities or equipment the organization proposes to acquire at its own expense.

Indicate Government-owned facilities or equipment already possessed that will be used.

Justify the need for each equipment item. (Additional facilities and equipment will not be provided unless the research cannot be completed by any other practical means). Also provide a list of any GFI/E/M that would be required, if applicable.

(h) Security: If it is determined that access to classified information will be required during the performance of an award, Offerors shall provide evidence (e.g., a written certification) of their current facility clearance and also indicate the current security clearance level and status (e.g., final, interim, pending) for all personnel who could potentially access classified information.

Cost Proposal: A separate Adobe PDF document, in addition to a fully-disclosed, unburdened cost proposal with working formulas in Microsoft Excel, should be included in the proposal that provides appropriate justification and/or supporting documentation for each element of cost proposed. The electronic submission of the Excel spreadsheet should be in a “useable condition” to aid the Government with its evaluation.