RFP 25-015 Venture Studio Expertise_Miltech_SOW 04.09.25 v1-1.pdf

RFP 25-015 - MilTech Venture Studio Expertise for Technology Commercialization

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ATTACHMENT 1 - SCOPE OF WORK

1. General Overview

Montana State University-MilTech is seeking qualified firms or teams with expertise in technology commercialization, commercialization studio development, and startup acceleration and is issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP) to those firms wishing to be considered. The Awardees will be the Preferred Provider for future opportunities in commercialization studio-related engagements, including full-scope development or modular engagements addressing specific elements of the process.

The MilTech department at Montana State University is a DoD, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Office of Technology Transition Partnership Intermediary and provides hands-on product design, prototyping, technology scouting, and manufacturing assistance to DoD Program Offices and non-traditional defense suppliers and small companies in order to transition innovative technology to the US warfighter rapidly, reliably, and cost-effectively.

This RFP is intentionally structured to allow flexibility in contracting. Selected Offerors may be engaged for the entire scope of work or individual elements as opportunities arise, but Offerors must be capable of all elements of the entire scope of work. Responses and submission to this RFP should provide the necessary content, experience, and knowledge for each of the items addressed in the RFP for MilTech in determining awards for this contract.

One or more contracts may be awarded to deliver the defined service categories. Master Contracts shall be established with qualified contractors against which Task Orders for specific projects and services will be issued. The University seeks services in the following five areas as they relate to Marketing and Branding, also seen below in Section 4 Scope of Work:

• Category 1: Commercialization Studio Strategy and Design

• Category 2: IP and Market Assessment

• Category 3: Opportunity Formation and Incubation

• Category 4: Fundraising and Capital Strategy

• Category 5: Studio Operations and Growth

Tasks performed by contractors in the five areas above may include, but are not limited to, the items seen in Section 4 Scope of Work.

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2. Background

Despite significant investment in research and intellectual property (IP) development across universities, government institutions, and corporate R&D, commercialization bottlenecks result in unrealized innovation. Tech Transfer Offices (TTOs) struggle with:

• Slow, costly evaluations – Diligence can take up to a year and cost $25,000+ per technology.

• Limited capacity – TTOs manage large IP portfolios with constrained resources.

• Fragmented commercialization pathways – The process of identifying applications, markets, investors, and operators is inefficient.

• Funding gaps – A misalignment between commercialization and commercialization capital models leaves promising IP stranded in the “valley of death.”

To address this, a new commercialization model is required, one that eliminates bottlenecks, integrates AI-driven assessments, and supports scalable commercialization creation.

3. Preferred Vendor Model & Engagement Flexibility

The selected vendor(s) will become the Preferred Partner for commercialization studio-related work.

Engagements may range from:

• Full-scale, end-to-end studio development, covering all phases from design to execution.

• Modular engagements, where the vendor is contracted for specific elements of the process (e.g., AI-driven IP evaluation, fundraising strategy, entrepreneur recruitment).

• Strategic advisory engagements, providing expertise on a retainer or project-by-project basis.

This model ensures long-term partnership opportunities for the selected vendor(s) while allowing for agile contracting based on emerging needs.

4. Scope of Work

The selected vendor(s) must have the ability to deliver against all scoped items in Section 4 Scope of Work. The selected vendor(s) will have the opportunity to contribute to a wide range of commercialization studio-related engagements, including but not limited to:

4.1 Category 1: Commercialization Studio Strategy and Design

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1. Develop studio models tailored to specific industries and technologies, aligned with commercialization goals.

2. Define investment theses, sector focus areas, and IP assessment frameworks.

3. Establish governance structures, including studio boards and advisory committees.

4. Develop a financial model for long-term sustainability, including revenue strategies, capital infusion planning, and investor engagement.

4.2 Category 2: IP and Market Assessment

1. Implement AI-driven tools to assess IP portfolios, evaluate market fit, and identify commercialization pathways.

2. Conduct deep technology diligence across AI, healthcare, climate tech, national security, and other sectors.

3. Develop structured frameworks for rapid IP screening, prioritizing high-potential innovations.

4.3 Category 3: Opportunity Formation and Incubation

1. Source, vet, and recruit high-performing entrepreneurs and domain experts.

2. Facilitate cohort-based startup formation, guiding technologies and intellectual property opportunities through ideation, validation, and funding.

3. Design and execute founder/operator recruitment strategies.

4.4 Category 4: Fundraising and Capital Strategy

1. Build a network of aligned investors, including commercialization funds, corporate partners, and public funding sources.

2. Structure studio investment vehicles and capital deployment models.

3. Develop funding strategies for early-stage commercialization, Series A readiness, and institutional backing.

4.5 Category 5: Studio Operations and Growth

1. Design and implement studio infrastructure, including operational workflows, playbooks, and support systems.

2. Develop corporate partnerships for technology validation and pilot programs.

3. Establish KPI tracking for commercialization success, including licensing rates, startup growth, and ROI metrics.

Specific design details will be determined on a project-by-project basis.

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5. Proposal Submission Requirements

5.1 Firm Overview

1. Provide an overview in narrative form of your firm, and the background, relevant experience, and key personnel involved in the management and operations of the company.

5.2 Evaluation Scenario - Project Proposal

Successful proposals should contain the following:

1. Approach and Methodology – In a narrative Business Plan or Studio Proposal, describe how the firm would approach the scope of work, with flexibility for different engagement structures.

1. Commercialization Studio Strategy and Design

2. IP and Market Assessment

3. Opportunity Formation and Incubation

4. Fundraising and Capital Strategy

5. Studio Operations and Growth

2. Team Composition – Key personnel who would be involved in executing the Venture Studio Plan

3. Project Case Studies – Provide three (3) Case studies or examples of prior work in commercialization studio development or deep-tech commercialization creation.

Examples should include both modular and full-scale executions, and lessons learned from both successful and abandoned ventures. Case studies presented should showcase firm’s experience related to commercialization efforts with Federal Government projects, particularly DoD, DHS, NOAA, or Technology Transfer related support.

1. References – Client references are required for each of the case studies. This is a mandatory requirement.

2. The University may make such investigations as deemed necessary to determine the ability of the Offeror to provide the supplies and/or perform the services specified. The University reserves the right to reject any proposal if the evidence submitted by, or investigation of, the Offeror fails to satisfy the University that the Offeror is properly qualified to carry out the obligations of the Contract. This includes the University’s ability to reject the proposal based on negative references.

5.3 Budget and Pricing Model –

1. Sample Venture Studio Project - Montana State University has provided Sample Venture Studio Project, as seen in, Air Force Surgical Retractor (AFSR). Qualified Offerors are required to provide a sample Business Plan/Studio Proposal response detailing how your organization would propose to meet each requirement in Section 4 of this RFP. Use the information and sample cost structure in Attachment 2 to create a Budget and Pricing model. Instructions for Budget and Pricing Model can be found in Buyer Attachments. Proposal may use this structure or provide your own plan. The Budget and Pricing Model is required to be completed and submitted via upload on Item Category Question 2.1.

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6. Selection Criteria The Basis for Evaluation is provided in the Buyer Attachments of this RFP. All proposals will be evaluated and scored according to the Basis for Evaluation. Each proposal’s score will be based on:

• Expertise and track record in commercialization studio design, technology commercialization, and startup acceleration.

• Ability to execute modular or full-scope engagements, with flexibility in structuring contracts.

• Innovative approaches to streamlining commercialization and investible opportunity formation.

• Demonstrated experience in working with TTOs, Corporates, and Investors to align commercialization pathways.

• Competitive pricing, proposal, and value proposition

7. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

7.1 This additional information applies to Service Category 1, Service Category 2, and Service Category 3, Service Category 4, Service Category 5:

1. In most cases, MilTech will provide parameters and guidance, and in other cases contractors will be asked to provide practical directional assistance based on their experience. The formatting of any reports required will be described in the task order(s) issued to an awarded contractor. Any task orders resulting from this solicitation will be individually issued by the department and accepted by the contractor(s), and successful completion of any task orders will also be individually accepted as complete, as shown in the MilTech Sample Contract.

2. The work to be provided by the successful contractor(s) will be funded from various federal grant funds received by MSU MilTech. Successful contractors will be subject to any terms and conditions required by the applicable federal funding agencies to be included as flow down provisions in all subcontracts. The specific terms and conditions will be included in each Task Order. MilTech anticipates awarding Master Contracts with one or more qualified contractors against which Task Orders for specific projects and services will be issued at MilTech’s discretion.

3. Awardees under the RFP may be offered work across all MilTech projects and prime contracts. Offerors, by default, express their desire to comply with the requirements under all prime contracts, so they may receive task orders under all of MilTech’s prime contracts. If a contractor wishes to be permanently excluded from any potential work under one or more of the prime contracts for the full potential life of an awarded contract, the contractor must provide a written response, stating that they do not desire to accept work underneath said

P a g e 6 | 6 prime contract and understand that this decision will not allow them to receive Task Orders for work under the Prime Contracts that they opt out of. Otherwise, it is assumed that Contractor is able to meet the requirements of the prime contracts. (As noted in the prerequisite information, awarded contractors are also free to decline any Task Order that MilTech has offered.) If the RFP is specifically limited NOT to include all prime contracts for potential work, this bullet may be removed, but if it is applicable, do not edit language.

7.2 Awardees must comply with the following requirements:

1. The protection of confidential business and government information is vital to the interests and the success of the MSU-Bozeman MilTech. As such, if awarded, contractors will be required to acknowledge their obligation to protect confidential business and government information by signing the Non-Disclosure Agreement found in the contract attachments.

MilTech will maintain signed confidentiality agreements on file.

2. A resulting contract may include United States government work with security restrictions;

therefore, to be eligible for this work, contractors and their subcontractors must verify their status as a U.S. person. As such, if awarded, contractors will be required to acknowledge their citizenship status and determine the citizenship status of all employees/contractors they hire to work on this project and verify they are U.S. persons as noted in the contract.

3. DFARS and ITAR as it relates to procurement of products for the DoD