RFP PIA Partnership Intermediary Agreement_Nov2023.pdf

DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE

AIR FORCE RESEARCH LABORATORY (AFRL)

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, FLORIDA

08 December 2023

Misti DeShields Contracting Officer

AFRL/RWKM

203 W. Eglin Blvd., Building 300 Eglin AFB FL 32542

To whom it concerns, I. General Information:

1. The Department of Defense (DoD) Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) at Eglin AFB Florida, is soliciting proposals for a new Science, Innovation & Technology Partnership Intermediary Agreement (PIA) FA8651-24-3-0001. NOTE: This is a resolicitation of the previously posted FA8651-23-3-0001 RFP (which closed with no successful offerors) and is posting with an updated number hereforward referred to as FA8651-24-3-0001. The Government anticipates that this award will be made under the authority 10 U.S.C. 4124 and 15 U.S.C. 3715. Awards made under this RFP will fall under the purview of 2 CFR Part 200. The Government anticipates award as a cost type agreement with Partnership Intermediary (PI) reimbursed for allowable costs accrued. The AFRL is seeking a PIA with an entity to focus on four key areas: Technology Transfer (T2), Innovation and Technology Transition, Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) Support, and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Outreach. The entity will primarily serve in a matchmaker capacity, and the intermediary will work to increase the likelihood of successful cooperative activities between the lab, small businesses, academia, and industry. The Government is considering awarding a PIA reflective of an Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract. The PIA will not exceed $49.9M with the “task orders” in this instance referred to as Collaborative Project Orders (CPOs). Individual CPOs may vary in size and complexity.

2. The place of performance will be the entity’s self-funded facility, with the ability to provide or rent separate collaboration or event space as needed for special events. To further clarify, any allowable/applicable facility costs shall be adequately captured in subsequent overhead rates for each base year CPO. Each special event CPO shall clearly detail the allowable/applicable facility costs for said event and shall be a one-time event cost.

3. Profit or Fee: Profit or fee is unallowable under this PIA.

4. Period of Performance (PoP): The anticipated PoP for the PIA base award is 01 April 2024 through 31 March 2029. The anticipated overall PIA CPO “ordering period” is 60 months. The overall effort is expected to be made up of numerous projects and/or programs (awarded as CPOs).

5. The Government anticipates the first CPO award (CPO #1) to be issued simultaneously with the PIA award. The objectives for the first CPO can be found in attachment 3, CPO #1 SOO.

CPO #1 is reflective of the first year (1 April 2024 – 31 March 2025) baseline requirement for the four key areas: Technology Transfer (T2), Innovation and Technology Transition, Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) Support, and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Outreach. The Government anticipates a team ranging from 3-6 total full-time equivalents to adequately support the CPO #1 effort. However, less, or more could be proposed with a fully substantiated and detailed justification. Those wishing to be considered for the PIA award must submit a proposal in response to CPO #1 for evaluation, meeting the eligibility requirements below. There is a potential for additional CPOs to be awarded separately throughout the year with each specific event identifiable via separate sequential CPOs.

6. No equipment nor Government Furnished Property (GFP) is anticipated to be provided.

II. Eligibility:

1. To be considered for evaluation, an applicant’s submission must meet the following eligibility criteria:

a. Applicant Eligibility. To be eligible to apply, the applicant must be (1) a state or local government agency; (2) a non-profit entity owned, operated, or funded in whole or in part by, or on behalf of, a state or local government per 10 USC §4124(f)(2); or (3) a non-profit entity chartered by a state or local government per 15 USC §3715(c). A non-profit entity seeking to qualify as a partnership intermediary therefore must show a nexus to a state or local government. Proof of eligibility must be submitted as a part of the proposal.

b. Sub-awardee Eligibility. The following types of domestic entities are eligible to participate as sub-awardees: Institutions of higher education; For-profit entities;

Non-profit entities; State, local and tribal governments; and Small Business enterprises. Proof of eligibility must be submitted as a part of the proposal.

c. Evidence of self-funded facility to accommodate the yearly baseline CPOs (i.e.

Offerors shall provide a formal declaration of current lease/ownership with the address and a brief facilities capabilities explanation)

d. Submit eligibility information as a separate package. Proposals will be reviewed if they are (1) received by the deadline and (2) meet the eligibility requirements as detailed above.

2. In the interest of national security of the United States, foreign participation is NOT allowed on this effort in any capacity. As such, Attachment 3 the Standard Form (SF) 328 is required to be filled out and returned to the contacts listed below.

III. Program Objectives:

1. Technology Transfer (T2): The PI shall assist AFRL/RW with all technology transfer related activities to include outreach to inventors, increasing invention disclosures, marketing and outreach to potential collaborators to increase Technology Licensing Agreements (TLAs), Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs), and Educational Partnership Agreements (EPAs) as well as outreach to connect RW with nontraditional companies and universities increasing exposure to innovative technologies of interest.

Actively promote AFRL/RW technology transfer partnership opportunities to entrepreneurs, businesses, and academic institutions.

Conduct technology and market landscape analysis and forecast studies to identify future directions for specific technologies and provide broad situational awareness regarding the origins and development of a particular technology domain or industry.

Evaluate the RW Intellectual Property (IP) patent portfolio to identify patents with the highest potential for commercial applications and research companies/markets, develop technology marketing summaries, and reach out to potential licensee companies/industries to promote T2 agreements.

Broker and facilitate license agreements, Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs), Educational Partnership Agreements (EPAs) and other technology transfer (T2) agreements between AFRL/RW and businesses and academic institutions.

2. Innovation and Technology Transition: The PI shall promote innovation by supporting AFRL engagement and collaboration with industry and academia. Additionally, the PI shall connect AFRL/RW with industry/academia to transition technologies into AFRL/RW.

Publicize and promote AFRL/RW technology innovation and supporting Technology Transfer and Transition (T3) activities through a variety of channels and forums, which may include websites, paid advertising, events, digital campaigns, social media, email, press releases, articles, videos, infographics, surveys, and other forms of communications.

Establish/manage physical and/or virtual collaboration spaces to promote RW engagement with industry and academia.

Conduct events which promote technology transition into the Air Force (e.g., demonstrations, showcases, technical challenges, industry days, design sprints, hackathons, workshops, and other similar events).

Facilitate technology transition of innovative industry and academia approaches that mature Munitions concepts and their technology/manufacturing readiness level.

3. Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) Support: The PI shall leverage the AFRL/RW SBIR/STTR Programs to achieve their mission and increase their effectiveness by supporting transition of SBIR/STTR-developed technology, leveraging Air Force technology transfer mechanisms, providing business and technical assistance to award recipients, conducting studies, and publicizing and promoting Air Force SBIR/STTR successes. Perform technology scouting to identify and recruit small businesses to the SBIR/STTR programs and support transition of Phase I, Phase II and Phase III SBIR/STTR-developed technology. Assist small businesses in navigating the SBIR/STTR process to facilitate transition of technology beyond Phase II, including the utilization of mechanisms such as Tactical Funding Increases (TACFI) or Strategic Funding Increases (STRAFI). Identify partner companies with promising previous or current SBIR Phase I’s or Phase II’s and canvas the DoD ecosystem for government users to partner with for transition to Phase III efforts. Provide assistance to SBIR technical Program Managers to transition later stage SBIR technologies into other commercial products. Conduct studies related to AFRL/RW SBIR/STTR programs, which may include the economic outcomes and impacts resulting from research and development performed with SBIR/STTR funding, best practices for achieving success in commercializing and transitioning the results of SBIR/STTR funded programs, and the feasibility of new, innovative approaches to increasing the effectiveness of the AF SBIR/STTR programs. Facilitate SBIR/STTR Pitch Days and events. Provide facility support for execution of Pitch Days and ensure all security safety measures are adhered to. Promote and publicize AFRL/RW SBIR/STTR successes through a variety of mechanisms, effectively communicating such successes to the Pentagon, Congress, industry, and the general US public.

4. Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Outreach: The Partnership Intermediary shall work with AFRL and regional/national educational entities to expose students to high-value Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) learning opportunities.

Leverage local, state, regional, and national efforts to enhance STEM programs, increasing proficiency in the fields most directly related to the AFRL mission. Identify trends in local and national K-12 STEM programming as well as compile data on student demographics to assist AFRL in designing programming that will have the maximum impact on students and families. Identify potential partnerships with local and national organizations that provide STEM programming, paying particular attention to opportunities to provide programming to underserved/underrepresented students and communities.

NOTE: Offerors are required to respond to ALL the above Program Objectives as part of the Technical Volume. However, the Offerors may propose additional programs and/or projects objectives that bolster R&D innovation, increase the maturity and market readiness of DoD relevant technologies to prepare them for transfer and commercialization that support DoD needs.

IV. CLIN Structure:

Anticipated CLIN Structure:

Year 1- 0001 – Technology Transfer (T2) 0002 –Innovation and Technology Transition 0003- Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) Support 0004 - Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Outreach

Year 2- 1001 – Technology Transfer (T2) 1002 - Innovation and Technology Transition 1003- Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) Support 1004 - Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Outreach

Year 3- 2001 – Technology Transfer (T2) 2002 - Innovation and Technology Transition 2003- Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) Support 2004 - Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Outreach

Year 4- 3001 – Technology Transfer (T2) 3002 - Innovation and Technology Transition 3003- Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) Support 3004 - Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Outreach

Year 5- 4001 – Technology Transfer (T2) 4002 - Innovation and Technology Transition 4003- Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) Support 4004 - Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Outreach

V. Required Documentation:

1. The proposal submittal must conform to the following requirements:

a. Must be submitted in Adobe PDF format unless stated otherwise.

b. All pages must be formatted to fit on 8.5 x 11-inch paper with margins not less than one inch on every side, with font not smaller than 11 point.

c. References must be included as footnotes or endnotes in a font size of 10 or larger. Footnotes and end notes are counted toward the maximum page requirement.

d. Page numbers must be included in the footer of every page; and

e. Each submission must not exceed the specified maximum page limit, including cover page, charts, graphs, maps, and photographs when printed using the formatting requirements set forth above and single spaced. If offerors exceed the maximum page lengths indicated below, AFRL will review only the authorized number of pages and disregard any additional pages.

2. Technical Volume to include: The technical volume must not exceed 30 pages, including cover page, table of contents, charts, graphs, maps, photographs, and other pictorial presentations, when printed using standard 8.5" by 11" paper with 1-inch margins (top, bottom, left, and right) [double spaced]. EVALUATORS WILL REVIEW

ONLY THE NUMBER OF PAGES SPECIFIED IN THE PRECEDING SENTENCE.

Any proposals submitted in excess of the page limits will have the excess pages removed prior to Government Technical Team evaluation. The font must not be smaller than 11 point. Do not include any Internet addresses (URLs) that provide information necessary to review the application because the information contained in these sites will NOT be reviewed. Offeror’s proposals must consist of a clear description of the strategy, technical approach and justification being proposed. Do not include proprietary or confidential information. This section should describe the relevance of the proposed effort to the goals and objectives of the RFP. EXCLUDED from the Technical Application 30 pages limit are: Statement of Work (SOW), budget justification workbook, resumes, and letters of commitment or support.

The Project (to be awarded as a CPO) Narrative or Technical Volume must include the following sections:

Section/Page Limit Description Cover Page (1 Page Maximum)

The cover page must include the following information:

• PIA Number: FA8651-24-3-0001

• Proposed Title of Application

• Identity of prime Offeror and complete list of sub-Awardees, if applicable

• Technical contact (name, address, phone, email address)

• Administrative/business contact (name, address, phone, email address)

• Proposed period of performance (identify both the base period and any options, if applicable)

• Total proposed budget (identify both the base period and any options, if applicable)

Table of Contents (2 Page Maximum)

A listing of the sections within the application, including corresponding page numbers.

Project Schedule and Milestones (2 Pages Maximum)

A summary of the schedule of events and milestones (Gantt Chart or similar). The Offeror must provide a detailed schedule for the entire proposed effort, including task and subtask durations, milestones, etc. The Offeror should provide appropriate milestones throughout the effort to demonstrate success, where success is defined as technical achievement rather than simply completing a task. Milestones shall be written as specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and timely to ensure milestones are relevant.

Overview The Project Overview must contain the following information:

• Background: The Offeror should discuss the organization’s background, including its history, successes, and current operating status (i.e., the technical baseline) relevant to the proposed effort.

• Goals and Objectives: The Offeror should explicitly identify the targeted improvements and the critical success factors in achieving these goals and objectives.

Management Plan The Offeror must detail the organization’s proposed management plan. This may include, but is not limited to:

• Number of employees for each objective, and their regular/recurring roles and responsibilities.

• The overall approach to and organization for managing the work.

• The technical and management aspects of the management plan, including systems and practices, such as financial and project management practices.

• The approach to project risk management to include:

o Financial/Cost risk and mitigation o Technical risk and mitigation

• A description of how project changes will be handled.

• How communications will be maintained among project team members.

Technical Qualifications and Resources

The Offerors must detail the organization’s daily operational plan on the proposed effort. This may include, but is not limited to:

• Where applicable, relationships and communication plan with any sub- awardees, consultants, or collaborators of the proposed effort.

• Describe the team’s unique qualifications and expertise, including those of key sub-awardees, consultants, etc.

• Describe the team’s existing equipment and facilities that will facilitate the successful completion of the proposed project; please note that this effort will NOT be supporting a facility solely for this effort and will NOT need a dedicated space for use. Facility use should only be considered after award under individual tasks for example event rentals. The place of performance will be the entity’s self-funded facility. The offeror must demonstrate the ability to provide or rent separate collaboration or event space as needed for special events.

• This section should also include relevant previous work efforts, demonstrated innovations, and how these enable the applicant to achieve the project objectives.

• Describe the time commitment of the key team members to support the project.

• For multi-organizational or multi-director projects, describe succinctly:

o Roles and work to be performed by each Project Director and Key Participant o How the various efforts will be managed.

o Publication arrangements o Intellectual Property issues o Communication plans

Regional Engagement Strategy and Implementation Plan

The Offerors must provide a regional engagement strategy with an implementation plan. The plan must include a description with all available evidence to support how the Offeror will foster a sustainable innovative and entrepreneurial environment through regional engagement. Elements of the plan may include, but are not limited to:

• Partnerships and/or working relationships with regional entities—including state and local government as well as private sector entities (including for- and non-profits).

• Access to prototyping, testing, and demonstration facilities.

• A unique value proposition and description of the applicant organization’s structural advantages in implementing the regional engagement plan (i.e., how the organization is built to be successful within a respective region).

• A description of the plan’s potential to be transferable to other innovation-accelerating organizations/regions.

• Access to non-traditional sources of innovation or plan to access it.

• A description of how the plan will yield an improvement in the organization’s offerings as a resource to local and regional entrepreneurs and innovators, and how it will boost the regional innovation ecosystem’s productivity.

• The primary risk factors the Offeror anticipates mitigating or overcoming to successfully implement the regional engagement strategy.

Statement of Work (Not part of the 30 page limit, but not exceed 10 pages)

An Offeror written SOW is required to be included with submitted proposals and shall address each of the SOO objectives. The SOW is an outline of specific aims of the proposed effort that establishes the milestones during the performance period of the award. The SOW should contain sufficient detail to be informative as a standalone document. The SOW must not include any proprietary information. The SOW should fully describe the work to be accomplished and how the Offeror will achieve the milestones, will accomplish the final project goal(s), and will produce all deliverables. It is the Offeror’s responsibility to prepare an adequately detailed task plan to describe the proposed effort and the plan for addressing the objectives of this RFP.

Appendix 1 – Resume File (Not part of the 30 Page Limit)

Provide a resume for all personnel having a major role, to include sub-awardees if they meet the definition of major role. A major role is any individual who contributes in a substantive, measurable way to the execution of the proposed efforts (i.e. manager or lead for an objective). The biographical information for each resume must not exceed 2 pages when printed on 8.5" by 11" paper with 1-inch margins (top, bottom, left, and right) [double spaced] with font no smaller than 11 point and should include the following information, if applicable:

• Education and Training. Undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral training; provide institution, major/area of study, degree, and year.

• Professional Experience. Beginning with the current position list, in chronological order, professional and academic positions with a brief description of duties and accomplishments.

• Provide the Resume File as an appendix to the Technical Volume. Do not attach as a separate file.

3. The Cost Volume must include the following:

All applicable cost detail to include but not limited to direct rates, indirect rates, fringe, overhead, travel, material, etc. The spreadsheet shall include all formulas and shall NOT be locked. If applicable, please provide any negotiated direct or indirect rates and any system approvals. NOTE: This applies to subawards as well. (See 2 CFR 200.414 for detailed information).

4. Deliverables/Reports: At a minimum, Offerors shall acknowledge that the following deliverables and/or Reports will be required. PI Microsoft Office format for reports is acceptable:

a. Kick Off Meeting Reports and associated data

b. Telecons to discuss projects/issues/concerns

c. Financial Status Report

d. Financial Progress Reports

e. Technical Progress Report

f. Partnership Activity Report

g. Outreach/Marketing Report

h. Tech Transfer/Tech Transition Activity Report

i. Analytics Activity Report

j. STEM Report

k. Program Management Review

l. Audit Reports- If an Institution of Higher Education, non-profit organization, or state/local government is a Prime Awardee or sub-awardee and has expended $750,000 or more of Federal funds during the non-Federal entity's fiscal year, then a single or program-specific audit is required. For additional information, please refer to 2 C.F.R. § 200.501 and Subpart F- Audit Requirements. If a for-profit entity is a Prime Awardee or sub-awardee and has expended $750,000 or more of Federal funds during the entity's fiscal year, an annual compliance audit performed by an independent auditor is required. For additional information, please refer to 2 C.F.R. § 1103 and Subpart F-Audit Requirements.

5. Merit Review Criteria: All applications passing the initial review for eligibility will be evaluated against the merit review criteria shown below. All criteria listed below are of equal importance.

a. Criterion 1: Technical Merit and Impact

b. Criterion 2: Program and Implementation Approach

c. Criterion 3: Organizational Team and Resources

d. Criterion 4: Cost Proposal (evaluated for reasonableness and will be assigned a rating of reasonable or unreasonable)

6. Rating Description: To assist in assigning an appropriate rating, the following ratings will be used as a guideline (Rating Descriptive Statement) for Criterion 1-3 above:

a. Successful: Offeror fully addresses all aspects of each criteria, convincingly demonstrating a likelihood of meeting the Government's requirements.

b. Not Successful: Offeror does not address all aspects of the criterion nor is evidence presented indicating the likelihood of successfully meeting the Government's requirements.

NOTE: Only proposals rated successful on all three criteria in addition to the cost proposal being found reasonable may be considered for award, subject to the availability of funds.

7. Submission Dates and Times: Proposals may be submitted any time from the RFP issue date, until the final submission deadline; proposals will be evaluated as they are received.

Submission Deadline for proposals is no later than January 19, 2024 4:00 PM CST.

Proposals received after the submission deadline for proposals will be deemed late and will not be accepted for review. Offerors are encouraged to transmit applications well before the deadline and confirm they were received.

8. Funding: The Government provides no funding for direct reimbursement of application development costs. Technical applications and budgets (or any other material) submitted in response to this RFP will not be returned. This RFP is intended for offerors that provide strategic solutions and that meet the evaluation criteria specified in this RFP. The Government reserves the right to cancel this notice, either before or after the closing date.

In the event the Government cancels this solicitation, or an awardee is not selected, the Government is under no obligation to pay for any costs associated with preparing or submitting an application to this RFP.

VI. Point of Contact:

1. Please submit the proposal by January 19, 2024, at 4:00 PM CST. Direct any questions to Misti DeShields at misti.deshields.1@us.af.mil.

Misti DeShields Contracting Officer

Attachments:

1. Statement of Objectives (SOO) PIA Overarching

2. Statement of Objectives (SOO) CPO #1

3. SF 328 Certificate Pertaining to Foreign Interests

4. DD254

5. DRAFT PIA Award Articles (Terms and Conditions)