20100719 Santitized - BAA SMC-032 Questions and Answers Round 2.docx

BAA Questions and Answers – Round 2 III. Technical Questions

Question: Please clarify will the government exclude items not yet available in the commercial marketplace.

Answer: An item not yet available in the commercial marketplace can be considered a commercial item in the context of this BAA, as long as:

1. The commercial item will be available in the commercial marketplace on or before the date that the modified commercial item is delivered to the Government. At the time of contract award, the commercial item should be at a minimum TRL 6, and TRL 9 at the time that the modified commercial item is delivered to the Government.

2. The commercial item being considered is not a completely new application, but has heritage to a prior commercial item. In this context, the heritage commercial item should be at TRL 9, and the commercial item being considered incorporating performance and/or technology advancements.

All proposals will be evaluated against the criteria in the BAA.

TRL 6 is defined as: System/subsystem model or prototype demonstration in a relevant environment

TRL 9 is defined as: Actual system 'flight proven' through successful mission operations.