SP4701-26-B-0001 MUST III BAA 002.pdf

AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT 1

1. CONTRACT ID CODE

I

PA

E OF PAGES

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4. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQUISITION NUMBER

5. PROJECT NUMBER (If applicable) 2. AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION

6. ISSUED BY CODE

3. EFFECTIVE DA TE

12/19/2025 SP4701 7. ADMINISTERED BY (If other than Item 6) CODE I

DLA Contracting Services Office - Philadelphia

700 Robbins Ave. Same as Block 6

Philadelphia, PA 19111

Attn: R&D CONTRACTING TEAM

8. NAME AND ADDRESS OF CONTRACTOR (Number, street, county, State and ZIP Code) (X) 9A. AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION NUMBER

9B. DATED ITEM 11)

10A. MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT/ORDER NUMBE

10B. DATED (SEE ITEM 13)

CODE I FACILITY CODE

11. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO AMENDMENTS OF SOLICITATIONS

D The above numbered solicitation is amended as set forth in Item 14. The hour and date specified for receipt of Offers D is extended. � is not extended.

Offers must acknowledge receipt of this amendment prior to the hour and date specified in the solicitation or as amended, by one of the following methods:

(a) By completing items 8 and 15, and returning _____ copies of the amendment; (b) By acknowledging receipt of this amendment on each copy of the offer submitted;

or (c) By separate letter or electronic communication which includes a reference to the solicitation and amendment numbers. FAILURE OF YOUR ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO BE RECEIVED AT THE PLACE DESIGNATED FOR THE RECEIPT OF OFFERS PRIOR TO THE HOUR AND DATE SPECIFIED MAY RESULT IN REJECTION OF YOUR OFFER. If by virtue of this amendment you desire to change an offer already submitted, such change may be made by letter or electronic communication, provided each letter or electronic communication makes reference to the solicitation and this amendment, and is received prior to the opening hour and date specified.

12. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA (If required)

13. THIS ITEM APPLIES ONLY TO MODIFICATIONS OF CONTRACTS/ORDERS.

IT MODIFIES THE CONTRACT/ORDER NUMBER AS DESCRIBED IN ITEM 14.

CHECK ONE A. THIS CHANGE ORDER IS ISSUED PURSUANT TO: (Specify authority) THE CHANGES SET FORTH IN ITEM 14 ARE MADE IN THE CONTRACT ORDER

NUMBER IN ITEM 10A.

B. THE ABOVE NUMBERED CONTRACT/ORDER IS MODIFIED TO REFLECT THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES (such as changes in paying office, appropriation data, etc.) SET FORTH IN ITEM 14, PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY OF FAR 43.103(b ).

C. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT IS ENTERED INTO PURSUANT TO AUTHORITY OF:

D. OTHER (Specify type of modification and authority)

E. IMPORTANT: Contractor D is not D is required to sign this document and return ____ _ copies to the issuing office.

14. DESCRIPTION OF AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION (Organized by UCF section headings, including solicitation/contract subject matter where feasible.)

Please see following pages.

Except as provided herein, all terms and conditions of the document referenced in Item 9A or 1 0A, as heretofore changed, remains unchanged and in full force and effect.

15A. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER (Type or print) 16A. NAME AND TITLE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (Type or print)

15B. CONTRACTOR/OFFEROR 15C. DATE SIGNED 16B. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 16C. DATE SIGNED

(Signature of person authorized to sign) (Signature of Contracting Officer)

R

Previous edition unusable STANDARD FORM 30 (REV. 11/2016) Prescribed by GSA FAR (48 CFR) 53.243

SP4701-26-B-0001

12/02/2025 paa3817 Cross-Out

MUST III Research & Development (R&D) Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) SP4701-26-B-0001, Amendment 002

MUST III Research & Development (R&D) Broad Agency Announcement (BAA), SP4701-26- B-0001, dated December 2, 2025, is hereby Amended as follows:

1. Introduction (Page 4)

INSERT: The initial closing date for receipt of short-term projects has been extended to January 30, 2026.

2. Section 1: General Information (Page 5)

INSERT: There will be one overall working group to synchronize the efforts in the three technical areas of interest, but sub-groups may also be required to coordinate efforts within a technical area.

3. Section 4: Program Information (Page 7)

INSERT: The three technical areas of interest are of equal priority.

4. Section 4: Program Information (Page 8)

INSERT: The primary metric reflects the percentage of surge and sustainment (S&S) items that are “covered” through inventory, contracted coverage, or industrial base capacity (market ready items or products readily available in the commercial market). (Source:

DLAM 5025.12 Sec 1, para c.)

5. Section 4: Program Information (Page 10)

INSERT: Prototypes should be ready for implementation within two years or less.

6. Section 6: Proposal Instructions (Page 14)

INSERT: Bibliography with links to relevant papers, references, reports, resumes of key team members, etc.

MUST III Research & Development (R&D) Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) SP4701-26-B-0001, Amendment 002

7. Section 6: Proposal Instructions (Page 21)

INSERT: Tables may be modified to include burdens not currently listed within the table, full rate algorithms, and calculations.

8. Attachment A contains a list of questions, received prior to the December 15, 2025 deadline (Amendment 001), and the Governments response.

9. Attachment B contains the revised MUST III BAA which incorporates any changes resulting from the questions and responses in Attachment A. Changes to the MUST III BAA are also listed in Numbers 1. – 7. Above.

10. All other terms and conditions remain unchanged.

ATTACHMENT A: BAA QUESTIONS AND RESPONSES

Question File Section Question Government Response Response from:

1 MUST

III BAA

FINAL

Section 2: Background, Page 6 Is there a defined lower or upper limit for the total budget?

There is no defined lower limit for the total budget; however, per page 6 of the BAA, a total Government investment not to exceed $50 million for 5 years is planned during Fiscal Years 2026-2030. This investment will be used to fund all contracts and projects.

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Section 1: General Information, Page 5 For the cost proposal, should the budget for each option period be broken down by month, or is a breakdown required only for the base period?

Cost and technical proposals submitted under this BAA for IDIQ consideration shall describe a potential Short Term Project (STP) that aligns with one of the MUST III Technical Areas of Interest as outlined in Section 3. The Cost proposal is based on the STP, not a 5-year IDIQ contract. Proposals should focus specifically on the STP and not a potential IDIQ.

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Section 4: Program Information, Page 7

In response to the working group IDIQ BAA, does DLA expect offerors to submit an STP for multiple technical areas or focus on one specific technical area?

It is up to the offeror to submit a STP for either multiple technical areas or one specific technical area.

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Section 4: Program Information, Page 7 If offerors are only able to submit against one technical area, does DLA consider all three technical areas of equal priority?

It is up to the offeror to submit a STP for either multiple technical areas or one specific technical area. The priority of the three technical areas of interest has been updated in Section 4: Program Information within the MUST III BAA FINAL.

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Section 1: General Information, Page 5

Regarding working group activities, will there only be one working group or will there be a separate working group for each technical area?

Working Group has been updated in Section 1: General Information of the MUST III BAA FINAL document.

PMO

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Section 5: General Proposal Submission Information, Page 10

Please confirm, vendors awarded an IDIQ contract and participating in working group activities would not restrict that vendor from pursuing future MUST-III BAA opportunities due to possible OCI conflicts?

The Government does not anticipate any restrictions on Working Group awardees pursuing future BAA opportunities.

PMO

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Section 4: Program Information, Page 8

What standards or frameworks does DLA require for interoperability of digital twins and PLM systems (e.g., STEP AP242, MIL-STD)?

The DLA does not have its own formal, agency-specific technical standard or framework for digital twin or PLM systems. Instead, its digital modernization efforts align with broader DoD Digital Engineering Strategy principles, DoDAF enterprise architecture requirements, and widely used industry PLM standards such as ISO 10303 (STEP/PLCS). DLA is actively exploring digital twins through R&D initiatives—such as cyber-digital twins and process digital twins—and its Digital Strategy emphasizes using modern data, modeling, and engineering tools, but none of these pilots constitute an authoritative PLM or digital twin framework. In practice, anyone integrating digital twin or PLM capabilities with DLA must follow DoD-wide digital engineering guidance and general PLM interoperability standards rather than any DLA-unique system specification.

PMO

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Section 6: Proposal Instructions, Page 17

Will GOV cloud-based PLM/Supply Chain solutions be acceptable, and what FedRAMP level or cybersecurity certifications are mandatory?

GOVcloud based solutions are acceptable. The FEDRAMP level is moderate. Cybersecurity requirements are specified in the relevant contract clauses of the base contract.

PMO

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Section 4: Program Information, Page 8 How does DLA define ‘surge readiness,’ and what

KPIs will be used to measure success?

Surge readiness is defined in Section 4: Program Information, Page 8, of the MUST III BAA FINAL document.

PMO

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Section 4: Program Information, Page 8

Are predictive analytics and AI-driven demand-supply forecasting and inventory optimization considered critical capabilities for supply chain resilience?

Predictive analytics and AI-driven demand-supply forecasting and inventory optimization are only two of several critical capabilities required for supply chain resilience.

PMO

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How long after the January 16 submission deadline does DLA anticipate awarding IDIQ contracts to selected vendors? Is there an anticipated ceiling per task order?

The expected time from closure to award is 120 days. The Task Order Ceiling depends on the individual projects that are submitted.

PMO

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Section 1: General Information, Page 6 Are cost-sharing arrangements encouraged or required for certain technical areas?

Cost sharing is encouraged but not a specific required. PMO

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Section 4: Program Information, Page 10 What is the desired timeline for transitioning successful prototypes into production environments?

Project Transition was updated in Section 4: Program Information on page 10 of the MUST III BAA FINAL document.

PMO

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Section 4: Program Information, Page 7 If available, will DLA provide access to military clothing and textile facilities for pilot demonstrations?

The DLA does not have clothing and textile facilities for pilot demonstrations. Offerors must make arrangements with other entities for pilot demonstrations.

PMO

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Section 4: Program Information, Page 7 Are there specific priorities for wearable tech (e.g., sensors, smart fabrics) or automated production systems?

No, there are no specific priorities at this time. PMO

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Section 11: Clauses, Page 29 How will intellectual property rights be handled for digital models and PLM data created under MUST-III?

See page 29 and 30 of the MUST III BAA FINAL document for list of Intellectual Propoerty and Data Rights clauses.

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Section 5: General Proposal Submission Information, Page 11

Will DLA facilitate introductions to prime contractors or other vendors for teaming opportunities?

No, offerors are expected to make arragements with prime contractors or other relevant vendors.

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Section 1: General Information, Page 5

We are reviewing the recently released MUST-III BAA, #SP4701-26-B-0001, and would like to confirm whether a full technical and cost proposal is required for the initial submission (due 1/16/26) or if we only need to submit a whitepaper for this initial proposal submission.

Per Section 1: General Information, Page 5 "During the initial BAA response period (45-day window), vendors must submit full cost & technical proposals (omitting the White Paper submission) in order to be considered for an Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract (see Section 6: Proposal Instructions)."

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Page 4 Will the government confirm that the 45-day IDIQ response window is in calendar days, resulting in a submission deadline of Friday, January 16th?

The Initial Closing Date for receipt of Short Term Projects has been extended to January 30, 2026 on page 4 of the MUST III BAA FINAL document.

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Section 6: Proposal Instructions, Page 17

Will the government confirm that the bibliography provided for the IDIQ response is considered outside of the 20-page limit?

Bibliographies with links to relevant papers, references, reports, resumes of key team members, etc and certifications for technical data and computer software has been updated in Section 6: Proposal Instructions of the MUST III BAA FINAL document.

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Section 1: General Information; Page 5

Section 1, page 5 says, “An optional CLIN will be included in resulting task orders or contract awards for working group activities, including travel.”

Should cost and technical proposals include activities

Cost proposals should not include activites related to the optional CLIN for working group participation because CLIN 0002 CLIN for Working Group Activities is awarded as a separtae Task Order under the IDIQ contract for each period of performance within the IDIQ contract.

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related to this optional CLIN for working group participation?

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Section 6: Proposal Instructions, Page 14

Section 6, page 14, says, "Resumes and certifications for technical data and computer software will not be counted as part of the 20-page limit." This is the only mention of resumes in the BAA. Are resumes a requirement? If resumes are a requirement, will the government provide instructions for submittal and evaluation criteria?

Bibliographies with links to relevant papers, references, reports, resumes of key team members, etc and certifications for technical data and computer software has been updated in Section 6: Proposal Instructions of the MUST III BAA FINAL document.

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Section 7: Evaluation Criteria for Awards:

Section 7, page 23. Within the "Evaluation Rating Scheme," the first three factors (Feasibility, Viability, and Desirability) each have criteria for Highly Acceptable, Acceptable, and Not Acceptable. Factor 4 (Past Performance, Capabilities, and Related Experience) only has criteria for Acceptable, Not Acceptable, and Neutral. Does Factor 4 also have criteria for Highly Acceptable?

Factor 4 - Paster Performance, Capabilities, and Related Experience has three (3) ratings: Acceptable, Not Acceptable, and Neutral.

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Section 6: Proposal Instructions, Page 17 and Page 22

On page 17 part 4, the RFP says, “Offerors must identify no more than five contracts” however page 22, Factor 4, says “Five (5) accounts/contracts/projects within the last (3) three years ...”, which reads as if exactly five past performance are required. Can the government confirm that the past performance requirement is “up to 5 contracts” instead of exactly five?

Five (5) contracts are required and no more than five (5) should be submitted.

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Section 6: Proposal Instructions; Cost Realism analysis; a.

Labor Mix and Indirect Costs, Page 21

On page 21, the RFP says, “Cost proposals shall include the following summary tables.” Can those tables be modified to include burdens not currently listed in the table?

Instructions regarding burdens not currently like in the tables on page 21 of the MUST III BAA FINAL document have been updated in Section 6: Proposal Instructions of the BAA.

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DLA MUST II included a $15K partner stipend. Will there be a similar partner stipend for MUST III? If not, will travel be billed as cost reimbursable inclusive of G&A?

A Working Group stipend, if any, will be determined at the time of award.

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Section 6: Proposal Instructions, Page 17

The BAA does not mention a requirement for an Excel model as part of the Cost Proposal submission. Will DLA allow offerors to include an Excel pricing model as part of their submissions?

The MUST III BAA does not require an excel model as part of the Cost Proposal Submission; however, offerors may submit part of their Cost Proposal in an Excel Spreadsheet in addition to the required Cost Proposal Format starting on Page 18 of the BAA document.

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Section 6: Proposal Instructions, Page 21

Page 21 of the BAA shows summary tables to be included in the Cost Proposal. Will DLA allow offerors to expand this table to accommodate their full rate algorithms and calculations?

Instructions regarding full rate algorithms and calculations within the summary tables on page 21 of the MUST III BAA FINAL document have been updated in Section 6: Proposal Instructions of the BAA.

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Section 5: Gerneral Proposal Submission Information, Page 11

The BAA does not state an anticipated award or contract start date. To ensure offerors can supply accurate cost estimates in their responses, will DLA provide an anticipated award or contract start date?

The BAA does not state an anticipated award or contract start date due to the availability of funding at the time of award. Per page 12 of the MUST III BAA FINAL document, "Proposal prices and all other terms and conditions must remain valid for 180 days from the submission date of the technical proposal."

ATTACHMENT B

Military Unique Sustainment Technology III (MUST-III)

Broad Agency Announcement

SP4701-26-B-0001

BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT

Research and Development

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION …………………………………………….……….…….…..……..…..4

SECTION 1: General Information ...……………………….………….….……………… 4

SECTION 2: Background ..…………….………….…………………….……..….……

SECTION 3: SCOPE ………………………..………………………….……..…….…….. 7

SECTION 4: PROGRAM INFORMATION……………..…………………….…..…….. 7

Technical Areas of Interest………………………………………………………….7

Working Group Activities………………………………………………………….9

Meetings…………………………………………………………………………….9

Projects……………………………………………………………………………...9

Project Transition………………………………………………………………….9

SECTION 5: GENERAL PROPOSAL SUBMISSION INFORMATION………………10

IDIQ/Working Group…..…………………………………………………………...11

All other proposals…………………………………………………………………..11

SECTION 6: PROPOSAL INSTRUCTIONS………..……………………………….… 13

TECHNICAL AND COST PROPOSAL FORMATS……………………………13

Volume I – Technical Proposals:…………………………………………………………..13

Proprietary Markings……………………………………………………………...15

Part 1: Proposal Cover Sheet…………………………...……………………………. 16

Part 2: Executive Summary……………………………………………………………16

Part 3: Feasibility, Viability, and Desirability…………………………………………16

Part 4: Past Performance, Capabilities, and Related Experience……………………17

Volume II – Cost/Price Proposal:……………………………………………………….…17

Cost Proposal Format……………………………………………………………………

Part 1 – Overview………………………………………………………………………...18 Part 2 – Certified Cost or Pricing Data and Data Other Than Certified Cost or

Pricing Data…………………………………………………………………19 Part 3 – Work Breakdown Structure………………………………………………… Part 4 – Proposal Adequacy Checklist regarding Cost and Pricing Information…….20

Cost Realism Analysis……………………………………………………………………….20

SECTION 7: Evaluation Criteria for Awards …………………………………………….21 Factor #1: Feasibility (Overall Scientific and Technical Merit)…………………..22 Factor #2: Viability………………………………………………………………….22 Factor #3: Desirability………………………………………………………………22 Factor #4: Past Performance, Capabilities, and Related Experience…………….22 Factor #5: Cost and Price…………………………………………………………...23

Evaluation Rating Scheme…………………………………………………………………..23

SECTION 8: AWARD DECISION………………………………………………………

SECTION 9: WHITE PAPER INSTRUCTIONS AND FORMAT (this pertains to the White Papers to be received after BAA reopening)…………………………………27

WHITE PAPER DEBRIEFS…………………………………………………………………28

SECTION 10: PREPROPOSAL INFORMATION…………………………………………28

SECTION 11: CLAUSES……………………………………………………………………..29

SECTION 12: ATTACHMENTS…………………………………………………………….59

ATTACHMENT A: WHITE PAPER TEMPLATE………………………………..59

ATTACHMENT B: SMALL BUSINESS SUBCONTRACTING PLAN………….62

ATTACHMENT C: PROPOSAL ADEQUACY CHECKLIST……………………64

PART: U.S. Government Procurements

SUBPART: Services

OFFICE ADDRESS:

DLA Contract Service Office – Philadelphia Attn: Andrea Nicolucci, Bldg. 6, Station 6D413 700 Robbins Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19111-5092

CLASS CODE: A--Research and Development

SUBJECT: A-- Military Unique Sustainment Technology III

POSTING DATE: 12/2/2025

INITIAL CLOSING DATE FOR RECEIPT OF SHORT TERM PROJECTS: (45 DAYS) BAA

will re-open afterwards for receipt of White Papers. The initial closing date for receipt of short-term projects has been extended to January 30, 2026.

NAICS CODE: 541715 -- Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)

SET ASIDES: N/A

SOL: SP4701-26-B-0001

POINT OF CONTACT (POC): Andrea Nicolucci, Sara Cepeda, Alexandra Bocito

CONTACT INFORMATION : Email Andrea.Nicolucci@dla.mil; Phone: 215-737-2698 ;

Sara.Cepeda@dla.mil, Alexandra.Bocito@dla.mil & DCSO-P R&D Mail box RandD.DCSO@dla.mil

SECTION 1: GENERAL INFORMATION

mailto:Andrea.Nicolucci@dla.mil mailto:Sara.Cepeda@dla.mil mailto:Alexandra.Bocito@dla.mil mailto:RandD.DCSO@dla.mil

This notice constitutes a combined synopsis and Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) for the acquisition of research and development (R&D) in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation 35.016, “Broad agency announcement,” as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. No other solicitation will be issued. Only the information provided in this notice is available. Requests for other forms of solicitation shall be disregarded.

The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) seeks interested parties to become partners in the Military Unique Sustainment Technology III program (herein referred to as MUST III). MUST III is a DLA sponsored Department of Defense (DoD) Manufacturing Technology Program.

The commercial clothing and textile industry is experiencing a period of unprecedented transformation, driven by rapid fashion cycles, the authority of digital design and data, and the implementation of Industry 4.0 and 5.0 technologies. To effectively and affordably meet its evolving needs, the Department of Defense (DOD) must explore how to leverage these advancements across design, engineering, and manufacturing. Specifically, the DOD needs to adopt commercial manufacturing technologies that are agile and digitally driven, as Advanced Clothing and Individual Equipment (CIE) and other textile-based applications increasingly rely on modern, digital technical data to enable efficient and effective manufacturing. By embracing these shifts, the DOD can achieve rapid prototyping, scalable production, and cost-effective solutions that keep pace with operational requirements.

The DLA Research and Development (R&D) Program Office is seeking efforts that support any of the MUST III Technical Areas of Interest outlined in the scope of this BAA (see Section 3: Scope).

This BAA will remain open for five (5) years and will have a one-time initial closing date for receipt of cost & technical proposals for IDIQ consideration under Short Term Projects (45 days after initial posting).

Please note that Cost and technical proposals shall be submitted separately. After the initial 45-day period the BAA will temporarily close, for evaluation of cost & technical proposals received.

During the initial BAA response period (45-day window), vendors must submit full cost & technical proposals (omitting the White Paper submission) in order to be considered for an Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract (see Section 6: Proposal Instructions). Cost and technical proposals submitted under this BAA for IDIQ consideration shall describe a potential Short Term Project (STP) that aligns with one of the MUST III Technical Areas of Interest as outlined in Section 3. Initial offerors are encouraged to propose innovative solutions, highlighting any relevant DLA/DoD acquisition lifecycle experience. Consideration will be given to all approaches that enable improved processes aligning with both DoD and DLA Strategic Initiatives. Only selected Offerors will be awarded an IDIQ contract under the initial BAA.

Although initial projects proposed in response to this BAA may result in the award of an IDIQ, a task order to execute the initial STP may or may not be issued. Each vendor who receives an IDIQ contract will, if found eligible, be part of a working group whose purpose is to collaborate with the Program office, relevant DLA stakeholders and/or other vendors to identify problems and achieve improvements with measurable results in the business processes that support the MUST III program. There will be one overall working group to synchronize the efforts in the three technical areas of interest, but sub-groups may also be required to coordinate efforts within a technical area. An optional CLIN will be included in resulting task orders or contract awards for working group activities, including travel.

After evaluation of initial proposals, the BAA window will re-open. At that time, the government intends to accept White Papers from potential vendors who did not receive an IDIQ contract in the initial round.

Vendors may suggest ideas for projects by submitting a White Paper, an abbreviated document (limited to 6 pages) in which a submitter shall describe a technical R&D concept (see Section 5: White Paper Instructions and Format). Successful White Papers will identify problems and present achievable Short Term Proposals with measurable results in support of the MUST III program. White Papers will only be accepted after the BAA is reopened. Offerors should check the SAM.gov website for the current status of the BAA. If such a technical concept is deemed by the Government to be of interest, the Government may request a full cost and technical proposal (see Section 6: Proposal Instructions).

The Government reserves the right to select all, some, or none of the submitted proposals for award. The primary basis for selecting proposals for acceptance will be technical merit, relevance to agency programs, and fund availability. Cost realism and reasonableness will also be considered.

Contract Type

The Government intends to award cost-type working group IDIQ contracts under this BAA and cost-type definitive contracts for vendors who are not awarded IDIQs. Cost-type contracts include cost-reimbursement (FAR 16.302), Cost-sharing (FAR 16.303), or cost-plus fixed fee (FAR 16.306). The Government reserves the right to award another type of contract at its sole discretion. Once proposal evaluations are completed, each offeror will be notified if the Government selected their proposal for award.

IDIQ (Working Group) contracts awarded from this BAA will be for a one-year base period and four one-year option periods. These contracts will include three Contract Line Items (CLINs); the first, Short Term Projects (STPs) and third CLINs (Transition, Interim Operational Test, and Evaluation) are optional and will only be utilized on a case-by-case basis:

CLIN 0001 Optional CLIN for Short Term Projects (STPs)

CLIN 0002 CLIN for Working Group Activities

CLIN 0003 Optional CLIN for Transition, Interim Operations, Test, and Evaluation

SECTION 2: BACKGROUND

Building on the success of MUST I and MUST II, the new MUST III program seeks to expand the community of practice and deliver even greater impact through innovation in digital manufacturing, data interoperability, and domestic industrial base resilience.

The MUST III mission will be accomplished through sharply focused STPs, typically ranging from three months to 24 months in duration, that will be executed by the IDIQ awardees and by other contractors selected for individual STPs.

The intent of utilizing IDIQ Contracts is to create a working group between DLA and applicable contractors with a primary focus on identifying DLA Class II acquisition lifecycle problems and developing solutions that would have measurable results. Subject to availability of funds, a total Government investment not to exceed $50 million for 5 years is planned during Fiscal Years 2026-2030.

This investment will be used to fund all contracts and projects.

SECTION 3: SCOPE

As a Combat Support Agency, DLA’s mission is to provide world-class logistics support to the Warfighter. MUST III will conduct advanced technology development projects focused on the Class II supply chain capability, capacity, and efficiency across the acquisition lifecycle.

Identified Technical Areas of Interest include, but are not limited to:

1) Digital as an authoritative source

2) Supply chain resilience in clothing and individual equipment

3) Innovation in clothing and individual equipment

Additional details regarding the three (3) Technical Areas of Interest are included in Section 4.

It is DLA’s intention that the items as stated above are intended to be amended as needed to add, modify, or delete Technical Areas of Interest.

The process for obtaining an award under this BAA consists of three steps:

• STEP I: Submission of White Paper (See instructions below).

• STEP II: Submission of a technical proposal, only if requested by the DLA Contracting Officer

• STEP III: Submission of a cost proposal, only if requested by the DLA Contracting Officer either concurrently, or after submission of a technical proposal

Interested parties shall submit an initial summary of their plan, referred to as a “White Paper,” describing a specific project related to a Technical Areas of Interest as described above.

If a White Paper is of sufficient interest to the Government, DLA may request technical and cost proposals.

SECTION 4: PROGRAM INFORMATION

Technical Areas of Interest

As noted above, MUST III’s research concentrates on three (3) specific Technical Areas of Interest. The program’s goal is to work closely with DLA’s subject matter experts to improve Class II acquisition lifecycle operations by applying industry best practices (e.g., Digital Engineering, Industry 4.0, Industry 5.0, etc.) and cutting-edge technologies (e.g. artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotic process automation, blockchain, etc.) The three technical areas of interest are of equal priority. Please see below for more detailed information on the Technical Areas of Interest of the program:

1) Digital as an authoritative source: Establishing a single, trusted digital version of clothing and individual equipment specifications, manufacturing data, and sourcing details to reduce errors, increase speed, and enable automation throughout the supply chain.

o This includes transitioning from traditional technical documents to digital data as the primary source of truth, ensuring all design, sourcing, and production information is timely, accurate consistent, accessible, and secure.

o Emphasis should be placed on integrating model-based systems engineering, digital twins, and digital thread technologies. This transformation should rely on IT architectures that support interoperability, cybersecurity, and protection of intellectual property.

o Advanced technologies such as augmented reality, AI, and machine learning could be utilized to bridge business and technical workflows, enhancing accuracy and operational efficiency.

o Establishing secure, “time of need” information sharing capability e.g. Application Program Interfaces to enable distribution of technical data over the product lifecycle.

2) Supply chain resilience in clothing and individual equipment: Developing and demonstrating adaptive manufacturing capabilities and buffer strategies—like material stockpiles or alternate sourcing—that help the industry continue operating during surge requirements, large-scale conflicts, disasters, or disruptions.

o Research in this area could focus on mapping supply chains, identifying critical bottlenecks, or developing models to simulate and respond to various disruptions. Tools like digital twin simulations of the supply chain and predictive analytics could be utilized to proactively address labor shortages, material delays, and capacity issues.

o Researchers might also examine how to incorporate surge readiness, excess capacity strategies, and prepositioned material stockpiles to ensure stability in times of crisis.

The primary metric reflects the percentage of surge and sustainment (S&S) items that are “covered” through inventory, contracted coverage, or industrial base capacity (market ready items or products readily available in the commercial market). (Source: DLAM 5025.12 Sec 1, para c.)

o Supplier categorization using digital platforms could support diversified sourcing and highlight alternative production pathways when traditional channels are compromised.

o Develop capabilities to manufacture for low-volume or “made to measure” items, cost effectively with the very short lead-time needed to meet mission requirements (e.g. training goals).

3) Innovation in clothing and individual equipment: Encouraging research and development in novel materials, garment designs, and production methods (e.g. 3D knitting, advanced wearables, automated sewing) to enhance the performance, comfort, and scalability of military clothing and individual equipment.

o Efforts should prioritize interfacing and coordinating with the Military Services on the development of cutting-edge textile technologies, next-generation uniform systems. This includes advanced manufacturing techniques. containerized and point-of-need manufacturing capabilities that allow rapid setup and deployment in remote or austere environments.

o Research to encourage exploration into wearable technologies, self-healing fabrics, and automated production techniques such as 3D knitting and robotics. Digital representations of product lifecycles and materials performance, paired with a workforce trained in AI and digital tools, will ensure that new capabilities are both scalable and resilient.

Each contractor awarded an IDIQ will execute any R&D projects awarded to them in accordance with the Statement of Work included in each task order. During the execution of each STP, the Government PM and their PM Support Team will manage all aspects of planning, execution and reporting of the overall project portfolio, with particular attention to cost, schedule and deliverables. Each individual project will be managed by the contractor who executes that project, while the PM and PM Support Team will perform all coordination and management across projects.

Working Group Activities

The period of performance for each IDIQ contract is intended to be 5 years, structured as a 1-year base period and four 1-year option periods. However, individual IDIQ time periods may vary. Each IDIQ will include a CLIN for Working Group Activities (CLIN 0002); task orders issued against this CLIN will provide funding for authorized travel (as deemed necessary) and related costs to attend and actively participate in MUST meetings and other Government sponsored meetings as coordinated by the MUST Program Office. Each IDIQ awardee will be selected to bring specific technical expertise that lends itself to significant improvements to DLA processes. The purpose of IDIQ contracts is to allow DLA to identify and address a wide range of candidate technologies and business practice innovations. A specialized Statement of Work (SOW) for Working Group Activities will be included in resulting task orders.

Meetings

Each awarded working group vendor will meet multiple times a year, as scheduled by the MUST III Program Office, to collaboratively support the Program Office’s efforts to identify problems and achievable improvements with measurable results in the business processes that support objectives.

Projects

Contractors awarded IDIQ contracts will not be compensated for developing White Papers or proposals for Short Term Projects. MUST III STPs awarded to IDIQ holders will be separate task orders issued under the base IDIQ contract. Task Orders issued against resultant IDIQs will outline tasks to be performed and applicable deliverables; tasks will only be utilized in support of established research projects. All proposals submitted for a STP are required to have a business case that specifies how success will be measured and a delineated path to implementation that addresses a specific DLA or DoD need.

Project Transition

The Research & Development (R&D) Program Management Office (PMO) may elect to transition technically successful R&D projects to the production environment by exercising the option to fund a Transition, Interim Operations, Test, and Evaluation (CLIN 0003) phase. This option decision will be made on a case-by-case basis considering contractor performance, successful demonstration of technical capability, project benefits, and alignment with DLA R&D’s objectives. Prior to making the determination to transition a project, the DLA PMO will request that the contractor submit a transition plan for review. Prototypes should be ready for implementation within two years or less.

Upon review by the PMO and Contracting Office of the transition plan, if approved, the Contracting Office will request a technical and cost proposal. At the sole discretion of the Government, Optional CLIN 0003 may be exercised based on an acceptable cost and technical proposal.

SECTION 5: GENERAL PROPOSAL SUBMISSION INFORMATION

IDIQ/Working Group:

The following proposal submission information pertains to initial proposals submitted in response to the BAA for consideration of IDIQ awards.

Offerors may submit a STP proposal for an R&D project of their choosing that they believe is suitable for execution by MUST III as a STP (to be determined by evaluation against the criteria stated below). The Government intends to award IDIQ contracts based upon evaluation of the submitted STP proposals.

Proposals shall demonstrate knowledge, experience, and expertise in the Technical Area of Interest described in Section 4. Proposals must also provide information detailing past performance that demonstrates related efforts, achievements, technological aptitude, management support skill, and potential contribution and relevance to DLA’s mission. The project proposals submitted for evaluation for an IDIQ contract award may or may not be funded as task orders under the resulting contract. Each STP proposal submitted will be evaluated separately using the evaluation criteria in Section 7. Offerors must submit full proposals in Portable Document Format (.pdf) titled “SP4701-26-B-0001” to the Contracting Officer at Andrea.Nicolucci@dla.mil, Sara.Cepeda@dla.mil, Alexandra.Bocito@dla.mil, and to the DCSO-P R&D Mailbox at RandD.DCSO@dla.mil . Instructions will be provided in the https://www.SAM.gov posting.

This is an unrestricted acquisition. All responsible sources capable of satisfying the Government’s needs will be considered by DLA. DLA encourages small businesses, small- disadvantaged businesses (SDBs), woman-owned small businesses (WOSBs), historically underutilized business zone (HUB Zone) small businesses, veteran-owned small business (VOSBs), service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses (SDVOSBs), historically black colleges and universities, and minority institutions, and other concerns subject to socioeconomic considerations through its awards to submit White Papers under this BAA.

However, no portion of this BAA will be set-aside due to the impracticality of reserving discrete or severable areas of research in this technology. For purposes of this acquisition, the small business size standard is 1000 employees, and the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 541715, Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering and Life Sciences. All correspondence and questions on this BAA should be directed to the Contracting Officer POC at the top of the BAA; e-mail is preferred. Other than small business concerns will be required to submit a Small Business Subcontracting Plan in accordance with the most recent version of FAR clause 52.219-9 at the time of proposal submission if proposal cost exceeds the $900,000.00 threshold. Proposals must remain valid 180 days from the date of submission.

Note: Small businesses are exempt from submitting a subcontracting plan (see subcontracting plan information in attachment B).

Businesses unfamiliar with doing business with the government and that require assistance may contact the state-specific Department of Defense (DOD) APEX Accelerators.

DOD APEX Accelerators. serve as a resource for businesses pursuing and performing under contracts with DOD, other federal agencies, state, and local governments and with government prime contractors. Assistance provided by the APEX Accelerators. are usually free of charge. APEX Accelerator support includes registration in systems such as SAM, identification of contract opportunities, understanding requirements and preparing and supporting proposals. The APEX Accelerators have a presence in each state, Puerto Rico, and Guam.

To locate a local APEX Accelerator visit:

https://www.apexaccelerators.us/#/

Eligibility Requirements mailto:Andrea.Nicolucci@dla.mil mailto:Sara.Cepeda@dla.mil mailto:Alexandra.Bocito@dla.mil https://www.apexaccelerators.us/#/

To be eligible for award, all prospective offerors must meet certain minimum standards pertaining to contractor/ subcontractor foreign affiliations, financial resources, adequacy of accounting systems, ability to comply with performance schedules, prior record of past performance, integrity, organization structure, experience, operational controls, technical skills facilities, and equipment. For additional information and guidance concerning qualifications and standards for responsibility of prospective contractors, please refer to Part 9 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR).

All other proposals:

The following proposal submission information pertains to proposals after the BAA reopens and vendors are asked to submit proposals after the review of submitted White Papers.

Offerors may submit a STP proposal for an R&D project of their choosing that they believe is suitable for execution by MUST III as a STP (to be determined by evaluation against the criteria stated below). The Government intends to award contracts based upon evaluation of the submitted STP proposals. Proposals shall demonstrate knowledge, experience, and expertise in the Technical Area of Interest described in Section 4. Proposals must also provide information detailing past performance that demonstrates related efforts, achievements, technological aptitude, management support skill, and potential contribution and relevance to DLA’s mission. The project proposals submitted for evaluation for an IDIQ contract award may or may not be funded as task orders under the resulting contract. Each STP proposal submitted will be evaluated separately using the evaluation criteria in Section 7. Offerors must submit full proposals in Portable Document Format (.pdf) titled “SP4701-26-B-0001” to the Contracting Officer at Andrea.Nicolucci@dla.mil, Sara.Cepeda@dla.mil, Alexandra.Bocito@dla.mil , and to the DCSO-P R&D Mailbox at RandD.DCSO@dla.mil . Instructions will be provided in the https://www.SAM.gov posting.

This is an unrestricted acquisition. All responsible sources capable of satisfying the Government’s needs may submit a White Paper, which will be considered by DLA. DLA encourages small businesses, small-disadvantaged businesses (SDBs), woman-owned small businesses (WOSBs), historically underutilized business zone (HUB Zone) small businesses, veteran-owned small business (VOSBs), service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses (SDVOSBs), historically black colleges and universities, and minority institutions, and other concerns subject to socioeconomic considerations through its awards to submit White Papers under this BAA. However, no portion of this BAA will be set-aside due to the impracticality of reserving discrete or severable areas of research in this technology. For purposes of this acquisition, the small business size standard is 1000 employees, and the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 541715, Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering and Life Sciences. All correspondence and questions on this BAA should be directed to the Contracting Officer POC at the top of the BAA; e-mail is preferred. Other than small business concerns will be required to submit a Small Business Subcontracting Plan in accordance with the most recent version of FAR clause 52.219-9 at the time of proposal submission if proposal cost exceeds the $900,000.00 threshold. Proposals must remain valid 180 days from the date of submission.

mailto:Andrea.Nicolucci@dla.mil mailto:Sara.Cepeda@dla.mil

Note: Small businesses are exempt from submitting a subcontracting plan (see subcontracting plan information in attachment B).

Businesses unfamiliar with doing business with the government and that require assistance may contact the state-specific Department of Defense (DOD) APEX Accelerators.

DOD APEX Accelerators. serve as a resource for businesses pursuing and performing under contracts with DOD, other federal agencies, state, and local governments and with government prime contractors. Assistance provided by the APEX Accelerators. are usually free of charge. APEX Accelerator support includes registration in systems such as SAM, identification of contract opportunities, understanding requirements and preparing and supporting proposals. The APEX Accelerators have a presence in each state, Puerto Rico, and Guam.

To locate a local APEX Accelerator visit:

https://www.apexaccelerators.us/#/

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for award, all prospective offerors must meet certain minimum standards pertaining to contractor/ subcontractor foreign affiliations, financial resources, adequacy of accounting systems, ability to comply with performance schedules, prior record of past performance, integrity, organization structure, experience, operational controls, technical skills facilities, and equipment. For additional information and guidance concerning qualifications and standards for responsibility of prospective contractors, please refer to Part 9 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR).

SECTION 6: PROPOSAL INSTRUCTIONS

Proposal prices and all other terms and conditions must remain valid for 180 days from the submission date of the technical proposal. Information in the technical proposal that is deemed by the Respondent to be proprietary must be clearly marked as proprietary information. Proposals shall include all proprietary claims to results, prototypes, or systems supporting or necessary for the use of the research, results, or prototypes. If there are no proprietary claims, then the proposal must include a statement to that effect.

To ensure all technical proposals receive proper consideration, DLA requires all offerors to follow the same format. Technical proposals that do not conform to the format will not be evaluated and will not be eligible for award. Offerors shall submit proposals via e-mail to the following addresses:

Andrea.Nicolucci@dla.mil, Sara.Cepeda@dla.mil, Alexandra.Bocito@dla.mil and RandD.DCSO@dla.mil. Instructions will be provided in the SAM.gov posting.

https://www.apexaccelerators.us/#/ mailto:Andrea.Nicolucci@dla.mil

TECHNICAL AND COST PROPOSAL FORMATS

Proposals MUST be submitted in the following format and provide the content requested in Section 7 “Evaluation Criteria for Awards”. Each page of the proposal shall be marked “Source Selection Information—See FAR 2.101 and 3.104.” In addition, all material that may be procurement sensitive or defense covered information should be marked with the legend “Controlled Unclassified Information” (CUI). If the information is also source selection information, both markings must be present.

• Two separate volumes consisting of:

o Volume I – Technical Proposal o Volume II – Cost/Price Proposal

• Volume I, Technical Proposal o Shall describe the proposed STP and address the Evaluation Factors for STPs as contained in this BAA.

• Volume II, Cost/Price Proposal o Shall contain cost and pricing information in support of Volume I technical project.

o Cost/Price information shall include breakout of cost elements as provided for in the Cost Realism evaluation factor in Section 6 of this BAA.

• NO pricing information shall be contained in the technical proposal.

Volume I – Technical Proposals:

• Technical proposals shall be submitted in the following format: one electronic copy in “.pdf” format sent to the Contracting Officer at Andrea.Nicolucci@dla.mil, Sara.Cepeda@dla.mil, Alexandra.Bocito@dla.mil and to the DCSO-P R&D Mail box at RandD.DCSO@dla.mil.

Instructions will be provided in the https://www.SAM.gov posting.

PROPOSALS THAT DO NOT CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS DETAILED IN THIS

SECTION MAY NOT BE EVALUATED OR AWARDED. TECHNICAL PROPOSALS THAT

EXCEED 20 PAGES MAY BE EXCLUDED FROM CONSIDERATION.

To ensure all technical proposals receive proper consideration, DLA requires all offerors to follow the same format. Technical proposals must meet the following format requirements:

(1) Document files must be written in English and in .pdf formats.

(2) No more than twenty (20) single-sided pages including, body, appendices, and attachments.

(3) Formatting for printing on 8-1/2 by 11-inch paper with 1-inch margins and font size not smaller than 12-point Times New Roman font (8 or 10-point font may be used for figures, tables, and charts).; and mailto:Andrea.Nicolucci@dla.mil

(4) Header on each page to identify page content and page number.

Any project Gantt charts may be submitted on larger pages (e.g., legal size), as required to be readable.

There is no penalty for submitting a…