Question and Answer 1.26.2024.pdf

No. Question ANSWERS

Writing from the University of Virginia ‐ I work with Phil Potter and George Foresman who support USSF in a variety of dialoge translation roles and are looking to see if there is an appetitie to have UVA/Phil/George work as a sub as a policy bridge for the technical component?

Reference to answer #5 ‐ Question revised for clarification.

I believe in last year's cycle there were 2 institutes funded at total of ~45‐50 $ M. Do we expect similar again?

Per the CALL, the maximum total awards under this CALL are for $45M for a duration of up to 60 months. The Government reserves the right to fund, in whole or in part, any, all, or none of the proposals submitted in response to this CALL

Can you comment on restrictions (if any) on foreign national participation who are students at academic institutions.

Yes, as specified in the CALL under paragraph III (pg. 9), foreign nationals are restricted from participating in this effort.

Can you comment on expected balance of academia and industry on proposing teams? (And industry who acn be funded is limited to small business, correct?)

There is a minimal requirement to proposing a team as part of this effort ‐ and that is a lead university with at least two partner universities. That is the requirement. This triad can then be joined by any combination (at proposer descretion) of additional parters ‐ other universites, small businesses, non‐profits and others as specified in paragraph III

(pg. 10) of the CALL. Large businesses are not allowed to receive funds under this effort.

Revising my question ‐ if UVA wanted to participate as a sub on the policy side, would this be something we propose in the call or is that something we would propose to the lead universities after award is granted?

Lead universities may choose to update their white paper/proposal. Once performance begins (the proposal is awarded), there are stipulations of informing the government and receiving written concurrence before any notable changes are made.

The topic list is extensive. Can you guide us if there is any particular topic preference?

How should we interpret 6‐2 to 6‐7? Is it expected that at the end of 5 years we should reach 6‐7?

The extensive topic list is intended to provide a guide of all technologies the USSF considers part of this SSTI at this time. There is no guide we can provide on any particular topic. The goal of the University Consortium is to produce revolutionary technology and transition them to operations ‐ but the exact TRL you're able to reach under this effort is what you think you can achieve during the specified PoP.

The topic list is extensive. Can you guide us if there is any particular topic preference?

How should we interpret 6‐2 to 6‐7? Is it expected that at the end of 5 years we should reach 6‐7?

See above

There has been a lot of discussion at senior USSF levels of build a fleet capability pervasive maneuvering / maneuver without regreat. Will you consider proposals that deliver near term products above traditional 6.2 (6.3‐6.4) funding combined with longer term 6.2 research

If the technologies fall under the umbrella we have specified, and you meet all other CALL requirements as specified, then your paper will be considered.

What will be the anticipated process for approving some material to move from CUI to open distribution A. I think all players must be CUI trained and compliant in all levels of the information generated and transmitted (including theses and dissertations).

What you are describing would be a kind of declassification process, which is not under the scope of this effort. We ask that participants keep information at the "Distro A" level to the greatest amount possible. If further classification is required/produced (CUI or above), a DD254 would need to be accoplished before that information could be generated.

Does every member of the team need to be identified during the white paper phase, or can team members be added between white paper and full proposal submissions?

Please see answer #5.

Question and Answers

ARA‐STAR‐FISH CALL #012

Space Strategic Technology Institute (SSTI): Advanced Space Power and Propulsion (ASPP) 26 January 2024

10 What future solicitations do you expect to have after this SSTI? Do you expect this type of call to be annualy solicited? If so, will the topics be different every year (like how it was between last year and this year)?

The University Consortium oversees five SSTIs, which are intended to be persistent areas of technology development. All SSTIs are evaluated and efforts are planned against all of them. SSTI 4 and SSTI 5 currently have no efforts against them ‐ SSTI 4 is Advanced Remote Sensing and SSTI 5 is Cyber Mission Assurance and Data Trust. We put out CALLs as able, and not intentionally on an annual basis.

Will a dd254 be required for any of the part the proposal or is the initial research and response to be considered all NON‐Classified (Open)?

This is needed to be assessed by the university, and will be double‐checked by the Government. If the applied research is producing anything secret or higher, yes a DD254 will need to be created and approved before that work can take place.

I am unclear on the following reference: 3.Federally Funded Research and Development Centers: Reference ARA with CALLS, FA9453‐21‐S‐0001, Section II, paragraph 3.

Per Section III (pg. 10): 7.Offeror Eligibility. The following types of domestic entities are eligible to participate as offerors and/or sub‐contractors/recipients under this CALL.

Teams are to be compose as follows:

1. one university leading the effort as the prime offeror, 2.two universi es partnered with them, 3.any combina on of further poten al recipients from the list below. Large businesses, as defined under NAICS 541715 (over 1,000 employees), and federal governmental agencies are not eligible to participate.

•Ins tu ons of higher educa on •For‐profit en es •Non‐profit en es •State, local, and tribal government •Small Business enterprises If you can provide documentation that you meet the eligibility requirements of paragraph 7, then you will need to follow the below process that is found in the FA9453‐21‐S‐ 0001 STAR FISH solicitation.

The following information can be found in Section 2 Eligibility Information under part 3, pg 12:

Federally Funded Research and Development Centers:

The following guidance is provided for Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) contemplating submitting a proposal, as either a prime or subcontractor, against this ARA. FAR 35.017‐ l(c)(4) prohibits an FFRDC from competing with any non‐FFRDC concern in response to a Federal agency request for proposal for other than the operation of an FFRDC (with exceptions stated in DFARS 235.017‐l(c)(4)). There is no regulation prohibiting an FFRDC from responding to a solicitation. However, the FFRDC's sponsoring agency must first make a determination that the effort being proposed falls within the purpose, mission, general scope of effort, or special competency of the FFRDC, and that determination must be included in the FFRDC's proposal. In addition, the non‐ sponsoring agency (in this case AFRL) must make a determination that the work proposed would not place the FFRDC in direct competition with domestic private industry. Only after these determinations are made would a determination be made concerning the FFRDC's eligibility to receive an award.

are FFRDCs, non‐profit entity, subject to the NAICS size classification See above are FFRDCs, non‐profit entity, subject to the NAICS size classification See above

New Mexico Tech is building a ground based optical interferometer that will provide detailed image resolution from LEO to beyond GEO under funding from AFRL. Is this capability something that would benefit the University consortium?

The University Consortium is always interested in revolutionary technology development; please consider what technologies are under each SSTI call and submit technology development under the applicable one.

The SSO says: “In future years the research may include additional partner universities, […], as well as industry and international partners.” does it mean we can add partners after award? your previous statement seems to exclue the above statement in the SOO (page 2, middle of paper).

As mentioned, partners may be added but may require Government concurrence once award starts. This statement makes a reference to the SSTIs writ large ‐ not a specific award…the SSTIs are persistent areas of technology development, and therefore the current performers may not be the only ones performing research there for the duration of their cooperative agreements.

Can non‐univeristy partner receice funding under this program? are there restrictions? For example, are FFRDCs permitted to participate with funding if they are hired as technical consultants to the prime proposer or with a technical task? What if they are larger than the 1000 people limit and are a large business under NAICS 541715, but we’re also non‐ profit?

There is no regulation prohibiting an FFRDC from responding to a solicitation. However, the FFRDC's sponsoring agency must first make a determination that the effort being proposed falls within the purpose, mission, general scope of effort, or special competency of the FFRDC, and that determination must be included in the FFRDC's proposal. In addition, the non‐sponsoring agency (in this case AFRL) must make a determination that the work proposed would not place the FFRDC in direct competition with domestic private industry.

While the funding is 6‐2, some of the topics listed are farther out in terms of actual use (I'll pick on fusion here). Are those topics out of scope or not strongly considered?

The Funding is 6.2 and the work is anticipated to be Applied Research. The relevant technologies are intended to provide guideposts for what is or is not considered "in" the

SSTI.

20 Will this discussion be recorded and sent out? Yes, it was recorded. The transcript of the Question and Answers will be posted on Sam.gov

Is the 45 M cieling on funding, or anticipated award? Is it over 5 years, or 2? Or any specifics on funding/spend rate?

The $45M specified is an "up to" ceiling funding amount and the maximum PoP for this effort is 60 months (5 years). Please propose a funding/spend rate in keeping with your program as it is your proposed effort.

22 Is written approval required for all publications? There will need to be a pre‐publication review and approval for all work done on under this effort.

Are you looking for techincal responses that addresses individual technologies, perhaps a few in isolated from each other, or are you looking to address multiple areas in some integrated fashion?

Per the SOO (pg. 2): The university teams proposing to the SSTI ASPP will propose research that is aligned with their team’s unique research strengths.

How many $'s should be proposed in each year, is there a funding spread desired See answer to question 21

Do you anticipate strenght and weakness feedback in successful white papers? All white papers will have feedback provided to you.

Does awardable but unfundable mean a full proposal is or is not invited for full proposal? For example if the total budget is reduced in a full proposal?

If the return letter is "awardable but unfunded," no proposal is invited as the government does not have sufficient funds to award it.

What is the timeline for your response for the whitepaper (and if selected for the final award)?

We will work as quickly as possible to get all of you a response on your white papers, both successful and unsuccessful letter are distrobuted at the same time. Exact timelines are very difficult to give, but three months is a decent rule of thumb.

Are there nominal POP periods in the request? i.e.

start date?

Please send in as solid of a PoP as you can and if there are delays in starting, for whatever reason, before the final award is done, the final date can be updated so that it aligns with reality.

29 Missed question above: about funding spread See answer to question 21

How many $'s should be proposed in each year, is there a funding spread desired See answer to question 21

31 Can an large business be listed officially as a non‐ funded advisor/steering group member for thet team?

Yes, this has been done on prior efforts and does not transgress the restriction on large businesses ‐ they cannot receive funds under this effort.

Is there any limit on how many whitepapers may be submitted from a university? Will multiple submissions be viewed negatively?

In good faith, there is no restriction on white papers submitted by a university. Different technologies are always welcome to be submitted. However please note ‐ if multiple white papers are submitted for virtually the same technology or effort with minor alterations or minor editing, this will not be viewed positively and the AFRL PK shop will request the offending university clarify which they will choose as their sole submission.

33 Did you already mention the deadline? Thx! Per the CALL, white papers are required to be submitted by 2 February at 12:00 MDT.

Can team members be added after the intial white paper, within reason. Say for instance a person was on another white paper but got rejected. Could they be added to another team if within scope?

The lead university can update their team between white paper and proposal. That is at their discretion.

I have a question about eligibility for participation as a Co‐PI and/or Co‐I. Is there a limit on the number of proposals with which an individual at a given institution can participate as a Co‐PI or Co‐I? If I were to work with multiple institutions, would I be able to propose the same involvement with each team?

There is no limit on the number of proposals any person is on as a Co‐PI. There is also no limit to the number of proposals any institution can be on either. The only request would be, if you are on multiple proposals, if all are awarded, you're able to fulfill the requirements on all of them.

For the teams the universities build, can a large business be a subcontractor on the team or only small businesses eligible?

Only small businesses may receive funds under the SSTI efforts, but large businesses may partner with universities as advisory counsels or other non‐funded support functions.

(See section III Eligibility Information, section 7)