Synopsis for SUBNET BAA 0004-21 Description.docx

Synopsis:

The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) intends to award a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) which addresses DLA’s expected need for solutions to develop and promote manufacturing improvements in the subsistence supply chain. Interested parties will be required to submit an initial synopsis, referred to as a "White Paper," describing a specific project related to an Area of Interest as identified below:

A. Combat Rations.

This refers to operational rations, which are individual or group rations. Individual Rations are packaged, pre-cooked, shelf stable food items that provide troops a nutritionally balanced diet either in complete individual meals or a daily ration. Group Rations are nutritionally complete, unitized or pre-configured in group modules to support small or large group feeding in 18 or 50 person modules depending on the specific group ration type. Contractor Teaming with one or more combat rations assemblers on projects in this Area of Interest is encouraged, but is not required.

B. Food Equipment.

Seeking technology-based solutions that improve the energy efficiency, mobility, maintainability, or usability of current field feeding procedures and operations.

C. Field Feeding Solutions.

Field Feeding refers to the method or system utilized to provide food to troops training or serving in combat operations. The solutions involved should help improve efficiencies along with reducing production and transportation lead times.

D. Food Footprint.

Also referred to as "foodprint", food footprint refers to the greenhouse gas emissions produced by growing, rearing, farming, processing, transporting, storing, cooking and disposing of the food you eat. We seek solutions that will reduce food waste, reduce size, optimize storage capacity, and reduce cost such as lowering current food footprint levels.

E. Food Innovations.

This refers to making inventive changes to current established food production, products, etc. Innovations may be incremental, involving gradual marked changes to the current food supply system, or disruptive where it almost immediately changes existing food production. Proposals should be focused on existing fielded ration products. Introduction of new food products or technologies must be done in collaboration with the material developer, the Natick Soldier Research Development and Engineering Center (NSRDEC) Combat Feeding Directorate (CFD). This will be completed via the Program Manager.

F. Food Safety and Defense.

Food Safety involves risk-assessment, prevention, and monitoring activities associated with protecting the food supply from incidental contamination from the source ingredients of a product, through production, distribution, and consumption. Food Defense involves activities associated with protecting the nation's food supply from deliberate or intentional acts of contamination or tampering. Solutions should address effective and efficient ways to combat food contamination whether incidental or intentional. Solutions should be researched in collaboration with the U.S. Army Public Health Center and CFD.

G. Garrison Feeding.

Food service provided to troops at a permanent military installation.

H. Nutrition and Health.

Advancements to food product that will increase the nutritional value of food products and the accessibility of healthy food options for active duty troops in the field or in garrison.

I. Storage and Packaging Solutions.

Improvements to the materials used to wrap or protect food or assist in the packing or form of packages. Examples of solutions would be technologies that will extend the product’s shelf life or packaging that will improve the overall food quality.

J. Surge and Sustainment Support.

Refers to innovations in production of food, operational rations or equipment, which will result in increased output thereby improving support to the warfighter during a surge event.

K. Water Security.

Refers to technology innovations in water (bottled) or hydration alternatives.

L. Additional Topics.

Respondents may propose emerging or innovative research efforts that are not within one of the listed areas of research interest, but that fulfill the objectives of this Subsistence Network BAA, with a clear statement describing the proposed area of research interest.

If proposed White Papers are determined of sufficient interest, DLA may request technical and cost proposals for the effort(s) described by proposed White Papers. White Papers and technical proposals must generally be for cost-sharing contracts; however, DLA will consider White Papers and proposals based on cost (FAR 16.302), cost-plus-fixed-fee completion (FAR 16.306), or fixed-price (FAR Subpart 16.2) contracts, or on transactions other than contracts, grants, or cooperative agreements (“Other Transactions”), but reserves the right to award contract types other than cost-sharing, or Other Transactions, only when DLA in its sole discretion deems such award to be in the best interests of the Government. Submittals based on contract types other than cost-type or fixed-price, or on Other Transactions, will be rejected and discarded and will not be reviewed or evaluated.

The BAA ceiling is estimated at $18 Million and will remain open for five years.