TSM Announcement v7 Oct24 2024.pdf

T R A D E W I N D S S O L U T I O N S M A R K E T P L A C E

ANNOUNCEMENT

version 7

Ef fec t i ve October 24 , 2024 - March 3 1 , 2025 www.tradewindai.com/solutions-marketplace

[I] Welcome to the Tradewinds Solutions Marketplace

The Department of Defense (DOD) Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office (CDAO) in conjunction with its marketplace manager, The Applied Research Institute (ARI), is initiating a long-term, open call for new and novel technology solutions to support the DoD in advancing research, development, prototyping, and adoption of AI/ML, digital, or data solutions.

Specifically, the CDAO seeks to obtain solutions or potential capabilities that fulfill requirements, close capability gaps, or provide potential technological advancements that are new as of the date of submission; or technologies, processes, or methods that represent a new application as of the date of submission. This initiative, entitled the “Tradewinds Solutions Marketplace” will solicit, collect, assess, and curate AI/ML, digital, or data solutions, and make those solutions available through rapid acquisition pathways.

www.tradewindai.com/solutions-marketplace

The Tradewinds Solutions Marketplace is a digital environment of post-competition video pitches. The video solutions housed within the marketplace have been assessed through competitive procedures that conform to the competition requirements of 10 USC 4021, 10 USC 4022, 10 USC 3458, FAR/DFARS Part 35, and DFARS Subpart 212.70, and thus are readily available to be viewed, selected, negotiated, and awarded by DoD activities. The Marketplace provides a venue for Government organizations to search, view, review, compare, contrast, contact, negotiate, and procure AI/ML, digital, or data capabilities through rapid acquisition pathways. For industry, academia, and individual developers, the Marketplace is a valuable tool to promote AI/ML, digital, or data solutions, products, and services to the DoD in an environment with a rapid acquisition contract pathway.

[II] What is the Tradewinds Solutions Marketplace?

[III] What are the Goals of the Tradewinds Solutions Marketplace?

The Goals of the Tradewinds Solutions Marketplace are to establish a centralized location where DoD can assess the state of the art in available AI/ML, digital, or data solutions, and where industry, academia, and individual developers can promote their research, technologies, and related products and services to the Government. Further, the structure of the publication and assessment functions of the Marketplace allow for streamlined procurement of available solutions, addressing a major barrier to small business and nontraditional defense contractors. Finally, by leveraging the statutory and regulatory authorities available, the Solutions Marketplace can provide a technology transition pathway from idea to research, research to prototype, prototype to test and evaluation, through production, fielding, and sustainment of a given technology solution.

https://www.tradewindai.com/solutions-marketplace

All US-based companies, traditional and nontraditional, large business and small business, universities, non-profit companies, and individuals are welcome to participate. In addition, foreign universities, research institutions, and entities may submit video pitches for their related technology solutions provided that such submissions are compliant with international law, including export laws for both the country of origin of the technology provider and the United States.

[V] Why Participate in the Tradewinds Solutions Marketplace?

The CDAO, as the primary sponsor of this initiative, seeks to establish the Tradewinds Solutions Marketplace as its premier, low-barrier entry point for industry, academia, and individuals to identify technology solutions, ongoing research efforts, and proposed future development activities that are relevant to the DoD. Participating entities will have their proposed solutions assessed by a peer panel of DoD and supporting industry and academic Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) and will receive feedback on the technical merit of their solution. Further, by submitting against this open call for solutions, all submitted solutions that are deemed “awardable” by the assessing DoD Assessment Authority and SME personnel will be considered “post-competitive” under 10 USC 4021, 10 USC 4022, 10 USC 3458, FAR/DFARS Part 35, and DFARS Subpart 212.70, and will be eligible for award of further research, prototyping, procurement for experimental purposes, and even production.

Just some of the benefits of participation in the Solutions Marketplace include:

Exposure and marketing of technology and service solution(s) to relevant DoD customer organizations.

Access to the TSM’s streamlined submission process requesting only the required organizational and technical information.

Fast track assessment timelines for solution submissions with notifications made within 30 calendar days from the end of each collection period (subject to submission volume).

Contract pathways for award of research, development, prototyping, test and evaluation, procurement for experimental purposes, and even production.

Fully negotiable award terms including payment, intellectual property and data rights license terms, schedule, milestones, and pricing.

Potential for multiple awards with single customer, or across multiple customers with no funding ceilings or limits to duration of effort, based on a single video solution submission.

[IV] Who can Participate in the Tradewinds Solutions Marketplace?

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[VI] Strategic Focus Areas

As identified by the CDAO, and based on its current set of customer interests, the Government is seeking video solution pitches which are relevant to one or more of the following strategic focus areas which are derived from DoD’s direction to provide next-generation capabilities that increase the effectiveness of U.S. forces and support Department-wide reform efforts by addressing critical operational and business challenges. This current list of strategic focus areas will evolve as the customer base and mission focus areas supported by the Tradewinds Solutions Marketplace evolve.

The current Strategic Focus Areas for the Tradewinds Solutions Marketplace include:

Improving situational awareness and decision-making. AI/ML, digital, or data solutions applied to surveillance, reconnaissance, and/or perception tasks such as imagery analysis to extract useful information from raw data and equip leaders with increased situational awareness.

Increasing safety of operating equipment. AI/ML, digital, or data solutions that enhance the safety of operating aircraft, ships, and vehicles in complex, rapidly changing situations by alerting operators to hidden dangers.

Implementing predictive maintenance and supply. AI/ML, digital, or data solutions that predict the failure of critical parts, automate diagnostics, and plan maintenance based on data and equipment condition.

Streamlining business processes. AI/ML, digital, or data solutions which reduce the time spent on highly manual, repetitive, and frequent tasks.

Assuring cybersecurity. AI/ML, digital, or data solutions which preserve the ability to use friendly cyberspace capabilities and protect data, networks, net-centric capabilities, and/or project power in and through cyberspace through the employment of cyberspace capabilities.

Developing a digital-age workforce. AI/ML, digital, or data solutions for training, education, and immersive programming that supports development of a modern, AI/ML, data, and digital-competent workforce.

Increasing autonomy and mobility of DoD systems. AI/ML, digital, or data solutions which reduce manual input, operation, and decision-making related to DoD Platforms, Systems, Subsystems, and Components.

Application of AI/ML Scaffolding and AI Assurance. AI/ML, digital, or data solutions that address Human Systems Integration (HIS), Sequential Test Design, Learning Systems, Explainable AI (XAI), Responsible AI (RAI), Adversarial / Red Teaming, or T&E in Deployment / Sustainment.

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Assuring Reliable Data Sources. AI/ML, digital, or data sources that are complete, reliable, transportable, and labeled with traceable standards, verification, and training.

Augmenting Responsible AI Capabilities and Processes. Capabilities, best practices, or processes for risk identification and mitigation; guidance and guardrails solutions for AI development and use, and/or support to AI assurance and governance processes.

Supporting Responsible AI Practices. Solutions that promote a culture of responsible AI, including adoption of RAI best practices, tools, and governance.

Research Solutions and Services. Innovative qualitative and/or quantitative research tools, techniques, or services that explore the strategic and/or policy implications of data, analytics, or AI in areas relevant to the Department of Defense.

Assessment and Compliance Solutions. Products and services that assist the Department of Defense in tracking strategic and organizational performance in accordance with established goals and standards; ensuring compliance with existing and emerging laws, policies, and standards; or understanding, navigating, and addressing issues related to enabling DoD to harness data, analytics, or AI for competitive military advantage.

Biomedical and Human Performance Solutions. AI/ML, digital, or data solutions related to early intervention in life-threatening injuries, prolonged field care, human performance optimization, brain health, immune response, automation of systematic reviews, and treatments for post-traumatic stress, depression, anxiety, including suicide risk detection and prevention.

Discovering blue sky/other technology applications. Novel applications of AI/ML, digital, or data solutions with the potential to materially impact one or more DoD mission areas.

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a. Submission, Assessment, and Notification Deadlines

i. The TSM is continuously open for submission of solutions during the period of this Open Call (October 24, 2024 - March 31, 2025 ).

ii. Submissions are collected monthly (e.g., June 1st through June 30th). This is referred to as the “monthly collection period.”

iii. The cutoff for submissions is the final day of each monthly collection period at 12:00 (Noon) Eastern Standard Time (EST). Submissions received after 12:00 (Noon) EST on the final day of each monthly collection period will be considered submitted in the subsequent monthly collection period.

iv. Submissions timely received for a given month (the monthly collection period) will be assessed in the following month with results available within 30 days of the end of the relevant collection period (e.g., for collection period ending June 30th 12:00 (Noon) EST, assessment results will be distributed no later than August 30th (subject to flexibility for instances of high volume)).

b. Submission Eligibility. Solution videos and form information must be unclassified, and not include any proprietary information, export-controlled information, or controlled unclassified information (CUI). Solution videos must not contain any restrictive markings other than a valid copyright notice. Each video submission shall provide a single technology or service solution.

Each solution video submission must be accompanied by a fully completed submission form (automated form populated during the video submission process). Elements of the required submission form include:

i. Submitting Entity Name (or Individual Name). Use your full legal company/organization/individual name. It should match your SAM.gov profile if you have an existing SAM.gov profile at time of video submission.

ii. Website. Identify your current website address.

iii. Unique Entity ID (UEI) (if available). The Unique Entity ID (UEI) is a 12-character alphanumeric ID assigned to an entity by SAM.gov. If you do not have a SAM profile, please enter “NA” or “Not Applicable” in the field.

[VII] Submission Instructions

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iv. Business Size. Identify either large or small business. Business size is defined by the SBA in alignment with 13 CFR Part 121 Small Business Size Regulations. This classification is most commonly based upon average annual receipts or the average number of employees. The definition of “small” varies by industry, which is classified by your North American Industry Classification (NAIC) code.

v. Traditional/Non-Traditional status. Definition: As defined in 10 USC 3014, "nontraditional defense contractor", with respect to a procurement or with respect to a transaction authorized under section 4021(a) or 4022 of this title, means an entity that is not currently performing and has not performed, for at least the one-year period preceding the solicitation of sources by the Department of Defense for the procurement or transaction, any contract or subcontract for the Department of Defense that is subject to full coverage under the cost accounting standards prescribed pursuant to section 1502 of title 41 and the regulations implementing such section.

vi. Socioeconomic Designation(s). Select all applicable socioeconomic designations your entity currently holds. This designation must match your SAM.gov account.

vii. Country. Select the appropriate country for your entity.

viiii. Address. Location of principal place of business (Street Address, City, State, ZIP)

ix. Strategic Focus Area. The purpose of the strategic focus areas is to collect technology solutions which are relevant to the CDAO and its customer organizations.

Often a given solution may fit within multiple focus areas. The focus area selected for your solution has no impact on the assessment of your solution. The focus areas are used for categorization and search within the Marketplace for those video solution submissions assessed as “awardable”. If you are in doubt as to the proper fit for your technology or believe it spans multiple focus areas, simply select the “Discovering blue sky/other technology applications” category.

x. Technology Readiness Level (TRL). Select the current Technology Readiness Level of your solution. A description of the Technology Readiness Definitions is available at Appendix A of this document as well as in a tooltip during the submission workflow process. Assure that you select the appropriate level, not a range for your submission.

The purpose of including the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) as part of the submission requirements is to help customer organizations understand what types of efforts and funding your company is seeking for future engagements (Research, Development, Prototyping, Test and Evaluation, Production, or Sustainment). The TRL is not used to determine whether solutions are assessed as awardable/not awardable. It is important to select the relevant TRL for your solution to align with the proper potential customer organizations and funding.

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xi. Related Keywords. Include at least five relevant keywords to your solution that will help the government find it faster. Please separate your keywords with a comma.

xii. Video submission Point of Contact (POC), Email address, and Phone. This is the person that will receive the assessment results and any inquiries about the submission.

At any point after submitting, you may want to add additional members and POC's (Points Of Contact) to your organization. Once the submission form is completed and you are redirected to your dashboard, you may follow these steps to include another POC: Click the "Organization" link in the navigation; Under "View and manage organization members" there will be a tab for "Invitations" that you should click; From there, click on the "Invite" button and add any number of email addresses to add additional POC's to your organization.

xiii. Submission Title (less than 128 characters).

xiv. Abstract Description (1,500 Characters). Use this section to describe your video solution to appear in the Tradewinds Solutions Marketplace for the government user to easily understand your solution prior to watching the video. The purpose of this narrative is to support potential future customers in understanding information about your firm. The narrative is not part of the assessment information. Use this space to identify information (where applicable to your solution) that a prospective customer may want to know (e.g., Facilities Clearances, Certifications, Authorities to Operate, FEDRAMP status, Approved accounting system, GSA Schedules, existing contracts, etc).

c. Video Submission Format Requirements. Solution video submission shall conform with the following format requirements or will be deemed ineligible and returned for revision.

i. Videos must be no longer than five (5) minutes (5:00) in length.

Tip: Video submissions that exceed the length limitation of 5:00 minutes will not be assessed.

Submitters will be notified that their video solution has exceeded the allowable length and must be revised and resubmitted. Exceeding the five-minute limit is the primary reason why video submissions are rejected.

ii. Minimum Video production requirements:

1. Resolution: HD 1920x1080.

2. Encoded for streaming as a .mp4 file under 5gb.

3. Color Space: Rec709 or sRGB.

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d. Video Submission Content Requirements. There are five required elements that each video must address. The Five elements are: (1) Identification of the Problem(s) Addressed; (2) Description of the technology or service solution and its application to the problem(s) identified; (3) Potential impact of the solution if adopted by DoD; (4) Differentiation from other technology and service solutions which address the same or similar problem(s); and (5) Pricing Model. Tips for addressing the five required video submission elements are as follows:

i. Identification of the problem(s) addressed. Begin your video pitch with a description of the problem you solve for your customers (or prospective customers).

Explain the problem thoroughly but leave time to address all five video submission elements. Is this a common problem across the Government? Is it a universal problem across Government and commercial markets? Assure that your problem falls within at least one of the Strategic Focus Areas described in Section VI above.

ii. Description of the technology or service solution and its application to the problem(s) identified. Fully describe your solution but balance your total video time across all five video submission elements. Identify how your solution addresses the problem you’ve defined. If your solution is at a lower Technology Readiness Level (TRLs 1-5) and needs further development or test, explain your plan to mature the solution to better address the problem. If your solution is at a higher Technology Readiness Level (TRLs 6-9), provide a demonstration within your video of the product or case study of your service. Forgot what TRLs are? Check Appendix A.

iii. Potential impact of the solution if adopted by DoD. Explain how adoption of your solution would impact the DoD. If you are already providing your solution to DoD or other Federal Agencies, state that here and explain the impact it has had. Identify current customers using your solution including Government and commercial entities. Is your solution saving your customers time? Saving money? Reducing risk? Improving mission outcomes? These are just some examples of potential customer impacts.

iv. Differentiation from other technology and service solutions which address the same or similar problem(s). Identify other solutions in the market that seek to address the problem(s) you identified. What companies, technologies, or service solutions are you in competition with? What alternative solutions are out there? What makes your solution the best way to address the problem(s)?

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iii. Videos shall contain no restrictive markings limiting their use or distribution other than a valid copyright notice. Video submissions that contain restrictive markings other than those expressly permitted herein will not be assessed. Submitters will be notified that their video submission contains unauthorized restrictive markings and must be revised and resubmitted.

v. Pricing Model. Describe how your company intends to monetize your solution both with the Government and with commercial markets (if applicable). Assure that your pricing model aligns with the current maturity (TRL) of your technology or service solution. If you have commercial pricing that is publicly available, include that here. Do you offer range pricing or quantity discounts? Are you seeking funding for development?

NOTE: THIS SECTION IS NOT REQUESTING NON-PUBLIC PRICING. DO NOT SUBMIT

RATES OR OTHER PROPRIETARY PRICING INFORMATION.

e. Where to Submit the video solution. All solutions must be submitted through www.tradewindai.com. No hard copy or physical submissions (CD/DVD/Blu Ray) will be accepted. To submit your solution, navigate to the Tradewinds Solutions Marketplace opportunity page and select “Start My Response” on the lower left-hand side. The TSM Opportunity page is available at www.tradewindai.com.

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[VIII] Solutions Marketplace Compliance Check and Notification Process

The TSM internal execution team strives to provide compliance checks in a timely manner (within one (1) business day from submission date) to allow submitting companies the opportunity to revise and resubmit their videos if deemed non-compliant. The scope of review of the compliance check is as follows:

1. Review that the video submission is no longer than 5:00 minutes in length

2. Review that the video can be viewed and is audible

3. Review that any graphics/charts displayed within the video are legible

4. Review that the video does not contain any prohibited markings

5. Review that the video conforms to the resolution, file type, and color space requirements

6. Review that the video contains all required submission criteria in Section VII of the TSM announcement.

7. Review the submission form data for completeness and accuracy

8. Review accuracy of business size and traditional/nontraditional status using SAM.gov (where applicable)

9. Review that the effort fits within one of the TSM strategic focus areas

Upon completion of the compliance review, those solutions which conform to the requirements of Section VII of this announcement will be placed into the queue for the next scheduled assessment. Those solutions which contain one or more deficiencies will be notified via Email and asked to correct the deficiency and complete a new submission.

Submissions on the final day of any monthly collection period may not receive notice prior to closing of the monthly collection, so solution providers are urged not to wait until the final day to submit solutions.

[IX] The Tradewinds Solutions Marketplace Assessment Process

Solution videos submitted against this open call will be assessed in accordance with the scoring rubric included as Appendix B and rated as either “awardable” or “non-awardable” for the given assessment round. Solutions are assessed by a peer panel of government, industry, and academic subject matter experts, with final decisions made by the Government Selecting Official.

By submitting a video solution, you authorize the video to be distributed and used for this purpose. During the assessment period, the Government and/or supporting SMEs may contact submitting entities to clarify information either within the video submission or within the submission form. Non-Government, SME assessors will be used in the assessment of solution videos. Such assessors will be operating at the direction of the Government and through signed non-disclosure agreements (NDAs). The pool of SME assessors is composed of experts from industry, academia and non-profit research institutions with programs related to data, analytics, digital and artificial intelligence/machine learning. In conformance with Statutory and regulatory requirements for the authorities leveraged by the TSM (10 USC 4021, 10 USC 4022, 10 USC 3458, FAR/DFARS Part 35, and DFARS Subpart 212.70), Government and Non-Government SME Assessors will develop a written assessment of each submission applying the established assessment criteria, weighting, and scoring, which is included at Appendix B of this document.

The recommended scoring, ratings, and comments for each video solution are presented monthly by the Peer Panel as recommendations to the designated Government Selecting Official, who is ultimately responsible for determining the awardable/non-awardable status of each solution for the rating period.

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[X] Resubmissions

The Tradewinds Solutions Marketplace accepts resubmissions of nonawardable solutions at any time while the TSM Announcement remains active. To assist in preparing resubmissions, at the conclusion of each monthly assessment, each submitting entity receives a rating scorecard along with assessor comments and suggestions for improvement of the nonawardable video submission. Additionally, the Marketplace Manager, ARI, provides weekly feedback sessions to review the assessor comments with unsuccessful solution providers during Tradewinds “Real People Time”. The purpose of weekly feedback sessions is to develop a strategy and course of action to address weaknesses identified through the assessment process and prepare a resubmission with a higher likelihood of being assessed as awardable. It is highly recommended that solution providers participate in feedback sessions to maximize the potential for a successful resubmission. Information on Real People Time can be found at www.tradewindai.com.

An unsuccessful solution provider may resubmit a non-awardable solution in any subsequent collection period, and may continue to resubmit, if unsuccessful, in multiple collection periods while the TSM Announcement remains active. When submitting a solution as a resubmission, it is important to identify that the submission is a resubmission. Within the solution submission workflow, select “TSM Resubmission” under the field labeled “Submission Type”.

[XI] Organizational Conflicts of Interest

The CDAO, ACC-Rock Island, and the Tradewinds Solutions Marketplace manager, ARI, have identified and evaluated potential organizational conflicts of interest (OCIs) related to the activity of video solution assessment by non-Government, industry, and academic subject matter experts.

A recognized potential OCI, "providing evaluation services", requires that contracts for the evaluation of offers for products or services shall not be awarded to a contractor that will evaluate its own offers for products or services, or those of a competitor, without proper safeguards to ensure objectivity to protect the Government’s interests (see Federal Acquisition Regulation 9.505-3). The Government and Marketplace manager, exercising common sense, good judgment, and sound discretion in both the decision on whether a significant potential conflict exists and, if it does, the development of an appropriate means for resolving it, have determined the following:

a. A significant potential conflict exists as to SME assessors evaluating their own technology solutions. The Government will avoid this potential OCI by excluding any requirement for assessors to evaluate their own technology solutions, or the solutions of another submitter in which the assessor holds any financial interest from their contract requirements. Further, the Government will mitigate any potential OCI by prohibiting assessors to evaluate their own technology solutions, or the solutions of another submitter in which the assessor holds any financial interest and requiring assessors to delivering a statement certifying that they recognize this prohibition, including an affirmative duty to identify any such financial interests. All assessors will be required to complete Government ethics training, covering this duty to identify financial interests, prior to assessing any solution submissions and will operate under nondisclosure agreements to protect any information received through the assessment activity.

b. A potential conflict exists as to SME assessors evaluating the technology solutions of a competitor. This OCI is a lesser risk due to the characteristics of the evaluation effort. Under the Solutions Marketplace assessment methodology, submissions must be non-proprietary. The non-proprietary submissions are assessed against a published rubric for Technical Merit to determine whether they are viable solutions and thus rated "awardable" for future requirements. The assessments are performed by a minimum three-member peer panel, and the peer panel is comprised of a Government, Industry, and Academic

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Please note that solutions which have been determined “non-compliant” and returned for some technical deficiency (over 5:00 minutes in length; improper markings; missing content; etc) remain a “New TSM Submission” when corrected and submitted. “TSM Resubmissions” are only those solutions that undergo a peer assessment and are deemed non-awardable.

representative, with the Government Selecting Official responsible for all final decisions.

Finally, the assessments are not evaluated against a specific requirement, but on their viability to support future needs. The characteristics of the assessment process, thus, partially mitigate the potential OCI. To fully mitigate this potential OCI, the Government will monitor the consistency in scoring of all assessors to identify potential biases or inconsistent scoring. All assessors will be required to complete Government ethics training, covering this duty to identify competitors, prior to assessing any solution submissions and will operate under nondisclosure agreements to protect any information received through the assessment activity.

[XII] Important Information for Participants and Prospective Participants

All costs of preparing and submitting solution videos and submission forms are the responsibility of the submitting entity and not eligible for funding or reimbursement by the Government.

Assessment as “awardable” and placement into the Tradewinds Solutions Marketplace does not guarantee any current or future award.

Tradewinds will publish a list of companies with solutions available on the Marketplace on the TradewindAI.com public website and through Tradewinds digital media. The list will identify company/individual name; name of solution; and associated strategic focus area.

Entities that do not wish to be identified in this manner must submit a written notice to success@tradewindAI.com.

Solution providers may submit one or multiple video submissions while this announcement remains open.

Scoring and Assessor comments will be provided for both awardable and non-awardable submissions at the end of each assessment round. All submitting entities can request a feedback session to review the scoring and comments related to their solution by reserving “Real People Time” at www.tradewindai.com.

Feedback Sessions are conducted by the Marketplace Manager, ARI, and are intended to assist solution providers in addressing weaknesses identified in the assessor scoring and comments for the purpose of revising any non-awardable solution, and resubmitting to a subsequent collection period. Any dispute regarding scoring or final rating may be addressed to the Government Selecting Official. Tradewinds does not provide names, contact information, or any other personal information of the SME assessors themselves.

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Any questions related to this announcement or related TSM matter may be sent to success@tradewindai.com.

More information related to the Tradewinds Solutions Marketplace can be found at:

https://www.tradewindai.com/solutions-marketplace.

[XIII] Data Handling / Licenses Granted

a. Solutions videos placed within the Tradewinds Solutions Marketplace are viewable by all Federal Government accounts (.mil / .gov) and by the submitting entity or individual. The submitting entity/individual remains the owner of the video and the associated submission data and may request the video and associated submission data be removed from the TradewindAI.com site at any time. By participating in the Tradewinds Solutions Marketplace initiative each submitting entity grants the following Governmentwide, nonexclusive, fully paid up, non-assignable, non-royalty bearing licenses in both the video solution submission and the accompanying submission data:

i. A license for the Government to view, review, research, comment, and share the video solution and associated submission data within the Government and to covered Government support contractors for the purposes of performing assessments of the solution; performing market research; supporting requirements development;

considering/planning for procurement; negotiating for award; and making an award of the solution at any time while the video solution and associated submission data remain active within the Tradewinds Solutions Marketplace.

ii. A license for the Government to view, review, research, and share the video solution and associated submission data within the Government and to covered Government support contractors, whether assessed as awardable or non-awardable, for the purposes of improving/revising the submission, assessment, and/or selection processes, submission criteria, scoring criteria, or user interface/user experience, in perpetuity.

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iii. A license for the Government and its covered Government support contractors to transcribe the video for the purposes of improving the search functionality of the marketplace, to address accessibility requirements, to support marketing of the solution for potential award, to support Government reporting, performing market research, and supporting requirements development. The entity/individual grants and the Government retains a perpetual license in the transcription data itself for the purpose identified within this paragraph.

iv. A license for the Government and its covered Government support contractors to use the video solutions and associated submission data for Government training purposes including training in the planning, implementation, execution, and administration of the Marketplace model, Marketplace processes, Marketplace Assessment criteria and scoring, Marketplace research, Conducting Feedback Sessions, Award of marketplace solutions, and other such related Government training.

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[XIV] The TSM SBIR/STTR Aisle

Effective in Version 7.0 of the Tradewinds Solutions Marketplace Announcement, the DoD Chief Digital and AI Office is introducing the Tradewinds Solutions Marketplace (TSM) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer Program (STTR) Aisle (hereinafter, the “TSM SBIR/STTR Aisle” or “The Aisle”). The TSM SBIR/STTR Aisle is a digital environment of video pitches consisting of previously competed SBIR and STTR efforts. The video solutions housed within the TSM SBIR/STTR Aisle have been assessed through competitive, merit-based selection procedures that conform to the competition requirements of 15 USC 638(s) under the SBIR/STTR programs. The solutions housed in the TSM SBIR/STTR Aisle are readily available to be viewed, selected, negotiated, and awarded by Government organizations in accordance with the SBIR/STTR Phase III process under the authority of 15 USC 638(r)(4)(B).

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE TSM SBIR/STTR AISLE:

The purpose of the TSM SBIR/STTR Aisle, as part of the larger Tradewinds Solutions Marketplace (TSM), is to provide a venue for AI/ML, Digital, and/or Data SBIR/STTR Solution Providers to present and promote their SBIR/STTR solutions through a standardized and curated digital Solutions Marketplace. For Government requirements personnel, the TSM SBIR/STTR Aisle provides a venue to search, view, review, compare, contrast, contact, negotiate, and procure AI/ML, digital, and/or data capabilities through the SBIR/STTR Phase III process. The TSM SBIR/STTR Aisle promotes statutory and programmatic goals to consider Phase III awards of SBIR/STTR technologies to the greatest extent practicable (15 USC 638(r)(4)).

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE IN TSM SBIR/STTR AISLE:

The TSM SBIR/STTR Aisle was developed on behalf of the Department of Defense (DOD) Chief Digital and AI Office (CDAO) to address the specific needs of the CDAO and its customer organizations within the AI/ML, digital, and data solution space, and is focused on the Strategic Focus Areas identified within the official TSM Announcement. Any participating SBIR/STTR Firm, assignee, or successor in interest to a relevant, Phase III-eligible SBIR/STTR solution, may submit a solution video to the TSM SBIR/STTR Aisle. The TSM SBIR/STTR Aisle is available for viewing by all Government users (.mil and .gov) via TradewindAI.com.

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THE TSM SBIR/STTR AISLE SUBMISSION PROCESS:

Firms interested in publicizing and promoting their relevant SBIR/STTR solutions through the TSM SBIR/STTR Aisle must follow the submission instructions detailed within this Announcement, Section VII and are subject to the license terms identified under Section XIII.

Submissions are made via the Tradewinds Solutions Marketplace Opportunity Page on TradewindAI.com. Within the submission form field entitled, “Submission Type”, select “New SBIR/STTR Aisle Submission.” Entities submitting solutions to the TSM SBIR/STTR Aisle must identify the following information within the “Abstract Description” field under the “Upload” tab of the submission workflow:

Relevant Phase I/Phase II/Phase II Supplemental/Phase III Award number(s) Awarding Agency(ies);

Topic Number(s);

Abstract Title(s); and Date(s) of Award for each relevant underlying effort.

THE TSM SBIR/STTR AISLE REVIEW PROCESS:

Unlike Non-SBIR/STTR Solutions submitted to the Tradewinds Solutions Marketplace (TSM), which undergo an assessment under the requirements of 10 USC 4021, 10 USC 4022, 10 USC 3458, FAR/DFARS Part 35, and DFARS Subpart 212.70, TSM SBIR/STTR Aisle solutions have already met competition requirements under 15 USC 638(s) and do not require additional assessment. To assure that TSM SBIR/STTR Aisle solutions are prepared for Phase III awards in the future, prior to placement in the Tradewinds Solutions Marketplace, the Solutions Marketplace Manager, the Applied Research Institute (ARI), will conduct a compliance review to assure that the submission meets all requirements of the TSM Announcement, as well as requirements for future award. Compliance checks are performed within three business days of submission (compliance reviews may exceed three business days during periods of high volume). Where a submission is incomplete, inconsistent, noncompliant with submission criteria requirements, or contains inappropriate markings, the submitting entity will be notified in writing and provided an opportunity to revise the solution and resubmit for consideration.

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THE TSM SBIR/STTR AISLE COMPLIANCE SCOPE OF REVIEW:

In carrying out the compliance review process, the Solutions Marketplace Manager, ARI, reviews both the video submission and the associated submission data for compliance with the requirements of the TSM Announcement. The scope of review of the compliance check is as follows:

Review the “Abstract Description” field for relevant SBIR/STTR information (required under Section XIV.

1.

Review that the video submission is no longer than 5:00 minutes in length.2.

Review that the video can be viewed and is audible.3.

Review that any graphics/charts displayed within the video are legible.4.

Review that the video does not contain any prohibited markings*.5.

Review that the video conforms to the resolution, file type, and color space requirements.

6.

Review that the video contains all required submission content as detailed in Section VII of the TSM announcement.

7.

Review the submission form data for completeness and accuracy.8.

Review accuracy of business size and traditional/nontraditional status using SAM.gov9.

Review that the effort fits within one of the TSM strategic focus areas.10.

*MARKINGS. TSM SBIR/STTR Aisle Solution videos and form information must be unclassified, and not include any proprietary information, export-controlled information, or controlled unclassified information (CUI). Solution videos must not contain any restrictive markings other than a valid copyright notice and/or appropriate SBIR/STTR Marking in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) clause 52.227-20 and/or Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) Clause 252.227-7018.

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Appendix A Technology Readiness Level (TRL)

Level Definition DoD DAG Description

Basic principles observed and reported.

Lowest level of technology readiness. Scientific research begins to be translated into applied research and development.

Examples might include paper studies o f a technology’s basic properties.

Technology concept and/or application formulated.

Invention begins. Once basic principles are observed, practical applications can be invented. Applications are speculative and there may be no proof or detailed analysis to support the assumptions. Examples are limited to analytic studies.

Analytical and experimental critical function and/or characteristic proof of concept.

Active research and development is initiated. This includes analytical studies and laboratory studies to physically validate analytical predictions of separate elements of the technology.

Examples include components that are not yet integrated or representative.

Component and/or breadboard validation in laboratory environment.

Basic technological components are integrated to establish that they will work together. This is relatively “low fidelity” compared to the eventual system. Examples include integration of “ad-hoc” hardware in the laboratory.

Component and/or breadboard validation in relevant environment.

Fidelity of breadboard technology increases significantly. The basic technological components are integrated with reasonably realistic supporting elements so it can be tested in a simulated environment.

6 System/subsystem model or prototype demonstration in a relevant environment.

Representative model or prototype system, which is well beyond that of TRL 5, is tested in a relevant environment. Represents a major step up in a technology’s demonstrated readiness.

7 System prototype demonstration in an operational environment.

Prototype near, or at, planned operational system. Represents a major step up from TRL 6, requiring demonstration of an actual system prototype in an operational environment such as an aircraft, vehicle or space.

Actual system completed and qualified through test and demonstration.

Technology has been proven to work in its final form and under expected conditions. In almost all cases, this TRL represents the end of true system development. Examples include developmental test and evaluation of the system in its intended weapon system to determine if its meets design specifications.

Actual system proven through successful mission operations.

Actual application of the technology is in its final form and under mission conditions, such as those encountered in operational test and evaluation. Examples include using the system under operational mission conditions.

2011 - 2024 Valid Evaluation, Inc. All rights reserved.

2011 - 2024 Valid Evaluation, Inc. All rights reserved.

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