Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) Opportunity for Concept and Business Model Development for Multi-Mission Logistics Vessel (MMLV)

United States Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) is seeking multiple non-federal partners ("Collaborators") from industry and/or academia to be considered for participation in Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs) (described in 15 USC 3710a, quoted below). Under CRADAs, USTRANSCOM seeks to explore, research and initially develop the concept and business model for the Multi-Mission Logistics Vessel (MMLV), a ship-based delivery system to rapidly provide support to worldwide (U.S. and foreign nation) crisis response/disaster relief operations. The challenge is to understand the feasibility of the concept, considering user needs, economic factors, vessel characteristics and capabilities, appropriate command and control systems, ownership models, support and maintenance concepts, operations costs and user fee structures, and all other system aspects of a small fleet of MMLVs, geographically assigned to specific areas of operation. The MMLV concept supports financially self-sustaining operations with multiple revenue-generating lines of business (LOBs). Example LOBs may include but are not limited to mariner training, host nation training, routine humanitarian medical and equipment supply operations and other non-disaster related activities which provide a continuous workload around urgent disaster relief operations, for 365-day operations. Based on a precedence system, the elements of which are also to be explored and developed, afloat MMLVs would shift operations and locations to urgent crisis action/disaster relief functions when need arose in their areas of responsibility, foreign or domestic. Crisis action/disaster relief organizations (NGOs, PVOs, etc.) and other agencies representing the various supported LOBs would consign their cargo to, or base their activities on, the MMLV. The MMLV concept requires significant development and maturation. Detailed work plans and contributions by all parties under CRADAs to support concept development will be determined by discussions between the candidate Collaborators and USTRANSCOM. The collaborative work may involve, but is not limited to, the following areas: - Identification of stakeholders - Identification of potential users and accompanying LOBs - Development of business case/cost projections/value statements for stakeholders and users - Development of the mission precedence system - Vessel capability requirements supporting all LOBs - Ownership, operations, maintenance, sustainment, crewing, flagging, home-porting and self-protection strategies - Concepts of employment for various emergency scenarios (hurricane, earthquake, man-made disaster, etc.) - Comparison of baseline user delivery capabilities (as is) to MMLV capabilities (business cases and return on investment) - In addition, USTRANSCOM seeks parties interested in functioning as "sector leads". Sector leads will be central points of contact, communication facilitators, thought leaders, and information aggregators from the various sectors expected to participate in this effort: commercial industry (shippers, ship operators, original equipment manufacturers); academia, consortia; governments, nations, and disaster response organizations (NGOs, PVOs, etc.) and other users ("floating classroom" operators, etc.) Sector leads will be the CRADA signatories, and will be primarily responsible for coordination and information sharing across their sector including participants who are not signatories. USTRANSCOM initially seeks white papers on the above topic areas (and others) to populate the initial MMLV concept. USTRANSCOM may thereafter seek partnerships with collaborators via Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs) for long-term collaboration and further maturation of the MMLV concept. The result of long-term collaboration under the CRADA will be a highly-developed concept of operations and financial projections for the MMLV system which can be jointly used by all parties to the CRADA. CRADA collaborators should have significant expertise and experience in maritime-based global logistics operations and/or disaster relief, training, ship operation, cargo handling, or other pertinent disciplines. This is not a solicitation for a procurement contract, nor should this announcement be construed as implying any future solicitation by USTRANSCOM, Military Sealift Command, or any other Government agency in this area. United States-owned small and large businesses, universities, and other non-federal parties may respond to this announcement. Respondents (potential Collaborators) may team with other qualified non-federal parties. Multiple federal agencies will participate in this collaborative project on behalf of or in partnership with USTRANSCOM and MSC, including federal laboratories and other agencies as the U.S. Government deems appropriate. Information, discussions, demonstrations, and other collaborative activities should remain at the UNCLASSIFIED level. If classified information exchange is indicated, Collaborator personnel must provide, at no cost to the Government, clearance documentation prior to classified data/information exchange. Results and products of this collaborative effort may include reports, presentations, simulations, demonstrations, and analyses of feasibility, technical maturity, costs, risks, etc., as well as (but not limited to) recommendations on changes to doctrine, training, concepts of employment, and concepts of operation. CRADAs are defined in 15 USC 3710a(d), in part, as "any agreement between one or more federal laboratories and one or more non-federal parties under which the Government, through its laboratories, may provide personnel, services, facilities, equipment, data, information, intellectual property, and other resources with or without reimbursement (excluding funds to non-Federal parties) and the non-Federal parties may provide personnel, services, facilities, equipment, data, information, intellectual property, funds, and other resources toward the conduct of specified research or development efforts which are consistent with the missions of the laboratory; except that such term does not include a procurement contract..." CRADAs resulting from this announcement are forecast to be in effect for approximately a 2-year period, although duration can be tailored to suit both parties' needs, by mutual agreement, before or after work begins. USTRANSCOM and other Government agencies selected by USTRANSCOM will evaluate potential Collaborators' white papers (submittal instructions follow), based on demonstrated Collaborator applicable experience, technical qualifications, resources offered, etc. Government resources available for collaboration will also be considered. USTRANSCOM will choose one, multiple, or zero white papers and will invite selectees to engage in discussions pursuant to reaching agreement on CRADA goals, schedules and resource contributions. Initial white paper selection and subsequent discussions do not guarantee selection of any Collaborator by USTRANSCOM to actually enter into a CRADA. After initial Government white paper selection, discussions will ensue separately with each potential Collaborator, seeking to reach mutual agreement between USTRANSCOM and the Collaborator(s) on objectives, sector lead role, duration, intellectual property and resources to be applied by the parties in the proposed CRADA(s). The Government may choose to hold an Industry Day or similar activity, at or near Scott AFB, Illinois either before or after initial white paper selection. No Government funding is available to cover white paper preparation or submittal costs, or to cover discussions, facility visits, or any other Collaborator costs of preparation or participation in a CRADA. The USTRANSCOM CRADA template is available for download at http://www.ustranscom.mil/about/org/tccs/Model_USTRANSCOM_CRADA.pdf for potential Collaborator familiarization. Collaborator(s) and USTRANSCOM will cooperatively draft and finalize specific CRADA scope, objectives, commitments, and language through discussions/and mutual agreement after Collaborator selection. Interested parties will submit white papers not later than 1 October 2014 2359 hrs, via e-mail only, to [email protected] in following format. Hardcopy submittals will not be considered. White papers submitted to other than the above e-mail address will not be considered. - Microsoft Word or .pdf format of not more than 12 pages in length, on standard 8½ by 11-inch page, with 1-inch margins at top, bottom, left and right, in Times New Roman font of not less than 12-point size, with not more than 6 lines per inch. - Pages numbered sequentially in the bottom footer including company/university/organization name on each page. - Clearly marked/identified Proprietary Information; all text, photos, diagrams, etc. - Include the following information (within the 12-page limit): -- Company name and state/nation of incorporation, plus incorporation place of any parent entity. -- University name and location/state/nation of incorporation, plus state of incorporation of parent educational institution, if applicable. -- Description and location of any specialized equipment, facilities or capabilities (other than typical office space) to be dedicated to the collaborative effort. -- Discussion of how potential Collaborator meets USTRANSCOM's stated interests and will contribute to a CRADA partnership in the subject area. Include elements of the MMLV capability areas listed above and a description of your innovation capability, ability to analyze and understand user needs, and develop advanced concepts. -- Resources to be supplied by the Collaborator (such as facilities, personnel, expertise, information systems, simulations, models, proprietary materials, prototypes, etc.). -- Open source software and any third party software to be provided by the Collaborator. -- Resources requested from USTRANSCOM (such as personnel, skill sets, data, information, facilities, access, etc.-funds cannot be provided by USTRANSCOM) -- Background/experience in applicable/related techniques, system development, engineering, integration with existing systems and infrastructures, economic and other analysis, testing, operation, etc. Provide DOD points of contact with addresses/phone numbers as references, if available. -- Interest in functioning as a "sector lead". -- Collaborator(s) point(s) of contact (name, address, e-mail, and phone) for notification of selection/non-selection and follow-on actions (if chosen). USTRANSCOM and other Government agency personnel participating in white paper review and follow-on collaborative work under CRADA may include in-house support contractors and members of Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDC). Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) will be accomplished wherever needed to protect respondent intellectual property. The USTRANSCOM Office of Research and Technology Applications (ORTA), which orchestrates all USTRANSCOM Technology Transfer activities, is supported by a member of the MITRE Corporation's National Security Engineering Center (NSEC) FFRDC. Members of SRA International, as in-house contractors in USTRANSCOM, will support this effort and will review submitted white papers. White papers from respondents who do not become CRADA collaborators will be retained in USTRANSCOM records and all properly marked proprietary information will be protected. Primary Point of Contact: USTRANSCOM TCJ5/4-GC (ORTA) 508 Scott Drive Bldg 1900W Scott AFB, Illinois 62225 United States [email protected]