United States Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM), on behalf of its transportation component command, Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command (MSDDC)), is seeking non-federal partners ("Collaborators") from industry and academia for consideration to enter into Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs) (described in 15 USC 3710a). USTRANSCOM/MSDDC is seeking CRADA Collaborators to explore and advance the military’s ability to create feasible container loading plans which are more effective than the military’s current capability in accommodating irregularly- or complex-shaped items, resulting in more efficient use of container volume and decreased transportation costs. The complex shaped items typically have a dimension greatly differing from the others, are far from cubical or rectangular in overall shape, and may be separately packed for shipment, making otherwise void spaces in the container unusable for other items, and requiring significant additional handling, packaging and cushioning. The primary container of interest is the typical military ISO 20-ft or commercial 40-foot container; however adaptability of the techniques to other containers (high cube and flat rack) or transportation methods is also of interest. USTRANSCOM and MSDDC are interested in collaborating on all aspects of the problem, including: - The entire system of accommodating complex items, including methods of automated capture of physical dimensions in field use, data architectures and data storage/transmission methods, algorithms to select the best kind of container and optimize the use of container volume (to maximize container utilization and/or minimize delivery cost) - Production of a load plan for an individual container or across a fleet of containers - Improved methods of accurately and easily capturing the dimensions of complex shapes/irregularly-shaped items’ dimensions, in practice in the field at austere locations in the continental United States (CONUS) or beyond CONUS, as well as in well-equipped storage locations or transportation nodes; - Predicted reliability, durability, and affordability (including return on investment) of the techniques; - Improvements to software algorithms which build optimized container load plans to accommodate complex-shaped items; - Ability to optimize loads which include multiple complex-shaped items in a single container, or across a set of containers; - Integration requirements for new hardware and software components into existing DOD systems (ICODES as one example); - Features and utility of existing systems and techniques currently used outside of the Department of Defense, but potentially adaptable to DOD use and the effort required in doing so; - Methodology for choosing between containerization and breakbulk configuration for individual items; - Improvements to human-computer interfaces (i.e., better visualization and manipulation of computed loading solutions); - Assurance of feasibility and utility of the new techniques in realistic field-use environments, including austere locations lacking data communications, power supplies, etc.; - Operator training requirements and ownership and maintenance concepts CRADA Collaborators should have significant expertise and experience in container packing methods and container packing optimization techniques. This collaborative effort may involve but is not limited to: - Jointly exploring best practices and various approaches used in industry but not yet widely used in the Department of Defense - Joint development of employment concepts (CONEMPs) for techniques and systems new to the DOD - Examination of possibilities, challenges, etc., regarding integration of optimized complex-item packing information into existing information systems/services/programs - Exploration and development of new techniques in laboratory and/or realistic environments (including field trials) in either the Collaborator’s or the government’s operational environment This is not a solicitation for a procurement contract, nor should this announcement be construed as implying any future solicitation by USTRANSCOM, MSDDC, or any other Government agency in this area. 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 may participate in this collaborative project on behalf of or in partnership with USTRANSCOM and MSDDC, including federal laboratories and other agencies as the U.S. Government deems appropriate. Information, discussions, demonstrations, and other collaborative activities are proposed to 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) doctrine, training, CONEMP, and CONOPS information. 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 Collaborator demonstrated applicable experience, technical qualifications, resources offered, etc. Government resources available for collaboration will also be considered as part of the government’s selection process. USTRANSCOM will choose one, multiple, or zero white papers and so notify respondents that further discussions are desired. 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, duration, intellectual property, and resources to be applied by the parties in the proposed CRADA(s). The Government may choose to visit applicable facilities to observe Collaborator capabilities prior to final selection. 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 at http://www.ustranscom.mil/about/org/tccs/Model_USTRANSCOM_CRADA.pdf for potential Collaborator familiarization. Collaborator(s) and USTRANSCOM will jointly draft and seek agreement on specific CRADA Joint Work Plan scope, objectives, resource commitments, deliverables and supporting language through discussions and mutual agreement after initial Collaborator selection. Interested parties must submit white papers not later than 12 Nov 2013 via e-mail only, to
[email protected] in the following mandatory format. - Microsoft Word or .pdf format of not more than 8 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 submitting organization’s name on each page. - Clearly marked/identified Proprietary Information; photos, diagrams, etc. - Include the following information (within the 8-page limit): -- Title (no separate title page needed) -- Company name and State of incorporation, plus incorporation of any parent entity. Companies with foreign ownership or parentage must identify the nation of incorporation of the non-U.S. entity; USTRANSCOM must inform the US Trade Representative of CRADAs with non-U.S. entities. -- University name and location/state or nation of incorporation, plus state of incorporation of parent educational institution, if applicable. -- Description and location of any specialized facilities or capabilities (other than typical office space) to be dedicated to the collaborative effort. An optional brief video overview of facilities or Collaborator capabilities (approx. 5 megabytes or less), in addition to the 8-page textual white paper, may be submitted. -- Discussion of how potential Collaborator meets USTRANSCOM's stated interests and will contribute to a CRADA partnership in the subject area. Interest areas include: a description of the Collaborator’s innovation capabilities, ability to understand and analyze user needs, develop advanced concepts, design systems compatible with existing Government systems, mitigate risks of development, production, integration, etc., model, simulate, produce reports, host meetings, exercises, or experiments, perform economic analyses, and otherwise apply resources and expertise to collaborative development of pertinent concepts and systems. -- Resources to be supplied by the Collaborator (such as facilities, personnel, expertise, information systems, proprietary materials, prototypes, etc.). -- Open source software and any third party software to be used or provided by the Collaborator. -- Resources requested from USTRANSCOM (such as personnel, skill sets, data, information, facilities, access, etc.) -- Collaborator background/experience in applicable/related 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. -- 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 (NDA) will be accomplished wherever needed to protect respondent intellectual property. The USTRANSCOM Office of Research and Technology Applications (ORTA), which orchestrates USTRANSCOM Technology Transfer activities, is managed by members of the MITRE Corporation's National Security Engineering Center (NSEC) FFRDC. White papers from respondents that do not become CRADA collaborators will be retained in USTRANSCOM ORTA records and all clearly marked proprietary information will be protected. Primary Point of Contact: Mark Surina, MITRE Corp. USTRANSCOM Office of Research and Technology Applications (ORTA) TCJ5-GC 508 Scott Drive Scott AFB, Illinois 62225
[email protected]