PROGRAM OBJECTIVES AND DESCRIPTION: The U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) announces interest in research and development of airborne systems in support of persistent airborne Close Air Support (CAS) of ground Troops in Contact (TIC). The area of interest includes new ideas and innovative approaches to rapidly mature proven technologies to a production readiness state, as well as applications of existing COTS-NDI solutions that may be integrated onto an existing airframe. Considerations include speed to field, integration complexity, Technical Readiness Level TRL level of solutions proposed, and overall mission capability provided. AREAS OF INTEREST: The proposal should be focused on the CAS/TIC mission. Interest areas include, but are not limited to: 1. Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance a. Day/Night and Active/Passive Sensor Capabilities i. Optical ii. Short wave infrared (SWIR) iii. Mid wave infrared (MWIR) iv. Long wave infrared (LWIR) v. Near infrared (NIR) vi. LIDAR/LADAR vii. Other capabilities b. All Weather Sensor Capabilities i. Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR)/GMTI c. Communications d. Antennas e. Target Identification/Recognition f. Signals Data Collection and Processing Systems g. Personnel Location and Identification 2. Airborne Strike & Fire Control Capabilities (Integrated & Stand Alone) a. Target Identification/Recognition b. Medium Caliber Guns and Ammunition c. Large Caliber Guns and Ammunition d. Precision Weapons e. All Weather Engagement Capabilities f. Moving Target Engagement Capabilities g. Ballistics Characterization h. Sensors which provide inputs to Improve Fire Control Accuracies i. Radar Technologies (SAR/GMTI, Beacons, etc) j. Wind Measurement Systems k. LIDAR/LADAR l. Weapons Effects Improvements m. Lethal and Non-Lethal Weapons for Airborne Applications n. Fire Direction Determination Technology o. High Precision Motor Dynamic Control Systems p. High Accuracy Inertial, Gyro, GPS Systems 3. Munitions Launch Systems 4. Battle Management a. Sensor Correlation/Evaluation b. Data/Sensor/Display Fusion c. Data Link Capabilities 5. Air Vehicle Self Protection a. Aircraft Armor/Ballistics Protection b. Electronic Warfare Receiver and Jammer Systems 6. Air Launched Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) 7. Air Launched Ground Sensors 8. Precision Airdrop Technology 9. Affordable Composite Materials for Airborne Applications RESPONSES: The BAA will remain open for submissions for one year after the initial posting date of this announcement. An offeror may submit more than one concept aligned with the technologies listed above. Responses are requested from any responsible organizations including those from private industry, academic institutions, research institutions, and non-profit organizations. All responsible sources capable of satisfying the Government needs may submit an abstract that shall be considered by USSOCOM. Initial abstracts may be submitted at any time after issuance of this BAA up to the expiration date of the BAA. Interested parties are invited to submit a one page abstract for preliminary consideration. ABSTRACT FORMAT: The format for the one page abstract is as follows: One single-sided page excluding cover page. Paper size 8.5 x 11 inch paper, 1" margins, single spacing, Times New Roman font (10 point), and Microsoft Windows or .PDF format. The cover page should be labeled ABSTRACT and shall include BAA number, abstract title, and company information to include address, phone, fax, and technical contact with email address. The body of the abstract should contain a narrative description of the effort and applicability to the identified areas of interest to be derived as a result of the effort. This should include the following: Technical Concept, Key Technical Characteristics, Perceived Operational Benefit, Technical Readiness Level, Performance Period, and any other technical data/information to be conveyed for consideration. ABSTRACT EVALUATION: Abstract submissions will be reviewed every 30 days. Each offeror will be notified of the review results for their abstract. If the topic is found to be of interest to USSOCOM, a white paper will be requested. WHITE PAPER SUBMISSIONS: Abstracts receiving favorable review will result in a request to submit a white paper. White papers will be evaluated against the criteria stated below. White papers are not evaluated against each other since there is no common work statement; however, funding constraints (i.e., funds availability) may require a prioritization process and affordability considerations may enhance or preclude award. Decisions will be based on application of the evaluation criteria within each program area based on peer or scientific review. White papers may be formally evaluated by one or more individuals possessing necessary qualifications and experience in the technical area, which may include evaluation by contractor support personnel possessing specialized expertise. White papers submitted under this BAA are protected from unauthorized disclosure. All personnel evaluating white papers are required to sign a non-disclosure agreement prior to white paper receipt or review. WHITE PAPER EVALUATION CRITERIA: Relative Order of Importance: Factors 1 and 2 are of equal importance. Factors 1 and 2 are significantly more important than factors 3, 4, 5, and 6 which are all of equal importance. 1. TECHNICAL MERIT: Overall scientific and/or technical merit of the proposal. 2. RELEVANCE/IMPORTANCE: Potential contribution toward advancing USSOCOM mission objectives and interests, in particular CAS/TIC. 3. CAPABILITY: The offeror's capabilities, capacity, related experience, facilities, techniques, or unique combination of these that are an integral factor for achieving proposal objectives. 4. PERSONNEL QUALIFICATIONS: The qualifications, capabilities, and experience of key personnel (e.g., Principal Investigator (PI), Subject Matter Experts, Scientists, Engineers, etc.) who are critical in achieving the proposal objectives. 5. RISK: Technical and schedule risk assessment and/or mitigation measures in relationship to potential payoff. 6. COST: Affordability, cost realism, and reasonableness. WHITE PAPER FORMAT: The format for white papers follows below. White papers that do not satisfy these form and format requirements may be rejected without further review or evaluation. All submissions shall be in the English language. White papers shall be submitted electronically; a paper copy is not required. Electronic copies should be in PDF (preferred) or Microsoft Word. A white paper should be a brief summary. It introduces the idea, solicits interaction with government, and avoids the expense of generating proposals that have little likelihood of selection or award within this BAA. White papers should summarize the planned proposal and clearly articulate the innovative concept or technology development and demonstration being proposed. White papers should contain a cover sheet (clearly marked White Paper), a ten-page (maximum) summary of the technical idea, a one-page cost summary, and a one-paragraph (150-200 words) abstract of the white paper as a whole. All pages should be printable on 8.5 by 11 inch paper; type not smaller than 10 point using Times New Roman font. The page limitations for white papers include all figures, tables, and charts. No formal transmittal letter is required. Offerors should segment their proposed efforts into an initial Phase 1 period of 6 months or shorter to explore and validate the technical feasibility of the concept, and one or more additional phases as optional efforts culminating in a technology demonstration / utility assessment. The total effort including options should not exceed 12 months. Successful initial phases will have a greater likelihood of receiving funding for subsequent optional phases. WHITE PAPER AND ABSTRACT EVALUATION AND NOTIFICATION: Electronic acknowledgment of receipt of all abstracts and white papers will be made. Abstracts and subsequent white papers will not be returned. The BAA will remain open for submissions for one year after the initial posting date of this announcement. Abstracts received after the closing date will not be reviewed or evaluated. USSOCOM will review and respond electronically to each requested white paper within 60 days of submission; however, USSOCOM reserves the right to review and respond as white papers are submitted. Upon completion of the evaluation, the offeror will be notified that 1) the white paper has merit and will be considered for award as funds become available, or 2) the white paper does not contain sufficient relevance to the SOF mission to be of interest to the command. PROPOSALS: Any invitation to submit a full proposal will be made on the basis of the white paper evaluation criteria above and program balance that provides the best value to the Government. If an invitation is made, it will be made by letter signed by a warranted Contracting Officer. FUNDING: There is currently no funding set aside for awards made under this BAA. Should a topic be found of interest, funding shall be sought for that effort. AWARDS: All awards made as result of responses to this announcement shall be publicized in accordance with FAR 5.301. Awards will be subject to the availability of funds. Award instruments may take the form of a procurement contract, grant, or agreement depending upon the nature of the work proposed, the required degree of interaction between parties, and other factors. The Government reserves the right to 1) select for award all, some, or none of the proposals received, and 2) incrementally fund any award instrument. Offerors will not be reimbursed for proposal preparation costs. Offerors submitting white papers and follow-on proposals are cautioned that only the Contracting Officer is authorized to obligate the Government to any agreement involving expenditure of Government funds. PROPRIETARY DATA: The government desires unlimited data rights to all information and products generated under contracts that result from this BAA. When an offeror must include proprietary data in order to fully communicate their concept, the offeror must clearly mark and identify any proprietary data that the offeror intends to be used only by the Government for evaluation purposes. The offeror must also identify any technical data contained in the white paper that it is furnishing to the Government with restrictions on use, release, or disclosure. In the absence of such identification, the Government will assume to have unlimited rights to all technical data in the white paper. Records or data bearing one of the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulations System (DFARS) approved restrictive legends may be included in the white paper. It is the intent of the Government to treat all white papers as privileged information and to disclose their contents only for the purpose of evaluation. The offerors are cautioned, however, that portions of the white papers may be subject to release under terms of the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. 552, as amended. USE OF NON-GOVERNMENT PERSONNEL: All proprietary material should be clearly marked and will be held in strict confidence. Restrictive notices notwithstanding, proposals may be handled for administrative purposes by a support contractor that is bound by appropriate non-disclosure requirements. Input on technical aspects of the proposals may be solicited by USSOCOM from non-Government consultants and advisors who are bound by appropriate non-disclosure requirements. Non-Government personnel will not establish final assessments of risk, rate, or rank offerors' proposals. These advisors are expressly prohibited from competing for BAA awards. All administrative support contractors, consultants, and advisors having access to any proprietary data will certify that they will not disclose any information pertaining to this announcement, including any submission, the identity of any submitters, or any other information relative to this BAA, and shall certify that they have no financial interest in any submission evaluated. Submissions and information received in response to this BAA constitute the offeror's permission to disclose that information to administrative support contractors and non-government consultants and advisors. ORGANIZATIONAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST: Awards made under this BAA are subject to the provisions of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 9.5, Organizational Conflicts of Interest. All offerors and proposed subcontractors must affirmatively state whether they are supporting any Government office(s) through an active contract or subcontract. All affirmations must state which office(s) the offeror supports and identify the prime contract number. Affirmations shall be furnished at the time of proposal submission, and the existence or potential existence of organizational conflicts of interest, as that term is defined in FAR 9.5, must be disclosed. This disclosure shall include a description of the action the offeror has taken, or proposes to take, to avoid, neutralize or mitigate such conflict. If the offeror believes that no such conflict exists, then the offeror shall so state in the affirmation. SUBMITTAL ADDRESS: All abstracts and requested white papers shall be sent electronically to the following email address:
[email protected]. The subject line for all email submissions shall state the applicable Area of Interest as listed in this notice. Submissions received by USSOCOM but not submitted specifically to the BAA may not be considered under the BAA. ADMINISTRATION: USSOCOM will reply to all questions relating to this BAA. All correspondence regarding this solicitation should be directed to the address below. USSOCOM prefers to use electronic mail for correspondence regarding this BAA. Point of Contact:
[email protected]. CONTRACTING AUTHORITY: Offerors and interested parties may hold discussions with Government personnel regarding the contents of documents submitted in response to this announcement. Only warranted contracting officers have authority to enter into contracts to the extent of the authority delegated to them. Offerors and interested parties are cautioned that an agreement by any Government representative other than a Contracting Officer is not legally binding.