Description
Amendment 06 posted on 28 September 2012 removed the technical point of contact information previously listed on the Broad Agency Announcement. Amendment 05 posted on 31 August 2012 updated contact information found in Attachment 1, Proposal Preparation Instructions for the Broad Agency Announcement. Amendment 04 posted on 28 August 2012 updated contact information for the Broad Agency Announcement. Amendment 03 adds Attachment 4 to the ATI BAA requesting supplemental information in Technology Area 2: Lasers and Electro-optical Systems. Amendment 02 posted on 28 February 2012 served as the annual posting of this Broad Agency Announcement in accordance with FAR 35.016 (c). Amendment 01 posted on 15 August 2011 updated contact information for the Broad Agency Announcement. Introduction: The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) is charged with developing and fielding a Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS) to protect the United States (US), as well as US allies and friends from a ballistic missile attack. The MDA Ballistic Missile Defense layered approach includes sensors, kinetic energy systems, directed energy systems, battle management, and command control elements that will engage threat missiles in all phases of flight, from Boost Phase through Midcourse and into Terminal Phase. MDA efforts are focused on making the BMDS more robust against the widening threats, and increasing capabilities to handle a broad range of unknown missiles, warheads, trajectories, and adversaries. MDA must have the ability to detect, track, identify and kill the ballistic missile. Technical advancement is essential for continuous improvement in the BMDS. MDA advances technology that enables near-term, evolutionary growth in current systems while adding revolutionary systems to substantially improve the BMDS in the far term. The MDA Director, Advanced Technology (DV) is responsible for developing advanced capabilities for the BMDS. This includes planning and executing a broad range of enabling and advanced technology development efforts, developing the technology base for advanced BMDS Blocks, assessing emerging technologies, innovative concepts, and leading the effort to develop advanced algorithms for improving BMDS capability. MDA/DV has instituted the Missile Defense Advanced Technology Innovation (ATI) Program to identify and develop innovative concepts, stimulate technology innovation, and exploit breakthroughs in science to offer robust technology improvements to all elements of the BMDS. ATI is a competitive, science and technology research program, which consists of forefront advanced research and development technology, concepts, and approaches acquired through scientific and technological investigation. This Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) is issued under the provisions of Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 6.102(d) (2), which provides for the competitive selection of research proposals. Contract(s) based on responses to this BAA are considered to be the result of full and open competition and in full compliance with the provisions of PL 98-369, "The Competition in Contracting Act of 1984." Any contracts awarded from this BAA must comply with the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR). The MDA contracts with private industry, qualified accredited domestic educational institutions, and nonprofit organizations for research in those areas covered in this BAA. Awards as a result of this announcement will take the form of a contract, though the government reserves the right to use other types of contractual instruments if they are deemed more appropriate for the proposed work. Cost-plus-fixed-fee (CPFF) type contracts are anticipated to be awarded for these efforts. MDA does not have a specified amount of funding available for BAA awards, however, if MDA decides to pursue a concept the appropriate level of funding will be identified, and a final proposal will be requested by a MDA Contracting Officer in writing. Funding of research within MDA areas of interest will be determined by funding constraints and priorities set during the budget cycle. Any awards are anticipated to occur in fiscal year (FY) 2012 through FY 2013. Research Topics: MDA/DV is interested in development of advanced technology research in technologies for each missile defense phase encompassing the entire engagement sequence to include Surveillance, Acquisition and Tracking, Discrimination, Communications, Engagement Planning, Threat Engagement, Evolving Threats and Countermeasures, and Kill Assessment. The following nine ATI research topic areas pertain to the BMDS in all phases of the missile defense threat scenario: (1) Radar Systems (2) Lasers and Electro-optical Systems: Reference Attachment 4 for supplemental information in this area. (3) Sensor Systems (4) Computer, Signal and Data Processing (5) Materials and Electronics (6) Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (7) Battle Management/Command and Control (8) Propulsion and Power Systems (9) Modeling and Simulation (10) International BMDS Cooperation: Proposals for International BMDS Cooperation (area 10) must contain direct work relating to a foreign company or university that is either a partner or major subcontract under the proposed effort. This is the only area that we will entertain accepting basic or applied research proposals. Note: The Government reserves the right to release additional or supplemental requests for information on any of the above listed topics through FedBizOps to evaluate and consider along with white paper submissions. If you are interested in this opportunity, please respond to MDA with the following: (1) A summary concept white paper (no more than ten pages) which succinctly illustrates the proposed technical approach, as well as its rationale and objectives, methodology, expected results, and potential contribution to the MDA program using the attached Proposal Instructions (Attachment 1). (2) White Paper Rough Order of Cost Magnitude (ROCM), using the attached Cost Proposal Instructions paragraph (5). (3) A suggested program plan using the attached Proposal Instructions paragraph (4)(d). (4) A description of the offeror's capabilities, relevant experience, and facilities using the attached Proposal Instructions paragraph (4)(e). Note: Evaluations may take up to six months from receipt of White Paper to complete. If selected for award MDA will request a full technical volume and detailed cost proposal as requested in the attached proposal instructions paragraphs (6) (7) and (8). DO NOT SUBMIT THE TECHNICAL AND COST PROPOSALS UNTIL YOU RECEIVE A REQUEST FROM THE CONTRACTING OFFICER FOR THIS INFORMATION. The Government may use selected Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDC), University Affiliated Research Centers (UARC), support contractors, and other non-governmental personnel to assist in the evaluation and administrative handling of proposals submitted in response to this announcement. These persons are bound by appropriate non-disclosure agreements to protect proprietary and source selection information. Submission of white papers under this BAA constitutes the offeror's acknowledgment and consent to the use of contractors during the evaluation process. The evaluation team will evaluate and make recommendations for award, based on a peer or scientific review process in accordance with FAR 35.016(d) and (e). The primary basis for selecting proposals will utilize the below listed evaluation factors by applying the delineated criteria as follows: EVALUATION FACTORS: MDA will evaluate responses based upon the following five technical factors (weighted equally) and a cost evaluation: (1) Scientific and technical excellence of the research and its relevance to MDA goals with special emphasis on innovation, originality, and uniqueness; (2) The offeror's capabilities, relevant experience, and facilities; techniques, or unique combinations of these are integral factors for achieving the proposal objectives; (3) Qualifications, capabilities, and experience of the proposed principal investigator, team leader, and/or key personnel which are critical in achieving the proposal objectives; (4) Ability of the proposed effort to make progress toward demonstrating the feasibility of the concept in accordance with MDA programmatic needs; and (5) Demonstrated ability or clear plan to deliver results from research projects on schedule and under cost. Cost will be evaluated against the government's estimate of the cost of completing the contract using the technical and management approaches proposed; total evaluated probable cost consists of the government's estimate of the realistic cost of completing the offeror's proposals, to include the government's assessment of program risk, and additional costs to the government such as government-furnished property, government-furnished information, transportation, the duplication of previously awarded contracts submitted by the offeror, similar technology efforts pursued elsewhere and other cost related factors. EVALUATION CRITERIA: The following criteria will be applied to each factor for evaluation of each offeror's proposal: (1) The scientific excellence and innovative quality of the proposed technology or application; (2) The offerors' capabilities, relevant experience, and facilities; (3) The relevance of the technology or application to the MDA program, to include maturity and level of risk; and (4) Demonstrated ability or clear plan to deliver results from research projects on schedule and under cost. No further evaluation criteria will be used. The Government reserves the right to select for award any, all, part, or none of the proposals received in response to this announcement. Offerors are reminded that this BAA is for the acquisition of advanced technology for scientific study and experimentation directed toward advancing the state-of-the-art or increasing knowledge or understanding rather than focusing on a specific system or hardware solution. White papers related to the development of a specific system will be returned as non-responsive. This BAA will remain open until March 1, 2013. Submittals will continue to be accepted after initial posting date throughout the entire period of time the BAA is open. Issuance of this BAA does not obligate the Government to pay any proposal preparation costs (to include those proposals selected for award).