BAA S&TCD 2018
Background
1. The Broad Agency Announcement (BAA), solicitation number BAA-18-R-STCD, is sponsored by the US Army Command, Control, Computers, Communications, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C5ISR) Center, Space and Terrestrial Communications Directorate (S&TCD) and will be open for five (5) years from the date of original issue. The BAA will be valid through 19 June 2023, unless terminated sooner. This BAA includes research interests from the S&TCD, which is located at Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG), Maryland.
2. C5ISR develops and integrates command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (C4ISR) technologies that enable information dominance and decisive lethality for the networked Warfighters. The C5ISR S&TCD provides the Army with secure communications/networking technologies through research and development (R&D) innovations.
S&TCD has six Program Divisions: Cyber Security and Information Assurance (CSIA), Satellite Communications Systems (SATCOM), Systems Engineering, Architecture, Modeling and Simulation (SEAMS), Radio Frequency Communications (RFC), Tactical Communications (TC), Operations (OPS). Each Division has a specific mission area of responsibility in support of the Army's need for the most modern strategic and tactical communication technologies.
General Information
1. The BAA is issued under the provisions of Parts 35.016 and 6.102(d)(2)(i) of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), which provides for the competitive selection of research and development proposals submitted in response to this announcement. FAR 35.016 provides for the issuance of a BAA as a means of soliciting proposals for basic and applied research and that part of development not related to the development of a specific system or hardware procurement. To be eligible for consideration and possible contract award, the technology or methodology shall be either basic research, applied research, advanced technology development not for a specific system/hardware, or demonstration and validation. BAAs may be used by agencies to fulfill their requirements 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. The BAA shall only be used when meaningful proposals with varying technical/scientific approaches can be reasonably anticipated.
Basic Research
Defined as research directed toward increasing knowledge in science with the primary aim being a fuller knowledge or understanding of the subject under study, rather than any practical application of that knowledge.
Applied Research
Is an effort that normally follows basic research, but may not be severable from the related basic research; attempts to determine and exploit the potential of scientific discoveries or improvements in technology, materials, processes, methods, devices, or techniques; and attempts to advance the state-of-the-art.
2. This BAA is a hybrid combining elements of an open, two-step, and with calls BAA offering maximum flexibility to the organization and opportunities for respondents.
An open BAA allows for white paper submittals at any time until the expiration of the BAA. White papers and proposals will be evaluated according to the instruction described herein.
A two-step BAA will invite potential offerors to submit brief descriptive white papers in lieu of full proposals. Full proposals are then requested from those potential offerors selected in the white paper evaluation process. When proposals are received, they are evaluated and selected according the procedures described herein.
While the BAA will remain open allowing white paper submission at any time, the Government might also issue requests transmitted via "calls", using the Federal Business Opportunities (https://www.fbo.gov/) bringing attention to one or more areas of interest requesting potential offerors to submit a white paper. The "calls" might further define the technology/government needs etc. or will simply request a white paper for a specific topic.
3. White papers may be submitted at any time during the life of this BAA, as well as in direct response to a Call. The Government may award a contract at any time during the life of this BAA. An award may also be made after the BAA expiration date if the white paper is received before the expiration date occurs. This award may occur no later than six (6) months after the BAA expiration date. Offerors that submit a proposal without first submitting a white paper may not be eligible for award.
4. This announcement must be general in nature, identify the areas of research interest, include criteria for submitting and evaluating white papers, and solicit the participation of all offerors capable of satisfying the Government's needs. Proposals that are selected for award 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. Resulting agreements may be in the form of purchase orders, contracts, grants, or cooperative agreements depending upon the specifics of the effort, such as extent of Government involvement, actual scope of work, and cost.
5. C5ISR encourages industry interested in conducting scientific research, educational institutions, small businesses, and small disadvantaged business concerns, historically black colleges, university and minority business enterprises and institutions to submit white papers. Eligible prospective offerors also include Canadian firms participating in the Defense Development Sharing Program.
6. The Government will consider Contractor Teaming Arrangements, as set forth in FAR Subpart 9.6, or Defense Research and Development Pools as set forth in FAR Subpart 9.7.
7. The offeror, by submission of an offer or execution of a contract in response to this solicitation, certifies that the offeror is not debarred, suspended, declared ineligible for award of public contracts, or proposed for debarment pursuant to FAR 9.406-2. If the offeror cannot certify, or if the status of the offeror changes prior to award, the offeror must provide detailed information as to its current status.
8. This BAA is an expression of interest only and does not commit the Government to make an award or pay white paper or proposal preparation costs generated in response to this announcement. The cost of white paper and proposal preparation for response to a BAA is not considered an allowable direct charge to any resultant contract or any other contract. Any award will be made subject to availability of appropriated funds. Prospective offeror is reminded that only a duly warranted Contracting Officer may obligate the Government to an agreement involving expenditure of Government funds. The Government reserves the right to fund all, some, one, or none of the white papers or proposals received under this BAA. The Government anticipates making multiple awards subject to availability of funds.
9. This BAA may be amended to add new topics. Interested parties should be alert for any BAA amendments that may be published on the Federal Business Opportunities (FBO) Webpage, https://www.fbo.gov
Points of Contact
1. All submissions and technical questions or clarifications should be sent via email to the Technical Point of Contact (TPOC) associated with the respective Research Topic, with the Contracting Officer, Contract Specialist, and Acquisition Management Team Mailbox (see below) included on the cc line. No discussions by the technical staff are to be held with offeror, after white paper or proposal submission, without permission of the Army Contracting Command Contracting Officer.
2. Contractual questions may be directed to Contracting Officer, Brian Holman, at email: brian.j.holman2.civ@mail.mil, or to Contract Specialist, Andrew Pilone, at email: andrew.m.pilone.civ@mail.mil. Acquisition Team Mailbox: usarmy.apg.rdecom-cerdec.mbx.stcd-amt@mail.mil
Brian Holman, Contracting Officer, Phone (443) 861-4612, Email brian.j.holman2.civ@mail.mil - Tammy M. Woodard, Contract Specialist, Phone 443-861-4642, Email tammy.m.woodard2.civ@mail.mil
