ARMY APPLICATIONS LAB BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT FOR DISRUPTIVE APPLICATIONS
Solicitation Number: W911NF-19-S-0004
Agency: Department of the Army
Office: Army Contracting Command
Location: ACC - APG (W911NF) RTP
Response Date: May 01, 2024 11:59 pm (yes..2024! This BAA is a continuously open announcement valid throughout the period from the date of issuance through 1 May 2024, unless Announced otherwise. Submission begins with a White Paper. Then, if selected a full proposal will be requested. See below. )
The three main lines of effort associated with this BAA are (1) discovery, (2)
acceleration, and (3) translation of disruptive technology applications:
1. Discovery of novel capability concepts that capitalize on emerging technologies
and application insights from the widest possible range of sources.
2. Acceleration of disruptive applications of technology that delivers a 2-4 times
improvement over current or planned Army capabilities through the research,
development, and validation of technology demonstrators.
3. Translation of breakthrough innovations that create a scalable, first-mover
advantage for the Army in strategic technology areas by synchronizing knowledge
generated in the discovery and acceleration phases with key decision points across
the Army Future Force Modernization Enterprise (FFME).
Solutions consistent with these three functions and reflective of priorities, technical
challenges, and problems associated with the FFME will be solicited through this
BAA.
AAL is seeking technologies that address a wide range of Army needs consistent with
CFT capability focus areas and associated programs and lines of effort as well as
potentially disruptive new capabilities that augment or enhance Army capability
overmatch. A key focus for AAL is to identify and transition new technologies,
methodologies, and concepts related to:
1. Translational Research - Approaches and methodologies that accelerate the
Army’s innovation cycle through the translation of emerging technologies to
Army capability objectives, including the Army’s six modernization priorities and
associated programs and lines of effort.
2. Fourth Industrial Revolution Technologies - Approaches and methodologies that
are characterized by a fusion of technologies in the physical, digital, and
biological spheres. Specific technologies of interest include robotics; artificial
intelligence; autonomy; augmented and virtual reality; nanotechnology; quantum
information systems; synthetic biology and biotechnology; Internet of Things
(IoT); space systems; advanced networking, communications, and command and
control technology; additive manufacturing; and power and energy systems.
3. Commercialization - Approaches and methodologies that support the research and
development of dual-use solutions - i.e., solutions that support both emerging
Army needs and scalable commercial markets.
This BAA may be used to award procurement contracts, grants, cooperative
agreements, Technology Investment Agreements, and Other Transactions. AAL will
entertain discussions with applicants to consider a wide range of funding constructs
which might include but are not limited to Government funding, cost sharing, in-kind
labor or facility sharing by all parties, or any other allowable mechanism. Applicants
may propose cost sharing approaches but they are not required. AAL envisions
opportunities to engage in other types of collaboration agreements where no funds are
exchanged such as Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs)
which are negotiated separately from this BAA.
The Application Process
The application process is in three stages as follows:
Stage 1 – Submit Whitepaper - Prospective proposers are required to
submit whitepapers prior to the submission of a complete, more detailed
proposal. The purpose of whitepapers is to minimize the labor and cost
associated with the production of detailed proposals that have very little
chance of being selected for funding. Based on assessment of the
whitepapers, feedback will be provided to the proposers to encourage or
discourage them from submitting proposals. Whitepapers should present
the effort in sufficient detail to allow evaluation of the concept's scientific
merit and its potential contributions of the effort to the Army mission.
Stage 2 – Register with SAM (OPTIONAL) - Although whitepapers are
required prior to AAL requesting a complete proposal, applicants may
elect to execute this step prior to receiving a request for proposal in order
to expedite any potential award.
Stage 3 – Submit a Full Proposal - Applicants who have submitted a
whitepaper and been invited by AAL to provide a full proposal will make
their submission under the terms and conditions cited in this BAA and will
be reviewed regardless of the feedback on the whitepaper. Complete
proposals must be submitted in order for the applicant to be considered for
funding.