Army Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO) Innovation Days

The Army Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO) is hosting invitation only Innovation Days in Austin, TX on 11-12 February 2020, to quickly target and acquire promising new technology. This event is modeled after commercial investor "pitch" days and will evaluate disruptive, innovative approaches and technologies to address critical capabilities required by the Army. The RCCTO is focused on finding solutions that could be in the hands of Soldiers within a one-to-three year timeframe. The RCCTO's mission is to rapidly and efficiently research, develop, prototype, test, evaluate, procure, transition, and/or field critical enabling technologies and capabilities that address near-term and mid-term threats. The RCCTO executes this mission consistent with the Army's modernization priorities that maximize Soldiers' capabilities to deploy, fight, and win on future battlefields. We face an ever more lethal and disruptive battlefield, combined across all domains, and conducted at increasing speed and reach-from close combat, throughout overseas theaters, and reaching to our homeland, which requires us to quickly acquire innovative capabilities to prototype and to deliver to the warfighter. To meet these challenges, under the authority of 10 U.S.C. 2371b, the RCCTO utilizes Other Transaction Authority (OTA) to partner with nontraditional and traditional defense contractors and non-profit research institutions to carry out prototype projects that are directly relevant to enhancing the mission effectiveness of military personnel and the supporting platforms, systems, components, or materials proposed to be acquired or developed by the Army, or to improvement of platforms, systems, components, or materials in use by the armed forces. To the maximum extent practicable, competitive procedures are used when entering into agreements to carry out these prototype projects. This is a competitive solicitation seeking whitepapers for innovative technologies that accelerate attainment of critical technologies. In this context, innovative means any new technology, process, or business practice, or any new application of an existing technology, process, or business practice that contributes to enhancing military effectiveness and sustaining global peace and U.S. national security. This solicitation may result in the award of prototype projects, which include not only commercially-available technologies fueled by commercial or strategic investment, but also concept demonstrations, pilots, and agile development activities that can incrementally improve commercial technologies, existing government-owned capabilities, or concepts for defense application. Topic areas are not limited and white paper submissions from anyone with a well-defined idea that submission requirements will be considered. A listing of topics and areas aligned with the Army modernization priorities is provided as a reference. This listing is not meant to be limiting and is provided as notional understanding of the Army modernization priorities. Companies of all sizes are encouraged to participate, including firms and academic institutions that do not traditionally do work with the U.S. Army. Competition Process, Content/Submission Requirements, and Evaluation Criteria: Phase 1 (Whitepapers): To be considered to attend the RCCTO Innovation Day, participants should submit a white paper detailing their innovative idea. The whitepapers should focus on describing details of the proposed research, including how it is innovative and how it could substantially increase the scientific state of the art, U.S. Army relevance, and potential impact should also be described. Whitepaper submissions shall include how you would approach defining the future of the specific technology being submitted and the how the opportunities that are afforded in the commercial space today and potentially in the future are, and can be, applied. The white paper submission(s) shall follow the submission requirements outlined below: A complete submission will consist of three sections: Section One, the Cover Sheet, Section Two, the Technical Description, and Section Three, costs. Section One- Cover Sheet. The Cover Sheet shall be labeled as determined by special notice and shall include the following information: Organization Information: Name, Mailing Address, and CAGE Code (if available) Technical and Business Points of Contact to include: Telephone Numbers and Email Addresses Indicate whether your company is a Large Business, Small Business, or Academic Institution Indicate whether your company is a non-traditional defense contractor (*see definition below) If your company's proposed approach has been proposed to or previously funded by any federal agency please identify each specific agency and all applicable contract/agreement numbers List any relevant products utilized with other Government or commercial platforms, noting any specific DoD usage Project scope List technology area(s)/category (e.g., Artificial Intelligence, Directed Energy, etc.) and the specific Army modernization area(s) the technology falls, if any. Relevancy of the technical benefit Clear and timely schedule for delivering the technology Affordability/cost (to include additional expected costs for field able prototype, such as manufacturing, experimentation, and other costs) *Non-traditional defense contractor is defined in 10 U.S.C. - 2302(9) as an entity that is not currently performing and has not performed, for at least the one-year period preceding the solicitation of sources by the Department of Defense for the procurement or transaction, any contract or subcontract for the Department of Defense that is subject to full coverage under the cost accounting standards prescribed pursuant to section 1502 of title 41 and the regulations implementing such section Section Two- Technical description (TD)- Ensure your TD adequately describes the proposed contributions and approach. The TD should include the following sections: 1. Contribution to the Requirement- provide a high-level project overview describing how this contribution addresses one or more of the goals listed below: Enhanced Military or DoD System Capability - Describe how your proposed project significantly increases or improves the military capabilities in relationship to requirements and/or acquisition program needs. Accelerated Military or DoD System Development Capability - Describe how your proposed project accelerates the development and ability to deploy military or system capabilities required for use by the Department of the Army. Reduces Costs - Describe how your proposed project reduces the development, acquisition, sustainment, demilitarization, or total ownership costs of the identified fielded system or acquisition program. Reduce Technical Risks - Describe how your proposed approach can reduce the probability of program failure when applicable. 2. Technical Approach- Describe the proposed technical approach with consideration of the following: Project objectives and scope. Overview of tasks and methods planned to achieve each objective. The final product to be delivered. Major subcontractors or interdivisional partnerships and their expertise/experience Facilities/Equipment necessary to carry out the proposed effort. Related prior or current work, including SBIR/STTR contracts and IR&D projects. Current Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of the technology and/or product and what you think is required in testing by the government in order for your technology or product to be incorporated into a defense system or military program. The U.S. Army seeks a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) goal of 5 - 6 for entry and goal of 7 - 9 for exit. In circumstances of exceptional technical merit, proposals with a lower TRL rating will be considered for award. Discuss the benefits of your product or technology as it applies to the requirement addressed and how you plan to transition deliverables to a Government acquisition program, including any restrictions on Government use, release, or disclosure of technical data or computer software presenting transition difficulty and/or increased risk/cost to the Government. Discuss how the approach is innovative, feasible, achievable, and complete. 3. Schedule- Provide a proposed project schedule and describe how the proposed schedule is achievable for the proposed technical approach. Technologies should transition to a military system or defense program within 24 months of contract award. Discuss and/or use a Gantt chart or similar master planning tool to describe: Major activities/milestones to include transition and/or deployment events Deliverables Metrics/measures of success Potential risks and risk mitigation plans Section Three - Costs (ROM). (Please read the instructions below for cost data submissions.) The cost section of the whitepaper is ONLY a rough order of magnitude (ROM) for general awareness and for gauging the magnitude of the solution submitted. It is not a request for a formal nor detailed cost proposal. All formal cost proposals will be requested separately at the Government's discretion upon an invitation to provide proposals through separate means in accordance with Army acquisition processes. Please limit your submission to 10 pages plus the cover page. Cost ROMs are not included in the page limit. Submissions must be submitted NLT 16:00EST on Friday, 20 December 2019 via either the SOCOM Vulcan Website OR through the Army Applications Lab (AAL) submission portal. Submissions via the SOCOM Vulcan Website must be made to the collection at the link below (VULCAN SUBMISSIONS WILL ONLY BE CONSIDERED IF THEY ARE POSTED TO THE LINKED FOLDER - Innovation Day: 11-12 February 2020): https://vulcan-sof.com/login/ng2/submission?collectionUuid=4c2c4cae-832f-402f-a497-699c588fdb28 Alternatively, whitepaper submissions for this event are being accepted through the Army Applications Lab (AAL) at: http://aal.army DO NOT submit cost data through the Vulcan or AAL websites. All cost data shall be submitted via email to Jolynda Alston at contact@example.gov. All submissions shall be clearly marked "White Papers for Army RCCTO Innovation Days 2020". Only UNCLASSIFIED white papers will be accepted. There is no limit on the number of white papers that interested companies may submit in response to this announcement. The Government does not intend to publish any questions or comments received as a result of this announcement. Telephone inquiries will not be accepted. The evaluation process will be conducted using technical subject matter expert reviews. Each Whitepaper will be evaluated based on the merit, relevance, and cost as it relates to the evaluation factors stated herein rather than against other Whitepapers. Whitepapers submitted in response to this solicitation will be evaluated using the criteria listed below (in descending order of importance): The overall scientific and/or technical merits of the proposal. The potential contributions of the effort to the U.S. Army mission. Schedule: The degree to which the proposed schedule is achievable within 36 months or earlier from award. Cost: Whether the proposed cost or price is realistic and affordable for the proposed technical approach to the extent appropriate. The Government may elect to use external market research in the evaluation of a company's viability. The Government will endeavor to complete the Phase 1 whitepaper evaluations within 30 calendar days of the closing of the submittal period and provide notification to companies. Upon evaluation of a whitepaper, the Government may invite a company into Phase 2 (Pitch). In Phase 2, companies are invited to pitch and further discuss their proposed concept/technology/solution in person. During Phase 2, the Government may request and/or provide additional information to the Company. Phase 2 (Pitch): If selected, companies will then have an opportunity to pitch their project/idea to the RCCTO's subject matter expert panel consisting of leader representation across the Doctrine, Organization, Training, Materiel, Leadership, Personnel, Facilities, and Policy (DOTMLPF-P) spectrum. Pitches will be limited to twenty-five (25) minutes in length (firm). During the Pitch, companies should detail/address: Estimated costs/schedule: provide a rough order of magnitude price and notional schedule for how this concept could be tested within the U.S. Army. Data Rights Assertions: identify any intellectual property involved in the effort and associated restrictions on the Government's use of that intellectual property. The Government may also request companies to provide additional information/detail with respect to information provided in the Phase 1 whitepaper. Individual pitches will be evaluated against the evaluation criteria below and not against other pitches. The Government will aim to complete evaluation of pitches within 30 calendar days of the pitch. Upon completion of evaluations, the Government will notify companies if they have been selected for possible award of a prototype OTA and request the submission of a full proposal; or if their proposed concept/technology/solution is not selectable or eligible to be selected later. Pitches shall be evaluated on the following factors: Technical Merit of solution adequately addresses government need and is feasible Evaluation of company viability and viability of business solution Company's approach is unique/novel, underutilized and/or innovative to government application The rough order of magnitude (ROM) price; The notional schedule; The potential impact of data rights assertions Phase 3 (Prototype Proposal): Full proposals are by invitation only. Those companies whose whitepaper and pitch are evaluated to be of merit and are selected for potential award of a prototype OTA may, subject to the availability of funding, be invited to submit a full written proposal as well as negotiate appropriate terms and conditions governing the prototype project. Phase 4 (Basis for Award): Upon favorable evaluation and available funds, the Government may choose to make an award or multiple awards. Awards will be made to the companies whose offer is determined to provide the overall best value to the Government based on the criteria/preferences and availability of funds, this may not necessarily be the proposal offering the lowest cost/price or receiving the highest evaluated rating. Awards will be made using Other Transaction Agreements (OTAs). The Agreements Officer will negotiate directly with the company on the terms and conditions of the OTA, including payments, and will execute the OTA on behalf of the Government. Receipt of a RFPP does not guarantee that a company will receive an award and the Government reserves the right, at any point prior to award of an OTA, to cancel the RFPP. Please be advised, only an Agreements Officer has the authority to enter into, or modify, a binding agreement on behalf of the Government. Follow-on Production: Upon successful completion of a prototype project under the OTA, the Government and company may negotiate a follow-on production contract or agreement, without the need for further competition. Any concept/technology/solution successfully proven through the prototype OTA can be transitioned to production. Prototype OTAs awarded will include language providing for the potential award of a follow-on production contract or agreement as authorized under 10 U.S.C. 2371b(f). Prototype OTAs will explicitly identify follow-on production OTAs as a potential outcome of a successful prototyping effort. A transaction for a prototype project is complete upon the written determination of the appropriate approving official for the matter in question that efforts conducted under a Prototype OTA: (1) met the key technical goals of a project; (2) satisfied success metrics incorporated into the Prototype OT; or (3) accomplished a particularly favorable or unexpected result that justifies the transition to production. Furthermore, successful completion can occur prior to the conclusion of a prototype project to allow the government to transition any aspect of the prototype project determined to provide utility into production while other aspects of the prototype project have yet to be completed. Any Prototype OTA shall contain a provision that sets forth the conditions under which that prototype agreement must be successfully completed. Non-Government Advisors: Phase 1 (Whitepapers)- Non-Government advisors may be used in the evaluation of whitepapers and Pitches and will have signed non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) with the Government. The Government understands that information provided in response to this solicitation is presented in confidence and may contain trade secret or commercial or financial information, and it agrees to protect such information from unauthorized disclosure to the maximum extent permitted or required by Law, to include: a. 18 USC 1905 (Trade Secrets Act); b. 18 USC 1831 et seq. (Economic Espionage Act); c. 5 USC 552(b)(4) (Freedom of Information Act); d. Executive Order 12600 (Pre-disclosure Notification Procedures for Confidential Commercial Information); and e. Any other statute, regulation, or requirement applicable to Government employees. Phase 2 (Pitches) - Non-Government advisors may also be used in the evaluation of the pitches. In these cases, Companies will be notified of the name and corporate affiliation of these advisors in the request from the Government to provide a pitch. Companies will be afforded the opportunity to enter into a specific NDA with the corporate entity prior to submission of any proposals. Phase 3 (Proposals) - Non-Government advisors may also be used in the evaluations of proposals. In these cases, Companies will be notified of the name and corporate affiliation of these advisors in the request from the Government to submit a full written proposal. Companies will be afforded the opportunity to enter into a specific NDA with the corporate entity prior to submission of the proposal. Government policy is to treat all submissions as source selection information, and to disclose their contents only for the purpose of evaluation. Restrictive notices notwithstanding, during the evaluation process, submissions may be handled by support contractors for administrative purposes and/or to assist with technical evaluation. All DoD support contractors performing this role are expressly prohibited from performing DoD-sponsored technical research and are bound by appropriate NDAs. Disclaimer: Participation in Innovation Days is not a prerequisite for participating in any future solicitations or procurements. Nothing in this Innovation Days event is a guarantee of future partnerships, contract commitment, or future workload. This announcement is not a contract, a request for proposal, or a promise to contract, or a commitment of any kind on the part of the Government. The U.S. Army will make every effort to hold the Innovation Days at the times, date and locations specified. The U.S. Army holds the right to cancel and/or change session event times, dates and locations under certain conditions. These conditions usually include but are not limited to: inclement weather, event venue cancellation or rescheduling, speaker cancellation or rescheduling, and insufficient number of participants for the event. The U.S. Army holds the right to cancel the event for any reason up to and including the day of the event. In the event of predicted inclement weather, a decision will be made by 5 p.m. on the prior day. If the event is cancelled, the notice will be posted on this website and an email will be sent to all participants. The U.S. Army reserves the right to select for award and fund all, some, or none of the whitepapers, pitches, or proposals in response to this announcement. The costs of preparing and submitting whitepapers are not considered an allowable direct charge to any contract or agreement. The Government will not assume liability for costs incurred by an attendee for travel expenses or marketing efforts; therefore, attendee cost in response to this notice is not considered an allowable direct charge to the Government. *Please monitor this SAM announcement, LinkedIn, and the RCCTO's website (https://rapidcapabilitiesoffice.army.mil) for additional updates*