Navy Multi-Topic - Advanced Biomedical Product Development for Naval Operations

The Medical Technology Enterprise Consortium (MTEC) is excited to post this announcement for a Request for Project Proposals (RPP) focused on the on the advancement of engineering and medical prototypes and knowledge products related to a broad range of medical technological needs identified below. Relevance to the enhanced readiness and resilience of Navy and Marine Corps health and performance is a key feature of this RPP. Program Description: Due to the Navy and Marine Corps diverse warfighting capabilities, Sailors and Marines operate in a vast array of challenging and austere environments. Combination of physical and mental stress from extreme conditions compromise human performance capability, increasing risk and possible failure of mission objectives. In addition, operating environments cause complications and challenges in medical logistics and casualty management, both vital elements to ensuring survivability of combat casualties. To maintain warfighter lethality and operational effectiveness in challenging environments, next generation biomedical products are required. Technology Focus Areas: This multiple topic area (multi-topic) RPP will require white paper submissions that describe projects that are based on logical reasoning and sound scientific rationale. Projects shall not be exploratory in nature and do require a foundation of preliminary data. Note that MTEC-sponsored projects must result in - prototype research deliverables that transition medical solutions to industry. Proposed prototypes shall be at a minimum of a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 5 at the time of white paper submission. [Note: TRL definitions can be found here: https://mtec-sc.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/TRL-definitions.pdf] Subsequent to the completion of performance under the prototype award(s) resulting from this RPP, the Government reserves the right to award follow-on work. Any follow-on work for the continuation of the prototype development is contingent upon availability of future funding and the successful completion/progression of milestones. Proposed prototypes considered for further development should be at a TRL of 6 or 7 at the conclusion of the prototype award. A TRL of 6 or 7 means that the prototype solutions are ready, currently going through, or completed the Technology Maturation and Risk Reduction phase of the Defense Acquisition System framework or equivalent. Proposed prototype solutions shall address only ONE of the Technology Focus Areas in support of the Naval Advanced Medical Development (NAMD). Note that the full version of the RPP (available only on the MTEC members only site) also includes Specific Areas of Interest under each Technology Focus Area. White Papers shall address only ONE of the associated Specific Areas of Interest. Offerors are not limited to a single white paper submission. White Papers not aligned to ONE of these Focus Areas (and ONE of the associated Specific Areas of Interest) will not be considered for funding. These Technology Focus Areas are not listed in order of importance. Refer to the full RPP for specific areas of interest for each technology focus area. ***Note that as a result of Amendment 1, clarifications have been provided regarding Offeror Eligibility & Security Requirements as they relate to the following Technology Focus Areas. Refer to the full version of the RPP on MTEC's website (see below for link) for the details of this amendment*** 1) TECHNOLOGY FOCUS AREA #1: CASUALTY CARE This area focuses on patient care at and through the continuum of care as well as products and services that sustain patient health in austere environments such as expeditionary, littoral, and deep water. 2) TECHNOLOGY FOCUS AREA #2: MEDICAL LOGISTICS ENHANCEMENT This area focuses on patient and personnel recovery, remote health monitoring, and immersion injuries. 3) TECHNOLOGY FOCUS AREA #3: HUMAN PERFORMANCE This area focuses on the prediction of health status and outcomes from various sources of combat related stressors and advanced biomedical electronics such as sensors and microelectronics. Potential Funding Availability: The U.S. Government (USG) currently has available a total of approximately $17.5 million (M) of Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 and 2020 Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation (RDT&E) funds for anticipated awards to be made during FY2020. The estimated total available funding per Technology Focus Area is as follows: 1) TECHNOLOGY FOCUS AREA #1: CASUALTY CARE ~ $10M 2) TECHNOLOGY FOCUS AREA #2: MEDICAL LOGISTICS ENHANCEMENT ~ $2.5M 3) TECHNOLOGY FOCUS AREA #3: HUMAN PERFORMANCE ~ $5M MTEC anticipates that multiple awards may be made under each Technology Focus Area with average budgets ranging from $500,000 to $2,000,000 for the base period of performance (exclusive of any proposed options). The base Periods of Performance (POP) may range from 12 to 36 months, dependent upon product type and level of maturation required. Note that projects may be phased, as appropriate, with contract options to enable the exercise of additional milestones to allow maximum flexibility in terms of the progression of work, availability of funding, and duration of the awarded project(s). Pending successful completion of the total effort, the Government may issue a non-competitive follow-on production contract or transaction pursuant to 10 USC 2371b section f. Acquisition Approach: MTEC recognizes that considerable effort is required to prepare a competitive proposal to MTEC. The two-stage approach for this RPP is intended to streamline the initial proposal preparation time and effort for MTEC members. Based on the Government's evaluation of White Papers in Stage 1, select Offerors will be invited to participate in Stage 2 and will be required to submit a full proposal for more detailed evaluation. White papers are due no later than Monday, April 6, 2020 at 12:00pm Eastern Time (this due date has been extended as a result of Amendment 1). Stage 1: White Papers submitted under this RPP shall follow the MTEC White Paper Template provided in the full version of the RPP. Stage 2: Offerors whose technology solutions are selected for further consideration based on White Paper evaluation will be invited to submit either a solution pitch (i.e., oral presentation) followed by a written detailed research strategy and full cost proposal (after evaluation of the pitch) or a full proposal (to include technical and cost volumes) in Stage 2. Notification letters will contain specific Stage 2 proposal submission requirements and templates. *NOTE: Stage 2 Offerors will only be required to follow only one of the aforementioned Stage 2 processes. MTEC membership is required for the submission of a white paper in response to this MTEC RPP. Offerors submitting White Papers as the prime contractor must be MTEC members of good standing by Thursday, March 26, 2020. To join MTEC, please visit http://mtec-sc.org/how-to-join/ A Proposers Conference via webinar will be held for interested parties to have their questions answered by the USG after the RPP is posted. MTEC Members will be notified when the Proposers Conference is scheduled. MTEC: The MTEC mission is to assist the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command (USAMRDC) by providing cutting-edge technologies and supporting life cycle management to transition medical solutions to industry that protect, treat, and optimize Warfighters health and performance across the full spectrum of military operations. MTEC is a biomedical technology consortium collaborating with multiple government agencies under a 10-year renewable Other Transaction Agreement (OTA), Agreement No. W81XWH-15-9-0001, with the U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA). MTEC is currently recruiting a broad and diverse membership that includes representatives from large businesses, small businesses, - nontraditional defense contractors, academic research institutions and not-for-profit organizations. Points of Contact: Please direct your inquiries and correspondence to the following contacts: Questions concerning contractual, cost or pricing related to this RPP should be directed to the MTEC Contracts Administrator at contact@example.gov Technical and membership questions - Dr. Lauren Palestrini, MTEC Director of Research, contact@example.gov Administrative questions - Ms. Kathy Zolman, MTEC Director of Program Operations, contact@example.gov For more information or to view this solicitation, please visit the MTEC website here: https://www.mtec-sc.org/solicitations/