Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) FY 2027

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) from the United States Coast Guard (USCG) Great Lakes Oil Spill Center of Expertise (GLCOE) solicits Research and Development (R&D) proposals focused on freshwater oil spill preparedness, response, and science. The GLCOE aims to operationalize innovative ideas to improve responses in the unique Great Lakes environment, which includes freshwater and ice-affected conditions.

Proposals should align with one of four themes:

• Freshwater Oil Spill Preparedness: Including detection, modeling, and sensors.
• Freshwater Oil Spill Response: Focusing on uncrewed systems, cold weather technology, and recovery methods.
• Freshwater Alternative Response Measures: Such as in-situ burning.
• Freshwater Fundamental Oil Spill Science: Covering oil properties, toxicity, and environmental transport.

Specific tasks include participation in a post-award conference, developing a Project Management Plan and Data Management Plan, conducting R&D activities, regular progress reporting, and submitting a final report and deliverables archive. An annual collaborative event is also planned.

• Funding: Proposals must be less than or equal to $250,000. Funding is subject to availability.

• Award Format: Awards are expected to be primarily Firm Fixed Price (FFP) contracts, but other types may be used.

• Period of Performance: Anticipated to be one year, starting between January-February, unless otherwise negotiated.

• Proposal Submission Deadline: Wednesday, March 12, 2026, 12:00 pm EST.

• Questions Deadline: February 26, 2026, 12:00 pm EST.

• Evaluation Criteria (Descending Order of Importance):

  1. Importance to GLCOE mandate and research themes.
  2. Scientific and technical merit.
  3. Funds availability.
  4. Cost/price realism and reasonableness.

• Open to all responsible sources (full and open acquisition).

• Small businesses are encouraged to propose.

• Foreign participation may be subject to review and restrictions.

• Offerors cannot submit more than one Technical Proposal per theme.

• Technical proposals must be UNCLASSIFIED.

• Page limit for Technical Proposals is 18 pages.

• Several templates are provided as attachments, including for Technical Proposals and Cost Breakdowns.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is an Excel spreadsheet titled 'FY27 BAA Cost Breakdown' and serves as a template for bidders to provide a detailed cost breakdown for their proposals related to the FY27 Broad Agency Announcement (BAA).

The spreadsheet includes sections for:

• Labor (CLIN0001)
• Travel (CLIN0002)
• Other Direct Costs (CLIN0003)
• Indirect Costs (CLIN0004)

Each section allows for the input of Location, Quantity, Unit Price, and Total Price, culminating in a 'TOTAL FIRM FIXED PRICE'. It also includes fields for Solicitation No., Project Title, Primary Offeror, Principal Investigator (PI) and their email, and Contracting/Administrative POC, though these are left blank in the provided template.

Bidders must use this template to detail their proposed costs for the opportunity. Accurate and complete cost breakdowns are essential for proposal evaluation and will directly impact the 'TOTAL FIRM FIXED PRICE' submitted.

Statement of Work (SOW) / Performance Work Statement (PWS)

This Performance Work Statement (PWS) outlines requirements for research and development projects aimed at advancing freshwater oil spill preparedness, response, alternative response measures, and fundamental science. The objective is to contribute to the United States Coast Guard Great Lakes Oil Spill Center of Expertise's (GLCOE) mission by addressing challenges and enhancing capabilities in these areas.

The scope encompasses research and development efforts aligned with proposals submitted under the Broad Agency Announcement (BAA). Projects will focus on advancing knowledge, technologies, or methodologies related to Great Lakes oil spills. Key themes include:

• Freshwater Oil Spill Preparedness (e.g., detection, modeling, in-situ sensors)

• Freshwater Oil Spill Response (e.g., uncrewed systems, cold weather equipment, physical recovery)

• Freshwater Alternative Response Measures (e.g., in-situ burning)

• Freshwater Fundamental Oil Spill Science (e.g., oil physiochemistry, fate, behavior, transport)

• The period of performance for each contract is one year from the date of award, unless a different start date is negotiated.

• The primary place of performance will be the Contractor's facilities, unless otherwise negotiated.

• Personnel: Requires a qualified Lead Principal Investigator (PI) as the primary point of contact. Key personnel must be identified and approved.

• Reporting: Includes a Post Award Conference, monthly progress reporting, quarterly progress meetings, and a final report.

• Deliverables: Specific deliverables include Draft and Final Project Management Plans, Draft and Final Data Management Plans, Research and Development Activities, Progress Meeting Minutes, Final Report, and a Deliverables Archive.

• Compliance: Adherence to Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act for Information and Communications Technology (ICT) is required. Also includes requirements for safety, animal research regulations, environmental regulations, and human research protection.

• Government Furnished Resources: None will be provided. The Contractor must furnish all necessary resources.

• Acceptance: Deliverables will be reviewed by the COR, with specific timelines for review and correction.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a "Technical Proposal Summary Page – Contract" intended for use by non-Federal Agency offerors. It serves as a cover page or summary for technical proposals submitted under a contract, likely related to the Great Lakes Center for Oceans and Human Health (GLCOE) Project Summary Contract.

• Solicitation No.: Field to enter the solicitation number.
• Project Title: Field to enter the project title.
• Research Topic Theme: Offerors must select the major theme and applicable sub-theme that best matches their project proposal from four listed themes: Freshwater Oil Spill Preparedness, Freshwater Oil Spill Response, Freshwater Alternative Response Measures, and Freshwater Fundamental Oil Spill Science. Each theme has several sub-theme options.
• Primary Offeror Information: Fields for the offeror's full name, division, and postal address.
• Contact Information: Fields for Technical Point of Contact, Principal Investigator (if different), and Contracting/Administrative Point of Contact, including name, email, and telephone.
• Unique Entity Identifier: Field for the offeror's UEI.
• Business Type: Dropdown or selection for business type (e.g., Large, Nonprofit, Small, SDB, WOSB).
• Principal Place of Performance: Field to indicate the primary location where the work will be performed.
• Period of Performance: Field to specify the contract duration.
• Use of Government Property/Information/Facilities: Checkboxes (Yes/No) to indicate the use of government resources.
• Technical Proposal Date of Submission: Field for the submission date.

This form is crucial for bidders to correctly categorize their technical proposal according to the specified research themes and to provide all necessary administrative and contact information required for proposal submission. Failure to complete this form accurately may impact proposal acceptance or evaluation.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is the "Technical Proposal Summary Page - IRWA" and is to be used by Federal Agency offerors. It serves as a form to summarize key aspects of a technical proposal for the IRWA (likely related to oil spill response research).

• Solicitation No.: Field to enter the solicitation number.
• Project Title: Field to enter the project title.
• Research Topic Theme: Offerors must select the major theme and, if applicable, a sub-theme that best matches their project proposal by checking the appropriate box. Themes include:
  • Theme 1: Freshwater Oil Spill Preparedness
  • Theme 2: Freshwater Oil Spill Response (with sub-themes like "Modernize Response Equipment & Novel Technologies")
  • Theme 3: Freshwater Alternative Response Measures
  • Theme 4: Freshwater Fundamental Oil Spill Science
• Primary Offeror Information: Fields for full name, division, and address of the submitting entity.
• Contact Information: Fields for Technical Point of Contact, Principal Investigator (if different), and Contracting/Administrative Point of Contact (name, email, telephone).
• Agency Information: Fields for Federal Department, Federal Agency, and Agency Location Code.
• Performance Details: Fields for Group Name, Principal Place of Performance, and Period of Performance.
• Resource Usage: Checkboxes to indicate the use of Government Property, Government Information, and Government Facilities.
• Technical Proposal Date of Submission: Field to enter the submission date.

This form is crucial for bidders to accurately categorize their proposal's research topic and provide essential administrative and contact information as required by the solicitation. It helps the government organize and understand the submitted proposals.