Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) FY 2027 Revision 003

Questions & Answers / Clarifications

This document provides clarifications and answers to questions submitted by potential bidders regarding Solicitation 70Z023R27BAAGLCOE.

• Cost Breakdown: Adjustments to the Cost Breakdown template are permitted, but modifications must be explained. The Cost Breakdown should be submitted in Excel format and does not count towards the technical proposal page limit. A separate PDF for cost narrative/justification is allowed, but cost discussions are prohibited in technical proposals.
• Page Limits: The 18-page limit applies only to the technical proposal and does not include the cover sheet, cost proposal, or references. The Detailed Cost Breakdown has no page limit.
• Deliverables: The Annual Collaborative typically lasts 2 days; its location for 2026 is TBD. Raw data submission is required to be publicly available, with options for data embargoes and assistance from GLCOE staff for coordination with data repositories. Field demonstrations are not required but can be included in proposals; offerors should not rely on GLCOE coordination for these.
• Publications: GLCOE encourages collaboration but does not require review/approval of publications and presentations, provided specific language and disclaimers are included as per PWS 4.6.
• Eligibility: Alternative fuels are eligible. Foreign entities are eligible if their country has a treaty agreement with the U.S. for R&D collaboration. The USA-Norway agreement 06-326 has lapsed, but a new agreement focusing on green technology exists, making Norwegian entities eligible. Proposals must be priced in U.S. currency.
• Period of Performance (PoP): The additional 3 months for final report/deliverables is outside the 12-month PoP and requires contractor request to the contracting officer at least 60 days prior to contract expiration for potential approval due to circumstances beyond the contractor's control. Offerors should price a 12-month PoP and allow time for reporting within that period.
• Proposal Submission: Offerors may submit one proposal per parent theme (1-4). Multiple proposals are allowed if each addresses a different theme. The Technical Proposal Summary Page should be the cover page of the technical proposal. CVs/resumes are not required.
• Formatting: References and citations are included in the 18-page technical proposal limit. The 2-page Technical Proposal Summary Page is excluded from this limit.
• Closing Date: The submission deadline is Thursday, March 12, 2026.
• Funding: The maximum funding of $250,000 applies to the entire proposal for a 1-year PoP. There is no guarantee of continuation funding; new Broad Agency Announcements (BAAs) are released annually.

These clarifications refine requirements related to cost proposals, page limits, deliverable expectations, eligibility for foreign entities, period of performance, proposal composition, and submission deadlines. Bidders should ensure their proposals adhere to these clarified guidelines.

Amendment / Modification

This amendment to Solicitation No. 70Z023R27BAAGLCOE-003 includes the following:

• New FAR Provisions/Clauses:
  • FAR 52.222-90: Addressing DEI Discrimination by Federal Contractors.
  • FAR 52.244-6: Subcontracts for Commercial Products and Commercial Services.
• Revised Proposal Submittal Date: The deadline has been extended to Friday, May 29, 2026, at 12:00 PM EST.
• Updated Questionnaire and Answers (Q&A): An updated Q&A excel spreadsheet has been attached. The deadline for submitting additional questions was May 22, 2026.

This amendment directly impacts the submission deadline and incorporates new Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) clauses. It also provides updated Q&A documentation.

The proposal submission deadline has been extended to May 29, 2026. Offerors should review the newly added FAR clauses for compliance.

Questions & Answers / Clarifications

This document contains questions submitted by potential bidders and the government's responses, providing clarifications related to the opportunity.

• Question 1-40: The provided spreadsheet contains rows for questions and responses, but all fields are empty. There are no specific questions or answers documented in this attachment.

• As there are no questions or answers provided, this document does not impact the solicitation's requirements, due dates, or submission rules.

Questions & Answers / Clarifications

This document provides responses to vendor questions regarding solicitation 70Z023R27BAAGLCOE.

• Competition Type: The solicitation is full and open competition; a previous small business set-aside was not met. An amendment will clarify this.
• Proposal Submission: The price proposal is a separate, one-page document and is not part of the overall page limit.
• Workshop Focus: The primary focus is on the workshop for the community. Cadets may be involved in assisting or attending. The PWS should be the main focus.
• Internship Program: A new USCG internship program for cadets pursuing fields related to the SOW will begin this summer. Cadet participation in workshops is dependent on travel restrictions.
• Workshop Locations: USCG will negotiate and accept workshop locations during the post-award phase.
• Curriculum Drafting: Drafting the workshop training curriculum involves aligning dates, times, and objectives within the BPA period. Funding will be allocated annually. A summary of the draft is encouraged but not part of the 11-page limit.
• Post-Award Conference: Typically held within 5-10 business days from award, with negotiable timelines.
• Staffing Plan: The staffing plan is included within the 11-page limit, though the page limit may be increased to 20 pages.
• Participant Recruitment: USCG will assist in getting committee members, but both USCG and the contractor are responsible for recruiting workshop participants.
• Food & Beverages: USCG cannot directly allocate funds for food and beverages; contractors may incorporate this as an expense.
• Extension Possibility: A one-week extension may be granted if insufficient information or bid responses are received, potentially via amendment or reposting.
• Training Dates: Training is preferred during the weeks of September 1 and September 8, as later dates may be impacted by the fiscal year end and travel restrictions.
• Participant Targets: Efforts should be made to achieve 30 participants, but training will proceed with fewer participants if necessary, maintaining the instructor count.
• Cleveland as Estimate: Cleveland is considered a good middle ground for cost estimation, with adjustments based on the final location.
• Proposal Page Limit: The maximum total proposal page count is 30 pages, with flexibility in breaking down page lengths per section.
• Contract Period: The contract has a base year of less than two months with three option periods.
• Proposal Submission: Proposals can be submitted directly to the POC to avoid potential GSA site issues.

Several clarifications address page limits, proposal components, and specific requirements, indicating potential revisions to the solicitation document itself. The due date for the solicitation was updated on 5/20/25.

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 freshwater and ice-affected environments, addressing challenges unique to the Great Lakes region.

Proposals should align with one of the following themes:

• Freshwater Oil Spill Preparedness: Including detection of submerged oil, in-situ sensors, and fate/behavior modeling.
• Freshwater Oil Spill Response: Focusing on uncrewed underwater systems, cold weather technologies, and physical recovery methods.
• Freshwater Alternative Response Measures: Such as in-situ burning.
• Freshwater Fundamental Oil Spill Science: Including oil physiochemistry, toxicity, and data gaps.

Specific tasks include a post-award conference, development of a Project Management Plan and Data Management Plan, execution of R&D activities, monthly progress reporting, and a final report. Deliverables must be submitted in a 508-compliant electronic format.

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

• 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 from contract award, with a potential start between January-February.

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

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

• Evaluation Criteria (in descending order of importance):

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

This BAA is open to all responsible sources. Small businesses are encouraged to propose. Foreign participation is subject to review and may not be allowed.

• Technical proposals must be UNCLASSIFIED.
• Offerors can submit only one Technical Proposal per theme.
• The anticipated award date is Q1 FY27 (October-December 2026).

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document provides a template and guidelines for the structure and content of technical proposals submitted in response to a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA). It outlines the required sections and the information to be included within each section.

• Cover Page: Requires a Project Summary page using provided templates.
• Background Context: Includes State of the Science, Relevance to BAA Themes, Operational Relevance, and Other Funding.
• Problem Statement and Project Goals: Summarizes the main problem and outlines project goals, tasks, and milestones.
• Technical Approach: Details the method of project execution, including personnel, metrics, approach, and facilities.
• Research Schedule: Provides a tentative timeline for tasks, milestones, dependencies, and contingency plans, including a 3-month period post-technical performance for finalization.
• Deliverables: Defines specific deliverables and explains how they align with the GLCOE mission and BAA themes, referencing tasks from the BAA solicitation and attached Performance Work Statement.
• References and Citations: Encouraged but not required.

This template is crucial for bidders to understand the specific requirements for structuring and content of their technical proposals. Adhering to this template ensures all necessary information is provided in the expected format, directly impacting the evaluation and potential success of their proposal.

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.

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 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.

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.