Strategic Trends Division Broad Agency Announcement (BAA)

Amendment / Modification

This document is Amendment 04 to Broad Agency Announcement HDTRA-20-S-0002, providing responses to Questions & Answers #2.

Key clarifications include:

• Event Hosting during COVID-19: DTRA does not plan to adjust the period of performance. Offerors can include alternative approaches for hosting dialogues in their white papers and proposals to account for the public health situation. Award modifications will be reviewed case-by-case.
• White Paper Submissions for Multiple Thrust Areas: Submit separate White Papers for each Thrust Area if the proposed dialogues are unrelated. If there is a clear relationship, submit one consolidated White Paper, discussing each in a separate but integrated manner.
• Individual vs. Package Proposals: White Papers (Phase 1) and Proposals (Phase 2) should target the appropriate Thrust Area and be submitted to the suitable Thrust Area mailbox. Submissions will be evaluated on the benefit to the Agency, depth of research, and chosen Thrust Area.
• Funding Ranges: Funding for each project will depend on the benefit to the Agency, Thrust Area(s), depth of research, and approach. White Paper cost estimates should be less detailed than proposals but include information to assess realism and reasonableness (e.g., labor, direct costs, indirect costs, event costs if applicable).
• Eligibility for Federal Agencies: Other federal agencies cannot apply for fee-based research work under this BAA. However, U.S. Government or military-run universities and laboratories are eligible.

This amendment provides clarifications and answers to vendor questions, impacting the understanding and preparation of white papers and proposals.

Amendment / Modification

This document is Amendment 03 to the Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) HDTRA-20-S-0002, and it provides answers to questions submitted by potential offerors.

• Rolling BAA & Submission Deadline: The BAA is rolling, but the first review of white papers will occur on April 4th.
• Security Clearances: No security clearance is required for individuals working on projects, nor is a facility security clearance required.
• Research Topic Information Session: The March 18 session was cancelled due to public health concerns. A similar session may be held quarterly if conditions permit.
• Grant Purpose: Funds are not for PSD training for overseas contracts; they are for research on one of the 7 Thrust Areas.
• Funding Level: Project funding will depend on the benefit to the Agency, chosen Thrust Area(s), depth of research, and approach.
• USG School Eligibility: A separate call for USG schools went out, directing interested parties to the BAA details on beta.SAM.gov or grants.gov.
• Budget Template: The Excel budget template and Scope of Research Work (SoRW) template will be attached to the email invitation for Category 1 White Papers.
• Proposal Submission: If an idea combines multiple Thrust Areas, submit one proposal that discusses all components in a separate, but integrated manner.
• Multiple Submissions: Organizations can submit multiple White Papers and/or Proposals.
• White Paper vs. Proposal: Guidelines for White Papers are in Section IV. The White Paper should limit the applicant's work scope and include a technical concept section. The Proposal will detail the fully developed idea, methodology, and tasks using the SoRW and related cost spreadsheet.
• Foreign Nationals: Principal Investigators must be US personnel. Research teams may include foreign nationals from allied nations with valid visas and work permits, though their access may be restricted for meetings and briefings.

This amendment clarifies several aspects of the original BAA, including submission processes, personnel requirements, and proposal structure, which may affect how bidders prepare and submit their responses.

Amendment / Modification

• The Research Topic Information Session scheduled for March 18, 2020, has been cancelled due to the COVID-19 outbreak and CDC guidance.

• Acquisition and process-related questions should be submitted to dtra.belvoir.si.mbx.hdtra1-stri-adm@mail.mil. Questions and answers will be posted as BAA amendments.

• The original Research Topic Information Session is cancelled.

• No direct impact on proposal deadlines or submission requirements is stated, but all questions should now be directed to the specified email address for future clarification postings.

Amendment / Modification

This document is Amendment 01 to Broad Agency Announcement HDTRA1-20-S0-002. It announces a Research Topic Information Session (RTIS) to be held on March 18, 2020.

• The primary purpose of this amendment is to announce the RTIS.

• The agenda for the RTIS covers seven Thrust Areas related to research requirements and specific topics of interest, including competition with revisionist powers, emerging threats, counter threat networks, strategic security and risk reduction, and tabletop exercises.

• Questions for the RTIS must be submitted by March 13, 2020, to dtra.belvoir.si.mbx.hdtral-stri-Adm@mail.mil.

• Registration for the RTIS closes at 5:00 PM on March 10, 2020.

• The first review of white paper applications/offers is anticipated on or about April 2, 2020.

• This amendment does not directly change proposal submission deadlines or requirements but provides information about an upcoming information session and the evaluation timeline for white papers.

Broad Agency Announcement (BAA)

This Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) from the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) Strategic Integration Directorate, Strategic Trends and Effects Department, Strategic Trends Division (SI-STT) solicits white papers and proposals for research studies, strategic dialogues, and tabletop exercises (TTXs). The initiative, known as the Strategic Trends Research Initiative (STRI), aims to generate timely, credible, and actionable insights into emerging threats within the counter weapons of mass destruction (CWMD) and counter improvised threats (CIT) mission spaces to inform the understanding of the 2025-2030 battlespace in an era of Great Power Competition. The research should align with the 2018 National Defense Strategy (NDS).

The STRI focuses on five broad areas:

• Enhancing relationships with allies and partners.
• Understanding the implications of strategic competitors' emerging capabilities.
• Identifying emerging WMD-related threats.
• Considering WMD risk reduction tools and approaches.
• Exploring Counter Threat Network (CTN) approaches.

Within these, DTRA SI-STT is interested in research aligned with seven (7) thrust areas for FY 2020:

• Research Studies: Competition with Revisionist Powers, Emerging Threats, Counter Threat Networks (CTN), and Strategic Security and Risk Reduction.
• Strategic Dialogues (Track 1.5 and Track 2): Allies, Partners, and Non-Traditional Partners; and Key Strategic Competitors.
• Tabletop Exercises (TTXs): Competition with Revisionist Powers (focusing on WMD-related issues).

Deliverables typically include monthly progress reports, final briefings, final financial reports, and final technical reports with actionable recommendations.

• Anticipated Funding: Approximately $1,950,000 per year, divided among multiple awardees.

• Anticipated Number of Awards: No set limit.

• Anticipated Award Type: Grants and/or contracts.

• Period of Performance: Typically not to exceed twelve (12) months from the effective date of award; six (6) to nine (9) months preferred for studies.

• Two-Phase Submission Process:

  • Phase I: White Paper submission. Reviewed upon receipt. Approved white papers will be invited to submit a Phase II proposal.
  • Phase II: Technical, Cost, and Supplemental Information Proposal submission for invited offerors.

• Evaluation Criteria: Technical merit, soundness, innovation, operational relevance, applicability to STRI objectives, proposer's qualifications, past performance, and cost realism.

• All responsible, potential applicants from academia, think tanks, and industry are eligible.

• Not eligible: Secret, Top Secret, SCI, or SAP submissions; proposals from Federal Agencies (including subcontracting/sub-NFE efforts).

• U.S. Government schools of higher education, military laboratories, warfare centers, other DoD/civilian agency laboratories, and University Affiliated Research Centers (UARC) are eligible.

• This BAA is open until replaced by a successor or cancelled. White papers and proposals are reviewed and evaluated as they are received.

• Amendments will be posted on Grants.gov and Beta.SAM.gov.

• Specific contact points for each Thrust Area are provided.