This is a two-step open Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) for research, development, and demonstration of an ultrabroadband
radio operating above 100 GHz. Only white papers are accepted as initial submissions. Formal proposals will be accepted by invitation only. Suggested submission dates are provided for each fiscal year (****). Offerors should monitor the SAM website for amendments. Collaboration is encouraged. Foreign participation is closed, except for fundamental research. The total estimated funding is approximately $9. 9M. Individual awards will not normally exceed 36 months with dollar amounts normally ranging from $200k to $4M. The government reserves the right to select all, part, or none of the proposals received, subject to the availability of funds. All potential offerors should be aware that due to unanticipated budget fluctuations, funding in any or all areas may change with little or no notice. Additional documents, such as SF424, security program questionnaire, and a copy of your approved DD Form ****, are required. The government encourages the best sources from the scientific and industrial communities to propose, including small business concerns, large businesses, academia, and nonprofit entities. Offerors must be registered in the SAM database. The cost of preparing white papers/proposals is not considered an allowable direct charge to any resulting contract. All research involving human subjects must comply with federal regulations. The Air Force Research Laboratory is engaged in the discovery, development, and integration of warfighting technologies for our air, space, and cyberspace forces. Rights in technical data and noncommercial computer software developed or delivered under this contract are of significant concern to the government. Any third-party software must be clearly identified in the proposal, and the contractor will obtain an appropriate license for the government, and the written approval of the contracting officer. The government is required to review and consider any information about the applicant that is in SAM. gov before making any award in excess of the simplified acquisition threshold. Adequate price competition is not anticipated. Proposals will be evaluated as they are received. Only government employees on the BAA team will evaluate the white papers/proposals for selection. The selection of one or more offerors for award will be based on the evaluation, as well as importance to agency programs and funding availability. Selectable proposals will be designated as funded or unfunded. Letters will be sent to the unfunded offerors. These proposals may be funded at a later date without reevaluation, if funding becomes available. The government reserves the right to award some, all, or none of the proposals. When the government elects to award only a part of a proposal, the selected part may be categorized as selectable, though the proposal as a whole may not merit such a categorization. In parallel with the technical evaluation, the government will review the SF424 and security program questionnaire submitted by the contractor in order to satisfy the ST protection requirements. Proposals technical, cost, and schedule risk will be assessed. Prior to award of a potentially successful offer, the contracting officer will make a determination regarding price reasonableness and realism. The government is required to review and consider any information about the applicant that is in SAM. gov before making any award in excess of the simplified acquisition threshold. An applicant may review and comment on any information about itself that a federal awarding agency previously entered. The government will consider any comments by the applicant, in addition to other information in SAM. gov in making a judgment about the applicant's integrity, business ethics, and record of performance under federal awards. The government will carefully consider any restrictions on the use of technical data, nonc