SPECIAL NOTICE
A -- Request For Information: Partnership Intermediary Agreement (PIA), under the authority of 15 U.S.C. 3715, with a Partnership Intermediary to provide services for Army Reseach Laboratory (ARL)as described in this RFI.
- Notice Date
- 4/11/2014
- Notice Type
- Special Notice
- NAICS
- 541712
— Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)
- Contracting Office
- ACC-APG - RTP, ATTN: CCAP-SCR, Research Triangle Park Contracting Division, P.O. Box 12211, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-2211
- ZIP Code
- 27709-2211
- Solicitation Number
- W911NF14RFI0013
- Archive Date
- 4/11/2015
- Point of Contact
- Ernest Dixon III, (919) 549-4270
- E-Mail Address
-
ACC-APG - RTP
(ernie.dixon@us.army.mil)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- The ACC-APG, RTP Division, on behalf of the U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL), is exploring the possibility of entering into a Partnership Intermediary Agreement (PIA), under the authority of 15 U.S.C. 3715, with a Partnership Intermediary to provide services for ARL to increase the likelihood of success in the conduct of cooperative or joint activities with ARL and small business firms, institutions of higher education as defined in 20 USC 1141(a), or educational institutions as defined in 10 USC 2194. This is a Request for Information (RFI) from eligible applicants who can provide the capabilities sought by ARL as described in this RFI. RFI Applicability: In accordance with 15 U.S.C. 3715, eligibility to receive a PIA is limited to an agency of a State or local government, or a nonprofit entity owned in whole or in part by, chartered by, funded in whole or in part by, or operated in whole or in part by or on behalf of a State or local government, that assists, counsels, advises, evaluates, or otherwise cooperates with small business firms, institutions of higher education as defined in section 1141(a) of title 20, or educational institutions within the meaning of section 2194 of title 10, that need or can make demonstrably productive use of technology-related assistance from a Federal laboratory, including State programs receiving funds under cooperative agreements entered into under section 5121(b) of the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988 (15 U.S.C. 278l). RFI submission and post submission guidelines: Documents submitted in response to this RFI will not be returned. ARL is under no obligation to provide feedback with respect to any information submitted by an eligible applicant under this RFI. There is no guarantee that any submission in response to this RFI will result in the establishment of a PIA with an eligible applicant. Any information submitted by an eligible applicant in response to this RFI may be used to help ARL further define its PIA needs. ARL may select a Partnership Intermediary based solely on an RFI submission. ARL may discuss the RFI submissions with one or more eligible applicants prior to the selection of a Partnership Intermediary. 3. General Intent: ARL is interested in creating a more efficient and effective defense laboratory that can be adaptive and responsive to the challenges of 21st century national security. It is widely acknowledged that innovation depends on bringing multiple disciplines together to engage in collaborative projects that often yield unpredictable, but highly productive results. Formal and informal interactions among scientists lead to knowledge-building and research breakthroughs. By bringing together academia, industry and government, the Army can enhance its performance through collocated R&D collaboration. ARL is exploring the establishment of a PIA with a Partnership Intermediary to provide services to assist ARL in facilitating access to world-renown facilities and researchers; developing and maintaining synergistic relationships with the entrepreneur community; facilitating government partnerships to facilitate the transition of knowledge and technology; and expansion of academic programs to include fluid collaboration spaces (physical and virtual). 4. Description: The speed, complexity, and multidisciplinary nature of scientific research, coupled with the increased relevance of science for army technology development and the demands of a globally competitive environment, have increased the importance of technology linkages for innovation and long-term competitiveness. ARL is implementing an Open Campus Concept (OCC) that will revolutionize the way ARL laboratories engage with external partners from industry and academia. The OCC seeks to enhance meaningful progress toward shared goals: accelerate fundamental science, and transition science and technology as a direct result of the cooperative or joint activities as envisioned under 15 USC 3715. Others benefits of the OCC include shared human capital, shared facilities, and exposure to new ideas and collaboration hubs which could lead to joint programs and/or preparing joint proposals between academia, private sector, and international partners. The three primary focus areas in the implementation phase of the OCC are identifying areas of opportunities for collaboration, technology transfer and educational outreach. This RFI seeks input into these areas of interest where services could be provided to assist ARL in achieving its goals of a fully open campus. In response to this RFI, interested eligible applicants are requested to provide strategies and explicit examples of how they propose to facilitate and advance ARL's initiatives in collaboration, technology transfer, and outreach as described further below. ARL Initiative 1: Collaboration: The Partnership Intermediary is expected to enhance partnering, both domestic and international, between ARL, academia, industry, other government agencies and entrepreneurs by identifying and facilitating the development of new R&D partnerships and stimulating early-stage partnership R&D activities. The Partnership Intermediary is expected to be well versed in the ARL technology campaign portfolio as well as technology portfolios of proposed partners to facilitate match-making services that leverage the complementary capabilities and expertise of ARL and each partner. The Partnership Intermediary is expected to identify and shape opportunities to share / develop collaborative research facilities at either ARL or a partner organization. The Partnership Intermediary shall increase ARL's visibility in online research communities via data hubs, blogs and other web strategies as part of ARL's collaboration and technology transfer plan. The Partnership Intermediary is expected to facilitate opportunities for collaboration through the exchange of personnel / students, licensing of intellectual property (IP), and sharing and development of research facilities through vehicles such as educational partnership agreements (EPAs), cooperative R&D agreements (CRADAs), and cooperative agreements (CAs). Events targeted to facilitate collaboration may include: Engage in matchmaking sessions, enabling ARL to network with potential R&D partners. Conduct or participate in workshops and roundtables to explore novel models of collaboration that enable ARL to identify new opportunities addressing shared challenges. Gather, data mine and exchange information on relevant international and domestic R&D and business opportunities and promote innovation interests. ARL Initiative 2: Technology Transfer: Emerging cooperative relationships often lead to the initiation of collaborative R&D projects, business partnerships and joint ventures that benefit both organizations. The Partnership Intermediary is expected to be knowledgeable of all aspects of the technology transfer process between ARL, academia, industry, other government agencies, and entrepreneurs. The Partnership Intermediary is expected to identify external partners to facilitate the use of ARL IP with partners through vehicles such as CRADAs, CAs, and patent license agreements (PLAs). The Partnership Intermediary is expected to develop strategies to create and incubate small business start up opportunities. Intermediary should identify opportunities for ARL to collaborate with partners using ARL IP inventory and ARL unique testing facilities/capabilities. Events targeted to enhance technology transfer may include: Conduct of a Technology Showcase to highlight research ripe for transition. Participation in regional and national technology transfer symposia and conferences to identify partners for transfer. ARL Initiative 3: Education Outreach: Recent years have seen an increasing need for lifelong learning based on the acceleration of technological change and the need to renew the skills and knowledge of the existing workforce. ARL is committed to fostering and strengthening a culture of innovation. We wish to engage the ranks of the highly skilled S&T community and facilitate the cross-fertilization of ideas and learning. The Partnership Intermediary is expected to seek out opportunities to identify academic partners that wish to engage with ARL on specific research areas of interest or in emerging areas with high potential payoff for the Army. The Partnership Intermediary is also expected to identify any virtual classrooms, data warehouse or educational laboratories which ARL may augment in pursuit of STEM national readiness. Events targeted to enhance outreach may include: Identify visiting faculty from academia for research opportunities at ARL or identify positions for ARL researchers as Professors of Practice, Adjunct Professors, or Visiting Researchers in academia. Identify opportunities to attract undergraduates and post graduate level students and faculty from top tier universities to conduct research at ARL. Identify opportunities for the ARL workforce to expand education opportunities and earn advanced degrees at partner universities. Engage with partner universities and plan for ARL on-site technical education /curriculum leading to advanced degrees. Based on emerging research areas and Army requirements, shape or develop nontraditional curriculums to develop the next generation of engineers and scientists. 5. Submission Guidelines: Responses to this RFI are limited to 12 single-sided pages, using standard letter-size 8x11 paper. The font for text must be Times New Roman or Arial 12-point or larger. Submissions must be unclassified. Extraneous materials (brochures, manuals, etc.) will NOT be considered or read. Submissions shall also include the following: (a) Entity name and address; (b) Point of contact name, phone number and email address 6. Questions or Requests for Clarification: Only electronically submitted questions and requests for clarification regarding this RFI will be accepted. No telephone calls regarding this RFI will be accepted. Written questions and requests for clarification shall be submitted to the following email address: usarmy.rtp.arl.mbx.arl-actions@mail.mil In order to facilitate a timely response, written questions or requests for clarification must be received by the Government no later than 3:00 PM Eastern Time, April 25, 2014. 7. Submission Deadline: Responses to this RFI must be received by the Government no later than 10:00 AM Eastern Time, May 9, 2014. Responses shall be submitted to the following email address: usarmy.rtp.arl.mbx.arl-actions@mail.mil Responses must be in Microsoft Word format or PDF format. If a late submittal is received, acceptance of such will be at the discretion of the Government if it's determined to be in the Government's best interest. Responses sent by any other means (e.g. submitted to other email addresses, hand-carried, postal service mail, commercial carrier or fax) will NOT be considered or read. Contracting Office Address: ACC-APG, RTP Division, 4300 S. Miami Blvd., Durham, NC 27703 Point of Contact: Kevin Bassler Contracting Officer/ Grants Officer Army Contracting Command (ACC) - Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG) Research Triangle Park Division (RTP) 4300 S. Miami Blvd. Durham, NC 27709 919-549-4295, DSN: 832-4295 kevin.j.bassler.civ@mail.mil
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