Accelerating the Development of Small Unit Decision Making (ADSUDM) | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - Accelerating the Development of Small Unit Decision Making (ADSUDM)

1) What is the ADSUDM opportunity?

Accelerating the Development of Small Unit Decision Making (ADSUDM) is an Office of Naval Research (ONR) research and development grant and contract opportunity focused on improving training systems that help U.S. Marine Corps small units make better decisions in realistic tactical situations.

2) What is the main goal of ADSUDM?

The goal is to advance technology that supports Small Unit Decision Making (SUDM), with an emphasis on simulation-driven training that can scale, adapt to the learner, and reflect the environments Marines actually operate in.

3) How is this program positioned within ONR?

The program sits under ONR's Capable Manpower Pillar (CMP) Future Naval Capability (FNC) portfolio. This signals an intent to mature work into practical, field-relevant capabilities rather than leaving it as purely exploratory research.

4) What types of submissions is ONR soliciting?

ONR is soliciting both white papers and full proposals under this opportunity, with specific white paper due dates referenced in the BAA itself.

5) What are the main capability areas being sought?

The opportunity is organized around three capability areas: (1) SUDM learning management, (2) situated, tailored, and automated simulation-based training and assessment, and (3) relevant tactical simulation training environments.

6) What does "SUDM learning management" mean in this context?

SUDM learning management refers to tools and methods needed to plan, deliver, track, and improve decision-making training over time. It can include learning management functions tailored to tactical skills, such as managing individual and team training records, mapping training content to specific competencies, and supporting progression from novice to advanced performance.

7) What is meant by "situated, tailored, and automated simulation-based training and assessment"?

This area emphasizes training that adjusts to the context of the mission and the trainee, using simulations to place Marines into decision points that resemble real operational dilemmas. It also highlights automated assessment, where the system can evaluate performance with reduced reliance on human graders or observer-controllers (for example through instrumentation, event logging, performance metrics, and model-based or data-driven scoring).

8) What are "relevant tactical simulation training environments"?

This refers to realistic and mission-appropriate simulated settings that support small-unit decision-making training. Examples of what may be represented include terrain, urban spaces, friendly and adversary behaviors, and other operational factors that shape decisions, with the aim of producing credible environments that lead to transferable decision-making skills.

9) What is the funding mechanism for this opportunity?

Awards may be made as grants and/or procurement contracts.

10) What is the estimated total funding amount?

The estimated total funding listed for the opportunity is $9,000,000.

11) Is cost sharing required?

No. Cost sharing is not required.

12) What is the BAA associated with this opportunity?

This is a discretionary funding opportunity under ONR BAA 15-0008.

13) How is this opportunity categorized?

It is categorized under Science and Technology and other Research and Development.

14) What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?

The CFDA number listed is 12.300 (Basic and Applied Scientific Research).

15) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad for responsible sources across academia and industry. ONR explicitly encourages participation from small businesses and several socioeconomic categories, while also indicating that no portion of the opportunity is formally set aside for those groups.

16) Which small business and institutional categories are specifically encouraged?

ONR encourages participation from small businesses and the following categories: HUBZone, Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business, Small Disadvantaged Business, Women Owned Small Business, Veteran Owned Small Business, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and Minority Institutions.

17) Is any part of the opportunity set aside for small businesses or specific categories?

No. The announcement notes that no portion is formally set aside for these groups because ONR wants to draw ideas from the widest possible set of performers.

18) Are Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) eligible to receive awards directly?

No. FFRDCs (including DOE national labs) are not eligible to receive awards directly, though they may team with an eligible prime if allowed by their sponsoring agreements.

19) Can Navy labs, warfare centers, or other government labs submit proposals directly?

No. Navy labs, warfare centers, and other government labs are not eligible to submit directly, but they may participate via teaming arrangements with eligible proposers.

20) Are University Affiliated Research Centers (UARCs) eligible?

University Affiliated Research Centers may apply unless their specific contracts prohibit it.

21) Does ONR encourage teaming and collaboration?

Yes. The program expects collaboration across an integrated performer community, and teams are encouraged.

22) What does ONR mean by "integrated performer community" and cooperation requirements?

Offerors should be prepared to cooperate with other contractors and system integrators selected by ONR, including exchanging software, data, and other information needed to integrate results.

23) Could export controls affect who can participate?

Yes. The announcement flags that some topics may involve export-controlled technology, which could limit participation to U.S. persons as defined under ITAR (22 CFR 120.1 et seq.) for those portions of the work.

24) When was this opportunity posted?

The opportunity was posted on January 8, 2015.

25) What are the closing dates?

The original closing date is listed as March 31, 2015, and the current closing date is listed as April 2, 2015. Specific white paper due dates are referenced in the BAA itself.

26) What is the archive date?

The archive date is listed as April 30, 2015, indicating when the opportunity was expected to be removed from active listings.

27) Who should be contacted for access issues with the full announcement?

The listed contact is Jennifer Brown, Contract Specialist, at 703-588-2432. The notice also indicates Grants.gov questions support.

28) Is this opportunity aimed at purely basic research or fielded capability?

Because the program is within ONR's CMP FNC portfolio, it signals work intended to mature into practical, field-relevant capabilities rather than remaining purely exploratory research.

29) What kinds of assessment approaches are implied by "automated assessment"?

The description points to approaches such as instrumentation, event logging, performance metrics, and model-based or data-driven scoring to reduce reliance on human graders or observer-controllers.