Opportunity Information: Apply for CRNBAA11 001
Apply for CRNBAA11 001
- The NSWC CRANE in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Basic Research in Novel Polymeric Compounds Containing Magnesium" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 12.300 Basic and Applied Scientific Research.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 15, 2011 and posted on Jan 27, 2011.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 21, 2011. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $30,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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Opportunity Summary:
This funding opportunity, issued by the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Crane Division under a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA), is focused on basic research to create and study new polymeric compounds that combine highly fluorinated polymers (specifically materials like Teflon and Viton) with magnesium. These magnesium-Teflon-Viton (MTV) formulations are widely used in high-energy defense components such as countermeasure flares, igniters, and primers because magnesium reacts very energetically with fluorine and can be relatively easy to ignite. The core technical problem NSWC Crane wants solved is long-term storage degradation: historically, MTV materials can suffer ignition delays, generate hydrogen gas, and lose performance over time. These failures are strongly associated with magnesium oxidation, since magnesium is highly reactive and will oxidize readily when exposed to even small amounts of moisture. The government is looking for novel chemistry, material designs, or stabilization mechanisms that reduce or prevent magnesium oxidation while still preserving the properties that make MTV valuable in the first place, namely high exothermic output with fluorinated components, reliable ignitability, and safe handling.
From a research standpoint, proposals are expected to go beyond incremental tweaks and instead investigate innovative compound concepts that either mitigate magnesiums oxidative behavior or physically/chemically stabilize the magnesium within a polymeric matrix. The resulting materials must be characterized thoroughly, not just demonstrated. NSWC Crane specifically wants characterization that explains elemental composition, polymer structure or behavior, and reactivity characteristics, with an eye toward eventual use in energetic devices. In other words, the end goal is not only a better formulation, but also a deeper understanding of how the new compound is built and why it performs and ages the way it does, so it can be transitioned into practical, high-energy applications like primers, igniters, and decoy flare expendables.
On awards and contracting, the government indicates it may make multiple awards, but funding depends on both proposal quality and available funds. NSWC Crane also reserves broad discretion: it may select all, some, one, or none of the proposals, and it may make awards without holding discussions (though it can choose to open discussions later if needed). Depending on the work and the level of interaction required, an award could take the form of a procurement contract, a grant, a cooperative agreement, or potentially another transaction, with the government anticipating a high degree of collaboration to the maximum extent allowed by the selected award vehicle. Even after selection, the government can request additional documentation (such as representations and certifications) and can remove a proposer from consideration if negotiations stall or required documents are not provided on time.
The technical proposal has a very defined structure and is expected to demonstrate that the proposer understands both the underlying degradation mechanisms in MTV materials and the operational context (energetic components used in defense systems). The required technical sections include an executive summary that explains objectives and approach and clearly states what innovation is being introduced and why it improves on prior efforts. The proposal must then provide a program description (what techniques, methods, and materials will be pursued and how they advance the state of the art), followed by a detailed program plan that lays out how the work will actually be executed, including technical analysis supporting the approach, identification of the core idea, and an explicit risk assessment covering technical, schedule, and cost risks. If subcontractors are involved, the proposal must justify why they were chosen and what they will do.
A key required attachment is the Contractors Statement of Work (C-SOW), which must be a standalone document written so it can be incorporated into the final award. It should describe the research tasks and deliverables clearly but avoid being so rigid that it prevents reasonable evolution of the work during performance. A notable compliance point is that the C-SOW must not include proprietary or company-sensitive information because it may be subject to release under the Freedom of Information Act. The BAA recommends a standard C-SOW format with three sections: Scope (what the effort covers, goals, milestones, boundaries), Applicable Documents (references needed to interpret the work), and Requirements (task-by-task work breakdown with subtasks, review points, and a complete list of deliverables such as reports, hardware, or software). In addition to the C-SOW, offerors must include a milestone chart that ties objectives, task transitions, and deliverable dates to an overall schedule, plus a description of relevant facilities and equipment (manufacturing capabilities, testing infrastructure, specialized instrumentation), a summary of relevant prior work from the last five years (including PI, titles, contract numbers, results, funding amounts, and points of contact), a management plan, and resumes for key personnel (including consultants and subcontractors).
The technical proposal, including the C-SOW and all attachments, is capped at 30 pages under specific formatting rules (single spaced, double sided, standard page size, readable fonts, with strict treatment of what counts toward the limit). The government states plainly that pages beyond the limit will not be considered, so compliance and editing discipline matter. Separate from the technical volume, offerors must submit a combined cost/business proposal split into two parts. The cost section must be detailed enough for the government to perform a cost realism analysis, and while there is no formal page limit, the government suggests keeping it near 75 pages. Offerors must also provide electronic cost worksheets in an Excel-compatible format (Excel 2003 or later) with formulas intact. Adequate price competition is anticipated, but if the contracting officer later determines competition is not adequate, the government may require certified cost or pricing data. The business section covers contractual preferences and exceptions (instrument type, unique terms, requested deviations), with a suggested goal of 20 pages and a requirement to justify any exceptions.
Evaluation follows FAR 35.016 procedures for BAAs and uses a peer/scientific review process. Proposals are judged using three criteria in descending order of importance: overall scientific and technical merit, importance to NSWC programs, and fund availability/affordability. Price is described as a substantial factor, but secondary to technical merit, with cost realism and reasonableness also considered. After review, proposals are grouped into Category I (well conceived, technically sound, and important to program goals, recommended for acceptance subject to funds), Category II (technically sound but needing further development and lower priority for funding), and Category III (not technically sound or not meeting agency needs, recommended for rejection). Offerors will be notified in writing whether their proposal is recommended for award, but that recommendation does not guarantee an award because funds and successful negotiations are still required. Debriefings are available upon request, with content aligned to BAA practices rather than standard FAR Part 15 source selections.
Administrative details show this opportunity was posted January 27, 2011, under Funding Opportunity Number CRNBAA11 001 and CFDA 12.300 (Basic and Applied Scientific Research). Eligible applicants are unrestricted, there is no cost sharing requirement, and the award ceiling is listed as $30,000 with no stated minimum. The listed point of contact for access issues is Dallas Parsley, Contract Specialist at NSWC Crane, reachable by phone at 812-854-2239.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1) What is this funding opportunity?
This is a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) funding opportunity issued by the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Crane Division for basic research related to new polymeric compounds involving magnesium and highly fluorinated polymers.
2) Which agency is offering the opportunity?
The opportunity is issued by NSWC Crane Division (Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane).
3) What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is CRNBAA11 001.
4) What CFDA program is associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA 12.300, Basic and Applied Scientific Research.
5) When was this opportunity posted?
The posting date provided is January 27, 2011.
6) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed as unrestricted.
7) Is cost sharing required?
No. The opportunity states there is no cost sharing requirement.
8) What is the award ceiling and is there a minimum award amount?
The award ceiling is listed as $30,000. No minimum award amount is stated.
9) Can NSWC Crane make more than one award?
Yes. The government indicates it may make multiple awards, depending on proposal quality and available funds.
10) Can the government decide not to fund any proposal?
Yes. NSWC Crane reserves discretion to select all, some, one, or none of the proposals.
11) Can awards be made without discussions?
Yes. The government may make awards without holding discussions, though it may choose to open discussions later if needed.
12) What kinds of award instruments might be used?
Depending on the work and expected interaction, an award may be a procurement contract, a grant, a cooperative agreement, a potential other transaction, or another appropriate vehicle.
13) What technical area is NSWC Crane trying to advance?
The focus is on basic research to create and study new polymeric compounds that combine highly fluorinated polymers (such as materials like Teflon and Viton) with magnesium, commonly described as magnesium-Teflon-Viton (MTV) formulations.
14) Why are magnesium-fluoropolymer formulations important to defense applications?
MTV formulations are widely used in high-energy defense components (including countermeasure flares, igniters, and primers) because magnesium reacts very energetically with fluorine and can be relatively easy to ignite.
15) What problem is NSWC Crane trying to solve with this research?
The central technical problem is long-term storage degradation in MTV materials, which historically can show ignition delays, hydrogen gas generation, and performance loss over time. These failures are strongly associated with magnesium oxidation.
16) Why is magnesium oxidation a concern in these materials?
Magnesium is highly reactive and will oxidize readily when exposed to even small amounts of moisture. The opportunity links degradation outcomes (like ignition delays and gas generation) to oxidation behavior.
17) What kinds of solution approaches are the government looking for?
NSWC Crane is looking for novel chemistry, new material designs, or stabilization mechanisms that reduce or prevent magnesium oxidation while preserving key MTV benefits (high exothermic output with fluorinated components, reliable ignitability, and safe handling).
18) Are incremental improvements acceptable?
The expectation described is to go beyond incremental tweaks. Proposals are expected to investigate innovative compound concepts that mitigate oxidation or physically/chemically stabilize magnesium within a polymeric matrix.
19) Is a demonstration alone enough, or is characterization required?
Characterization is explicitly required. NSWC Crane wants the resulting materials characterized thoroughly, not just demonstrated, including explanation of elemental composition, polymer structure/behavior, and reactivity characteristics.
20) What is the intended end use for successful concepts?
The opportunity frames an eventual transition into practical, high-energy applications like primers, igniters, and decoy flare expendables, supported by a deeper understanding of how the compounds are built and how they age.
21) What must the technical proposal include?
The technical proposal is expected to follow a defined structure including: an executive summary (objectives, approach, and the specific innovation and why it improves on prior efforts), a program description (techniques/methods/materials and how they advance the state of the art), and a detailed program plan (execution details, supporting technical analysis, the core idea, and risk assessment for technical/schedule/cost).
22) What must be addressed if subcontractors are involved?
If subcontractors are included, the proposal must justify why they were chosen and what they will do.
23) What is the Contractors Statement of Work (C-SOW), and why is it important?
The C-SOW is a required standalone attachment written so it can be incorporated into the final award. It should clearly describe research tasks and deliverables, while avoiding unnecessary rigidity that would prevent reasonable evolution during performance.
24) Can the C-SOW include proprietary or company-sensitive information?
No. The opportunity notes a compliance concern: the C-SOW must not include proprietary or company-sensitive information because it may be subject to release under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
25) What format does the BAA recommend for the C-SOW?
The BAA recommends a three-part format: (1) Scope (goals, milestones, boundaries), (2) Applicable Documents (references needed to interpret the work), and (3) Requirements (task-by-task breakdown with subtasks, review points, and a complete deliverables list such as reports, hardware, or software).
26) What other attachments or supporting items are required in the technical volume?
In addition to the C-SOW, offerors must include a milestone chart tied to objectives, task transitions, deliverable dates, and the overall schedule; a description of relevant facilities and equipment; a summary of relevant prior work from the last five years (including PI, titles, contract numbers, results, funding amounts, and points of contact); a management plan; and resumes for key personnel (including consultants and subcontractors).
27) What is the page limit for the technical proposal?
The technical proposal (including the C-SOW and all attachments) is capped at 30 pages under specified formatting rules. The government states that pages beyond the limit will not be considered.
28) What formatting expectations apply to the technical proposal page limit?
The opportunity references specific formatting rules including single spacing, double-sided pages, standard page size, readable fonts, and strict treatment of what counts toward the limit. Content beyond the limit will not be reviewed.
29) What must be included in the cost/business proposal?
Offerors must submit a combined cost/business proposal split into two parts: (1) a cost section detailed enough for a cost realism analysis and (2) a business section covering contractual preferences/exceptions (including instrument type, unique terms, and requested deviations) with justification for any exceptions.
30) Is there a page limit for the cost volume?
No formal page limit is stated for the cost volume, but the government suggests keeping it near 75 pages.
31) Are electronic cost worksheets required?
Yes. Offerors must provide electronic cost worksheets in an Excel-compatible format (Excel 2003 or later) with formulas intact.
32) What is the suggested length for the business section?
The business section has a suggested goal of 20 pages, and any exceptions or deviations must be justified.
33) Will the government ask for certified cost or pricing data?
Adequate price competition is anticipated, but if the contracting officer later determines competition is not adequate, the government may require certified cost or pricing data.
34) How will proposals be evaluated?
Evaluation follows FAR 35.016 BAA procedures using a peer/scientific review process.
35) What are the evaluation criteria and their priority order?
The criteria are, in descending order of importance: (1) overall scientific and technical merit, (2) importance to NSWC programs, and (3) fund availability/affordability.
36) How is price treated in the evaluation?
Price is described as a substantial factor, but secondary to technical merit. Cost realism and reasonableness are also considered.
37) What are Category I, II, and III ratings?
After review, proposals are grouped as: Category I (well conceived, technically sound, important to program goals, recommended for acceptance subject to funds), Category II (technically sound but needing further development and lower priority), and Category III (not technically sound or not meeting agency needs, recommended for rejection).
38) Does a recommendation for award guarantee funding?
No. Offerors may be notified that their proposal is recommended for award, but that does not guarantee an award because funding availability and successful negotiations are still required.
39) Can NSWC Crane request additional documentation after selection?
Yes. Even after selection, the government can request additional documentation (such as representations and certifications).
40) Can a proposer be removed from consideration after selection?
Yes. The government may remove a proposer from consideration if negotiations stall or if required documents are not provided on time.
41) Are debriefings available?
Yes. Debriefings are available upon request, and the content is aligned to BAA practices rather than standard FAR Part 15 source selections.
42) Who is the point of contact for access issues and how can they be reached?
The listed point of contact for access issues is Dallas Parsley, Contract Specialist at NSWC Crane, reachable by phone at 812-854-2239.
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