Call 004 Sensing Techniques for Signature Exploitation | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is this funding opportunity?

This is Call 004, "Sensing Techniques for Signature Exploitation," issued by the Air Force Research Laboratory under Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) RV 10 01 (Funding Opportunity Number: BAA RV 10 01 0004) within the Air Force Defense Research Sciences Program (CFDA 12.800).

2) What research area does Call 004 support?

The call supports science and technology and other research and development efforts focused on sensing approaches that improve the exploitation of signatures. Awards are anticipated to support research performers working in this technical area.

3) Who is eligible to apply?

The opportunity is open to unrestricted applicants. Any entity type may apply, subject to any eligibility notes contained in the full announcement.

4) How many awards does the Air Force expect to make?

The Air Force expects to make about two awards.

5) What is the estimated total funding available under this call?

The estimated total funding level is up to $5,000,000.

6) What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?

The stated award ceiling is $5,000,000.

7) Is there a minimum award amount (award floor)?

No award floor is specified in the information provided.

8) What types of funding instruments may be used?

Funding instruments may include cooperative agreements, grants, other forms, and procurement contracts.

9) Is cost sharing or matching required?

No cost sharing or matching requirement is identified in the information provided.

10) What is Amendment No. 5 and what does it change?

The provided text is Amendment No. 5 to Call 004. It does not change the research topic itself; it focuses on clarifying administrative and compliance details, especially related to Government Furnished Property (GFP) and how offerors must prepare and submit cost and proposal materials.

11) What is Government Furnished Property (GFP) in the context of this call?

GFP refers to government property that a contractor may request or use to perform the work. The amendment emphasizes federal property rules and clarifies how GFP requests and responsibilities must be handled in proposals.

12) If GFP is requested or used, who is responsible for making it usable?

The contractor is still responsible for costs required to make GFP usable, including transportation, installation, and any rehabilitation. Offerors should not assume the government will pay to ship, set up, or refurbish GFP simply because it may be provided.

13) What federal rules and FAR references are highlighted for GFP?

The amendment corrects the governing GFP reference to FAR 45.201(c)(4) and reinforces responsibilities described under FAR 45.201(b).

14) Do applicants need to plan for GFP-related enabling costs in their offers?

Yes. The amendment makes clear that enabling costs (such as shipping, installation, and rehabilitation needed to make GFP usable) must be planned for and accounted for by the contractor in the offer.

15) Is there a specific required attachment if an offeror needs GFP?

Yes. Any offeror that needs GFP must include a specific GFP attachment with the Business Proposal.

16) What must be included in the GFP attachment?

The GFP attachment must include all of the following:

• (A) A list or description of the GFP the prime contractor and/or subcontractors propose to use on a rent-free basis, including identification of the contract under which the property is currently accountable and any authorization for its use.
• (B) The dates the GFP will be used, identifying the first month, last month, and all intervening months. If the property will be used on more than one contract at the same time, include enough detail to support prorating any rent.
• (C) The amount of rent that would otherwise be charged under FAR 52.245-9 (Use and Charges).
• (D) The voluntary consensus standards or industry-leading practices the offeror will use for government property management, or the offeror's existing property management plans, methods, practices, or procedures for property accountability.

17) Does the GFP attachment apply to subcontractors as well as the prime?

Yes. The required GFP list/description applies to GFP the prime contractor and/or subcontractors propose to use.

18) Why does the amendment ask for the rent amount "that would otherwise be charged"?

The attachment must include the amount of rent that would otherwise be charged under FAR 52.245-9 (Use and Charges). This helps the Air Force understand the notional value of the GFP use, even if it is proposed on a rent-free basis.

19) What is the purpose of the GFP scheduling details (first month, last month, intervening months)?

The schedule details are required to show when the GFP will be used and to provide enough information to support prorating rent if the property will be used on more than one contract at the same time.

20) What property management information must be provided for GFP?

Offerors must identify voluntary consensus standards or industry-leading practices they will use for government property management, or provide their existing property management plans, methods, practices, or procedures for property accountability.

21) What baseline solicitation applies for proposal preparation?

The amendment clarifies that references to the baseline BAA are corrected to mean BAA RV 10 01.

22) Where are the instructions for the cost proposal?

Cost proposal instructions referenced in the amendment are to be followed according to Attachment #1.

23) Where are the instructions for the technical and business proposals?

Technical and business proposal preparation should follow Section 8 of the baseline BAA RV 10 01.

24) How should required electronic copies be submitted?

The amendment specifies that electronic copies that are required must be provided on a CD-R (a recordable compact disc).

25) What data rights instruction was corrected in the amendment?

The amendment corrects an administrative wording issue to require offerors to "provide additional data right items not already submitted in the Representations and Certifications," removing wording that incorrectly implied the items needed to be tied to an awarded basic contract.

26) When was the opportunity initially posted?

The opportunity was initially posted on May 19, 2010.

27) What is the current closing date and time?

The closing date reflected in the notice is July 30, 2010 at 12:00 p.m. MDT.

28) Was the closing date changed from the original date?

Yes. The original closing date was June 21, 2010, and it was updated to July 30, 2010 at 12:00 p.m. MDT.

29) What is the archive date listed for the opportunity?

The archive date is August 29, 2010.

30) Where should offerors look for updates or further amendments?

Offerors are instructed to monitor FedBizOps/EPS (fbo.gov) and/or Grants.gov for notices that could extend the submission deadline or otherwise modify the call.

31) Who is the point of contact for access issues with the full announcement?

The listed point of contact is Victoria Baca. Phone: 505-846-0946.

32) Does Amendment No. 5 change the research topic?

No. Based on the information provided, the amendment focuses on administrative and compliance clarifications and does not change the research topic itself.

33) If an offeror does not need GFP, do they still need to include the GFP attachment?

The amendment states the GFP attachment is required for any offeror that needs GFP. No additional GFP attachment requirement is stated for offerors that do not need GFP.

34) What should an offeror be careful not to assume about GFP?

Offerors should not assume that if the government may provide equipment or property, the government will also pay to ship it, install it, or refurbish it. Those enabling costs must be covered by the contractor and included in the offer.