Opportunity Information: Apply for FOA RQKM 2015 0013
Apply for FOA RQKM 2015 0013
- The Air Force Research Lab in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Defense Production Act (DPA) Title III Modernization of Navy Grade Alloy Steel Plate Production Project" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 12.800 Air Force Defense Research Sciences Program.
- This funding opportunity was created on Feb 27, 2015 and posted on Feb 27, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 13, 2015. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $17,600,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- 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:
The Defense Production Act (DPA) Title III Modernization of Navy Grade Alloy Steel Plate Production Project is a federal funding opportunity focused on strengthening the United States domestic industrial base for producing thick Navy grade alloy steel plate, a critical material used in building Navy submarines and aircraft carriers. The core goal is to maintain and expand U.S. production capability for this specialized steel plate so that the Navy can reliably source it from domestic suppliers, reducing risk to major shipbuilding programs and improving long term supply chain resilience for mission critical platforms.
The opportunity is structured as a Title III industrial base investment, meaning the government is not just buying a product but is helping modernize and sustain the underlying manufacturing capability. The project emphasizes upgrades to aging steel production facilities, tooling, and manufacturing processes. By investing in modernization, the program expects not only to preserve the ability to produce required grades and thicknesses of plate, but also to improve efficiency and quality. The announcement highlights practical downstream benefits for the Navy and shipbuilders, such as lowering manufacturer overhead tied to keeping outdated equipment running, and reducing costly re work at shipyards that can happen when inputs require additional correction, processing, or non value added handling.
Another stated objective is improving merchant supplier capabilities so the upgraded production base can effectively serve a broad customer set, including both Department of Defense and non DoD markets. That focus signals an interest in investments that do not create a single use capability, but instead support a healthier, more commercially viable steel plate production operation that can sustain itself through diversified demand. In Title III terms, that kind of broader market relevance can help keep the capability warm, reduce per unit costs over time, and improve long term sustainability beyond the immediate defense requirement.
Administratively, this opportunity was issued by the Air Force Research Laboratory under the Air Force Defense Research Sciences Program (CFDA 12.800), even though the material application is primarily tied to Navy shipbuilding. The funding mechanism is a cooperative agreement, which typically means the government expects substantial involvement during the period of performance (for example, coordination on technical milestones, modernization activities, qualification steps, or production readiness demonstrations). The total estimated funding amount listed is $17,600,000, with an expectation of a single award, indicating a targeted effort likely intended for a specific producer or a small team centered around a producer capable of making Navy grade thick plate. The opportunity was open to unrestricted applicants (subject to any eligibility clarifications in the full text), and it required cost sharing or matching, meaning the recipient would need to contribute a portion of the project cost from non federal sources, consistent with many DPA Title III investments where the government and industry jointly fund modernization.
Key dates show the opportunity was posted on February 27, 2015, and closed on April 13, 2015, with an archive date of May 13, 2015. For applicants needing access help or administrative support, the listed point of contact was David H. Hall, Agreements Negotiator, reachable by phone at 937-713-9903. Overall, the grant opportunity is best understood as an industrial capability modernization initiative aimed at securing a dependable domestic source of specialized thick alloy steel plate for nuclear submarine and aircraft carrier construction, while simultaneously driving manufacturing upgrades that can reduce lifecycle costs and improve quality for both defense and commercial customers.
FAQs: DPA Title III Modernization of Navy Grade Alloy Steel Plate Production Project
1) What is this funding opportunity?
This is a federal Defense Production Act (DPA) Title III industrial base investment focused on modernizing and sustaining United States production capability for thick Navy grade alloy steel plate.
2) What problem is the project trying to solve?
The project targets the risk of losing or weakening domestic capability to produce a specialized, thick alloy steel plate that is critical to major Navy shipbuilding programs. By strengthening domestic production, the effort aims to reduce supply chain risk and improve long-term resilience for mission-critical platforms.
3) Why is thick Navy grade alloy steel plate considered critical?
The opportunity identifies thick Navy grade alloy steel plate as a key input material used to build Navy submarines and aircraft carriers. Because it is tied to major shipbuilding programs, reliable domestic sourcing is treated as strategically important.
4) Is the government buying steel plate through this opportunity?
No. The opportunity is described as a Title III industrial base investment, meaning the government is investing in the underlying manufacturing capability (modernization and sustainment) rather than placing a straightforward procurement order for finished product.
5) What kinds of activities does the project emphasize?
The announcement emphasizes modernization of aging steel production facilities, tooling, and manufacturing processes, along with activities that support improved production capability, efficiency, and quality.
6) What outcomes does the program expect from modernization?
Based on the description, expected outcomes include preserving and expanding the ability to produce required grades and thicknesses of plate, improving efficiency and quality, reducing manufacturer overhead associated with maintaining outdated equipment, and reducing costly re-work at shipyards when incoming material needs extra correction or handling.
7) How does this help Navy shipbuilders and shipyards downstream?
The opportunity points to downstream benefits such as fewer quality-related issues that can drive re-work, and less non-value-added handling or additional processing at shipyards. It also suggests modernization can reduce overhead on the manufacturing side, which can support overall program efficiency.
8) What does the opportunity mean by improving "merchant supplier capabilities"?
It signals interest in an upgraded production base that can serve a broad customer set, not only Department of Defense needs but also non-DoD markets. The goal is to avoid creating a single-use capability and instead strengthen a commercially viable operation supported by diversified demand.
9) Why does serving non-DoD markets matter for a Title III project?
As described, broader market relevance helps keep the capability active ("warm"), can reduce per-unit costs over time, and supports long-term sustainability beyond the immediate defense requirement.
10) Which agency issued this opportunity?
The opportunity was issued by the Air Force Research Laboratory under the Air Force Defense Research Sciences Program.
11) Why is the Air Force involved if the application is mainly for Navy shipbuilding?
The description notes the administrative source as the Air Force Research Laboratory even though the material application is primarily tied to Navy submarines and aircraft carriers.
12) What is the CFDA number listed for this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed is 12.800 (Air Force Defense Research Sciences Program).
13) What is the funding instrument?
The mechanism is a cooperative agreement.
14) What does a cooperative agreement imply for the recipient?
The description indicates the government expects substantial involvement during the period of performance, such as coordination on technical milestones, modernization activities, qualification steps, or production readiness demonstrations.
15) How much funding was available?
The total estimated funding amount listed is $17,600,000.
16) How many awards were expected?
The opportunity indicated an expectation of a single award.
17) Who could apply?
The opportunity was described as open to unrestricted applicants, subject to any eligibility clarifications in the full text.
18) Was cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. The announcement states that cost sharing or matching was required, meaning the recipient would need to contribute a portion of the project cost using non-federal sources, consistent with many DPA Title III investments.
19) What is the general purpose of requiring cost share in this type of project?
Based on the description, cost sharing reflects a joint government-industry investment approach intended to modernize and sustain industrial capability rather than fully funding it with federal dollars.
20) When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
It was posted on February 27, 2015 and closed on April 13, 2015.
21) When was the opportunity archived?
The archive date listed is May 13, 2015.
22) Who was the point of contact for access help or administrative support?
The listed point of contact was David H. Hall, Agreements Negotiator.
23) How could applicants reach the point of contact?
David H. Hall was reachable by phone at 937-713-9903.
24) In plain terms, what is the opportunity best understood as?
It is an industrial capability modernization initiative designed to secure a dependable domestic source of specialized thick alloy steel plate for nuclear submarine and aircraft carrier construction, while upgrading manufacturing in ways that improve quality and reduce lifecycle costs for defense and commercial customers.
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