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Deployed Warfighter Protection Program (DWFP) FY2016 (DWFP-16-S-02) FAQs

1) What is the DWFP FY2016 funding opportunity (DWFP-16-S-02)?

DWFP-16-S-02 is a discretionary U.S. Army research grant opportunity issued by the U.S. Army Contracting Command at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Natick Contracting Division, Fort Detrick. It supports research intended to improve health protection for deployed military personnel, with a practical emphasis on deployment-relevant science and technology that reduces disease risk and strengthens force health protection.

2) What is the main scientific focus area for this solicitation?

The primary focus is pest and vector management. This includes developing new interventions to prevent diseases transmitted by arthropod vectors (for example, mosquitoes, ticks, sand flies, and other biting insects that can carry pathogens) and improving control measures for filth flies, which can contribute to disease spread and sanitation problems in operational environments.

3) What types of vectors and pests are specifically mentioned?

The opportunity specifically references arthropod vectors such as mosquitoes, ticks, sand flies, and other biting insects, as well as filth flies.

4) What is the overall intent of the research supported under DWFP-16-S-02?

The intent is to fund practical, operationally relevant research and development that can reduce disease risk for deployed military personnel and contribute to force health protection in real-world deployment settings.

5) Is DWFP-16-S-02 a brand-new solicitation or a reissue?

It is a reissue of an earlier solicitation (DWFP-16-S-01). The reissue occurred because the original announcement had expired.

6) Does the reissued solicitation accept brand-new submissions?

No. Based on the information provided, DWFP-16-S-02 was not intended to attract brand-new early-stage submissions. It primarily served as the mechanism to move previously screened concepts forward into the full proposal stage rather than reopening the competition to new ideas.

7) What happened to the pre-proposal phase, and when did it close?

The pre-proposal phase had already closed under the earlier announcement (DWFP-16-S-01). The pre-proposal deadline was January 8, 2016, and only pre-proposals submitted on time and in compliance with DWFP-16-S-01 were included in the pipeline for the next stage.

8) Who could advance to the full proposal stage?

Only those applicants who had submitted compliant pre-proposals by the January 8, 2016 deadline under DWFP-16-S-01, and whose concepts were screened and moved forward through the review process, could be invited to submit full proposals.

9) How were projects evaluated and selected?

The selection approach combined technical peer review with programmatic screening for military relevance. Pre-proposals were evaluated for scientific merit and alignment with operational needs, and programmatic relevance was determined by an Armed Forces Pest Management Board (AFPMB) Integrated Process Team.

10) What role did the Armed Forces Pest Management Board (AFPMB) play?

AFPMB, through an Integrated Process Team, determined programmatic relevance (military relevance) as part of the screening process that complemented scientific and technical review.

11) How and where were full proposals required to be submitted?

Full proposals were required to be submitted through Grants.gov. Invited applicants were expected to receive detailed submission instructions.

12) When were invitations to submit full proposals expected to be sent?

The timeline indicated that invitations to submit full proposals were expected to be sent by February 1, 2016.

13) What was the invited full proposal deadline?

The timeline provided indicated an invited full proposal deadline around March 15, 2016 at 12:00 p.m. EST.

14) What Grants.gov closing date was shown for the reissued opportunity?

The Grants.gov closing date shown was March 18, 2016.

15) When were awards expected to start?

The opportunity anticipated that awards would start around April 2016.

16) What is the CFDA number and category for this opportunity?

The opportunity is identified under CFDA 12.355 and is categorized under Science and Technology and other Research and Development.

17) What does "eligibility unrestricted" mean for this opportunity?

Eligibility was listed as unrestricted, meaning it was broadly open to many types of applicants (such as universities, nonprofits, companies, and other organizations), subject to any additional eligibility clarifications in the solicitation text. However, this reissued announcement was not intended to reopen submissions for new entrants at the pre-proposal stage.

18) What was the award ceiling?

The opportunity listed an award ceiling of $250,000.

19) How many awards were anticipated?

About 8 awards were anticipated.

20) What does the listed award size and number of awards suggest about the project scope?

The award ceiling of $250,000 and an anticipated 8 awards indicate relatively modest, targeted research projects rather than large, multi-year center-style grants.

21) What were the posted and creation dates for DWFP-16-S-02?

The reissued opportunity showed a creation date of February 3, 2016, and it was posted on February 3, 2016.

22) Who was the point of contact for administrative questions?

Administrative questions and points of contact were directed to Richard Totten, Contract Specialist, U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground Natick Contracting Division, Fort Detrick, located in Frederick, Maryland, with an email address provided in the announcement for correspondence.

23) What kind of research outcomes are implied as valuable under this program?

The opportunity emphasizes practical, deployment-relevant interventions and control measures focused on preventing vector-borne disease transmission and improving pest/filth fly control in operational environments, with the goal of reducing disease risk and supporting force health protection.

24) Why was DWFP-16-S-02 issued if DWFP-16-S-01 already existed?

DWFP-16-S-02 was issued as a reissue because DWFP-16-S-01 had expired. The reissued announcement served primarily as the administrative vehicle to continue processing previously submitted and screened pre-proposals into the full proposal stage.