FY13 FUNDING OPPORTUNITY FOR THE NATIONAL CONSORTIUM FOR MEASUREMENT AND SIGNATURE INTELLIGENCE (MASINT) RESEARCH PROGRAM | Apply Online

Funding Opportunity FAQs (NPS BAA 13 001 - FY13 MASINT Research)

1) What is this funding opportunity?

This is an FY13 funding opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number NPS BAA 13 001) supporting the National Consortium for Measurement and Signature Intelligence (MASINT) Research program, an Intelligence Community-focused research effort tied to the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), specifically the Directorate for MASINT and Technical Collections (DIA/DT).

2) What does MASINT mean in this announcement?

MASINT (Measurement and Signature Intelligence) is described as an intelligence discipline that uses a wide range of scientific and technical methods to collect and analyze foreign intelligence through measurable phenomena and signatures.

3) What is the National Consortium for MASINT Research (NCMR)?

The National Consortium for MASINT Research (NCMR) is positioned as the central mechanism for driving MASINT innovation by bringing together a formal consortium of laboratories, academic institutions, and industry partners to sustain advanced research and development and maintain technical expertise needed for continued intelligence capabilities.

4) Who is issuing the announcement?

The announcement is issued by the Naval Supply Systems Command.

5) What type of solicitation format is used?

This opportunity is competed using a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) style competition.

6) What type of funding instruments are expected?

The announcement uses assistance instruments, specifically grants and cooperative agreements.

7) What program classification or CFDA does this align with?

The activity aligns with CFDA 12.300 (Basic and Applied Scientific Research) and falls under science and technology and other research and development.

8) Is cost sharing or matching required?

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

9) When was the opportunity posted and what were the application dates?

The opportunity was posted on December 4, 2012. The application window extended through September 30, 2013. It was later archived on October 30, 2013.

10) What is the overall technical focus of the FY13 program?

The FY13 program invites offerors to present prior related work, ongoing research, and proposed future efforts in three major areas centered on remote assessment and detection. The emphasis is on scientific and technical approaches that can infer or characterize threats without direct access, consistent with MASINT objectives.

11) What are the three major technical areas covered?

The three areas are: (1) remote assessment of missile performance characteristics, (2) remote assessment and detection of weapons of mass destruction (limited to nuclear and radiological weapons for this cycle), and (3) remote assessment and detection of directed energy weapons (including weapon-oriented lasers, high powered microwave (HPM), and electromagnetic pulse (EMP) weapons).

12) What topics are included under remote assessment of missile performance characteristics?

Explicitly included topics are determining location, thrust, throw weight, warhead accuracy, and defensive capabilities.

13) What weapons of mass destruction (WMD) topics are in scope this year?

For this cycle, WMD scope is limited to nuclear and radiological weapons.

14) Are chemical and biological weapons included in the WMD scope?

No. Chemical and biological weapons are explicitly excluded for this year.

15) What directed energy weapon topics are included?

The directed energy area includes remote assessment and detection methods for weapon-oriented lasers as well as high powered microwave (HPM) and electromagnetic pulse (EMP) weapons.

16) Who is eligible to submit proposals?

Eligibility is primarily aimed at academia. The announcement states that all responsible sources from colleges and universities may submit proposals.

17) Are HBCUs and Minority Institutions encouraged to apply?

Yes. The announcement specifically encourages Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Minority Institutions (MIs) to participate and join in proposal submissions.

18) Is any portion of the BAA set aside exclusively for HBCU/MI participation?

No. The announcement clarifies that no portion of the BAA is set aside exclusively for HBCU/MI participation.

19) Which organizations are not eligible to receive awards directly under this BAA?

Several government-affiliated or government-owned research organizations are not eligible to receive awards directly under this BAA, including: US Government schools of higher education; Navy laboratories and warfare centers; other Department of Defense and civilian agency laboratories; and Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs), including Department of Energy national laboratories.

20) If an organization is in an excluded category, should it submit a white paper or full proposal?

No. Those in the excluded categories are advised not to submit white papers or full proposals directly.

21) What should excluded organizations do if they want to be involved?

They are directed to contact the appropriate Naval Postgraduate School point of contact to discuss potential interest or involvement pathways.

22) Where can applicants find additional information links mentioned in the notice?

The opportunity provides an additional information link described as a link to all NPA BAAs.

23) Who can be contacted to obtain the full announcement?

For assistance obtaining the full announcement, the listed contact is Christina Beal, Contract Specialist.

24) What is the phone number for the listed contact?

Christina Beal can be reached by phone at 619-556-7329.