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Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment (IBAS) Program (W52P1J 16 R 0001; CFDA 12.630) - FAQs

1) What is this funding opportunity?

This is a U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment (IBAS) Program grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number W52P1J 16 R 0001; CFDA 12.630). It is intended to strengthen and preserve parts of the defense industrial base that DoD considers "critical and fragile."

2) What problem is IBAS trying to solve?

The program targets industrial capabilities that may be at risk of disappearing due to market pressures such as limited suppliers, declining demand, high qualification costs, or other factors. The goal is to avoid losing specialized manufacturing capabilities, suppliers, and technical workforces that DoD relies on for current missions and verified future needs.

3) Is this program mainly for basic research?

No. While the announcement is categorized under Science and Technology and other Research and Development, the stated purpose emphasizes sustainment and improvement of industrial capabilities rather than basic research. It focuses on preserving and strengthening production lines, supplier bases, qualification pathways, and specialized workforces that are difficult to rebuild if lost.

4) What is the legal authority behind the IBAS effort described here?

The opportunity is rooted in Title 10, section 2508 of the U.S. Code, which established an industrial base fund overseen by the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics (ATL).

5) Who administers this effort?

Administration is carried out through the DASD (MIBP) using the IBAS assistance program mechanism, as described in the announcement.

6) What kinds of outcomes is DoD looking for?

Based on the description, DoD is looking for targeted projects that prevent the loss of specialized capabilities and improve industrial base resilience. Examples implied by the announcement include qualification efforts, process maturation, sustaining production readiness, supplier stabilization, and actions that maintain hard-to-replace design teams and workforce skills.

7) Why does DoD frame this as cost avoidance and readiness?

The announcement explains that it can be far more expensive and time-consuming to rebuild (reconstitute) a lost capability later than it is to sustain it now, especially when the capability supports national security systems with long timelines and strict qualification requirements.

8) Does IBAS prioritize any particular scope of benefit?

Yes. A defining feature described in the announcement is that funded projects should have broad defense relevance. The intent is to support efforts that benefit multiple military Services and/or multiple DoD Agencies rather than narrow, single-program needs.

9) What strategic goals are highlighted besides sustainment?

The opportunity highlights goals such as expanding and strengthening reliable sources, increasing competition where feasible, and addressing industrial base gaps connected to urgent operational needs.

10) What is this specific announcement collecting from applicants?

This Funding Opportunity Announcement is used to collect white papers and/or proposals tied to five focus areas identified as fragile and critical industrial base capabilities.

11) What are the five focus areas?

The focus areas listed are:

1. Space-qualified Mercury Cadmium Telluride (MCT) infrared sensors and associated Readout Integrated Circuits (ROIC)
2. Radiation-hardened digital/analog technology production and qualification
3. Radiation-hardened Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA) from a trusted source
4. Thermal batteries
5. Other (additional fragile industrial base capabilities aligned with program intent)

12) What does the MCT/ROIC focus area cover?

It covers space-qualified Mercury Cadmium Telluride (MCT) infrared sensors and associated Readout Integrated Circuits (ROIC), described as key components for high-performance sensing systems used in space environments.

13) What does the radiation-hardened digital/analog technology focus area cover?

It covers production and qualification for radiation-hardened digital/analog technologies, reflecting the need for electronics that can survive radiation environments encountered in space or other high-radiation contexts.

14) What does the radiation-hardened FPGA focus area emphasize?

It emphasizes both the technical requirement for radiation-hardened programmable logic and the supply chain security requirement for a trusted production source.

15) What are thermal batteries in the context of this announcement?

The announcement describes thermal batteries as a specialized power source commonly used in certain defense applications where long shelf life and rapid activation are essential.

16) What does the "Other" focus area mean?

"Other" leaves room for proposals that address additional fragile industrial base capabilities, as long as they align with the program intent described in the announcement (sustaining or strengthening critical and fragile defense industrial capabilities with broad defense relevance).

17) What type of funding opportunity is this considered?

It is categorized as a discretionary grant in the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity category.

18) Who posted this opportunity?

The posting entity listed is DOD-AMC-ACCRI.

19) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning it is broadly open to different types of applicants, subject to any additional eligibility language that may appear in the full announcement.

20) What is the closing date for this specific posting?

The original and current closing date provided is February 19, 2016, indicating this specific posting was time-bounded to that cycle.

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

The listed award ceiling is $2,000,000.

22) What does the $2,000,000 ceiling suggest about the kinds of projects DoD expected?

The announcement suggests moderate-sized, focused projects, likely aimed at activities such as qualification efforts, process maturation, sustaining production readiness, supplier stabilization, or other targeted actions that directly improve industrial base resilience in the identified areas.

23) What makes an industrial base capability "critical and fragile" under this opportunity?

Based on the description, a capability is considered at risk when market conditions could cause it to disappear (for example, limited suppliers, declining demand, high qualification costs, or other pressures), even though DoD depends on it for current missions and verified future needs.

24) How does this opportunity relate to supply chain stability and competition?

The announcement positions IBAS as a strategic tool for stabilizing supply chains and preserving production capacity, including by strengthening reliable sources and increasing competition where feasible.

25) Does the opportunity mention any preference for single-program solutions?

It states the opposite intent: projects should have broad defense relevance and benefit multiple military Services and/or multiple DoD Agencies, rather than addressing narrow, single-program needs.