Medical Countermeasure Systems Broad Agency Announcement | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Medical Countermeasure Systems Broad Agency Announcement (MCS BAA 15-01)?

MCS BAA 15-01 is a standing, open-call funding opportunity issued by the Department of Defense (DoD) through the Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical and Biological Defense (JPEO-CBD), specifically under its Joint Project Manager for Medical Countermeasure Systems (JPM MCS). It is structured as a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) to attract scientific and technical ideas that strengthen U.S. capabilities to prevent, diagnose, and treat health effects caused by chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) warfare agents.

What is the main purpose of this opportunity?

The purpose is to support research and development (R&D) efforts that move medical countermeasures forward for both immediate operational needs and longer-term or future CBRN threats. The focus is on advancing countermeasure solutions that reduce harm from exposure to CBRN agents.

Which government organizations are involved?

The opportunity is issued under JPEO-CBD within the DoD, and the office specifically responsible for this BAA is JPM MCS (Joint Project Manager for Medical Countermeasure Systems). JPEO-CBD is described as being organized into five Joint Project Management Offices covering different commodity areas, with JPM MCS focused on medical countermeasures.

What types of projects is the BAA trying to fund?

The BAA seeks scientific and technical R&D ideas that strengthen prevention, diagnosis, and treatment capabilities related to CBRN agent exposure. It is aimed at identifying and maturing promising science and technology to advance medical countermeasures, rather than purchasing finalized equipment.

Does this solicitation start with a full proposal or a pre-proposal?

This BAA is designed to solicit pre-proposals. That means the government invites initial concept submissions that can be evaluated before asking for more detailed proposals.

What award types can be used under this announcement?

The opportunity contemplates multiple award mechanisms, including procurement contracts, grants, and cooperative agreements.

Are there limits on what parts of development can be funded?

Yes. The text notes that procurement contracts and grants under this announcement apply to parts of development that are not tied to building a specific fielded system or to hardware procurement. It also states that applicability is linked to Technical Readiness Level (TRL) limitations described in the full BAA.

Is this BAA intended to buy finished systems or equipment?

No. Based on the description provided, the emphasis is on identifying and maturing science and technology for medical countermeasures, rather than buying finalized equipment or procuring hardware tied to a specific fielded system.

How is competition handled for procurement contracts issued under this BAA?

For any procurement contracts that result, the BAA is issued under the Competition in Contracting Act of 1984 and implemented through relevant Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) provisions, including FAR 6.102(d)(2) and FAR 35.016(a). The stated intent is to enable competitive selection of the best available science.

Are there any set-asides (for small business or other categories)?

No. The announcement emphasizes merit-based selection to identify the best available science and states that there are no set-asides associated with awards made under this BAA.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is described as open and unrestricted. Proposals are welcomed from educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, private industry, and other eligible sources as allowed by the solicitation.

What program category and identifier are associated with this opportunity?

The program is categorized under Science and Technology and other Research and Development, and it is associated with CFDA 12.360.

Is there a single application deadline?

No. The posting indicates the opportunity is open on a continuous basis until it is revised or discontinued. Applicants should treat it as an always-available portal for submitting relevant pre-proposals while the announcement remains active.

How should applicants ensure their submission is responsive to the government’s needs?

Applicants are expected to align their ideas with JPM MCS needs and anchor their concepts to the technical topics (the "Areas of Interest") described in the BAA. The text also notes that the full BAA includes mission areas and technical points of contact (referenced as being in Section VII), and applicants should coordinate with the relevant product management office points of contact identified in the solicitation.

Where are the technical topics or "Areas of Interest" described?

The summary indicates that the specific technical topics the government wants to see (the "Areas of Interest") are described in the BAA itself. Submissions should be anchored to those areas to be considered responsive.

What information does the BAA provide to help applicants participate?

The BAA states it provides standard elements needed to participate, including general program information, instructions for proposal preparation, evaluation and selection criteria used to judge submissions, and basics of award administration.

What is the role of Technical Readiness Levels (TRLs) in this opportunity?

The opportunity references TRL limitations described in the full BAA. Those TRL limits help define what parts of development are applicable under the announcement, particularly around avoiding efforts tied to building a specific fielded system or hardware procurement.

Is this opportunity focused only on near-term threats, or also on future threats?

It addresses both. The BAA states that JPM MCS supports current, near-term, and far-term defense challenges, and the announcement seeks R&D that can meet immediate needs as well as longer-term and future threats.