Opportunity Information: Apply for BAA08 03
Apply for BAA08 03
- The Office of Procurement Operations Grants Division in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Rapid Technology Application Program (RTAP) Explosives Detection" and is now available to receive applicants.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jan 4, 2008 and posted on Nov 14, 2007.
- Applicants must submit their applications by The due date and time established for the receipt of White Papers and Full Proposals are as indicated in Section IV, Paragraph 3 of the BAA.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $2,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $2,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: City or township governments Private institutions of higher education Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Small businesses Individuals Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) County governments For profit organizations other than small businesses Special district governments Independent school districts Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education State governments Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
- This BAA is open to ALL responsible sources. Foreign or foreign owned Offerors are advised that their participation is subject to foreign disclosure review procedures and DHS security directives and policies. Offerors may include single entities or teams from private sector organizations, Government laboratories, airport authorities, Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs), including Department of Energy National Laboratories and Centers,and academic institutions. Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs), including the Department of Energy National Laboratories and Centers, are eligible to respond to this BAA, individually or as a team member of an eligible principal Offeror, as so long as they are permitted to respond to solicitations such as this under the applicable sponsoring agreement between the Government and the specific FFRDC. Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), Minority Institutions (MI), Small Business concerns, Small Disadvantaged Business concerns, Women Owned Small Business concerns, Veteran Owned Small Business concerns, Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business concerns, and HUBZone Small Business concerns are encouraged to submit proposals and to join other entities as team members in submitting proposals. However, no portion of this BAA will be set aside pursuant to FAR Part 19.502 2. Independent organizations and teams are encouraged to submit proposals. However, Offerors must be willing to cooperate and exchange software, data and other information in an integrated program with other contractors, as well as with system integrators, selected by DHS ST.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Rapid Technology Application Program (RTAP) - Explosives Detection opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number BAA08-03) is a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology (S&T) Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) focused on quickly turning promising ideas into working prototype systems that meet urgent operational needs. It is structured as a combined synopsis/solicitation, meaning the government is simultaneously announcing the requirement and requesting submissions under a research and development style procurement. The central purpose is to support rapid technology development for emergency responders and internal DHS customers, with an emphasis on producing advanced prototypes within roughly 6 to 18 months after an award is made.
The specific technical need being competed under this RTAP BAA is explosives detection, with a clearly identified topic: a Portable Trace Level Explosives Detection Portal (Portable EDP). In practical terms, DHS is looking for concepts and prototype approaches for a portable portal-style system capable of detecting trace amounts of explosive material. The solicitation calls initially for white papers (shorter concept submissions), with the expectation that selected concepts may be invited to submit full proposals according to the instructions and deadlines laid out in the BAA (Section IV, Paragraph 3). The full BAA document is posted through FedBizOpps (as referenced in the notice) and also on the HSARPA BAA site, and the government directs applicants to read the full document carefully before submitting questions.
This opportunity is funded at an estimated total of $2,000,000, with an award ceiling of $2,000,000, and DHS anticipates making one award. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement stated in the listing, which can make participation more feasible for organizations that cannot commit non-federal matching funds. The activity category is Science and Technology and other Research and Development, reflecting that this is about building and demonstrating prototype capability rather than routine purchasing of commercial products.
A notable feature of RTAP is its flexible award structure. DHS indicates that awards may be made in several forms depending on what best fits the work and the performer, including procurement contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, or Other Transaction (OT) agreements. That flexibility often signals a desire to move quickly and tailor terms to prototype development, testing, and iteration, rather than forcing every project into a single standard instrument.
Eligibility is broad. The BAA is described as open to all responsible sources, which includes a wide range of domestic applicants such as state and local governments, tribal governments and tribal organizations, public and private universities, nonprofits (including 501(c)(3) and those without that status), small businesses, large for-profit businesses, individuals, school districts, special districts, housing authorities, and others. It also explicitly allows submissions from single entities or teams, and it welcomes participation by government laboratories, airport authorities, Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) including Department of Energy national labs and centers, and academic institutions, so long as the particular FFRDC is permitted to respond under its sponsoring agreement. Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Minority Institutions, and various small business categories (including women-owned, veteran-owned, service-disabled veteran-owned, HUBZone, and small disadvantaged businesses) are encouraged to participate, but the BAA is not set aside under FAR Part 19, meaning it is not reserved exclusively for small businesses.
For foreign or foreign-owned offerors, participation is possible but comes with additional scrutiny. The notice warns that involvement is subject to foreign disclosure review procedures and DHS security directives and policies, which is common for homeland security technology areas, especially those tied to detection capabilities and operational deployment.
Collaboration expectations are also built into the program. Even though independent organizations and teams are encouraged to apply, offerors must be willing to cooperate within an integrated program environment. That includes exchanging software, data, and other information with other contractors and with system integrators selected by DHS S&T. This is an important requirement for applicants to consider early, because it can affect intellectual property planning, data rights assumptions, and how a prototype will be designed to interface with other components or program participants.
From an applicant standpoint, the immediate action is to locate and review the full BAA text (via the FedBizOpps link referenced in the announcement, and/or the HSARPA BAA website) and follow the white paper and full proposal instructions and deadlines specified in the BAA itself. Questions are directed to the official BAA email address (BAA08-03@dhs.gov). The contracting/grants point of contact listed for access issues is Linda Mulligan, Team Lead/Contracting Officer, DHS Office of Procurement Operations, Science and Technology Acquisitions, with the instruction that all substantive inquiries for the BAA should go through the BAA email address.
FAQs: Rapid Technology Application Program (RTAP) - Explosives Detection (BAA08-03)
What is this funding opportunity?
This is the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology (S&T) Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) under the Rapid Technology Application Program (RTAP) for Explosives Detection, Funding Opportunity Number BAA08-03.
What is RTAP designed to do?
RTAP is focused on quickly turning promising ideas into working prototype systems that meet urgent operational needs for emergency responders and internal DHS customers.
Is this a grant or a contract opportunity?
It can be either. DHS states that awards may be made as procurement contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, or Other Transaction (OT) agreements, depending on what best fits the work and the performer.
What does it mean that this is a "combined synopsis/solicitation"?
It means the government is announcing the requirement and requesting submissions at the same time, under a research and development style procurement approach.
What technical topic is being competed under this RTAP BAA?
The specific technical need is explosives detection, with an identified topic: a Portable Trace Level Explosives Detection Portal (Portable EDP).
What is DHS looking for under the Portable EDP topic?
DHS is seeking concepts and prototype approaches for a portable portal-style system capable of detecting trace amounts of explosive material.
How fast is the program expecting prototypes to be developed?
The program emphasis is on producing advanced prototypes within roughly 6 to 18 months after an award is made.
What is the total estimated funding amount?
The opportunity is funded at an estimated total of $2,000,000.
What is the maximum award amount (ceiling)?
The award ceiling is $2,000,000.
How many awards does DHS expect to make?
DHS anticipates making one award.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No cost sharing or matching requirement is stated in the listing.
What type of work does this opportunity support?
The activity category is Science and Technology and other Research and Development, with an emphasis on building and demonstrating prototype capability rather than routine purchasing of commercial products.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad. The BAA is described as open to all responsible sources, including (among others) state and local governments, tribal governments and tribal organizations, public and private universities, nonprofits (including 501(c)(3) and those without that status), small businesses, large for-profit businesses, individuals, school districts, special districts, housing authorities, and others.
Can teams apply, or only single organizations?
Both are allowed. The BAA explicitly allows submissions from single entities or teams.
Are government labs, airport authorities, or FFRDCs allowed to participate?
Yes. The opportunity welcomes participation by government laboratories, airport authorities, Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) including Department of Energy national labs and centers, and academic institutions, as long as the particular FFRDC is permitted to respond under its sponsoring agreement.
Are small businesses given preference or is this a small business set-aside?
Small businesses and various categories (including women-owned, veteran-owned, service-disabled veteran-owned, HUBZone, and small disadvantaged businesses) are encouraged to participate, but the BAA is not set aside under FAR Part 19 and is not reserved exclusively for small businesses.
Are Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Minority Institutions encouraged to apply?
Yes. The BAA encourages participation by Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority Institutions.
Can foreign or foreign-owned organizations submit?
Participation is possible, but it is subject to additional scrutiny, including foreign disclosure review procedures and DHS security directives and policies.
What collaboration requirements should applicants be aware of?
Offerors must be willing to cooperate within an integrated program environment, including exchanging software, data, and other information with other contractors and with system integrators selected by DHS S&T.
Why do the collaboration and information-sharing requirements matter?
These requirements can affect intellectual property planning, data rights assumptions, and how a prototype is designed to interface with other components or program participants.
What is the first step to apply?
The immediate step is to locate and review the full BAA text and follow the submission instructions.
Does the process start with a white paper or a full proposal?
The solicitation calls initially for white papers (shorter concept submissions). Selected concepts may be invited to submit full proposals according to the instructions and deadlines in the BAA (Section IV, Paragraph 3).
Where can applicants find the full BAA document?
The full BAA document is posted through FedBizOpps (as referenced in the notice) and also on the HSARPA BAA site.
Where should technical or substantive questions be sent?
All substantive inquiries for the BAA should be sent to the official BAA email address: BAA08-03@dhs.gov.
Who is listed as the contracting/grants point of contact for access issues?
The contracting/grants point of contact listed for access issues is Linda Mulligan, Team Lead/Contracting Officer, DHS Office of Procurement Operations, Science and Technology Acquisitions.
Should applicants read the full BAA before asking questions?
Yes. The government directs applicants to read the full BAA document carefully before submitting questions.
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