USSOCOM BAA | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the USSOCOM BAA (W81XWH USSOCOM BAA 13 1)?

This opportunity is a U.S. Army USAMRAA-managed biomedical research and development Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) supporting U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF). It solicits practical, field-ready medical solutions intended for austere, far-forward environments where SOF medics operate with limited logistics and potentially long evacuation timelines.

2. What kinds of solutions does this BAA prioritize across all topics?

Across topics, the solicitation emphasizes solutions that are small, lightweight, rugged, simple to use, and reliable in extreme conditions. Low power demand and minimal maintenance are important. For drugs and biologics, the preference is to avoid refrigeration or special handling when possible.

3. Is this BAA limited to early-stage discovery research?

No. The BAA is open to efforts that adapt and mature concepts that have already demonstrated feasibility or patient care efficacy. It does not require purely early-stage discovery work.

4. What is the main focus area of the opportunity?

A major focus area is Damage Control Resuscitation, centered on keeping critically injured patients alive and stable when MEDEVAC is delayed or impossible and care may need to continue for days instead of hours.

5. Within Damage Control Resuscitation, what project types are highest priority?

USSOCOM places the highest priority on four kinds of projects within Damage Control Resuscitation: (1) global treatment strategies for shock and severe trauma; (2) vital signs monitoring solutions; (3) analgesia approaches; and (4) far forward blood capabilities.

6. What does the BAA mean by "global treatment strategies" for battlefield shock and severe trauma?

These are broad, practical strategies tailored for prolonged care in austere settings. The announcement specifically mentions hypotensive resuscitation, identifying optimal fluids, managing uncomplicated shock, addressing non-compressible hemorrhage, and improving approaches for traumatic brain injury in far-forward scenarios.

7. What kinds of vital signs monitoring solutions are sought?

The BAA is interested in miniaturized, rugged monitors capable of tracking core parameters such as temperature, pulse, respiration, blood pressure, capnography, and pulse oximetry, designed for harsh field conditions.

8. Are there preferences related to how vital signs monitors store and share data?

Yes. There is a strong preference for systems that store data for later retrieval and use open architecture so they can integrate with other tools and software.

9. What analgesia (pain management) characteristics does USSOCOM prefer?

USSOCOM is interested in pain control methods that are easy to administer, tolerate environmental extremes, and last through prolonged field care while minimizing sedation. They prefer options with a broad safety/toxicity margin and that do not create sensitization that complicates later topical pain management.

10. What does "far forward blood" refer to in this opportunity?

"Far forward blood" refers to methods to make transfusion safer and easier ahead of normal logistics. The BAA mentions person-to-person transfusion concepts, pre-hospital blood banking, and practical field methods for blood typing/cross-matching and pathogen screening.

11. What is the second broad research area in the BAA?

The second broad research area is Environment Specific Medicine, addressing sustained operations in extreme altitude, temperature, humidity, wind, and time-zone disruption, and sometimes in contaminated environments (chemical, biological, radiological). The goal is to maintain human performance and effectiveness, including while wearing protective equipment.

12. What are the priority subtopics under Environment Specific Medicine?

USSOCOM highlights three priority subtopics: (1) rapid and durable acclimatization strategies for temperature extremes, altitude exposure, and circadian/time-change adjustment; (2) improved treatments for high altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) and high altitude cerebral edema (HACE), including pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical options; and (3) near real-time CBRNE rapid diagnostics to detect and characterize exposure quickly enough to guide immediate decisions.

13. What does CBRNE mean in this BAA?

CBRNE refers to chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and high-yield explosive threats. The BAA specifically calls for near real-time rapid diagnostics to detect and characterize exposures.

14. Is Force Protection included, and what does it cover?

Yes. A smaller but clearly defined area is Force Protection (also described as force health protection), focused on rapid field diagnostics relevant to protecting SOF personnel, specifically diagnostics for infectious diseases and exposures to toxic industrial compounds and toxic industrial materials.

15. Is there a Canine Medicine component in this BAA?

Yes. The BAA gives substantial attention to Canine Medicine, recognizing SOF working dogs and seeking canine-focused solutions that are rugged, effective in extremes, and not dependent on heavy supply chains, ideally leveraging what medics already carry.

16. What are the canine priority areas listed in the opportunity?

USSOCOM lists six canine priority areas: (1) environmental extremes (including acclimatization, saltwater toxicity, and hot/cold exposure, with allowance for HAPE/HACE-related interventions where relevant); (2) sensory optimization and protection (olfactory, visual, and hearing); (3) nutrition and hydration strategies; (4) anesthesia protocols for routine and emergency field care aligned with available medic analgesics and practical constraints; (5) trauma resuscitation strategies tailored to canines, with interest in blast injury scenarios; and (6) pre- and post-trauma training and behavioral approaches to maintain or restore performance.

17. What types of award instruments may be used under this announcement?

The announcement allows multiple award instruments, including cooperative agreements, grants, procurement contracts, and funding agreements.

18. How is this opportunity categorized administratively?

It is categorized as discretionary and is listed under CFDA 12.420 (Military Medical Research and Development).

19. Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The announcement states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.

20. Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning it is open to a wide range of applicant types, subject to any additional eligibility clarifications in the full text of the announcement.

21. How many awards and how much total funding are anticipated?

The opportunity anticipated about five awards with an estimated total funding level of $3.5 million.

22. What are the key dates listed for this BAA?

The posting date was February 15, 2013. The closing date was June 4, 2013. The archive date was July 4, 2013.

23. Who should applicants contact for access issues and pre-proposal submissions?

For access issues and pre-proposal submissions, the listed contact email is USSOCOM.biomedical@socom.mil.

24. What operational context should proposed solutions be designed for?

Proposed solutions should work where SOF medics operate: far forward, with limited logistics, harsh climates, and long evacuation timelines, including scenarios where care may need to continue for days rather than hours.

25. Are there any stated design preferences for sustainment and power?

Yes. The BAA emphasizes low power demand and minimal maintenance, in addition to being rugged and simple to use.

26. How does the BAA address integration with other systems (especially for monitoring)?

For monitoring systems specifically, USSOCOM prefers open architecture designs that can integrate with other tools and software, and that can store data for later retrieval.