TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Materials, Bio Medical, Chem Bio Defense, Electronics, Ground Sea, Human Systems, Information Systems, Nuclear, Sensors, Weapons, Air Platform, Space Platforms, BattlespaceOBJECTIVE: This is an AF Special Topic in partnership with AFWERX. Please see the above AF Special Topic instructions for further details.Phase I awards will have a maximum of $50,000 SBIR funds. The period of performance will be three months, including two months technical effort and one month for reporting.Phase II awards will have a maximum of $750,000 SBIR funds. The period of performance will be 15 months, including 12 months technical performance and three months for reporting.The objective of this topic is to explore Innovative Defense-Related Dual-Purpose Technologies not covered by other specific SBIR topics. Therefore, the topic will explore options for solutions outside the AF's current focus fields but could be useful. An additional objective is to grow the AF's industrial base. This topic is intended to reach companies capable of completing a feasibility study and prototype validated concepts under accelerated Phase I and II schedules. This topic is specifically aimed at later stage development rather than earlier stage basic science and research.DESCRIPTION: The AF is a large and complex organization consisting of many functions with similar counterparts in the commercial sector. The AF wishes to explore innovative technology domains with demonstrated commercial value in the non-Defense sector, i.e., through existing products/solution, in order to obtain Air Force applications, i.e., Dual-Purpose Technologies/ Solutions. It is impossible to release SBIR topics addressing every AF technological area.Therefore, this topic is seeks open ideas and technologies covering topics not currently covered.It is important potential solutions have a high probability of keeping pace with the technological change.Thus, they should be closely tied to commercial technologies and solutions supporting the solution's development. This topic is meant for non-Defense commercial solutions to innovatively adapt to meet DoD stakeholders' needs in a short timeframe, at a low cost. Solutions should be focused on the three areas listed below, meeting as many as possible.Financial Sustainability - Offeror(s) should demonstrate financial sustainability in both the solution and company. This is most relevant when supported by sales to non-Defense clients and other private investment sources.Defense Need - Offeror(s) should demonstrate understanding of the fit between their solution and Defense stakeholders.Offeror(s) may provide indication of a Defense 'need' by including evidence of preliminary discussions with AF stakeholders.Technical/Team - The proposed approach's soundness, technical merit, and innovation and incremental progress toward fulfilling a need.It also includes proposed team members' qualifications and ability to execute the proposed approach.In summary, proposals for this topic should demonstrate a high probability of identifying a product-market fit between an AF end user and the proposed solution through a non-Defense commercial solution's adaptation. This is initiated through proposal of a mature non-Defense technical solution and a starting point to find an AF customer.BROAD TECHNOLOGY AREAS AND SPECIFIC USER NEEDS FOR AFWERX' 20.2 OPEN TOPICSThe topic is truly 'Open' (agnostic of industry, technology, and problem area), to facilitate streamlined customer discovery for Phase I companies.In Phase I, certain problem areas for which potential Customers and/or funding exists have already been identified. These areas, which are broken out into broad Technology Areas as described in Section 2.0.Technology Areas - The list of Technology Areas may be found in Section 2.0 of this document.If a Technology Area is applicable, please note this on the application slide deck's first slide.Also include the Technology Area ID # in the 'Keywords' areas of the online SBIR application, e.g., TA-001.The alignment between a proposal and a Technology Area can strengthen an application. Note, this does not change the requirement to demonstrate the Defense need as listed above, but may complement it. This also does not preclude companies looking to solve other problems not listed in the Technology Areas to submit to this topic; it is simply intended to give indications of AF special emphasis areas at this time.PHASE I: Conduct feasibility-related experimental or theoretical R/R&D to validate the product-market fit between the proposed solution and a potential AF stakeholder.Define a clear, immediately actionable plan for a trial with the proposed solution and the AF customer. This feasibility study should directly address:Clearly identify the prime potential AF end user(s) from the non-Defense commercial offering to solve the AF need, i.e., how it has been modified.Describe integration cost and feasibility with current mission-specific products.Describe if and how the demonstration can be used by other DoD or Governmental customersThe funds obligated on the resulting Phase I SBIR contracts will be used solely to conduct a thorough feasibility study. Prototypes may be developed during Phase I to better address the innovative technology's risks and potential payoffs.PHASE II: Continue R/R&D to develop, install, integrate and demonstrate a prototype system determined to be the most feasible solution during the Phase I feasibility study. This demonstration should focus specifically on:Evaluating the proposed solution against the objectives and measurable key results defined in the Phase I feasibility study.Describing in detail how the solution differs from the non-Defense commercial offering to solve the AF need and how to scale to be adopted widely, i.e., how it can be modified for scale.The proposed solution's clear transition path including consideration of all affected stakeholders' inputs. This would include, but not be limited to, end users, engineering, sustainment, contracting, finance, legal, and cyber security.Providing specific details about the solution's integration with other current and futuresolutions.Explaining the solution's sustainability, i.e., supportability.Identifying other DoD or Governmental customers interested in the solution.PHASE III: Some solutions may go straight from Phase I to Phase III as soon as the product-market fit is verified.The contractor will transition the adapted non-Defense commercial solution to provide expanded mission capability fora broad range of potential Governmental and civilian users and alternate mission applications.NOTES:To answer questions about this topic, AFWERX will utilize teleconferences. Details will be made available when plans are finalized.The SITIS Q&A system is available until then.AF SBIR/STTR Phase I awards are FAR-based firm fixed price purchase orders.Phase II awards are either FAR-based firm fixed price contracts or Other Transactions for Prototype.Firms' SAM registrations shall reflect "Yes" for "Do you wish to bid on contracts?" to be eligible for awards.Otherwise, the proposal will not be considered for award.For more information, visit SAM.gov.If already registered in SAM, ensure the CAGE code, company name, address information, DUNS numbers, etc., are correct and current.In the 15 slide deck, insert a SAM.gov screenshot including the current CAGE code, DUNS number, and business address, as well as the registration for 'All Contracts'.Purchase orders shall be signed and emailed back to AFRL/SBRK at sbrk.sprints@us.af.mil within five business days of receipt or the award will not be issued.The 'DoD SBIR/STTR Programs Funding Agreement Certification' form must be completed and signed at the time of *Proposal Submission* and can be found at: https://www.afsbirsttr.af.mil/Portals/60/Pages/Phase%20I-II/SBIR-STTR-Phase-I-II- Funding%20Agreement%20Certification.pdfIt is the offeror's responsibility to answer the SBIR Cover Sheet and 'DoD SBIR/STTR Programs Funding Agreement Certification' questions,assuring data in the proposal and SAM.gov are aligned.While these are firm fixed price purchase orders, it is important companies include the cost volume in the SBIR online application with reasonable fidelity for Government Contracting Officers to determine the proposed efforts' reasonablenessProposed technologies may be restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR) which controls defense-related materials/services import/export, or the Export Administration Regulation (EAR), controlling dual use items.Offerors must review the U.S. Munitions List, https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/22/121.1, and provide a tentative determination regarding applicability to their proposed efforts.If determined applicable, a certified DD Form 2345, Militarily Critical Technology Agreement, must be submitted with the proposal.Information regarding the application process and instructions for form completion are found at https://www.dla.mil/HQ/LogisticsOperations/Services/JCP/DD2345Instructions/.If subject to ITAR, involvement of foreign nationals may be restricted."Foreign National" is defined in 22 CFR 120.16 as a natural person who is neither a lawful permanent resident (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(20)), nor a protected individual (8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)).It also includes foreign corporations, business associations, partnerships, trusts, societies, other entities/groups not incorporated/organized to do business in the United States, international organizations, foreign governments, and their agencies/subdivisions.Offerors must identify foreign national team members and provide their countries of origin, visa/work permits possessed, and Work Plan tasks assigned.Additional information may be required during negotiations to verify eligibility.Even if eligible, participation may be restricted due to U.S. Export Control Laws.NOTE: Export control compliance statements are not all-inclusive and do not remove submitters' liability to 1) comply with applicable ITAR/EAR export control restrictions or 2) inform the Government of potential export restrictions as efforts proceed.KEYWORDS: Open, Other, Disruptive, Radical, Dual-Use, CommercialReferences:1. FitzGerald, B., Sander, A., Parziale, J. (2016). Future Foundry: A New Strategic Approach to Military- Technical Advantage. Retrieved 12 June 2018, https://www.cnas.org/publications/reports/future-foundry.2. Blank, S. (2016). The Mission Model Canvas: An Adapted Business Model Canvas for Mission-Driven Organizations. Retrieved 12 June 2018, https://steveblank.com/2016/02/23/the-mission-model-canvas-an-adapted-business-model-canvas-for-mission-driven3. DoD 2018 National Defense Strategy of the United States Summary, 11. Retrieved from https://www.defense.gov/Portals/1/Documents/pubs/2018-National-Defense-Strategy- Summary.pdf
