OUSD (R&E) CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Nuclear, Mission Readiness & Disaster Preparedness The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120-130, which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services, including export of sensitive technical data, or the Export Administration Regulation (EAR), 15 CFR Parts 730-774, which controls dual use items. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals (FNs), their country(ies) of origin, the type of visa or work permit possessed, and the statement of work (SOW) tasks intended for accomplishment by the FN(s) in accordance with the Announcement. Offerors are advised foreign nationals proposed to perform on this topic may be restricted due to the technical data under US Export Control Laws. OBJECTIVE: To expand and develop new Small Business Manufacturer (SBM) industrial base partners to grow participation in support of manufacturing parts managed by DLA and the Services for Aging Weapon Systems in support of DLA's mission described in Ref. 1. DESCRIPTION: DLA SBIR Program has a legacy of success in the advancement of critical manufacturing technologies that support our national security, along with a growing small business manufacturing network that fortify DLA supply chains. These efforts together with our Service partners are helping the DLA to build a resilient SBM base to reduce the acquisition and supportability costs of defense weapons systems, reduce manufacturing and repair cycle times across the life cycles of such systems, and transition manufacturing research and development processes into production. Competitive proposals should originate from small business manufacturing firms and include their process for manufacturing a National Stock Number (NSN) or component for specific weapon platform. Proposals with software or integrated manufacturing solutions will not be evaluated. Projects of this open topic can develop in several ways: a) SBMs can identify NSNs on the DLA Internet Bid Board System (DIBBS). More details are available at Ref. 2. JCP Certification required as described in Ref. 3. b) SBMs can identify NSNs through partnerships with the Air Force, Navy, Army or Marine Corps or Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM). c) SBMs can propose advanced manufacturing methods for existing NSNs to improve cost, reduce lead time and/or improve quality. None of these projects can proceed without appropriate sponsorship from the DLA or one of the military Services. Identify specific partnerships and points of contact to strengthen your proposal. A specific NSN must be identified to participate in the open topic through independent SBM research. NSN's will not be provided. The Offeror must fully understand the path to becoming an approved source for the proposed NSN and describe it in their proposal. PROJECT DURATION and COST: PHASE I: Not to exceed a duration of 6 months and cost of $50,000. PHASE II: Not to exceed a duration of 24 Months and cost of $1,000,000. DLA intends to make 4 awards against this topic. A small business concern may only submit one (1) proposal to this open topic. If more than one proposal from a small business concern is received for this open topic, only the most recent proposal to be certified and submitted prior to the submission deadline will receive an evaluation. All prior proposals submitted by the small business concern for this open topic will be marked as nonresponsive and will not receive an evaluation. PHASE I: The project schedule should plan to perform all tasks necessary to become an approved source including but not limited to completing the TDP if applicable and/or Source Approval Request (SAR) within the period of performance. The goal of phase I is for the SBM to develop the appropriate documentation to qualify as a source of supply for a DLA managed NSN which will demonstrate their capability to be added to a list of DLA SBIR SBM network. In this phase, manufacturers will submit a Technical Data Package and/or Source Approval Request via DLA to the applicable Engineering Support Activity (ESA), as required, for approval. The benefit to the SBM for qualifying for DLA's SBM network is eligibility for non-competitive SBIR Phase II awards and DLA NSN procurements. All Phase I Proposals should demonstrate an understanding of the NSN and the general challenges involved in their manufacture. Proposals that fail to demonstrate knowledge of the NSN will be rejected. JCP Certification is required to access Government drawings and data. Please see reference 2. A review of references 4, 5, and 6 is highly recommended. PHASE II: Typically, Phase II advances the project into production when representative articles are required to support validation and/or testing for source approval. Secondly, if a complete solution is not apparent by the end a Phase I, additional research may be required and funded in Phase II. Finally, in some cases the path to Low-Rate Initial Production may require funding for pre-production, test equipment and/or test services. The goal being to transition the NSN to a program or record as an approved manufacturing source. PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: A successful Phase III is an award(s) from DLA or the Services for the NSN proposed. PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: This NSN or related technology and manufacturing processes developed under this award could be used in a broad range of military and commercial applications. COMMERCIALIZATION: The SBM will pursue commercialization of the various technologies and processes developed in prior phases through participation in future DLA procurement actions on items identified but not limited to this BAA. REFERENCES: 1. DLA Strategic Plan 2021-2026: https://www.dla.mil/Info/Strategic-Plan/ 1. Access the web address for DIBBS at https://www.dibbs.bsm.dla.mil, then select the Tech Data Tab and Log into c-Folders. This requires an additional password. Filter for solicitation SBIR213C 2. JCP Certification: https://public.logisticsinformationservice.dla.mil/PublicHome/jcp 3. DLA Aviation SAR Package instructions. DLA Small Business Resources: http://www.dla.mil/Aviation/Business/IndustryResources/SBO.aspx 4. DLA Small Business Innovation Programs web site: http://www.dla.mil/SmallBusiness/SmallBusinessInnovationPrograms 5. DLA Aviation Repair Parts Purchase or Borrow (RPPOB) Program: https://www.dla.mil/Aviation/Offers/Services/AviationEngineering/Engineering/ValueEng.aspx KEYWORDS: Manufacturing, National Stock Number, Commercialization, Weapon System, Reverse Engineering, Technical Data Package
