Partnership Intermediary Agreement (PIA) with ERDC

Description

Background & Overview:The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) is one of the most diverse engineering and scientific research organizations in the world. The ERDC conducts research and development (R&D) in support of the Soldier, military installations, and the Corps of Engineers civil works mission, as well as for other federal agencies, state, and municipal authorities, and with U.S. industry through innovative work agreements. The ERDC addresses R&D in four major areas: Battlespace Environment, Military Engineering, Environmental Quality/Installations, and Civil Works/ Water Resources through the capabilities of seven laboratories at four geographical sites in Vicksburg MS; Champaign IL; Hanover NH; and Alexandria VA.The ERDC is initiating a new Partnership Intermediary Agreement (PIA), under the authority of 15 U.S.C. 3715, with a Partnership Intermediary to provide services for ERDC to increase the likelihood of success in the conduct of cooperative or joint activities with ERDC and small business firms, institutions of higher education as defined in 20 USC 1141(a), or educational institutions as defined in 10 USC 2194. This is a Request for Information (RFI) from eligible applicants who can provide the capabilities sought by ERDC as described in this RFI. The resultant award(s) will be for a period of up to 5 years and have an ordering capacity not-to-exceed $30M for all projects.In accordance with 15 U.S.C. 3715, eligibility to receive a PIA is limited to an agency of a State or local government, or a nonprofit entity owned in whole or in part by, chartered by, funded in whole or in part by, or operated in whole or in part by or on behalf of a State or local government, that assists, counsels, advises, evaluates, or otherwise cooperates with small business firms, institutions of higher education as defined in section 1141(a) of title 20, or educational institutions within the meaning of section 2194 of title 10, that need or can make demonstrably productive use of technology-related assistance from a Federal laboratory, including State programs receiving funds under cooperative agreements entered into under section 5121(b) of the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988 (15 U.S.C. 278l). General Intent:ERDC is interested in creating a more efficient and effective defense laboratory that can be adaptive and responsive to the challenges of 21st century national security. It is widely acknowledged that innovation depends on bringing multiple disciplines together to engage in collaborative projects that often yield unpredictable, but highly productive results. Formal and informal interactions among scientists lead to knowledge-building and research breakthroughs. By bringing together academia, industry and government, the Army can enhance its performance through collocated R&D collaboration. ERDC’s Partnership Intermediary will provide services to assist ERDC in facilitating access to world-renown facilities and researchers; developing and maintaining synergistic relationships with the entrepreneur community; facilitating government partnerships to enhance the transition of knowledge and technology; and create, grow, and maintain the fluid collaboration spaces (physical and virtual) needed for collaborative business environments. Focus Area 1: Collaboration:The Partnership Intermediary is expected to enhance partnering, both domestic and international, between ERDC, academia, industry, other government agencies and entrepreneurs by identifying and facilitating the development of new R&D partnerships and stimulating early-stage partnership R&D activities. The Partnership Intermediary is expected to be well versed in the ERDC technology campaign portfolio as well as technology portfolios of proposed partners to facilitate match-making services that leverage the complementary capabilities and expertise of ERDC and each partner. The Partnership Intermediary is expected to identify and shape opportunities to share / develop collaborative research facilities at either ERDC or a partner organization. The Partnership Intermediary shall increase ERDC's visibility in online research communities via data hubs, blogs and other web strategies as part of ERDC's collaboration and technology transfer plan. The Partnership Intermediary is expected to facilitate opportunities for collaboration through the exchange of personnel / students, licensing of intellectual property (IP), and sharing and development of research facilities through vehicles such as educational partnership agreements (EPAs), cooperative R&D agreements (CRADAs), and cooperative agreements (CAs). Focus Area 2: Technology Transfer/Transition:Emerging cooperative relationships often lead to the initiation of collaborative R&D projects, business partnerships and joint ventures that benefit both organizations. The Partnership Intermediary is expected to be knowledgeable of all aspects of the technology transfer process between ERDC, academia, industry, other government agencies, and entrepreneurs. The Partnership Intermediary is expected to identify external partners to facilitate the use of ERDC IP with partners through vehicles such as Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs), Cooperative Agreements (CAs), and patent license agreements (PLAs). The Partnership Intermediary is expected to develop strategies to create and incubate small business start-up opportunities for the purpose of federal engagement and partnership. Intermediary should actively assist with IP portfolio management, identify opportunities for ERDC to collaborate with partners using ERDC IP inventory and ERDC unique testing facilities/capabilities. Focus Area 3: Science & Engineering (S&E) Workforce Development: Recent years have seen an increasing need for lifelong learning based on the acceleration of technological change and the need to renew the skills and knowledge of the existing workforce. ERDC is committed to fostering and strengthening a culture of innovation. We wish to engage the ranks of the highly skilled S&T community and facilitate the cross-fertilization of ideas and learning. The Partnership Intermediary is expected to seek out opportunities to identify academic partners that wish to engage with ERDC on specific research areas of interest or in emerging areas with high potential payoff for the Army. The Partnership Intermediary is also expected to identify any virtual classrooms, data warehouse or educational laboratories which ERDC may augment in pursuit of STEM national readiness. Submission Request:Entities that may qualify as PIA partners can submit a White Paper (WP) to inform the ERDC requiring activity on the entities' capabilities.Requested information is detailed below:1.0 Specify how your entity qualifies as a PIA Partner in accordance with the statute 15 U.S.C 3715(c).1.1 Provide a brief description of each PIA your entity has had in the past 5 years. Include the following:-PIA identification number-Period of Performance-Government Partner(s)-Location(s) Where Primary Services Performed-Cumulative dollar value of each Agreement-Experience at operating and maintaining an Innovation Hub(s) that services DoD/Federal Laboratory technologies. An innovation hub is defined as a flexible and configurable space designed to foster creativity, encourage collaboration, generate and develop ideas and technological prototypes or advances. Identify the mechanism(s) of operation and maintenance to service the collaboration and partnerships between DoD/Federal, Private Industry and Academia partnership. -Brief summary of types of services provided and how those services align to ERDC’s Partnership Intermediary focus areas to enhance Collaboration, Technology Transfer/Transition, S&E Workforce Development, increasing the likelihood of success in the conduct of cooperative or joint activities.1.2 Sample Collaborative Project Order. Provide a brief discussion on your approach to accomplish the Sample Collaborative Project Order (Appendix A) and a Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) for the sample.2.0 Format: White Papers shall meet the following requirements:-Electronic format-Font: Times New Roman, 12 Point-Microsoft Office 2013 or compatible format and/or PDF format-Naming convention: Organization Name – White Paper Title - MMDDYYYY with no more than 50 characters and no special characters-Page Limit: White Papers addressing 1.0 & 1.1 shall not exceed five (5) pages and the response to the sample collaborative project order outlined in 1.2 shall not exceed five (5) pages; for a total of ten (10) pages. The cover page is not counted in this page limit. All pages other than the cover page shall be numbered.3.0 Submission: Responses to this notice shall be submitted NLT 12:00 PM, August 4, 2022 to: chelsea.m.whitten@usace.army.mil4.0 Disclaimers/Notifications: ERDC reserves the right to make multiple awards under this announcement.ERDC may request clarification of White Paper submissions when deemed necessary. Information Papers submitted for review purposes under this RFI will not be returned.ERDC is under no obligation to provide feedback with respect to any information submitted by an eligible applicant under this RFI. There is no guarantee that any submission in response to this RFI will result in the establishment of a PIA with an eligible applicant. Any information submitted by an eligible applicant in response to this RFI may be used to help ERDC further define its PIA needs. ERDC may select a Partnership Intermediary based solely on an RFI submission. ERDC may discuss the RFI submissions with one or more eligible applicants prior to the selection of a Partnership Intermediary.Any offeror selected from this announcement must meet the requirements of 2 CFR 200.305(b) in order to qualify for advance payments.Place of Contract Performance:Physical presence in

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