2021 Joint Capability and Technology Engagement (JCTE) Event 1. Introduction A. The Joint Capability and Technology Engagement (JCTE) is an annual event. Its purpose is to provide industry with an opportunity for focused engagement with members of the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) to share ideas that facilitate the delivery of innovative capabilities to Special Operations Forces (SOF). This event is a part of our overall effort to illuminate JSOC’s interests and accelerate solutions through partnerships. This outreach to industry begins with the release of our JCTE Interest Items List and culminates throughout the year with government/industry partnerships under the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) authority. To alleviate any confusion regarding this event, please read the entire announcement thoroughly and refer to the information provided . B. The 2021 JCTE began with the release of the JCTE Interest items List in July 2021. The directions to download the UNCLASSIFIED list remain available on Sam.gov (https://sam.gov/ - use keyword “RRTO-20210712-W-JCTE01” to search) and the direct download can be found at Vulcan-Sof.com: https://vulcan-sof.com/document/download/92864. If you’re interested in obtaining a copy of the CLASSIFIED list, send an email to
[email protected]. C. The second step in the JCTE process involves the submission of CRADA proposals by Industry Partners to JSOC. There are several reasons why JSOC is interested in engaging with industry under a CRADA: C.1. The SOF enterprise desires to inform and influence industry’s internal investment decisions in areas that address SOF’s most sensitive and urgent interest areas. Many in industry have expertise, capacity, funding, and a desire to better understand and invest in SOF unique interest areas. C.2. Factors that make this unique collaboration opportunity attractive include: C.2.a. Increasing Military Budget Austerity – SOF is a judicious transition partner whose future resourcing is among the most well-preserved of the military Services. It is desirable to improve collaboration in an era where budget austerity tends to erect barriers to open communication. C.2.b. Intellectual Property (IP) – the commercialization of dual-use (government/ commercial) technology can reduce costs to the government, but government contracting IP clauses can restrict industry’s ability to capitalize on their own IP. The proposed collaboration model preserves and protects industry’s ownership of their intellectual property. C.2.c. Why does it matter? The technical advantage of US Special Operations is both critical and time sensitive. The time involved in the formal Requirements, Contracting and Acquisition processes can delay the fielding of cutting-edge capabilities and negatively affect that technical advantage. Teaming with problem solvers early can mitigate process delay and help SOF maintain our technical advantage. D. The third step in the JCTE process involves the review of submitted proposals. An initial review will be conducted by a small team of operational, technical, and programmatic Subject Matter Experts (SME’s). Their review will focus on the operational relevance, technical merit, proffered funding, deliverable(s), and projected delivery date(s) described in each proposal. This team will then highlight those proposals deemed suitable for further review to the individual authors of the associated Interest Item(s) and ask if they would like to arrange for a briefing or demonstration of the technologies described. If their answer is “no”, we will tell you so and provide the reasons why in the form of an Assessment Report published on Vulcan. If their answer is “yes”, we will contact you to make the necessary arrangements. Proposals that reach this stage of review may result in a CRADA and associated Individual Work Plan through the USSOCOM with JSOC operational and technical SME’s serving as Lead Users. E. The final step in the JCTE process involves the execution of approved Work Plans under their associated CRADA. 2. CRADA Proposal Submission Guidelines A. All CRADA Proposal submissions must be UNCLASSIFIED. B. A CRADA Proposal Cover Sheet and proposal guidance are available for download at the Vulcan submittal website described below. All CRADA proposals must include the cover sheet and adhere to the guidance to receive full consideration. You may submit additional documentation as desired. However, we discourage you from submitting “marketing material”. Instead, focus on providing the technical and operationally relevant information we will need to conclude that your CRADA proposal is worth pursuing. C. All Industry Partners who submit a CRADA proposal will be provided with the results of our assessment through the Vulcan site. D. Priority Interest Items – Industry Partners should pay particular attention to the priority interest items annotated in the table of contents in both the UNCLASSIFIED and CLASSIFIED JCTE Interest Items lists. 3. Use of Vulcan for CRADA Proposal Submissions A. Vulcan is a web interface and automated tech scouting tool to streamline efforts across the enterprise to discover and enable the sharing of vendor technologies within the SOF enterprise. We will use Vulcan to support this event. B. If you wish to submit a CRADA Proposal, sign up and/or log into Vulcan at https://vulcan-sof.com/login/ng2/submission?collectionUuid=9ab8d3f9-fc50-44ac-803c-f33a6d5526a3. Submittal instructions are located there. Note that you can edit your Vulcan input all the way through to the Special Notice deadline. As a result, there is NO need to wait until the deadline to sign-up for a Vulcan account and submit your input. C. If you experience issues with the Vulcan-SOF site or have any issues uploading your inputs as prescribed above, contact the Vulcan Help desk at
[email protected]. 4. CRADA Proposal Due Date: All CRADA Proposals must be submitted through Vulcan no later than 1700 EDT, 24 September 2021. 5. General Information A. Please note that this event is for collaboration purposes only. It does not constitute a specific offer or commitment by JSOC to fund, in whole or in part, any opportunities referenced herein. Invitations to present a selected CRADA Proposal should not be construed as a requirement for which the Government is financially liable. Respondents will not be reimbursed for any travel, labor, information, etc., they provide in conjunction with this Special Notice. No contracts will result from participation in this event or CRADA proposals received; however, information received may be used in market research. B. This JCTE collaboration event with JSOC is in accordance with FAR 15.201(e) and is specifically for future and emerging technologies that would significantly advance designated commodity areas. This is NOT a Broad Agency Announcement, solicitation, or request for contractual offers. Interested participants are requested to follow submission guidelines to minimize expending extensive effort in preparing a CRADA Proposal that may not be considered or submitting unneeded proprietary information. All proprietary information will be safeguarded in accordance with FAR 3.104 and 18 U.S.C. § 1905. C. JSOC will utilize contractor consultant/advisors to assist with the execution of this event. All advisors shall comply with procurement integrity laws and shall sign non-disclosure agreements. The Government shall take into consideration requirements for avoiding conflicts of interest and ensure advisors comply with safeguarding proprietary data. Contractor consultant/advisors will also be involved in follow on collaboration with selected industry partners, including managing and maintaining the websites and other tasks JSOC assigns.