MTEC Solicitation Summary: Technology Integration to Optimize Military Health and Performance

The Medical Technology Enterprise Consortium (MTEC) is excited to post this pre‐announcement for a Request for Project Proposals (RPP) with the objective to identify an organization able to serve as an “integrator” proficient at leveraging the capabilities of an existing network of performers to advance materiel and knowledge products that improve the physical, cognitive, and psychological health and performance of Service Members (SM). The goal is to create an actively coordinated “mini‐consortium” program that incorporates organizations dedicated to researching, developing, testing/evaluating, and manufacturing human health and performance products. Due to the Integrator’s specialized expertise, this approach will de‐risk technology development by providing capability/expertise to companies that have promising technologies but lack the ability or experience to bring their technologies to market. This structure also allows flexibility to incorporate service member feedback into the testing/evaluating process, identifying and replacing failing performance technology prototypes with more promising ones throughout the Period of Performance (PoP). Additionally, the integrator will continually synchronize and integrate awardee efforts so that performance technology prototype development might advance further and faster than if the awardee were to conduct development on their own. As stated at the end of this announcement, the full RPP is posted to the MTEC website (mtec‐sc.org); this notice is intended only to notify interested parties of the available solicitation. B ACKGROUND: Current wartime operations assume that the United States and our allies will maintain air, land, maritime, space and cyber superiority. Future conflicts against peer and near‐peer adversaries are expected to be layered stand‐offs, fought across multiple domains (Multi‐Domain Operations, MDO) in large scale combat operations. Mission success will be determined by our ability to compete to expand the competitive space, penetrate both strategically and operationally, disintegrate enemy’s defenses, exploit enemy weaknesses and re‐compete to consolidate gains. Warfighter performance plays a critical role in each aspect of MDO and enhancements to human performance will maintain Force readiness and increase soldier lethality. In order to modernize the DOD to be a ready and resilient Force, MOMRP is seeking to build a capability through MTEC that is poised to rapidly advance performance technology prototypes related to Warfighter performance and transition these to both the Warfighter and the commercial marketplace as appropriate. This effort requires multiple performance technology prototype solutions that address: Preventing or reducing physical injuries (e.g. musculoskeletal injuries (MSKI), cognitive degradation, psychological health challenges) and speeding recovery/return to duty/combat; Maintaining health and performance in a multi‐stressor environments common in the DoD in garrison, during training, and on operations; and Enhancing baseline physical and mental health and performance in a safe and ethical way. S COPE OF W ORK: Two objectives have been identified for funding under this RPP. Objective 1 is to provide prime integrator capabilities and to advance existing performance technology prototypes along their maturation pipeline. Objective 2 is to identify, review, and present (for Government approval) potential performance technology prototypes that will undergo advancement under Objective 1 guidelines. It is the Government’s intent that this initial award is part of a larger and longer project, with the potential for significant follow‐on funding (pending availability of funding and technical progress). All submissions shall detail how the Offeror will accomplish/achieve these requirements to include a clear approach to execute all objectives based upon the Offeror’s unique methodology. P OTENTIAL F OLLOW‐ ON T ASKS: Under awards resulting from this RPP, there is the potential for award of one or more non‐competitive follow‐on tasks based on the success of the project (subject to change depending upon Government review of completed work and successful progression of milestones). Potential follow‐on work may be awarded based on the advancement in prototype maturity during the PoP. Offerors are encouraged, as appropriate, to discuss potential follow‐on work in the Enhanced White Paper submission to demonstrate the ability to further advance the project maturity beyond the proposed PoP. This will also allow the Offeror to highlight the potential expansion(s) that can be explored/achieved through short term and/or long‐term advancement of the project in a way that is beneficial to the Government. P OTENTIAL F UNDING A VAILABILITY AND P ERIOD OF P ERFORMANCE : The U.S. Government (USG) currently has available a total of approximately $6.7 million (M) of Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 (FY22) research, development, testing, and evaluation (RDT&E) funds for this effort. It is the Government's intent that this initial award is part of a larger and longer project, potentially providing approximately $7M per year for follow‐on work for up to 5 years (pending availability of funding and technical progress). Award and funding from the Government is expected to be limited (initially) to the funding specified above (only $6.7M at present, but with an additional $7M possible per year) and is contingent upon the availability of federal funds for this program. MTEC expects to make a single award to a qualified Offeror to accomplish the scope of work with an initial PoP not to exceed 36 months . A CQUISITION A PPROACH : This RPP will be conducted using the Enhanced White Paper approach. In Stage 1, current MTEC members are invited to submit Enhanced White Papers using the mandatory format contained in this RPP. The Government will evaluate Enhanced White Papers and will select those that represent the best value using the evaluation criteria in outlined of this RPP. Offerors whose proposed solution is selected for further consideration based on the Enhanced White Paper evaluation will be invited to submit a full cost proposal in Stage 2. Notification letters will contain specific Stage 2 proposal submission requirements. MTEC M EMBER T EAMING : While teaming is not required for this effort, Offerors are encouraged to consider teaming during the proposal preparation period (prior to Enhanced White Paper submission) if they cannot address the full scope of technical requirements of the RPP or otherwise believe a team may be beneficial to the Government. The following resources may help Offerors form a more complete team for this requested scope of work. The MTEC M‐Corps is a network of subject matter experts and service providers to help MTEC members address the business, technical, and regulatory challenges associated with medical product development. M‐Corps offers members a wide variety of support services, including but not limited to: Business Expertise [i.e., business development, business and investment planning, cybersecurity, finance, intellectual asset management, legal, logistics/procurement, pitch deck coaching, transaction Advisory], and Technical Expertise [i.e., chemistry, manufacturing and controls (CMC), clinical trials, concepts and requirements development, design development and verification, manufacturing, process validation, manufacturing transfer quality management, regulatory affairs]. Please visit https://www.mtec‐sc.org/m‐corps/ for details on current partners of the M‐Corps. MTEC Database Collaboration Tool to help identify potential teaming partners among other MTEC members. The Database Collaboration Tool provides a quick and easy way to search the membership for specific technology capabilities, collaboration interest, core business areas/focus, R&D highlights/projects, and technical expertise. Contact information for each organization is provided as part of the member profile in the collaboration database tool to foster follow‐up conversations between members as needed. The Collaboration Database Tool can be accessed via the “MTEC Profiles Site” tab on the MTEC members‐only website ( https://private.mtec‐sc.org/ ). A dedicated chat forum has been established to facilitate direct interaction amongst MTEC members in relation to this active funding opportunity. The chat forum can be accessed via the “Team Portal” on the MTEC members‐only website ‐ https://private.mtec‐sc.org/ . MTEC : The MTEC mission is to assist the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command (USAMRDC) by providing cutting‐edge technologies and supporting life cycle management to transition medical solutions to industry that protect, treat, and optimize Warfighters’ health and performance across the full spectrum of military operations. MTEC is a biomedical technology consortium collaborating with multiple government agencies under a 10‐year renewable Other Transaction Agreement (OTA), Agreement No. W81XWH‐15‐9‐0001, with the U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA). MTEC is currently recruiting a broad and diverse membership that includes representatives from large businesses, small businesses, “nontraditional” defense contractors, academic research institutions and not‐for‐profit organizations. P OINT OF C ONTACT : For inquiries, please direct your correspondence to the following contacts: Questions concerning contractual, cost or pricing related to this RPP should be directed to the MTEC Contracts Administrator, mtec‐ [email protected] Technical and membership questions should be directed to the MTEC Research Associate, Dr. Chuck Hutti, Ph.D., [email protected] All other questions should be directed to the MTEC Chief of Consortium Operations, Ms. Kathy Zolman, [email protected]