BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT W912HZ-15-BAA-01 U.S. ARMY ENGINEER RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER (ERDC) W912HZ-15-BAA-01 ERDC Broad Agency Announcement January 2015 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION……………………………………………………………………………………..3 PART I BACKGROUND & RESEARCH INTERESTS……………………………………………6 Conference & Symposia Grants........................................................................................9 Coastal & Hydraulics Laboratory…………………………………………………………………...10 Geotechnical & Structures Laboratory……………………………………………………………..19 Environmental Laboratory…………………………………………………………………………...30 Information Technology Laboratory………………………………………………………………..54 Construction Engineering Research Laboratory………………………………………………….57 Cold Regions Research & Engineering Laboratory………………………………………………71 Geopsatial Research Laboratory…………………………………………………………………...84 Reachback Operations Center………………………………………………………………………94 PART II PRE-PROPOSAL & PROPOSAL EVALUTION…………………………………………95 PART III PRE-PROPOSAL & PROPOSAL PREPARATION…………………………………….96 Introduction……………………………………………………………………………………………96 General Information………………………………………………………………………………....98 Type of Contract…………………………………………………………………………………….100 Contents of Pre-Proposal………………………………………………………………………….101 Contents of Full Proposal………………………………………………………………………….102 ATTACHMENTS…………………………………………………………………………………….104 Attachment A – Clauses of Fixed Price Contracts Attachment B – Clauses for Cost-Reimbursable Contracts Attachment C – Additional Representations and Certifications 2 W912HZ-15-BAA-01 ERDC Broad Agency Announcement January 2015 POINTS OF CONTACT For contractual questions concerning proposals to CHL, EL, GSL, ITL, GRL, and UROC contact: Brandy Ellison at 601-634-4679 or via email at [email protected] For contractual questions concerning proposals to CERL contact: Wanda Huber at 217-373-6730 or [email protected] or Andrea J. Krouse at 217-373-6746 or [email protected]. For contractual questions concerning proposals to CRREL contact: Wendy Adams at 603-646-4323 or [email protected] or Ashley Jenkins at 217-373-7297 or [email protected]. For technical questions, contact the technical personnel listed at the end of each topic area. PREPARATION INSTRUCTIONS AND ADDRESSES SHOWN IN PART III. For more information about ERDC visit our website at: http://www.erdc.usace.army.mil/ INTRODUCTION The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) includes the Coastal and Hydraulics Lab (CHL), the Geotechnical and Structures Lab (GSL), the Reachback Operations Center (UROC), the Environmental Lab (EL) and the Information Technology Lab (ITL) in Vicksburg, Mississippi, the Cold Regions Research and Engineering Lab (CRREL) in Hanover, New Hampshire, the Construction Engineering Research Lab (CERL) in Champaign, Illinois, and the Geospatial Research Laboratory (GRL) in Alexandria, Virginia. The ERDC is responsible for conducting research in the broad fields of hydraulics, dredging, coastal engineering, instrumentation, oceanography, remote sensing, geotechnical engineering, earthquake engineering, soil effects, vehicle mobility, self-contained munitions, military engineering, geophysics, pavements, protective structures, aquatic plants, water quality, dredged material, treatment of hazardous waste, wetlands, physical/mechanical/ chemical properties of snow and other frozen precipitation, infrastructure and environmental issues for installations, computer science, telecommunications management, energy, facilities maintenance, materials and structures, engineering processes, environmental processes, land and heritage conservation, and ecological processes. This research is conducted by Govern- ment personnel and by contract with educational institutions, non-profit organizations and private industries. “The provisions of the Competition in Contracting Act of 1984 (P.L. 98-369) as implemented in the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR 35.016) provide for the issuance of a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) as a means of soliciting proposals for basic and applied 3 W912HZ-15-BAA-01 ERDC Broad Agency Announcement January 2015 research and that part of development not related to the development of a specific system or hardware procurement. To be eligible for consideration and possible contract award, the technology or methodology shall be either basic research, applied research, advanced technology development not for a specific system/hardware, or demonstration and validation. BAAs may be used by agencies to fulfill their requirements for scientific study and experimentation directed toward advancing the state-of-the-art or increasing knowledge or understanding rather than focusing on a specific system or hardware solution. The BAA shall only be used when meaningful proposals with varying technical/scientific approaches can be reasonably anticipated. “Basic Research” is defined as research directed toward increasing knowledge in science with the primary aim being a fuller knowledge or understanding of the subject under study, rather than any practical application of that knowledge. “Applied Research” is the effort that normally follows basic research, but may not be severable from the related basic research; attempts to determine and exploit the potential of scientific discoveries or improvements in technology, materials, processes, methods, devices, or techniques; and attempts to advance the state-of-the-art. This announcement must be general in nature, identify the areas of research interest, include criteria for selecting proposals, and solicit the participation of all offerors capable of satisfying the Government's needs. The proposals submitted under this BAA will be subject to peer or scientific review. Proposals that are selected for award are considered to be the result of full and open competition and in full compliance with the provisions of PL 98-369, the Competition in Contracting Act of 1984. Resulting agreements may be in the form of purchase orders, contracts, grants, or cooperative agreements depending upon the specifics of the effort, such as extent of Government involvement, actual scope of work, and cost. This guide constitutes the BAA of this Command and conforms to regulatory requirements of the Federal Acquisition Regulation. This guide provides prospective offerors information on the preparation of proposals for basic or applied research. Directions as to form and procedures are included. This guide is also posted on www.Grants.gov. Proposals from U. S. Government facilities and organizations will not be considered under this program announcement. PERSONS SUBMITTING PROPOSALS ARE CAUTIONED THAT ONLY A CONTRACTING OFFICER MAY OBLIGATE THE GOVERNMENT TO ANY AGREEMENT INVOLVING EXPENDITURE OF GOVERNMENT FUNDS. This BAA supersedes all previous editions and shall remain in effect until superseded. Proposals are encouraged from Historically Black Colleges and Universities or Minority Institutions (HBCUs/MIs) for students to provide research support to any of the research and development areas listed in this BAA. HBCU/MIs interested in submitting a proposal must address the specific areas of research under which they are submitting. They must also clearly state within their proposal their capability to perform the contract and include a positive statement of their eligibility as an HBCU or MI. These contracts will be written in accordance with the Contract Student Regulation as regards pay, GPA requirements, place of performance and every other requirement or statement within the regulation. 4 W912HZ-15-BAA-01 ERDC Broad Agency Announcement January 2015 ERDC also encourages small business concerns, women owned small businesses, small disadvantaged business concerns, small businesses located in HUBZones, businesses participating in the Small Business Administration 8(a) program, and service disabled veteran- owned small businesses to submit research proposals for consideration. The Offeror, by submission of an offer or execution of a contract in response to this solicitation, certifies that the Offeror is not debarred, suspended, declared ineligible for award of public contracts, or proposed for debarment pursuant to FAR 9.406-2. If the Offeror cannot so certify, or if the status of the Offeror changes prior to award, the Offeror must provide detailed information as to its current status. Proposals submitted under the BAA should clearly identify within the proposal any research that is expected to be fundamental in nature as defined in National Security Defense Directive 189. Fundamental research means basic and applied research in science and engineering, the results of which ordinarily are published and shared broadly within the scientific community, as distinguished from proprietary research and from industrial development, design, production, and product utilization, the results of which ordinarily are restricted for proprietary or national security reasons. Please see page 30 for white paper/pre-proposal submittal information. (e.g., Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP), Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP), DoD Basic 6.1 Research Program, etc.) Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) and Government entities (Government/National laboratories, military educational institutions, etc.) are subject to applicable direct competition limitations and cannot propose to this BAA in any capacity unless they meet the following conditions. FFRDCs must clearly demonstrate that the work is not otherwise available from the private sector AND they also provide a letter on letterhead from their sponsoring organization citing the specific authority establishing their eligibility to propose to government solicitations and compete with industry, and compliance with the associated FFRDC sponsor agreement and terms and conditions. This information is required for FFRDCs proposing to be prime or subcontractors. Government entities must clearly demonstrate that the work is not otherwise available from the private sector and provide written documentation citing the specific statutory authority (as well as, where relevant, contractual authority) establishing their ability to propose to Government solicitations. At the present time, DARPA does not consider 15 U.S.C. 3710a to be sufficient legal authority to show eligibility. 5 W912HZ-15-BAA-01 ERDC Broad Agency Announcement January 2015 While 10U.S.C. 2539b may be the appropriate statutory starting point for some entities, specific supporting regulatory guidance, together with evidence of agency approval, will still be required to fully establish eligibility. DARPA will consider eligibility submissions on a case-by- case basis; however, the burden to prove eligibility for all team members rests solely with the Proposer. PART I BACKGROUND AND RESEARCH INTERESTS OF THE RESEARCH LABORATORIES The COASTAL AND HYDRAULICS LABORATORY (CHL) has nationally - and interna- tionally - recognized engineering and scientific expertise related to inland waterways and the estuarine and coastal zones. CHL has foremost capabilities in prototype data collection, experimental research and numerical modeling and simulation of processes involving water levels, current, winds, waves and tides, and their interaction with sediments and structures. Specific and unique expertise exists in the engineering, hydrodynamics, sediment transport, dredging and dredged material disposal, physical processes associated with environmental analyses, groundwater modeling, military hydrology, harbor engineering, and riverbank and shore protection. CHL has the Tri-Service Reliance mission for Logistics-Over-the Shore (LOTS) for Sustainment Engineering. The Shore Protection Manual, which is internationally recognized as the most authoritative source of engineering design and guidance for the coastal engineering profession, was originally developed by the Coastal Engineering Research Center (CERC), and is being replaced by the CHL with an updated and greatly expanded Coastal Engineering Manual. The GEOTECHNICAL and STRUCTURES LABORATORY (GSL) performs research, development and testing in many areas such as: soil mechanics, foundation design, slope stability, seepage analysis, pavements (both expedient and permanent), rock mechanics, engineering geology and geophysics, earthquake engineering, vehicle mobility and trafficability, structural dynamics, explosion and weapon effects, survivability, earth dynamics, construction materials, impact of high-velocity projectiles, development of methods for installation of fixed installation camouflage, concealment and deception, and design and analysis of structures to resist static and dynamic loading. The Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory is equipped to perform any type of laboratory testing, including centrifuge applications, needed to assist in the types of research described herein. The ENVIRONMENTAL LABORATORY (EL) conducts Military and Civil Works R&D for the Corps of Engineers, other Department of Defense elements, and other Government agencies in the general areas of Environmental Restoration (Clean-up) and Environmental Conservation. Areas of research include: (a) environmental sensing development, (b) hazardous waste site characterization and treatment, (c) sediment geochemistry and biological effects, (d) water quality modeling, and unexploded ordnance (UXO). Environmental Conservation deals with sustaining natural resources entrusted to DoD for continued use through improving and developing tools and technologies, which conserve, protect, and enhance natural and cultural resources and foster stewardship. Areas of research 6 W912HZ-15-BAA-01 ERDC Broad Agency Announcement January 2015 include: (a) environmental database development; (b) environmental impact prediction, assessment, and management; (c) environmental criteria for stream channel alteration; (d) natural resource management; (e) aquatic nuisance species management; (f) threatened and endangered species protection and management; (g) ecology, restoration, and management of plant communities in aquatic ecosystems; (h) water quality; (i) outdoor recreation; (j) cultural resources; and (k) ecosystem simulation. The INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY (ITL) conducts research, development, and studies and provides technical assistance and operational support in information technology (IT) and closely related fields, with particular emphasis on the areas of computer-aided interdisciplinary engineering, computer-aided design and drafting, building information modeling, computer-aided facilities management, computer science, high performance computing, advanced computer security, general-purpose computing, and sensor and instrumentation systems. These activities are conducted to support and enable execution of missions of USACE, the Army, and DoD. The U.S. Army CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING RESEARCH LABORATORY (CERL) offers research and development (R&D) support, as well as technical assistance, to a variety of customers throughout the Department of the Army (DA) and other Government agencies. CERL is the lead Army facility for conducting R&D on infrastructure and environmental issues for installations. CERL’s research is directed toward increasing the Army’s ability to more efficiently construct, operate, and maintain its installations and ensure environmental quality and safety at a reduced life-cycle cost. To accomplish the mission, CERL has two Divisions: Facilities and Installations. Researchers in these Divisions are matrixed across the ERDC organization in multi-disciplinary teams that bring the best expertise to bear on solving problems for the Department of Defense. The mission of the COLD REGIONS RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING LABORATORY (CRREL) is to solve interdisciplinary, strategically important problems of the US Army Corps of Engineers, Army, Department of Defense, and the Nation by advancing and applying science and engineering to complex environments, materials, and processes in all seasons and climates, with unique core competencies related to the Earth’s cold regions. CRREL provides innovative products and solutions in support of the warfighter, homeland security, environment, infrastructure, and civil works water resources requirements. CRREL’s research staff utilizes a multi-disciplinary approach to solve difficult environmental physics and cold regions engineering problems. Technical areas of research include Signature Physics, Terrain Properties and Processes, Biogeochemical Processes in Earth Materials, Environmental Fate and Transport Geochemistry, Maneuver Support and Sustainment, Cold Regions Infrastructure, Water Resources and Geospatial Applications, and Hydrology and Hydraulics. The GEOSPATIAL RESEARCH LABORATORY’s (GRL) mission is to provide the Warfighter with a superior knowledge of the battlefield. This mission is accomplished through research, development, operations and systems support, and the application of expertise in the geospatial, topographic and related sciences. Throughout its history, GRL has developed 7 W912HZ-15-BAA-01 ERDC Broad Agency Announcement January 2015 and exploited geospatial-related technologies critical to meeting the Nation’s military. GRL has applied its expertise to the needs of homeland defense and the global war on terrorism. These technologies and their related research, operations and systems development activities, essential to the Army in accomplishing its global mission, include the following:  Timely acquisition, fusing, analysis, display, and dissemination of remotely sensed, multi- sourced information depicting imagery, features, elevation, and other information essential to accurately describe the land warrior battle space.  The development of geographic information software that enables reliable, efficient, and secure information management, interoperability and accessibility for various user communities operating globally, each with different needs.  The development of globally fielded applications and systems for acquiring, accessing, fusing, and delivering terrain and feature information to the soldier.  The development of accurate on-the-fly global positioning systems for use with inertial guidance as essential positioning engines for acquiring near real time, dynamic, high- accuracy, remotely sensed 3-d terrain and feature information.  The development of increasingly compact, more efficient, and more comprehensive applications and systems aimed at providing low echelon combat units with information in near-real-time, enabling rapid response to developing situations in any battle space.  The development of new and innovative techniques to understand and visualize terrain and battle space information in all dimensions, and to accommodate reasoning within analytical results.  The development of accurate and efficient survey and mapping systems for use by both military and civil communities.  Capabilities in acquisition, testing and fielding of topographic systems; advanced and engineering development of imagery systems; and research and development in the areas of imagery and intelligence data exploitation.  Operational capabilities in geospatial information and imagery requirements development; terrain, hydrologic, and environmental analysis; and information services. The USACE REACHBACK OPERATIONS CENTER (UROC) is an engineering analysis reach back (i.e., telepresence) capability to support personnel in the execution of their mission across the full operational spectrum. Research in this area includes the development and/or integration of models (empirical, analytical, numerical, etc.) and hardware to improve subject matter expert (SME) response time, provide highly accurate engineer analysis to deployed personnel, and improve the capability of personnel in the field to collect engineering data. 8 W912HZ-15-BAA-01 ERDC Broad Agency Announcement January 2015 CONFERENCE AND SYMPOSIA GRANTS I. Introduction The ERDC supports conferences and symposia in special areas of science that bring experts together to discuss recent research or educational findings or to expose other researchers or advanced graduate students to new research and educational techniques. The ERDC encourages the convening, in the United States, of major international conferences, symposia, and assemblies of international alliances. II. Eligibility Notwithstanding the above, the Department of Defense (DOD) has imposed certain restrictions on the ERDC’s co-sponsorship of scientific and technical conferences and symposia. Specifically, DOD instruction 5410.20 prohibits co-sponsorship of conferences and symposia with commercial concerns, i.e., ERDC cannot co-sponsor conferences or symposia with a for-profit company. Scientific, technical, or professional organizations which qualify for tax exemption under the provision of 26 U.S.C. Sec. 501 (c) (3) may receive conference and symposia grants. III. Conference Support Conference support proposals should be submitted a minimum of six (6) months prior to the date of the conference. IV. Technical Proposal Preparation The technical portion of a proposal for support of a conference or symposium should include: a. A one page or less summary indicating the objectives of the project. b. The topics to be covered. c. The location and probable date(s) and why the conference is considered appropriate at the time specified. d. An explanation of how the conference will relate to the research interests of the ERDC and how it will contribute to the enhancement and improvement of scientific, engineering, and/or educational activities as outlined in the BAA. e. The name of chairperson(s)/principal investigator(s) and his/her biographical information. f. A list of proposed participants and the methods of announcement or invitation. 9 W912HZ-15-BAA-01 ERDC Broad Agency Announcement January 2015 g. A summary of how the results of the meeting will be disseminated. Cost Proposal Preparation The cost portion of the proposal should show: a. Total project conference costs by major cost elements. b. Anticipated sources of conference income amount from each. c. Anticipated use of funds requested. V. Participant Support Funds provided cannot be used for payment to any federal government employee for support, subsistence, or services in connection with the proposed conference or symposium. COASTAL AND HYDRAULICS LABORATORY I. Introduction Research is performed in the areas of hydraulic structures such as locks, dams, outlet works, control gates, stilling basins, spillways, channels, fish handling systems, and pumping stations, flood control channels; navigation channels; riverine and estuarine hydrodynamics and transport processes; groundwater; hydrology; dredging-related equipment; and on coastal problems related to shoreline protection; beach erosion; navigation; sedimentation; inlet stabilization; and construction, operation and maintenance of coastal structures (break-water, jetties, groins, seawalls, etc.). Major areas of interest include coastal hydrodynamics (wind waves, tides, currents, wind related water levels); coastal sedimentation (longshore transport, inlet sedimentation); coastal geology and geomorphology; design and stability of coastal structures; and interaction of structures and coastal processes. Other activities include descriptions of coastal processes; theoretical studies; Watershed and regional sediment and water systems studies; numerical and physical model techniques; data collection and analysis techniques; development of laboratory and prototype instrumentation and equipment. The following sections contain information on these research areas and specific research thrusts. II. Research Areas A. Physical Processes in Estuaries (CHL-1) 1. The research program in estuarine physical processes deals with the hydrodynamic and transport characteristics of water bodies located between the sea and the 10