Challenge Details
Tracking Number

DWX-2023-170

Organization

SOFWERX / USSOCOM

Start Date

Mar 1, 2023

End Date

Mar 24, 2023
Current Status

Closed

Registration

N/A

No Attachments

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testimonial
Venture Capital (VC) Dashboard Collaboration Event (CE)
Challenge Summary
Description
SOFWERX, in collaboration with USSOCOM, will host a series of events to develop a Venture Capital (VC) Dashboard which will assist USSOCOM with identifying SOF-relevant technologies, both mature and emerging, within VC portfolios. The Dashboard will include information on companies, investors, deals, mergers and acquisitions, funds, advisors, and people along with the analytical tools to identify SOF-relevant technologies within the VC portfolios.
Additional Information
Submission Deadline:
03/24/2023 at 11:59 AM EST
Background
The USSOCOM enterprise constantly seeks state-of-the-art technology to assist Warfighters in the execution of their mission. While USSOCOM has increased the participation of non-traditional Department of Defense (DoD) vendors into SOF acquisition processes through mechanisms such as the DEFENSEWERX Partnership Intermediary Agreement, relationships with VCs and the companies in their portfolios can be strengthened. This relationship will improve USSOCOM’s ability to identify technologies that can support the SOF mission.
Objective
The objective of this series of events is to develop a VC Dashboard which consolidates, organizes, and analyzes public and private company information to identify potential SOF technology partners.
Why You Should Participate
USSOCOM seeks to enter into non-FAR or FAR-based agreements with Industry, Academic, and National Lab partners whose solutions are favorably evaluated by USSOCOM Subject Matter Experts (SMEs). As such, the follow-on Assessment Event (AE) is considered competitive and solutions will be evaluated independently of one another primarily for technical merit. This serves dually as notification of the intent to research the feasibility of an agreement under 10 U.S. Code, Section 4022 and/or Section 4022(f), and as notice of pre-solicitation activities IAW FAR 5.204. 
Event Timeline

Completed Phase 1 – 23 February 2023 Government Only Collaboration Event (CE): SOFWERX will host the Collaboration Event (CE) with Government stakeholders to identify outputs for a Venture Capital (VC) Dashboard. During this event, Government stakeholders will identify and prioritize requirements and desirements for the Dashboard and will also identify current limitations with existing tools and ideate ways to fill capability gaps. Problem statement(s) will be developed to frame VC Dashboard needs. Outcomes from the Government Only Collaboration Event will shape the Industry, Academia, and Laboratory Collaboration Event on/around 12 April. Request to Attend NLT 15 February.

Tentative Agenda
All times listed are in ET
8:00 – 8:20: Participants arrive at SOFWERX

8:20 – 8:25: SOFWERX Welcome
8:25 – 8:35: Stakeholder (S&T Director) Overview & Problem Set
8:35 – 8:55: Guest VC Speaker

8:55 – 9:55: Current Limitations Breakout
9:55 – 10:05: Break
10:05 – 11:05: Ways to Overcome Limitations Breakout
11:05 – 12:05: Lunch (on your own)
12:05 – 2:30: Problem Statement Development
2:30 – 2:45: Break
2:45 – 3:15: Guest Speaker (Pitch VC)

3:15 – 4:15: Problem Statement Briefs
4:15 – 4:30: Voting
4:30 – 5:00: Path Forward

Note: Agenda is subject to change

This event will be held in person at SOFWERX in Tampa, FL.  

Phase 2 – 12 April 2023 Collaboration Event (CE): During this event, Warfighters will interact with potential solution offerors and further communicate operational needs and desirements. Participation in this event is not mandatory, however, it is designed to provide insights to ensure potential offerors understand the problem set(s) fully and to increase the likelihood of matching their technologies with Warfighter needs. This CE is also an opportunity for attendees to meet and form partnerships that may provide a more comprehensive solution. Request to Attend the CE below, NLT 24 March.

Tentative Agenda
All times listed are in ET
8:00 – 8:20: Participants arrive at SOFWERX
8:20 – 8:25: SOFWERX Welcome
8:25 – 8:45: Stakeholder (S&T Director) Overview & Problem Set
8:45 – 9:45: Current Limitations Breakout
9:45 – 10:00: Break
10:00 – 11:00: Ways to Overcome Limitations Breakout
11:00 – 12:00: Lunch (on your own)
12:00 – 2:30: Problem Statement Development
2:30 – 2:45: Break
2:45 – 3:45: Problem Statement Briefs
3:45 – 4:30: Voting
4:30 – 5:00: Path Forward

Note: Agenda is subject to change

This event will be held in person at SOFWERX in Tampa, FL.

Phase 3 – 26 April 2023 to 19 May 2023 Submissions to the Assessment Event (AE) Open: Interested respondents who could potentially provide solutions that meet the needs of USSOCOM are encouraged to submit their capability for USSOCOM review. To submit your technology for potential Phase 5 attendance, please review the assessment criteria and follow the submission instructions that will be near the bottom of this webpage on/around 26 April.

Phase 3a – 03 May 2023 Q&A Telecon: Interested offerors may participate in a virtual Q&A session to better understand the PM’s specific technology objectives. The telecon will take place on 03 May from 2:00–3:00 PM ET. RSVP form will be available on/around 26 April. 

Phase 4 – 22 May 2023 to 30 May 2023 Downselect: USSOCOM will downselect those respondents/submissions they feel have the highest potential to satisfy their technology needs. Favorably evaluated submissions will receive an invitation to attend the AE on/around 31 May.

Phase 5 – 21 June 2023 Assessment Event (AE): During the AE, selected participants will be allotted a one-on-one session with the USSOCOM evaluation panel to pitch, demonstrate, and/or discuss their solutions. The forum will include a Q&A portion and discussions may continue outside of the event. Solution brief presentation guidelines will be outlined in the event invitation and solutions will be assessed according to the criteria in the link provided below. If the USSOCOM evaluation panel favorably evaluates a solution brief, negotiations for Phase 6 may immediately begin.

Phase 6 – Path Forward: Successfully negotiated awards may fall under any combination of these categories:

  • Business to business research and development agreement as a sub-award through the SOFWERX Partnership Intermediary Agreement (PIA) (15 U.S. Code Section 3715)
  • OTA for research or prototype projects (10 U.S. Code Sections 4021, 4022)
    • An award under 10 U. S. Code, Section 4022 may result in the further award of a follow-on production agreement without additional competition based on successful prototype completion. The Government may make this follow-on production award even if all successful prototype criteria are not fully met during the prototype project.
  • Procurement for experimental purposes (10 U.S. Code Section 4023)
  • Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (15 U.S. Code Section 3710a)
  • Prizes for advanced technology achievements (10 U. S. Code Section 4025) and/or prize competitions (15 U.S. Code 3719)
  • FAR-based procurement contract 

NOTE: Awardees may need to be compliant with NIST SP 800-171, Protecting Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) in Non-Federal Systems and Organizations

How You Can Participate

Government, Industry, Academia, National Labs, and Non-Traditional Attendees

  1. Request to attend the 12 April Collaboration Event: Click Here to Request to Attend (NLT 24 March)
  2. Review Assessment Criteria: Will be Posted on or about 26 April
  3. Download the White Paper Template: Will be Posted on or about 26 April
  4. Complete the Submission Form: Will be Posted on or about 26 April

Questions?? 
For event-related questions, please contact Gabby Robles, gabrielle.robles@sofwerx.org

Event Website URL
Point of Contact

Name

Gabby Robles

Email

gabrielle.robles@sofwerx.org

Title

Event Coordinator

Phone

Not Provided