Background/Synopsis
USSOCOM requires a mechanism to accelerate capability development across all USSOCOM Program Executive Offices. Focused on SOF contract awardees, USSOCOM requires a solution provider to evaluate an awardee’s ability to reach business maturity. Solution providers for this evaluation must understand markets and technologies aligned with SOF interests and have expertise in academic and accelerator services. Understanding that awardee maturity can happen through commercial revenue, Prime partnerships, phase III contracts, private investment, and other government opportunities, a solution provider must have expertise on all means to actualize the capability.

Objective
The objective is to evaluate and identify USSOCOM awardees that are structured to accelerate their timeline to business maturity. For those awardees the solution providers identify as suitable for acceleration, the solution provider must craft an approach, for USSOCOM, to help the awardee achieve capability maturity.

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. Selectees may receive a negotiated USSOCOM award under one of the authorities outlined in Phase 4 – Path Forward below.

Event Timeline
Phase 1 - 11 June to 10 July 2024 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 3 attendance, please review the assessment criteria and follow the submission instructions that are near the bottom of this webpage.

Phase 1a - 20 June 2024 Q&A Telecon: Interested offerors may participate in a virtual Q&A session to better understand USSOCOM's desired objectives. The telecon will take place on 20 June from 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM ET. Click Here to RSVP (NLT 19 June 2024 11:59 PM ET)

Phase 2 - 11 July 2024 to 19 July 2024 Downselect: USSOCOM will downselect those respondents/submissions they feel have the highest potential to satisfy their needs. Favorably evaluated submissions will receive an invitation to attend the AE on/around 22 July.

Phase 3 - 13 August to 15 August 2024 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 4 may immediately begin.

This event will be held in person at SOFWERX, but will have a virtual component. 

Phase 4 - 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 based upon successful prototype criteria, which will be determined for each 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. RSVP to the 20 June Virtual Q&A Telecon: Click Here to RSVP (NLT 19 June 2024 11:59 PM ET)
2. Review Assessment Criteria: Click Here to Review
3. Download the White Paper Template: Click Here to Review
4. Complete the Submission Form: Click Here to Submit (NLT 10 July 2024 11:59 PM ET)

Questions?

For event-related questions, please contact Kristen Foraker