Broad Agency Announcement (BAA)
(FAR Part 35.016) |
Research and Development
(R&D) Agreements |
| Description |
| BAAs are used to obtain proposals for basic and applied research and development to advance or evaluate cutting edge technologies, not related to a specific system or hardware requirement. BAAs should be used when meaningful solutions can be expected. BAAs are typically “open” and proposals accepted for a specified period of time. Proposals submitted in response to BAAs may or may not lead to contracts. |
The DoD has a few agreement strategy options to partner with other federal agencies, state and local governments, academia, industry, and non-profits to collaboratively mature technologies, develop solutions, demonstrate capabilities, and/or accelerate technology transfers. These are flexible agreements with intellectual property provisions to share or protect one’s IP rights. The R&D Agreement strategies include Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs), Partnership Intermediary Agreements (PIAs), and Technology Investment Agreements (TIAs).
|
| Common Applications |
- Research & Development (R&D) studies
- Prototypes
- Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) efforts
- Science & Technology (S&T) initiatives
- Technology maturation
|
- Research Development & Demonstration (RD&D) collaboration and technology advancement efforts
- Services to facilitate technology transfer to private sector
|
| Pros |
- Increases knowledge in areas of strategic importance and technical capability to programs
- Streamlined evaluation process based on technical merit increases flexibility to select innovative capability solutions
|
- Enables industry to collaborate with government to jointly research and develop technologies with both commercial and military applications
- Enables government to acquire expertise without monetary payments to the collaborating partner (CRADA)
- Partnership intermediaries can function as objective third-party brokers between government and industry to increase opportunity for commercialization of new capability (PIA)
- Partnership intermediaries can engage in proactive marketing of lab technologies to industry to enable tech transition/tech insertion (PIA)
- Fosters best technologies for future defense needs
|
| Cons |
- Limitations on use of BAAs increases burden on government to transition capability to acquisition programs
- Intellectual property and data rights increases burden on government to ensure rights are explicit during transition to acquisition programs
- Cannot acquire products in quantity
|
- Requires knowledgeable and skilled contracting officer to negotiate and execute
- Complexity to negotiate and execute increases time to establish agreement
- High risk / high reward environment reduces opportunity for technology transition to program of record
|
| Restrictions |
- Limited to basic and applied research
- Must be funded using RDT&E funds
- Cannot be used for specific system or hardware solution
- Cannot be used for systems engineering and advisory services
- Cannot be used for production
|
- Limited to government owned or government owned, contractor operated labs
- Collaborating partner may contribute funds to the effort, as well as personnel, services and property
- May not provide for research that duplicates research being conducted under existing programs carried out by DoD
|
| Statute References |
|
FAR 35.016 (a)
DARPA BAA Guide
|
15 USC 3710a
15 USC 3715
10 CFR 603.1340
32 CFR Part 37
|
