Funding-BROAD
AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT For Extramural Biomedical Research
and Development; August 3, 2012
Description
USSOCOM and “SOF
Unique” Requirements. The USSOCOM seeks novel biomedical solutions to preserve
the high level of performance and save the lives of Special Operations Forces
(SOF) in field environments. Any projects proposed must be unique to the
requirements of SOF who typically conduct combat operations in austere, remote
locations without timely access to medical evacuation or elevated levels of
medical care. It is these far-forward and/or isolated operations that make SOF
medicine unique and result in material solutions characterized by ruggedness,
light weight, small volume, and low power requirements. USSOCOM is also
interested in research that will lead to improved techniques and procedures
that do not necessarily require new material. Information on USSOCOM is
available at: (http://www.socom.mil/)
Project Constraints: There are
limitations on the duration and cost of research projects that USSOCOM will
fund. Proposed projects longer than two years will not be
considered. Projects with a total cost exceeding $700,000 will not be
considered.
This BAA is intended to
solicit extramural research and development ideas, and is issued under the
provisions of the Competition in Contracting Act of 1984 (Public Law 98-369),
as implemented in Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.102(a)
(2) and 35.016. This announcement provides a general description of
USSOCOM’s research areas of interest, general information, evaluation and
selection criteria, and proposal/application preparation instructions.
In accordance with FAR 6.102, projects funded
under this announcement must be for basic and applied research and that part of
development not related to the development of a specific system or hardware
procurement. Projects should be for scientific study and experimentation
directed toward advancing the state-of-the-art or increasing knowledge or understanding.
Projects that are for the development of a specific system or hardware
procurement will not be considered.
The USSOCOM’s supporting contracting office,
the US Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA), will process
proposals/applications selected for funding. The Grants/Contracting Officers at
USAMRAA are the only individuals authorized to commit funds and bind the
Government for awards to be funded under this Announcement.
Pre-Proposals/Pre-Applications: Organizations are
required to submit a project pre-proposal for consideration No Later Than (NLT) August 3, 2012 using the pre-proposal template located under the “Full
Application” tab of this announcement entitled “USSOCOM Biomedical Pre-proposal
template.docx.” Pre-proposals will be submitted via email to USSOCOM.biomedical@socom.mil.
Pre-proposals must define a specific project that addresses at least one of the
SOF research interest areas outlined in this BAA. In addition, it is
essential that each pre-proposal describes how the project will be beneficial
and unique to SOF. Brochures or other descriptions of general organizational or
individual capabilities will not be accepted as a pre-proposal. The Principle Investigator
(PI) will receive a decision letter or e-mail regarding the pre-proposal NLT September 1, 2012.
Eligible Investigators: All individuals,
regardless of ethnicity, nationality, or citizenship status, who are employed by,
or affiliated with an eligible organization, are eligible.
Investigators are cautioned that awards are made to organizations,
not individuals. A principal investigator (PI) must submit a
proposal/application through an eligible organization in order to receive
support.
SOF
medical personnel require capabilities for far-forward medical care to reduce
the mortality and morbidity associated with major battlefield wounds and
injuries. The primary emphasis is to research, apply and/or develop
medical techniques and materiel (medical devices, drugs, and biologics) for
early intervention in life-threatening battle injuries when MEDEVAC is not
possible. SOF medical personnel place a premium on medical equipment that
is small, lightweight, ruggedized, and designed for operation in extreme
environments. The equipment must be easy to use, require minimum maintenance,
and have low power consumption. Drugs and biologics should not require
refrigeration or other special handling. All materiel and related
techniques must be simple and effective Research projects may apply existing
scientific and technical knowledge for which concept and/or patient care
efficacy have already been demonstrated to meet SOF requirements.
The three project areas under “Damage Control Resuscitation” to which SOF will
give highest consideration are:
Global Treatment Strategies. The proposed
project must research, apply and/or develop effective treatment strategies that
simultaneously address all the following elements: hypotensive resuscitation,
optimal fluid(s), uncomplicated shock, and traumatic brain injuries.
These strategies must be optimized for patients in far forward areas who must
be treated for several hours.
Field Diagnostics. Under this
research area, there are three sub-areas: 1) effectively assessing the depth
and quality of shock, 2) determining intracranial pressure, and 3) evaluating
blood for type/cross matching and for the presence of pathogens. Any
research must consider the need for small, lightweight applications with
low/negligible power consumption, and applicability for rapid ruggedization and fielding.
Analgesia. The proposed
project must research, apply and/or develop novel analgesia approaches that provide
optimal agents and optimal delivery methods that are effective not only at the
point of injury but for a prolonged period of field care (days, not
hours).
SOF
personnel must often operate for extended periods of time in environments that
expose them to extremes in altitude, temperature, humidity, wind, etc. In
addition, the environment may be compromised due to chemical, biological, and
radiological contamination. The primary emphasis is to research, apply
and develop techniques and materiel (medical devices, drugs, and biologics) to ensure sustained human performance and effectiveness while
operating in harsh environmental conditions, wearing appropriate personal
protective equipment. SOF places a premium on medical equipment
that is small, lightweight, ruggedized, and designed for operation in extreme
environments. The equipment must be easy to use, require minimum maintenance,
and have low power consumption. Drugs and biologics should
not require refrigeration or other special handling. All materiel and
techniques must be simple and effective. Research projects may apply
existing scientific and technical knowledge for which concept and/or patient
care efficacy have already been demonstrated to meet SOF requirements.
The three project areas under “Environment-Specific Medicine” to which SOF will
give highest consideration are:
Optimal
Acclimatization Strategy. The proposed project must research,
apply and/or develop novel approaches that provide rapid and sustainable human
acclimatization for extremes in temperature, altitude and time change
(circadian acclimatization).
High Altitude
Pulmonary Edema/High Altitude Cerebral Edema. The proposed
project must research, apply and/or develop novel treatment approaches, either
pharmaceutical interventions or alternative treatments, for high altitude
pulmonary edema and /or high altitude cerebral edema.
Chemical, Biological,
Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosive (CBRNE) Rapid Diagnostics. The proposed
project must research and apply and/or develop novel approaches that will
diagnose human exposure to chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and
high yield explosives in near real time.
SOF
personnel must be protected from extreme environments, contaminated areas, and
repetitive low-impulse blast exposures. The primary emphasis of this
research is to explore alternatives and/or new approaches to presently fielded
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). SOF medical personnel place a
premium on medical equipment that is small, lightweight, ruggedized, and
designed for operation in extreme environments. The equipment must be easy to
use, require minimum maintenance, and have low power consumption.
Drugs and biologics should not require refrigeration or other special
handling. All materiel and techniques developed must be simple and
effective. Research projects may apply existing scientific and technical
knowledge for which concept and/or patient care efficacy have already been
demonstrated to meet SOF requirements. The three project areas
under “Force Protection” to which SOF medical personnel will give highest
consideration are:
PPE. The proposed
research must develop novel approaches for SOF personnel that provide
comparable or better performance as existing PPE but with reduced mass, volume,
and power consumption (if applicable).
Preventive Medicine. Two sub-areas
of interest are: 1) rapid field diagnostics, and 2) universal anti-venin. Any
research must consider the need for small, lightweight applications with
low/negligible power consumption, and applicability for rapid ruggedization and fielding. Any universal anti-venin
should not require refrigeration or other special handling.
Repetitive
low-impulse blast exposure. Research that
develops novel material and/or approaches to protect SOF personnel from
repetitive exposures to low-impulse blasts.
SOF
personnel rely on the capabilities of their canines. The primary emphasis
of this research area is to explore alternatives and/or new approaches to
sustain SOF canine performance in a combat. SOF medical personnel
place a premium on canine-specific approaches that are effective in extreme
environments and do not require significant logistics support. The application
must be easy to use, require minimum maintenance, and have low power
consumption. Drugs and
biologics for canines should not require refrigeration or other special
handling. All materiel and techniques developed must be simple and
effective. Any research must consider the need for small, lightweight
applications with low/negligible power consumption, and applicability for rapid
ruggedization and fielding. The seven project areas under “Canine Medicine” to which
SOF will give highest consideration are:
Altitude Readiness. Research to develop novel
approaches/treatment for SOF canines that address either optimal
acclimatization strategies or positive diagnostic tests. Proposals
may also address pharmaceutical interventions, and alternative treatments for
High Altitude Pulmonary Edema/High Altitude Cerebral Edema.
Olfaction. Research to develop novel
approaches/treatment for SOF canines that ensures optimum olfactory performance
during combat operations.
Optimal Nutrition. Research to develop optimal
nutrition strategies for canines throughout the spectrum of warfare in diverse
environments to ensure sustained performance.
Optimal Anesthesia Protocol. Research to develop optimal
anesthesia protocols for the routine and emergency field treatment of canines
in diverse environments.
Optimal Trauma Resuscitation Strategy. Research to develop novel
approaches/treatments to support optimal trauma resuscitation strategies for
canines in diverse environments.
Visual spectrum. Research to develop novel approaches/treatment for SOF
canines to ensure optimum visual performance during combat operations.
Post Trauma Training / Behavioral Issues. Research to develop novel
approaches/treatment for SOF canines to restore performance in canines that
present behavior and/or post-trauma issues.
Agency Contact: Questions concerning the preparation of
proposals can be emailed to (qa.ussocombaa@amedd.army.mil).
The
full program announcement and application package can be found on Grants.gov,
funding number W81XWH-USSOCOMBAA-12-1.