CHEERS MAA Open Period 1 - All Technical Areas, 10 U.S.C. 4001 Broad Agency Announcement (BAA)
ID: FA238424S2334Type: Solicitation
Overview

Buyer

DEPT OF DEFENSEDEPT OF THE AIR FORCEFA2384 USAF AIR FORCE MATERIEL COMMAND AFRL PZL AFRL RAKHWRIGHT PATTERSON AFB, OH, 45433-7541, USA

NAICS

Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) (541715)

PSC

NATIONAL DEFENSE R&D SERVICES; DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE - MILITARY; BASIC RESEARCH (AC11)
Timeline
    Description

    The Department of Defense, through the Air Force Research Laboratory, is soliciting proposals for the Continuing Human Enabling, Enhancing, Restoring, and Sustaining (CHEERS) initiative under the Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) FA2384-24-S-2334. This opportunity invites white papers across all technical areas, with a submission deadline of September 30, 2027, and anticipates multiple awards totaling up to $484.73 million for contracts, IDIQs, grants, and cooperative agreements, without requiring cost sharing. The CHEERS program is crucial for advancing research and development in human effectiveness and related fields, emphasizing the importance of innovative solutions in military and defense applications. Interested parties can reach out to Amber Taylor at amber.taylor.9@us.af.mil or Ashlee Green at ashlee.green.1@us.af.mil for further information regarding the solicitation and its requirements.

    Point(s) of Contact
    Files
    Title
    Posted
    This government file, Amendment 01 to FA2384-24-S-2334, outlines extensive contractual clauses incorporated by reference and in full text. The document details requirements across various domains, including compensation of former DoD officials, prohibition on fraud-convicted persons, whistleblower rights, inspector general oversight, hotline poster display, and disclosure of information. It also addresses antiterrorism training, billing instructions, safeguarding defense information, cyber incident reporting, and prohibitions on certain telecommunications equipment and services. Key financial clauses cover cost estimating systems, proposal adequacy, and post-award debriefings. The document further includes provisions on labor relations, drug-free workplaces, environmental regulations, Buy American provisions, and restrictions on business operations with specific foreign entities. Clauses related to intellectual property, such as rights in technical data and patent reporting, are also present. Additionally, it specifies payment terms, prompt payment guidelines, and change order accounting. A significant section details "Item Unique Identification and Valuation," outlining requirements for marking and reporting items with unique identifiers, particularly for those with a unit acquisition cost of $5,000 or more, and for embedded components, special tooling, and warranted items. This comprehensive amendment ensures compliance with a broad spectrum of federal acquisition regulations and defense-specific requirements.
    This government file outlines a comprehensive list of clauses incorporated by reference and in full text, detailing the contractual requirements for federal solicitations and contracts. Key areas covered include security requirements, employee rights under the National Labor Relations Act, and various payment terms like prompt payment, discounts, and limitations on withholding. The document also addresses item unique identification and valuation for delivered items, subassemblies, and specialized equipment, emphasizing data marking and reporting standards. Other critical clauses touch upon prohibitions related to foreign entities, supply chain risk, and compliance with safeguarding defense information. The file ensures contractors and subcontractors adhere to federal acquisition regulations and Department of Defense-specific requirements, promoting transparency, accountability, and national security in government contracting.
    Page 1 of the provided government file is centered around establishing compliance and security protocols for the protection of sensitive defense information. The main objective is to ensure that contractors adhere to stringent security requirements when accessing classified information, with a focus on safeguarding "Confidential," "Secret," and "Top Secret" materials. This involves adhering to the National Industrial Security Program and any revisions, with equitable adjustments made if security requirements change during the contract period. Contractors are also expected to implement measures to prevent unauthorized disclosure, ensuring that subcontractors also conform to these security protocols. Page 1 introduces several clauses related to this, such as compliance with safeguarding measures, incident reporting, and restrictions on unauthorized disclosures, incorporating them into the terms of the contract. Pages 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 primarily introduce an extensive list of clauses that the contractors must adhere to, covering a wide range of topics. These include clauses related to ethics, such as prohibiting illegal or improper activities, requiring contractor code of conduct, and ensuring compliance with labor laws. There are also clauses focusing on financial aspects, like payment terms, audit requirements, and cost sharing. Additionally, clauses address supply-related matters, including those pertaining to contract changes, terminations, inspections, and deliveries. On Page 7, a notable clause introduced is 252.211-7003, which mandates contractors to provide unique identification and valuation for specific items to facilitate better inventory and asset management. This clause specifies the items requiring unique identification, the format of the identifiers, and the data to be submitted along with the deliveries. Pages 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14 contain several clauses dictating the financial and administrative aspects of the contract, including payment procedures, discount terms, and interest penalties for late payments. These clauses are aimed at establishing clear financial guidelines and ensuring timely and accurate payments. Page 15 introduces Alternate A of the annual representations and certifications clause, which allows contractors with an active System for Award Management (SAM) registration to use their existing representations and certifications, provided they are updated within the last 12 months. This streamlines the contracting process by eliminating the need for redundant paperwork. Page 16 contains a clause that emphasizes the importance of item serialization and unique identification, especially for items with a unit acquisition cost above $5000. Contractors are required to mark these items with machine-readable unique identifiers, ensuring they are globally unique and unambiguous. This clause also specifies the acceptable formats for these identifiers and the associated data requirements. Overall, this file primarily focuses on procurement procedures, security requirements, and financial management, with the aim of ensuring a transparent and efficient contracting process for the protection of sensitive defense information. The emphasis on unique item identification suggests an intent to closely track and manage the acquired items, likely for inventory control and asset tracking purposes.
    The “Continuing Human Enabling, Enhancing, Restoring and Sustaining (CHEERS)” initiative (FA2384-24-S-2334) is an open-period solicitation from the Air Force Research Laboratory, Human Effectiveness Directorate, and the United States Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine. This two-step process solicits white papers for all technical areas, with a submission deadline of September 30, 2027. Proposals will only be requested from offerors whose white papers meet Air Force needs. The solicitation anticipates multiple awards, with a total value not exceeding $484.73 million, for contracts, IDIQs, grants, and cooperative agreements. No cost sharing is required, and there are no limits on the number of unique white papers an offeror may submit. The document outlines program descriptions, deliverables, schedules, and various requirements, referring to the CHEERS MAA and Industry Guide for detailed information. All white papers will receive an email confirmation, and offerors will be notified of their disposition, with a notional 180-day review period.
    The Air Force Research Laboratory, Human Effectiveness Directorate (AFRL/RH) and the United States Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine (USAFSAM) are soliciting white papers for the Continuing Human Enabling, Enhancing, Restoring, and Sustaining (CHEERS) program. This is a two-step solicitation process, with white papers due by September 30, 2027, and proposals to be requested later from selected offerors. The program, identified by MAA Number FA2384-24-S-2233 and Solicitation Number FA2384-24-S-2334, has an estimated total value of awards not exceeding $484.73 million, with multiple awards anticipated. The solicitation covers all technical areas listed in Attachments 2 and 3 of the CHEERS MAA, and does not require cost sharing. White papers are limited to five pages. The government reserves the right to award contracts without negotiation.
    The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and the United States Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine seek innovative solutions through a multi-step solicitation process. This initial announcement issues a call for white papers across multiple technical areas related to human effectiveness. Offerors can submit unlimited white papers with unique approaches. The focus is on researching and developing technologies to enhance human performance. The key objectives are to procure cutting-edge solutions in the form of contracts, grants, or agreements. These may include but are not limited to data, software, and hardware deliveries. The government seeks partners to develop technologies in areas like data analytics, AI, and human-machine interfaces. White papers, limited to five pages, are due by 30 September 2027, with requests for proposals sent to eligible offerors afterward. The overall period of performance is yet to be determined. Evaluation criteria will consider technical merit, cost-effectiveness, and other factors. This two-step process allows the AFRL to review and select the most promising approaches before requesting full proposals. The available budget for these contracts is substantial, emphasizing the government's commitment to advancing human effectiveness.
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