The Department of Defense is offering a Grant for Forensic Research and Development

Q: Will proposals be accepted from universities partnering with national laboratories?

A: Yes- national laboratories may partner as subcontractors under proposals submitted in response to W911NF-12-R-0001. If a national laboratory is a subcontractor under a proposal selected for funding, the funding for the subcontractor would come directly from the acquisition office (Army Contracting Command) to the national laboratory. No funding may be channeled directly from the prime contractor to a national laboratory serving as a subcontractor.

Q: Does enhanced chemical extraction from a latent fingerprint for increased biometric capabilities fall under the TRACE EVIDENCE section of this BAA?

A: Proposals are expected to identify the forensic science discipline(s) intended to benefit from the project. Priority areas of interest are cited in the “FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION” starting on page 2 of the BAA. However, projects that propose to address a forensic science need outside of the disciplines listed may be considered for award. Some of the forensic science disciplines are DNA and forensic biology, forensic crime scene analysis, controlled substances, digital evidence, firearms and toolmark identification, forensic pathology, latent print and other pattern/impression evidence, questioned documents, and trace evidence.

Q: In response to W911NF-12-R-0001, would an application for rapid authentication of questioned documents be of interest?

A: Proposals are expected to identify the forensic science discipline(s) intended to benefit from the project. Priority areas of interest are cited in the “FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION” starting on page 2 of the BAA. However, projects that propose to address a forensic science need outside of the disciplines listed may be considered for award. Some of the forensic science disciplines are DNA and forensic biology, forensic crime scene analysis, controlled substances, digital evidence, firearms and toolmark identification, forensic pathology, latent print and other pattern/impression evidence, questioned documents, and trace evidence.

Q: Your feedback on the proposal idea (submitted) will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

A: It will not be possible provide feedback earlier than the date indicated in the BAA. To maintain impartial, fair, and open competition, we are not in a position to provide reviews or comments earlier than the dates indicated in the BAA (See: IV, 3, found on page 11).

Q: My team and I may be interested in providing a response to the TRACE EVIDENCE need of this particular BAA and if possible would like to have a quick phone discussion with the PM (or technical folks) of this response for further assessment. Please let me know if this is possible.

A: It will not be possible to discuss ideas or proposals. To maintain impartial, fair, and open competition, we are not in a position to provide reviews, comments, or discussions earlier than the dates indicated in the BAA (See: IV, 3, found on page 11).

Q: Are multiple white paper submissions allowed from the same PI (or co-PIs)?

A: Multiple submissions are allowed from the same PI (Principal
Investigator) or co-PI.

Q: Can a PI (co-PI) receive multiple awards?

A: Yes, a PI or institution can receive multiple awards. However, if multiple awards are funded, the PI is expected to have the resources to successfully complete the projects within the originally proposed project periods.

Q: Dear Forensic Research and Development Program: Please give feedback if you think our product and research can fit in your program.

A: We are not in a position to provide private evaluation, guidance or feedback about products or proposals. As indicated on page 11 (IV, 3) of the BAA, evaluations for submitted white papers will be provided on 18 November 2011.

Q: Will proposals be accepted from universities partnering with national laboratories?

A: Yes- national laboratories may partner as subcontractors under proposals submitted in response to W911NF-12-R-0001. If a national laboratory is a subcontractor under a proposal selected for funding, the funding for the subcontractor would come directly from the acquisition office (Army Contracting Command) to the national laboratory. No funding may be channeled directly from the prime contractor to a national laboratory serving as a subcontractor.

Q: Would the DoD be interested in proposals about “forensic research and development in iris recognition?”

A: The DoD may be interested in biometrics like iris recognition; however, this announcement is limited to the specific areas of interest in the forensic disciplines cited in Section I., Funding Opportunity Description (see page 2).

Q: I am having trouble accessing the full announcement of the subject BAA. Is the full announcement available?

A: Yes. The full announcement is available. Any questions related to technical assistance with Grants.gov should be directed to Grants.gov at 1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov. The hours of operation are 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, closed on federal holidays.

Q: I read through the funding announcement and did not see a minimum or maximum award amount listed. Is there any guidance that you can give us to better assist us with our budget preparation?

A: Funding for an individual research or development project rarely exceeds $500,000 annually, though total funding for projects requiring multiple years to complete has exceeded $1 million in some cases. Additionally, projects which have leveraged previous research or existing resources have required funding less than $100,000. If feasible, it is recommended that applicants divide the proposed work into discrete phases with each phase resulting in the delivery of a measurable deliverable.

Page 12 of Announcement: In SECTION V paragraph two, there is a reference to DoDGARs 35.016. The correct reference is Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 35.016.

The DoD Directive 5205.15E �establishes policy and assigns responsibilities within the DoD to develop and maintain an enduring, holistic, global forensic capability to support the full range of military operations (ROMO). The Defense Forensic Enterprise (DFE) consists of those DoD resources, assets, and processes that provide forensic science analysis linking persons, places, things, and events. These linkages are made in both traditional law enforcement and medical purviews, as well as in the expeditionary environment.� Additionally, DoD Directive 5205.15E designates the Secretary of the Army as the DoD Executive Agent (EA) for Forensics for those forensic disciplines relating to DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid), serology, firearms and tool marks, latent prints, questioned documents, drug chemistry, and trace materials, as well as forensics relating to medical disciplines such as forensic pathology, forensic anthropology, forensic toxicology, and DNA analysis to identify human remains.

Proposals that will assist the Army in achieving these goals are solicited, particularly proposals involving the development of equipment that is portable, sustainable, and useful in an expeditionary environment. The expeditionary environment requires systems that are lightweight, portable, inexpensive, fast, and capable of operating in extreme environments of temperature, dust, humidity, etc. The systems must also be capable of secure data communications.