The Defense Acquisition Challenge (DAC) Program was established by Congress  (Chapter 139 of Title 10 USC, 2359b) to increase the introduction of  innovative and cost-saving technologies and products into existing Department  of Defense (DoD) acquisition programs. The DAC Program is managed through the  Office of Secretary of Defense (Acquisition Technology & Logistics), Deputy  Undersecretary of Defense (Advanced Systems & Concepts), Comparative Testing  Office. DAC provides any person or activity within or outside the DoD the  opportunity to propose alternative technologies and product improvements.  Opportunities known as 'Challenge Proposals' proposed at the component,  subsystem, or system level of an existing DoD acquisition program, will be  evaluated for resulting improvements in performance, affordability,  manufacturability, or operational capability of that acquisition program. DAC  Proposals will be evaluated under the guidelines and criteria outlined in  Title 10 USC Section 2359b, Defense Acquisition Challenge Program.  Evaluations and awards under this BAA will be in compliance with applicable  FAR, DFARs and agency regulations. This Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) is  open to any technologies, products, or processes demonstrating a near-term  potential to improve existing DoD acquisition programs that address the  specific operational areas outlined below. Preference will be given to those  technologies and products that 'challenge' an incumbent and have the potential  to be evaluated in less than 24 months from project selection, with near- immediate transition to operations/production at the completion of evaluation.  To meet this time-line the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of proposed  technologies or processes must be at least TRL 7 (prototype demonstrated in a  relevant or operational environment) at time proposed, and at TRL 8 or 9  (qualified through testing or ready for production) by completion of DAC  testing. The following operational areas will be considered by DAC for US  Army, US Air Force, US Navy and Marine Corps, US Special Operations Command,  or other Defense Agencies: 1). Warfighter enhancements that specifically  address improved warfighter effectiveness (e.g., lethality, accuracy,  endurance, et al); improved warfighter survivability (e.g., protection,  agility, stealth, medical, et al); improved warfighter force protection (e.g.,  defensive systems, detection, armoring, chem-bio defense, et al); and improved  warfighter sustainability (e.g., lighter equip, combined equip, longer  missions, better batteries, et al). 2). Direct warfighter support that  specifically addresses logistics (e.g., supply chain management in the field,  equip reliability, et al); teaming (e.g., Net/Information Centric Operations  at the tactical/operational level, et al); surveillance; and tagging and  tracking (e.g., blue and hostile forces tracking, friendly identification, et  al). 3). Warfighter employment that specifically addresses planning  capabilities (e.g., large unit employment); coordinating capabilities (e.g.,  Net/Information Centric Operations at the strategic level, et al); transport  capabilities (e.g., getting to/from the fight, et al); and operational  readiness (e.g., equip availability, maintainability, training, et al).  Proposals that specifically address solutions for acquisition programs  experiencing a Nunn-McCurdy breach will be given special consideration if they  address the reason for the breach and satisfy all other legislative  requirements identified in Title 10. Additionally, appropriate priorities  will be given to those proposals from businesses that are not major  contractors with the DoD. The evaluation of proposals will be conducted in  two phases. In the FIRST PHASE, any person or activity within or outside the  DoD interested in participating must submit a proposal via the website:  https://cto.acqcenter.com and attach a Quad Chart using the most current Quad  Chart format under 'Reference Materials' on the website. Although not required  in this first phase, a letter of support/endorsement from the Service/USSOCOM  Program Management Office or Program Executive Office responsible for the  acquisition program can be electronically submitted with the proposal. All  proposals received will be subjected to peer and scientific review panels.  Evaluation criteria for selection in this phase include at a minimum: (A)  whether the proposal has merit; (B) whether the proposal is likely to result  in improvements in performance, affordability, manufacturability, or  operational capability at the component, subsystem, or system level of an  acquisition program; (C) whether the proposal could be implemented in the  acquisition program rapidly, at acceptable cost and acceptable disruption to  the acquisition program. Proposals that meet the requirements as outlined  above, and any additional evaluation criteria deemed appropriate for source  selection, will be prioritized based on potential for providing innovative and  cost-saving technologies or products into existing DoD acquisition programs  and ability to meet warfighter needs. If not identified in the proposal, the  acquisition program of record (POR) that can be identified as the most likely  to benefit from the proposed technology or product will be asked to conduct a  review of the proposal submitted in this First Phase. The associated DoD  Program Manager, in collaboration with the prime system contractor on the  program as appropriate, will decide whether to accept the proposal and further  refine/develop the proposal for submittal as a Final Proposal. The acquisition  program manager who reviews and accepts the initial submittal is responsible  for submittal of the Final Proposal during the SECOND PHASE. The acquisition  program manager will determine the scope of the DAC project to include action  as a validation test or a comparative test based on market evaluation,  acquisition best practices and program need. In this second phase the Final  Proposals submitted by program managers compete for DAC funding to test the  proposed technology. In addition to the required areas on the initial  proposal, the Final Proposal must include: key performance parameters (those  the technology/product/process must meet); test concept and schedule for the  test planning, administration, and data analysis; a plan for integration (to  include cost and schedule) of the technology or product into the acquisition  program; estimated vendor support costs; test article cost; projected  facility/laboratory/test range costs; Quad Chart and a Project Chart with cost  profile for the test and evaluation of the technology/product/process for the  intended application. The integration plan must include all applicable  certifications (safety, flight worthiness, insensitive munitions, operational  utility, etc.) required to insert the product/technology/process into the  acquisition program. Letter(s) from the acquisition authority expressing  intent to procure, or the weapon system prime expressing intent to  incorporate, pending successful testing, are required with the Final Proposal.  By law, DAC funds cannot be used to implement/field the technology or  product. At the completion of the Second Phase a Government-led evaluation  team will review all competing Proposals and assess each against the  evaluation criteria set forth in Title 10, USC Section 2359b and those  criteria deemed appropriate for source selection. The Second Phase Government  review of the Proposals will include all criteria listed above, as well as:  (A) an assessment of the cost, ease, and likelihood of adopting the challenge  proposal and implementing it in the acquisition program; and (B) consideration  of any intellectual property issues associated with the Challenge Proposal.  Proposals will be selected for funding based on their assessment rating and  the availability of Government funding. Selection for funding is highly  competitive. Every attempt will be made to ensure that all submitters are  notified of the outcome of their proposal(s). Final FY2008 selections are  expected to be finalized NLT 1 October, 2007. All submissions into the Defense  Acquisition Challenge website must be UNCLASSIFIED. Classified submissions, up  to SECRET, can be accepted through the mail. Classified responses must be  appropriately marked, sealed and mailed in accordance with classified handling  procedures. Classified proposals must adhere to the same Proposal and Quad  Chart formats provided on the website. For classified submittals, send an  email to [Please use the link below] . Mailing instructions will be provided at  that time. Classified documents must be mailed and received by the applicable  due date and time. Classification does not in any way eliminate the offeror  requirement to comply with all instructions in the BAA. Notification of  rejections will be emailed to the Proposal submitter. It should be generally  assumed that the reason a proposal was not considered for further review was  due to failure to meet the requirements for DAC. This should not be construed  as a commitment by the Government, and any information submitted by industry  will not constitute an offer that could be accepted by the Government to  create a binding contract. The Government does not intend to award a contract  on the basis of this Request for Information or otherwise compensate/  reimburse for the information solicited. Persons submitting proposals are  advised that only a Contracting Officer may obligate the government to any  agreement involving expenditure of government funds. While this BAA and  evaluation process meet the requirements for fair and open competition, the  final determination will reside with the DoD contracting officer from the  Sponsoring organization. Proposals must be received/ submitted via the DAC  website NLT 2400 hours EST, 2 February 2007. Proposals submitted after the  deadline will have to be submitted as an UNSOLICITED PROPOSAL and may result  in the proposal not being considered for funding during the initial selection  cycle. All Proposal submissions must comply with the Submission Guidelines and  use the FY2008 templates provided on the website. Failure to comply with the  above instructions may result in the rejection of the proposal during the  administrative review. The agency posting this announcement, Washington  Headquarters Services/ Acquisition and Procurement Office, is not responsible  for the DAC program and therefore will not answer any questions and/ or accept  proposals. Questions regarding DAC should be directed to  [Please use the link below] or 703-602-3740. Original Points of Contact:  Comparative Testing Office, Attn: Colonel Bob Mattes, or Paul Frichtl, Phone  (703) 602-3740; Fax (703) 602-3748; email: [Please use the link below]. For  Service-specific questions address your questions to: for Army: Mr. Al  Trawinski, (703) 806-0999, email: allan.trawinski@us.army.mil ; for Navy: Mr.  Mark Shiffler, (703) 696-4225, email: Mark_Shiffler@onr.navy.mil ; and Marine  Corps, Ms. Shawn Prablek, (703) 432-4296, email: Prableksj@mcsc.usmc.mil ; for  Air Force, Lt Col Christopher Berg, (703) 588-6401, email:  christopher.berg@pentagon.af.mil ; for US Special Operations Command: Mr.  James Pettigrew, (813) 826-9436, email: pettigj@socom.mil . More information  can be found at: https://cto.acqcenter.com/