AIM G-NOMES

Submissions Closed 09 June 2024 11:59 PM ET 
 

Purpose 
SOFWERX, in collaboration with the USSOCOM, U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center (DEVCOM CBC), the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), and the Accelerator for Innovative Minds (AIM) Genomic Non-Specific Operational Matchmaking Enabled Systems (GNOMES) Team, will host a series of events leveraging their hybrid accelerator model to provide awareness of biological agents/compounds in a far forward, resource-limited environment. These events will provide opportunities for direct dialogue with Industry, Academia, Warfighters, and Government Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to lower the barrier to working with the DoD and accelerate disruptive technologies and processing to the field.

Background
AIM is a collaborative initiative led by DoD in the CWMD and CBRNE space. The goal of AIM is to demonstrate an enduring Hybrid Accelerator model in coordination with Industry, non-traditional partners, and SMEs to develop technology, build networks/relationships, and develop processes targeting specific Warfighter problem spaces as identified by AIM government collaborators. AIM requests information from Industry, Academia, Laboratories, and non-traditional partners on approaches, products, and/or services to support CWMD technology requirements. Once these are reviewed, the collaborative DoD group intends to align transition pathways across the full technology maturation spectrum.

Objective 
The Chemical and Biological Defense Program’s vision through AIM is to identify capabilities which provide insight of chemical and biological (CB) contested environments. The objective is to develop a system with maximum utility for the warfighter to overcome current limiting factors in providing awareness of biological agents/compounds in a far forward, resource-limited environment. 

Why You Should Participate 
USSOCOM seeks to enter into non-FAR or FAR-based agreements with Industry, Academic, and National Lab partners whose solutions are favorably evaluated by AIM GNOMES Subject Matter Experts (SMEs). As such, the follow-on Assessment Event (AE) is considered competitive and solutions will be evaluated independently of one another primarily for technical merit. This serves dually as notification of the intent to research the feasibility of an agreement under 10 U.S. Code, Section 4022 and/or Section 4022(f), and as notice of pre-solicitation activities IAW FAR 5.204.

Event Timeline 
Completed Phase 1 - 23 January 2024 Government Only Collaboration Event (CE): SOFWERX will host a Government Only Collaboration Event (CE) with various stakeholders to focus on identification and prioritization of the limiting factors in providing awareness of biological agents/compounds in a far forward, resource-limited environment. During this event, Government stakeholders will identify and prioritize requirements and desirements for the biological detection and identification in austere and resource limited environments and will also identify current limitations with existing tools and ideate ways to fill capability gaps. Problem statement(s) will be developed to frame biological agent/compound detection and identification needs. Outcomes from the Government Only Collaboration Event will shape the Industry, Academia, and Laboratory Collaboration Event on/around 20 February. Request to attend Closed 09 January. 

Tentative Agenda 
All times listed are in ET 
8:00 – 8:20: Participants arrive at SOFWERX 
8:20 – 8:25: SOFWERX Welcome 
8:25 – 8:45: Stakeholder Overview & Problem Set 
8:45 – 9:45: Current Limitations Breakout 
9:45 – 10:00: Break 
10:00 – 11:00: Ways to Overcome Limitations Breakout 
11:00 – 12:30: Lunch (on your own) 
12:40 – 2:30: Problem Statement Development 
2:30 – 2:45: Break 
2:45 – 3:15: Problem Statement Briefs 
3:15 – 3:30: Prioritization
3:30 – 3:45: Path Forward

Note: Agenda is subject to change

This event will be held in person at SOFWERX.  

Completed Phase 2 - 23 April 2024 Collaboration Event (CE): SOFWERX will host the Collaboration Event (CE) with Industry, Academic, and Laboratory partners focused on solutions for biological detection in austere and resource limited environments. During this event, Warfighters will interact with potential solution offerors and further communicate operational needs and desirements. Participation in this event is not mandatory, however, it is designed to provide insights to ensure potential offerors understand the problem set(s) fully and to increase the likelihood of matching their technologies with Warfighter needs. This CE is also an opportunity for attendees to meet and form partnerships that may provide a more comprehensive solution. If you do not wish to participate in the CE, you are free to submit your technology on/around 08 May for the AE. Request to attend the CE below, NLT 19 March. On or around 02 April 2024, SOFWERX will send confirmed registered persons event attendance information.

Tentative Agenda 
All times listed are in ET 
9:00-9:30: Attendees Check-In 
9:45-9:50: SOFWERX Welcome Remarks 
9:50-10:00: Stakeholder Remarks 
10:00-10:15: Break 
10:15-12:00: Problem Statement Round Robin 
12:00-1:30: Lunch (On Your Own) 
1:30-2:00: Large Group Q&A 
2:00-2:30: Networking 
2:30-2:45: Technologies, Techniques, and POCs Submissions 
2:45-3:00: Wrap-Up and Follow-On Event Schedules/Q&A 
3:00: Optional SOFWERX 101 & Tour

Note: Agenda is subject to change

This event will be held in person at SOFWERX. 

Completed Phase 3 - 16 May 2024 to 09 June 2024 Submissions to the Assessment Event (AE) Open: Interested respondents who could potentially provide solutions that meet the needs of USSOCOM are encouraged to submit their capability for USSOCOM review. To submit your technology for potential Phase 5 attendance, please review the assessment criteria and follow the submission instructions at the bottom of this webpage.

Completed Phase 3a - 28 May 2024 Q&A Telecon: Interested offerors may participate in a virtual Q&A session to better understand the PM's specific technology objectives. The telecon will take place on 28 May from 2:00 - 3:00 PM ET. 

Completed Phase 4 - 10 June 2024 to 21 June 2024 Downselect: USSOCOM will downselect those respondents/submissions they feel have the highest potential to satisfy their technology needs. Favorably evaluated submissions will receive an invitation to attend the AE on/around 25 June.

Completed Phase 5 - 09 July 2024 to 10 July 2024 Assessment Event (AE): During the AE, selected participants will be allotted a one-on-one session with the USSOCOM evaluation panel to pitch, demonstrate, and/or discuss their solutions. The forum will include a Q&A portion and discussions may continue outside of the event. Solution brief presentation guidelines will be outlined in the event invitation and solutions will be assessed according to the criteria in the link provided below. If the USSOCOM evaluation panel favorably evaluates a solution brief, negotiations for Phase 6 may immediately begin.

Phase 6 - Path Forward: Successfully negotiated awards may fall under any combination of these categories:

• Business to business research and development agreement as a sub-award through the SOFWERX Partnership Intermediary Agreement (PIA) (15 U.S. Code Section 3715)
• OTA for research or prototype projects (10 U.S. Code Sections 4021, 4022)
  • An award under 10 U. S. Code, Section 4022 may result in the further award of a follow-on production agreement without additional competition based on successful prototype completion. The Government may make this follow-on production award based upon successful prototype criteria, which will be determined for each prototype project.
• Procurement for experimental purposes (10 U.S. Code Section 4023)
• Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (15 U.S. Code Section 3710a)
• Prizes for advanced technology achievements (10 U. S. Code Section 4025) and/or prize competitions (15 U.S. Code 3719)
• FAR-based procurement contract 

NOTE: Awardees may need to be compliant with NIST SP 800-171, Protecting Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) in Non-Federal Systems and Organizations