Broad Agency Announcement Guide for Industry 2020

BROAD AGENCY

ANNOUNCEMENT (BAA) GUIDE

FOR

INDUSTRY

Version 2.0
Mar 2020

SUMMARY OF CHANGES

Version 1.1
Version 2.0

Updated Chapter 3 to clarify
communications with Industry
Major re-write to update review process
and regulation references

Mar 2015
Mar 2020

E. WHEN AN OTHER TRANSACTION FOR RESEARCHWOULD BE AWARDED… ... 36

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

A. OVERVIEW

Broad Agency Announcements (BAAs) are solicitation methods for Research and Development (R&D) efforts based on synopses published in the Governmentwide Point of Entry (GPE) and/or Grants.gov that provide for full and open competition in accordance with (IAW) Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) 6.102(d)(2) and merit-based, competitive procedures IAW Office of Management and Budget (OMB) guidance, “Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards,” published in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) at 2 CFR part 200 and implemented by the DoD at 2 CFR part 1103, “Interim Grants and Cooperative Agreements Implementation of Guidance in 2 CFR part 200” (79 FR 76047, December 19, 2014). Provisions of the DoD Grants and Agreements Regulations (DoDGARs) other than 32 CFR parts 32 and 33 continue to be in effect, with applicability as stated in those provisions. BAAs are established in FAR 35.016 and are authorized for the acquisition of basic and applied research and that part of development not related to the development of a specific system or hardware procurement. The objective of a BAA is to encourage participation by science and technology firms and educational institutions in meeting Air Force Research and Development goals for innovative ideas and approaches for research that is general in nature.

B. CRITERIA FOR USE

Use of a BAA to solicit for research and development is encouraged when: 1. The Government desires new and creative solutions to problem statements.
2. Using a conventional statement of work could result in unintentionally stifling ideas and concepts given many possible approaches. 3. Fulfilling requirements for scientific study and experimentation directed toward advancing the state-of-the-art or increasing knowledge or understanding rather than focusing on a specific system or hardware solution.
4. The Government must be able to state its objectives in terms of areas of need or interest rather than specific solutions or outcomes. 5. Meaningful proposals with varying technical/scientific approaches are reasonably anticipated.

CHAPTER 2: DEFINITIONS