This Military Prototype Advancement Initiative request for project proposals (engineering and medical prototypes – proposed solutions may include medical techniques, knowledge products, and materiel (medical devices, drugs, and biologics)) comes from the Medical Technology Enterprise Consortium (MTEC), a public-private partnership that is managed by the Department of Defense to promote the development and delivery of innovative medical technologies to improve the health and safety of military personnel, veterans, and civilians. Duke is a member of MTEC.
This Request for Project Proposals (RPP) solicits current MTEC members for a broad range of medical prototype technological and knowledge solutions related to the Focus Areas of Interest described further below.
Enhanced White Papers accepted October 20, 2023 through January 15, 2024.
Evaluations and recommendations for award are expected to be conducted on a first-in, first-out basis. Offerors encouraged to submit as soon as possible during the open submission period. Project awards will be made on a rolling basis.
Enhanced White Papers submitted in response to the RPP should align to a single focus area and meet the following minimum requirements:
- Demonstrate Military Relevance: Proposed projects shall focus on providing medical solutions to support readiness and care in future battlefield scenarios.
- Fit the Prototype Definition: Proposed prototype projects should not be exploratory in nature and do require a foundation of preliminary data. The definition of a “prototype” is as follows: (a) a prototype project addresses a proof of concept, model, (b) reverse engineering to address obsolescence, (c) a pilot, novel application of commercial technologies for defense purposes, (d) agile development activity, (e) the creation, design, development, demonstration of technical or operational utility, or (f) combinations of the foregoing. A process, including a business process, may be the subject of a prototype project.
- Meet the Minimum Knowledge/Technology Readiness Level (KRL/TRL): The minimum acceptable KRL/TRL is 3 at the time of proposal submission, with the following exceptions: Combat Casualty Care topics and Focus Areas 3.10 and 3.13 *NOTE: Full definitions of TRLs can be found here. More information regarding KRLs can be found here.
- Represent New Submission to MTEC: The focus of this effort is on proposed solutions that have not been submitted to MTEC under previous RPPs within the past 2 years, including the 22-02-MPAI and 23-06-USAMRDC-MultiTopic. The Government is already aware of concepts submitted in response to previous MTEC solicitations; therefore, such projects are not allowed to be resubmitted here. This RPP is intended only for submission of new projects to MTEC or substantially revised or modified proposals in accordance with previous Government feedback, not identical resubmissions.
**Guidelines for preparation of the required submission documents are included on p. 34-47 of the solicitation, templates on p. 44-50
Christine Erlien (cme13@duke.edu) is Duke point of contact for the Medical Technology Enterprise Consortium (MTEC) and could request access to the MTEC website for investigators who might be interested in following/responding to this RPP.
Focus Areas noted below (described on pages 13-29 of the solicitation).
- Technology Area #1, Combat Casualty Care: Focus Areas include Blood Product Development, Anti-shock Pharmacology, Battlefield Pain Control, Organ Support Devices and Therapeutics, Surgical Support Technologies, Complex Wound Management, Burn Wound Recovery, En Route Care, Autonomous Care and Evacuation, Semi-autonomous Procedural Support, Military-Civilian Partnerships for Trauma, Studies in Ukraine (Clinical Trial Capabilities, Evaluation of Casualty Care Technologies)
- Technology Area #2, MILITARY INFECTIOUS DISEASES: Focus areas include Prophylactic to Prevent Infection in Battlefield Wounds from Complex Traumatic Penetrating Injuries in a Far-Forward, Austere Environment, Pathogen Agnostic Countermeasures for the Treatment of Sepsis caused by wound infection, Antivirals for the Prevention and/or Treatment of Endemic and Emerging Infectious Diseases (nonbiothreat pathogens), Prevention of Endemic Diarrheal Diseases, Knowledge Product Solutions for the Prevention of Infection in Traumatic Penetrating Wounds
- Technology Area #3, MILITARY OPERATIONAL MEDICINE. Focus areas include Individual Occupational and Environmental Exposure Monitoring, Applied and advanced research using multi-enclave AI analytics of biomedical readiness for formation-centric military performance, Understanding Tinnitus, Leverage medical health data for neurosensory injury prevention and treatment strategies, Hearing Protection Communication, Brain Computer Interface (BCI) Translations, Temporary Cornea Repair (TCR), Psychological Health, including Psychological Disorders Treatment, Objective Behavioral Health Assessment and Monitoring, Effective, Scalable Treatments for Full Remission of PTSD symptoms in ADSM populations, Postventions for Suicide, Cross-cutting Prevention (approaches that have cross-cutting impacts on multiple harmful behaviors, including suicide, sexual assault/violence and harassment, ostracism, domestic abuse, and alcohol and substance misuse), Warfighter Fitness to include Musculoskeletal Injury Prevention and Treatment, Performance Decrement and Injury Risk in Ground Soldiers due to Head Supported Mass, Biomechanical Tolerance of the Human Head to High-Rate Localized Blunt Impacts
- Technology Area #4, US AIR FORCE SCHOOL OF AEROSPACE MEDICINE: Focus areas include Musculoskeletal Injury Prevention and Treatment for Aircrew and Maintainers, Aerospace Physiology, Carcinogens, Precision Medicine and Medical Standards, En Route Care and Expeditionary Medicine
POTENTIAL FUNDING AVAILABILITY AND PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: The funding amount and Period of Performance (PoP) for the RPP is unspecified, and the number of awards is indeterminate and contingent upon funding availability. For informational purposes, the average size of MTEC awards for the initial PoP is approximately $2.0 – 3.5M over a 2-3-year PoP.