RFI: Partnership Intermediary Agreement (PIA) with ERDC

The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) is one of the most diverse engineering and scientific research organizations in the world. The ERDC conducts research and development (R&D) in support of the Soldier, military installations, and the Corps of Engineers civil works mission, as well as for other federal agencies, state, and municipal authorities, and with U.S. industry through innovative work agreements. The ERDC addresses R&D in four major areas: Battlespace Environment, Military Engineering, Environmental Quality/Installations, and Civil Works/ Water Resources through the capabilities of seven laboratories at four geographical sites in Vicksburg MS; Champaign IL; Hanover NH; and Alexandria VA.

The ERDC is initiating a new Partnership Intermediary Agreement (PIA), under the authority of 15 U.S.C. 3715, with a Partnership Intermediary to provide services for ERDC to increase the likelihood of success in the conduct of cooperative or joint activities with ERDC and small business firms, institutions of higher education as defined in 20 USC 1141(a), or educational institutions as defined in 10 USC 2194. This is a Request for Information (RFI) from eligible applicants who can provide the capabilities sought by ERDC as described in this RFI.  The resultant award(s) will be for a period of up to 5 years and have an ordering capacity not-to-exceed $30M for all projects.

ERDC is interested in creating a more efficient and effective defense laboratory that can be adaptive and responsive to the challenges of 21st century national security. It is widely acknowledged that innovation depends on bringing multiple disciplines together to engage in collaborative projects that often yield unpredictable, but highly productive results. Formal and informal interactions among scientists lead to knowledge-building and research breakthroughs. By bringing together academia, industry and government, the Army can enhance its performance through collocated R&D collaboration. ERDC’s Partnership Intermediary will provide services to assist ERDC in facilitating access to world-renown facilities and researchers; developing and maintaining synergistic relationships with the entrepreneur community; facilitating government partnerships to enhance the transition of knowledge and technology; and create, grow, and maintain the fluid collaboration spaces (physical and virtual) needed for collaborative business environments.

Entities that may qualify as PIA partners can submit a White Paper (WP) to inform the ERDC requiring activity on the entities' capabilities.

Responses to this notice shall be submitted NLT 12:00 PM, August 4, 2022 to:  chelsea.m.whitten@usace.army.mil