FY 20 Oppurtunity Announcement | DWFP 20 S 01

FAQs: FY20 Deployed War Fighter Protection (DWFP) Research Program (DWFP 20 S 01)

What is this funding opportunity?

This is the FY 20 Opportunity Announcement (DWFP 20 S 01), a Department of Defense discretionary grant opportunity run through the US Army Contracting Command at Aberdeen Proving Ground (Natick Contracting Division, Fort Detrick) and administered by the Armed Forces Pest Management Board (AFPMB). It funds the Deployed War Fighter Protection (DWFP) Research Program for fiscal year 2020.

What is the main goal of the DWFP Research Program?

The overall goal is to create practical, deployable ways to protect US military personnel from diseases spread by arthropods such as mosquitoes, ticks, and other biting insects, particularly in operational environments where exposure risk is high and standard public health measures may be difficult to maintain.

What types of disease threats does the program focus on?

The program focuses on arthropod-borne pathogens that pose serious risks to deployed forces. Examples specifically called out include Lyme disease, malaria, dengue virus, and other arboviruses.

Is this opportunity intended for basic research or applied development?

The emphasis is on advanced, product-driven development rather than basic science. In DoD budgeting terms, the work is intended to align with Advanced Technology Development (RDT&E Budget Activity 3), meaning it should move beyond early discovery into development, refinement, and demonstration of technologies closer to real-world use.

What are the main technical areas supported by this announcement?

The announcement highlights three main technical areas: (1) development of new toxicants or adaptation of existing toxicants to key deployed-setting vectors, (2) new or improved insecticide application techniques (including methods and equipment) suitable for military field conditions, and (3) personal protection technology that reduces or prevents human-vector contact (such as materials, wearables, barriers, repellents, or other operationally suitable modalities).

What does the program mean by "intervention-oriented" research?

It means research tied to real-world interventions against arthropod-borne disease risk, oriented around a specific technology or capability and aimed at producing something practical that can be used in deployed operational settings.

Are prototype demonstrations or evaluations required?

Yes. A key requirement is that projects include semi-field or field evaluation of prototype products, generating evidence of performance in realistic environments.

Does the solicitation fund testing of already-commercial products?

No. The solicitation is not meant to pay for testing and evaluation of already-commercial products.

Will minor modifications of commercial items be funded?

No. The announcement indicates it is not intended to fund minor modifications of commercial items for a new use case. Applicants are expected to propose innovation that results in a distinct prototype or advanced capability.

What does the opportunity expect in terms of transition and scalability?

The expectation is that the work will move a prototype toward a form that could be manufactured and used at scale, with a clear line of sight to operational military use.

Are there any pesticide regulatory expectations?

Yes. For pesticide-related efforts, pesticides included in the proposed work should either already be registered with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or be on a development path intended to lead to EPA registration if registration does not yet exist.

How important is military relevance?

Military relevance is a primary requirement. The research must be primarily relevant to military needs, particularly deployed operations.

Does the program also consider civilian or public health applicability?

Yes. While military relevance is the main driver, the opportunity also expects solutions to be transferable to civilian contexts when appropriate.

How much total funding was expected under FY20?

Funding for FY20 was expected to total up to $4.5 million across awards, with future-year funding dependent on availability.

What is the maximum funding per project?

Individual projects were capped at $300,000 per year for up to three years, for a maximum total of $900,000 per project. This maximum is inclusive of both direct and indirect costs.

How many awards were anticipated?

The opportunity anticipated making around 10 awards.

What is the award ceiling?

The award ceiling is $900,000.

How long can projects be funded?

Projects are potentially renewable for up to three years.

When were awards expected to be made?

Funding was intended to be provided around July 2020.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad and essentially unrestricted by organization type. Eligible applicants include for-profit and non-profit organizations, public and private entities, and institutions in any country. Examples listed include universities, hospitals, laboratories, companies, and local or state government agencies.

Can non-US organizations apply?

Yes. The announcement indicates institutions in any country are eligible.

Can federal agencies apply?

Yes. Federal agencies could submit responses, although their submissions would be handled under applicable federal rules and regulations.

Do applicants need to be affiliated with an eligible institution?

Yes. Applicants needed to be employed by or affiliated with an eligible institution.

How did the application process work?

The application process used a staged approach beginning with pre-proposals, which were solicited and submitted earlier under the same announcement on beta.gov. Invitations to submit full proposals were expected after pre-proposal review.

What were the pre-proposal and full proposal deadlines?

The timeline provided indicates pre-proposals were due November 25, 2019. Full proposals were due approximately February 25, 2020 (for those invited to submit full proposals).

When were invitations to submit full proposals expected?

Invitations to submit full proposals were expected around January 8, 2020.

When were acceptance notifications expected?

Acceptance notifications were anticipated around March 30, 2020.

How were full proposal instructions provided?

Full proposal instructions were to be provided to invitees through a separate, formal notification.

Where was the opportunity posted and pre-proposals submitted?

Pre-proposals were solicited and submitted under the same announcement on beta.gov.

How are proposals evaluated and selected?

Projects were to be selected based on two main factors: peer-reviewed scientific merit and programmatic relevance.

Who determines programmatic relevance?

Programmatic relevance was determined by a technical committee representing the AFPMB and the military service components.

What does "programmatic relevance" imply for applicants?

It implies proposals need more than strong science and methods; they should also show a clear fit with the DWFP mission and a clear connection to operational military use and feasibility of transition.

What is the assistance listing / CFDA number for this opportunity?

The opportunity is listed under CFDA 12.355.

What type of grant category is this opportunity listed under?

It is listed as a discretionary grant in the Science and Technology and other Research and Development category.

Who is the issuing agency?

The issuing agency is identified as the Department of Defense (ACC-APG-Detrick).

Who administers the program?

The grant opportunity is administered by the Armed Forces Pest Management Board (AFPMB).

What is the operational context emphasized by the solicitation?

The solicitation emphasizes deployed and operational environments where exposure risk can be high and standard public health measures may be harder to maintain, so proposed solutions should be durable, sustainable, and practical under field conditions.