This project call is offering a total of $6.4M in federal funding through the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense, Research and Engineering Manufacturing Technology Office (OSD(R&E)) and the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). The RFP is separated into two documents. One includes topics 1 through 6, the other outlines topics 7 and 8. The number of anticipated awards and maximum request for funding varies depending upon the topic area being addressed. Proposers should reference the specific RFP for additional details.
Open Project Call 2023 – Methods for Approaches for Sustainable AM Operations (July 2023)
This RFP leverages collaboration and perspectives from membership, working groups, Roadmap Advisory Group (RMAG), and prior America Makes AM Technology Roadmap workshops to create actionable focus areas to address needs of the membership. Topics have been prioritized based on this input and span the five swimlanes of the AM Technology Roadmap (Design, Materials, Process, Value Chain, and AM Genome).
6 Topic Areas worth $1.2M:
- Topic 1 – Design for Dimensional Inspection of Internal Features via In-Situ Process Monitoring
- Topic 2 – Thermal Manipulations for Processing Improvements
- Topic 3 – In-Process Sensor Calibration, Characterization Methods, and Operating Limits to Yield Reliable Process Data
- Topic 4 – Frameworks for Utilizing Process Monitoring In Conjunction with Ex-Situ Inspection for Qualification
- Topic 5 – AM Process Pre-Qualification
- Topic 6 – “Should vs. Could” Tool and Training
(Topic-specific sub-recipient agreement included in RFP)
The RFP seeks responses that outline an approach to develop and demonstrate sustainable AM practices and products through design, material selection and development, material handling, and/or recycling. Furthermore, the RFP also seeks responses that detail methods and approaches delivering validated objective evidence to substantiate robust AM manufacturing operations (operational qualification).
2 Topic Areas worth $5.2M:
- Topic 7 – Analysis of AM Sustainability and Environmental Benefits
- Topic 8 – Methods for Demonstrating Operational Qualification
(Topic-specific sub-recipient agreement included in RFP)
Process
This project call involves a one-step proposal process. Multiple proposal submissions are permitted; however, each proposal must only address one topic area. The deadline for the complete project proposal as outlined in the RFP is due by 5 p.m. Eastern on Friday, August 25.
Resources
- Industry Day Kickoff (registration required)
- July 27 at Virtual TRX
- Kick-off Webinar Slide Deck
- Project Call Q&A
- NCDMM NDA Agreement
- DoD Integrated Roadmap
- America Makes Digital Storefront
- Frequently Asked Questions
Membership Eligibility
- Team members receiving federal funding in response to Topic Areas 1 through 6 must be an America Makes member in good standing by Thursday, August 10, 2023.
- The project lead proposer/organization in responses to Topic Areas 7 and 8 must be an America Makes member in good standing by Thursday, August 10, 2023.
- To achieve a good standing status a non-member organization must establish a new America Makes membership and provide a cash payment or enter into an @Program MOU to satisfy the membership fee obligation for the first year of membership. Cost share provided during the period of performance of the project will be applied to the first renewal cycle of your membership. Information on how to join America Makes is available on the membership page.
- Membership Request Form
- Membership Project Call Q&A
- Need additional information or clarification? Contact Laurie Wittkugle, Membership Coordinator.
Dates/Deadlines:
Project Call Announcement and Posting
7/10/2023
Project Call Kickoff Webinar (Virtual TRX event – Registration Required)
7/27/2023
Questions from Proposers about Scope or Approach Due
7/28/2023
Responses to Proposers about Scope or Approach Due
Questions/responses will be shared with all proposers on americamakes.us
8/2/2023
Proposal Lead to Complete Fully Executed Membership Agreement (Topics Areas 1-8)
8/10/2023
Fully Executed NDA with NCDMM (only if proposal contains proprietary information)
8/10/2023
Full Proposal Submission Due Date
(Note: No Concept Paper Submission)
8/25/2023
Anticipated Decision/Notification of Project Teams
9/25/2023
Anticipated Date to have all Projects on Contract
11/1/2023
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Team members receiving federal funding in response to Topic Areas 1 through 6 must be an America Makes member in good standing by Thursday, August 10, 2023.
- The project lead proposer/organization in responses to Topic Areas 7 and 8 must be an America Makes member in good standing by Thursday, August 10, 2023.
- The lead proposer shall be registered in U.S. System for Award Management (SAM) and have a Cage Code and DUNS number before submitting a proposal.
- To achieve a good standing status a non-member organization must establish a new America Makes membership and provide a cash payment or enter into an @Program MOU to satisfy the membership fee obligation for the first year of membership. Cost share provided during the period of performance of the project will be applied to the first renewal cycle of your membership. Information on how to join America Makes is available on the membership page.
Yes, teams may submit more than one Project Proposal. However, each proposal is limited to addressing one topic area only.
Questions should be emailed to projectcall@americamakes.us. Questions will be posted to the America Makes website according to the schedule. Questions asked AFTER the scheduled Q&A session will NOT be addressed.
Information on how to join America Makes is available at www.americamakes.us/membership. While partners to the lead proposer are not required to be America Makes members, obtaining membership is encouraged. (Note: The foreign membership approval process requires a minimum of three weeks to complete). Any foreign persons conducting work on the project shall be declared within the Project Team Appendix. Any project activities outside the U.S. or by non-U.S. persons must be reported and approved by the America Makes Program Management Office. No work can be completed outside of the United States without this approval. Any use of assets (equipment or personnel) based outside the United States must be clearly identified in your proposal. Please provide the description, location, and utilization (number of hours or percentage of total effort) for any such assets. The lead/team is responsible for ensuring compliance with all applicable export control laws and regulations.
Proposals are reviewed by evaluators independent of teams submitting proposals and operate under a confidentiality agreement. Proposers are encouraged to seek legal counsel prior to submitting any response to this Project Call where there is a question regarding the possibility of future patent applications or the patentability of proposal concepts.
The owning organization should list anything that they are leveraging that is not going to be made available to the membership at the completion of the project. This could be a patent number or a description of the background IP that is being leveraged.
Background IP should be declared in Exhibit I. All (foreground) IP produced on the project is subject to the terms of the membership agreement (please review details in RFP).
A valid DD2345 is not required for any topic within this project call.
