Office of Hazardous Materials Safety Research Initiative – FY2026 BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT (BAA)

What the solicitation documents require

We read the solicitation documents for this bid (6 documents, 63 pages). Each item shows the file and page it came from. Check the original documents and any addenda before you bid.

Due date and time

• White paper submissions are due November 18, 2026 (11:59 AM Eastern Time), replacing the earlier December 22, 2026 date. (Attachment 1, p. 1)
• The November 18, 2026 deadline applies to Phase I White Papers only. Phase II proposal deadline will be given in the invitation letter. (Attachment 2, p. 1)

How to submit

• Submit white papers and proposals by email to tremayne.terry@dot.gov, per the amended submission address. (Attachment 1, p. 1)
• Use the provided templates: 8.5 x 11 in, single-spaced, 1-inch margins, 12 pt. Files must be searchable and not password-protected, encrypted or zipped. (Attachment 1, p. 10)
• Each white paper must be a single file of up to 9 pages, with its topic area in the email subject line. Up to 5 white papers per research group. (Attachment 2, p. 1)

Set-aside and participation goals

• Foreign entities may be subcontractors but not the prime offeror. The prime must be U.S.-based, and the foreign entity may not be in a comprehensively sanctioned country. (Attachment 2, p. 1)

Contract term

• Base period of up to 24 months, with option years possible up to a total of 36 months including the base. (Attachment 1, p. 10)

Pricing format

• Cost proposal needs a cover page and a cost spreadsheet with labor by WBS number, overhead/fringe, materials, milestones, travel, subcontracts, other direct costs and G&A. (Attachment 1, p. 13)
• Each submission must have its own independent cost proposal and not combine elements from another submission. (Attachment 2, p. 1)

Forms to return

• Return the White Paper or Proposal Template and the Cost Proposal and Narrative Spreadsheet. (Attachment 1, p. 18)
• Cost schedules include Schedule A Cost Summary and Schedule B Direct Labor. (Attachment 3, p. 5)
• Cost schedules include Schedule C Materials, Schedule D Equipment, and Schedule F Subcontracts. (Attachment 3, p. 13)
• Cost schedules include Schedule G Consultants, Schedule H Travel, and Schedule I Other Direct Costs. (Attachment 3, p. 25)
• Schedule J Milestone Chart is part of the cost schedules. (Attachment 3, p. 31)
• DD Form 882 - Report of Inventions and Subcontracts is listed among the attachments. (Attachment 1, p. 18)

Scope highlights

• The white paper should describe the planned effort at a high level, including testing, analysis, outputs and methodology. (Attachment 5, p. 3)
• The proposal should describe work scope and approach, schedule, requirements, milestones and deliverables, split into major tasks and subtasks. (Attachment 6, p. 3)

Documents we read

• Attachment 1 18 pages
• Attachment 2 1 page
• Attachment 3 33 pages
• Attachment 4 2 pages
• Attachment 5 5 pages
• Attachment 6 4 pages