Contracting Vehicles

The solicitation and agreement types used for defense and advanced research funding beyond standard SBIR/STTR topics.

• BAA (Broad Agency Announcement)A broad agency announcement (BAA) is a general solicitation that names areas of research interest and invites proposals for basic and applied research, with awards chosen through peer or scientific review.
• CSO (Commercial Solutions Opening)A commercial solutions opening (CSO) is a DoW general solicitation, authorized by 10 U.S.C. 3458, that invites companies to propose commercial products, services or nondevelopmental items, with awards chosen through expert review.
• Open Topic vs Specific TopicAn open topic is an SBIR/STTR topic that accepts proposals in any technology area that could meet an agency need, unlike a specific topic written around one defined problem and customer.
• Other Transaction (OT) AgreementAn other transaction (OT) is a legally binding agreement that is not a standard procurement contract, grant or cooperative agreement; DoW uses OT authority for research, prototype projects and follow-on production.
• Solicitation and TopicA solicitation is an agency's formal call for proposals or applications; a topic is one numbered research need inside it, and DoW SBIR/STTR proposals must answer a posted topic.
• White PaperA white paper is a short, early write-up of a proposed technical approach that some BAAs and CSOs request so the agency can judge fit before encouraging or inviting a full proposal.