The document provides an overview of the military medical research and acquisition organization's mission, vision, and current challenges. It discusses the organization's goal of closing critical capability gaps through near-term and long-term research in areas like simulators, human systems integration, and treating injuries. However, the current contracting model has limitations like separate contracts for different phases and a lack of collaboration between performers. The organization aims to establish a new vehicle with a technology on-ramp that continuously brings in new performers and ideas, fosters innovation, and improves integration between industry and government to transition technologies efficiently. The desired vehicle would include different types of participants, disciplines, and research areas in a multi-dimensional structure.
2. R&A Mission and Vision
VISION
Turning gaps into capabilities through
agile and responsive research and
acquisition support
MISSION
Provide affordable, sustainable and
integrated solutions to the warfighter
and beneficiaries through capabilities
based assessments, innovation,
research and development,
acquisition, operational testing, and
program management support
Close Critical Capability Gaps
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3. Our Job is to look for research
fitting near term needs…
Simulator Advances
Human Systems
Integration
Improving Wounded
Warrior mobility using
Fractionated CO2 laser
Portable devices for
detecting pathogens
Biomarker ResearchDCS in U-2 Pilots
Preventing/Treating
Eye Injuries
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4. …with an eye to the far term…
Traumatic Optic
Neuropathy
Sensor
Integration
Nanotechnology
TBI/PTSD
Research
On Board Laser
Detection
Genomics-
based
Research
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5. Current Challenge:
Complexity fn: Time & Cost
Project Level of Effort: Technology Incubation, Tactical,
Operational, and Strategic:
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• More complex
projects require
more funding, time,
and management
LevelofComplexity
$1M, 1 yr Project Time and Cost
Low
High
$5M
5 Years
Strategic
Operational
Tactical
Technology
Incubation
• Result: Patch-work of
contracts, orders,
vendors, PCOs etc
• Ex: Situational
Awareness ACTD has
8 performers on 10
vehicles serviced by 5
PCOs
• Path of least
resistance
• Cottage Industry
6. Current Contracting Model
Limitations
One-off awards to multiple performers over life of 3-5 yr development
project – ‘…the sapphire laser got delayed but contract research staff had
already been hired’
Awards limited in scope and cost ceiling to what was agreed upon at time
of award – specific to tech project level work not tech program goals and
objectives – ‘…paid for strategy, but need new contract to implement it..’
No on-ramp process in current structure – ‘…our developers found a whole
new application for the core tech but we can’t bring in the component IP
holders under this contract’
Performers brought together subjectively based on project need & past
performance – ‘our partner did the initial design work so we hired them
again for the development but they don’t have the manufacturing piece..’
Need performer in a class that provides a suite of capabilities
Need governance mechanism to capitalize on team synergy, improve
communication, collaboration
Need to build reach-back into government R&D resources (labs,
equipment, PIs) up-front rather than on a case-by-case basis
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7. The bottom line requirement:
An efficient, standardized approach to provide
research, development, testing and evaluation
support for continuous transition of medical
products and capabilities from the laboratory to
the field AND fund modifications and
enhancements required to utilize Commercial-
off-the-Shelf and near-Commercial Off- the-
Shelf (COTS) products for military applications
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8. Secondary Goals - Objectives
Promote and Foster innovation, enabling the rapid development and
transition of critical biomedical technologies for use by the military –
industrial complex in healthcare delivery, intervention and prevention
Stimulate the transition of cutting-edge, innovative life saving and
outcome improving biomedical technologies to the commercial/private
sector and the defense industrial-base
Provide an on-ramp for technologies to solve critical capability gaps in
healthcare delivery technology
Improve technology / business operational Integration through cross-
industry participation - build synergies through partnerships capitalizing
on innovation and leveraging IR&D investments ; develop technology
roadmaps to address critical capability gaps
Support IP development costs – free license to consortium members;
provide standardized, robust capabilities to innovators – geared to go
from concept to transition in a cost-effective and efficient manner –
conduct outreach – attract and make easier for small business and
individual innovators to bring their ideas in
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9. Foundation of New Vehicle –
Technology On-Ramp
Continuously bring in new performers and technologies
Innovative ideas brought in to solve critical capability gaps
New participants join with ideas / technology addressing roadmaps or
providing innovative solutions to current real world problems
Government developed IP brought into consortium backdrop to ensure
transition to public / private sector
Government lead organization brings innovators into consortia
construct as customers – IP is protected and stimulus to transition
and commercialize is provided
Participants bring in new ideas to address technology roadmaps
Spirals / spin-off ideas come from the work of all – a culture of
continuous innovation is established
Participants conduct active, recurring tech watch to identify critical
opportunities and innovations that rapidly cycle into commercialization
successes and sustain military medical defense industrial base
Continuously refine Technology Roadmaps for known Capability Gaps
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10. Desired Vehicle Characteristics
Multi-dimensional Product on 3 Axes:
X-Axis: 3 types of participants (industry, academic,
non-profit)
Y-Axis: Discipline types – PM, Info Tech, Clinical Trial,
Legal and Regulatory, Manufacturing,
Commercialization, Admin, Engineering, Systems
Engineering, Rapid Prototyping, Rapid Test and
Integration, Logistics, Finance, Acquisition,
Development and Catalog Fielding to get Product ready
for Military or Commercial Market
Z-Axis: Research Product Lanes – Emergency/Trauma
& Enroute Care, Operational Medicine
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