U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM)
BAA for Extramural Biomedical Research and Development
Solicitation: W81XWH-USSOCOM-BAA 12-1
Issued July 9, 2012 by:
U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (contracting agency)
Overview: USSOCOM seeks novel biomedical solutions to preserve the high level of
performance and save the lives of Special Operations Forces (SOF) in field environments. Any
projects proposed must be unique to the requirements of SOF who typically conduct combat
operations in austere, remote locations without timely access to medical evacuation or
elevated levels of medical care. It is these far-forward and/or isolated operations that make
SOF medicine unique and result in material solutions characterized by ruggedness, light weight,
small volume, and low power requirements. USSOCOM is also interested in research that will
lead to improved techniques and procedures that do not necessarily require new material.
•Funds are for basic and applied research and development not related to the development of a
specific system or hardware procurement.
•Proposed projects must be < two years in duration and < $700K in cost.
•Vehicles: contract, grant, cooperative agreement.
Pre-Proposal:
•Due by 3 August 2012
•Submit to USSOCOM.biomedical@socom.mil
•Pre-proposals are required.
•Must follow template.
•Must address at least one of the SOF research interest areas outlined in this BAA.
•Must describe how the project will be beneficial and unique to SOF
Topics Highlights:
1.
Damage Control Resuscitation:
Medical techniques and materiel (medical devices, drugs, and biologics) for early intervention in lifethreatening battle injuries when MEDEVAC is not possible.
a) Global Treatment Strategies. Treatment strategies that simultaneously address hypotensive
resuscitation, optimal fluid(s), uncomplicated shock, and traumatic brain injuries; optimized
for patients in far forward areas who must be treated for several hours.
b) Field Diagnostics. For 1) effectively assessing depth & quality of shock, 2) determining
intracranial pressure, and 3) evaluating blood for type/cross matching and for presence of
pathogens. Must consider the need for small, lightweight applications with low/negligible
power consumption, and applicability for rapid ruggedization and fielding.
c) Analgesia. Optimal agents and optimal delivery methods that are effective at point of injury
and for prolonged period of field care (days v. hours).
2. Environment-Specific Medicine
Techniques and materiel (medical devices, drugs, and biologics) to ensure
sustained human performance and effectiveness while operating in harsh
environmental conditions, wearing appropriate personal protective equipment.
SOF personnel must often operate for extended periods of time in environments
that expose them to extremes in altitude, temperature, humidity, wind, etc., or
to chemical, biological, and radiological contamination.
a) Optimal Acclimatization Strategy. Rapid and sustainable human
acclimatization for extremes in temperature, altitude and time change
(circadian acclimatization)
b) High Altitude Pulmonary Edema/High Altitude Cerebral Edema.
Pharmaceutical or alternative treatments for high altitude
pulmonary/cerebral edema.
c) Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosive (CBRNE) Rapid
Diagnostics. Diagnosis of human exposure to chemical, biological,
radiological, nuclear, and high yield explosives in near real time
•SOF places a premium on medical
equipment that is small, lightweight,
ruggedized, and designed for operation in
extreme environments.
•Equipment must be easy to use, require
minimum maintenance, and have low
power consumption.
•Drugs and biologics should not require
refrigeration or other special handling.
•All materiel and techniques must be
simple and effective.
Topics Highlights (cont’d):
3. Force Protection
Alternatives / new approaches to presently fielded Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). SOF personnel must be protected
from extreme environments, contaminated areas, and repetitive low-impulse blast exposures.
a) PPE. Comparable/ better performance as existing PPE but with reduced mass, volume, and power consumption.
b) Preventive Medicine. 1) rapid field diagnostics, and 2) universal anti-venin.
c) Repetitive low-impulse blast exposure. Protect SOF personnel from repetitive exposures to low-impulse blasts.
4. Canine Medicine
Alternatives and/or new approaches to sustain SOF canine performance in a combat. Premium placed on canine-specific
approaches that are effective in extreme environments and do not require significant logistics support.
a) Altitude Readiness. Optimal acclimatization strategies or positive diagnostic tests. May also address pharmaceutical
interventions and alternative treatments for High Altitude Pulmonary Edema/High Altitude Cerebral Edema.
b) Olfaction. Optimizing olfactory performance during combat operations.
c) Optimal Nutrition. Optimal nutrition strategies for canines throughout the spectrum of warfare in diverse environments to
ensure sustained performance.
d) Optimal Anesthesia Protocol. Protocols for routine and emergency field treatment of canines in diverse environments.
e) Optimal Trauma Resuscitation Strategy. Optimal trauma resuscitation strategies for canines in diverse environments.
f) Visual spectrum. Optimum visual performance during combat operations.
g) Post Trauma Training / Behavioral Issues. Restore performance in canines that present behavior and/or post-trauma issues.
•SOF places a premium on medical equipment that is small,
lightweight, ruggedized, and designed for operation in
extreme environments.
•Equipment must be easy to use, require minimum
maintenance, and have low power consumption.
•Drugs and biologics should not require refrigeration or
other special handling.
•All materiel and techniques must be simple and effective.