Defense Production Act Title III Expansion of Domestic Production Capability and Capacity; Call 006 ANSSQ Sonobuoys Production Capability Project | FA8650 19 S 5010 CALL 006

FAQs: ANSSQ Sonobuoys Production Capability Project (FA8650-19-S-5010, Call 006)

1) What is this funding opportunity about?

This opportunity is a U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) effort, administered through the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), to strengthen and expand domestic industrial capability under Defense Production Act (DPA) Title III authorities. It focuses specifically on boosting U.S.-based production capability and/or capacity for AN/SSQ sonobuoys.

2) What are AN/SSQ sonobuoys?

AN/SSQ sonobuoys are expendable underwater acoustic sensors used for anti-submarine warfare and related maritime missions. The call treats sonobuoy production as strategically important and aims to ensure the supply chain can meet defense demand reliably.

3) Who is issuing and administering the call?

The effort is a DoD initiative administered through AFRL. The project is framed under DPA Title III authorities, which are commonly used for industrial base expansion and supply chain strengthening.

4) What is the official name and identifier for the announcement?

The opportunity is a hybrid Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) identified as FA8650-19-S-5010, Call 006, titled "ANSSQ Sonobuoys Production Capability Project."

5) What type of award instrument will be used?

The instrument type listed is a cooperative agreement. This generally indicates the government expects substantial involvement during the project (for example, technical coordination, milestone reviews, and active program management), which is typical for industrial base expansion efforts where qualification, schedule, and transition to sustained production are important.

6) Is this considered research and development (R&D), manufacturing, or both?

It is categorized as a discretionary award under "science, technology, and other research and development." However, because it is a DPA Title III-style effort, the emphasis is typically less on basic research and more on scaling, securing, and modernizing production capability to achieve reliable domestic output.

7) What kinds of activities does this call typically support?

Based on the industrial base focus described, projects often support activities such as equipment procurement, facility upgrades, process development, tooling, supplier qualification, workforce and throughput improvements, testing and quality enhancements, and other investments that remove bottlenecks and increase dependable U.S. output.

8) What outcomes is the government looking for?

The call is best read as an industrial base strengthening initiative. The government is looking for measurable improvements in domestic sonobuoy production capability and resilience. Examples of outcomes described include added capacity, reduced lead times, improved yield, qualification of alternate domestic sources, and modernization of manufacturing lines.

9) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning any type of entity may apply (including industry, small business, large business, non-profits, academia, and consortia). Any additional conditions would typically be detailed in the full FOA text.

10) How many awards does the government expect to make?

The government anticipated making about two awards.

11) When was the opportunity posted, and what was the closing date?

The opportunity was created on March 13, 2020, with an original closing date of April 17, 2020. This indicates a relatively short application window consistent with targeted industrial base calls.

12) What is the maximum award amount?

The award ceiling is shown as "0," which typically means the public synopsis did not specify a maximum dollar amount in that field. The actual funding range and any cost-related requirements would normally be provided in the full solicitation package.

13) Does the synopsis specify cost share requirements?

The provided summary does not state cost share expectations. Any cost share requirements (if any), along with allowable cost details, would be expected to appear in the full FOA.

14) What program or assistance listings are associated with this opportunity?

The listing includes CFDA numbers 12.777 and 12.800, which correspond to DoD assistance programs often used for R&D and related defense support activities.

15) What does "domestic industrial capability" mean in this context?

In this context, it refers to increasing U.S.-based manufacturing capability and/or capacity for AN/SSQ sonobuoys so the supply chain can meet defense demand reliably and reduce production and supply risk.

16) What does a "hybrid FOA" imply here?

The announcement is described as a hybrid Funding Opportunity Announcement. The summary does not define the hybrid structure, but it indicates the opportunity is issued under FOA FA8650-19-S-5010, Call 006, and uses a cooperative agreement instrument with substantial government involvement.

17) What should a competitive applicant generally be prepared to include?

The summary indicates competitive applicants would generally be expected to present a clear plan tied to production outcomes, along with a realistic schedule, technical approach, and cost structure that supports sustained, scalable production aligned with defense requirements.

18) Is the goal to establish new production or expand existing production?

The summary signals a need to increase domestic manufacturing capability and/or capacity. That framing supports projects aimed at expanding existing capability, establishing additional capability, or otherwise strengthening and de-risking the U.S. supply chain for sonobuoy production.