DEFENSE THREAT REDUCTION AGENCY 8725 JOHN J. KINGMAN ROAD, STOP 6201

FORT BELVOIR, VA 22060-6201

January 31, 2022

MEMORANDUM FOR DISTRIBUTION C

SUBJECT: Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) Unsolicited Proposals Guidelines

Reference: Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 15.6 — Unsolicited Proposals 

The Unsolicited Proposal Guidelines provide direction for submission and evaluation of 

unsolicited proposals, and include instructions for identifying and marking proprietary 

information. Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) and Small Business Innovative Research 

(SBIR) solicitations are included in DTRA's procurement budget and are the preferred methods 

for receiving ideas and concepts. DTRA does not separately budget for unsolicited proposals. 

Potential offerors are encouraged to first consider the opportunities provided under DTRA's 

various BAAs and SBIR topics before submitting an unsolicited proposal to our Agency.

SBIR/Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) topics and BAAs can be found at 

https://www.dodsbirsttr.mil/. DTRA BAAs can be found at https://sam.gov/. The attached 

Unsolicited Proposal Guidelines supersedes the "Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) 

Unsolicited Proposal Guidelines” dated 16 April 2010. Send recommended changes to the 

Guidelines to DTRA Unsolicited Proposals_OSBP@mail.mil. 

None of the information in these Guidelines is intended to conflict with FAR Subpart 

15.6. These Guidelines are effective as of the date of signature and supersede the Unsolicited 

Proposal Guidelines” dated 16 April 2010.

The Unsolicited Proposal Guidelines are available at https://www.dtra.mil/Work-WithUs/Office-of-Small-Business. 

My point of contact in this matter is Ms. Kellie Ballantine, Senior Procurement Analyst, 

571- 616-6364 or kellie.d.ballantine.civ@mail.mil. 

Lisa K. Swan

Component Acquisition Executive

Attachment: As stated 
Defense Threat Reduction Agency

Unsolicited Proposal Guidelines 

Standard Operating Procedure

(SOP)

January 31, 2022

ACQUISITION, CONTRACTS, AND LOGISTICS DIRECTORATE

OFFICE OF SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAMS
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

REVISION SUMMARY .............................................................................................................. 3

1. INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................................... 4

1.1. PURPOSE............................................................................................................................. 4

2. POLICY.................................................................................................................................... 5

2.1. GENERAL ........................................................................................................................... 5

2.2. WHO MAY SUBMIT .......................................................................................................... 5

2.3. WHEN TO SUBMIT............................................................................................................ 5

2.4. WHERE TO SUBMIT ......................................................................................................... 5

2.5. PRE-PROPOSAL ACTIVITIES.......................................................................................... 6

3. AUTHORITIES ....................................................................................................................... 7

3.1. AUTHORITY TO CONTRACT.......................................................................................... 7

3.2. CLASSIFIED INFORMATION .......................................................................................... 7

4. PROCEDURES........................................................................................................................ 8

4.1. MARKING TO RESTRICT OR LIMIT USE OF DATA ................................................. 10

4.2. RESPONSES TO REQUESTS .......................................................................................... 10

4.3. EVALUATION CRITERIA............................................................................................... 11

4.4. EVALUATION RESULTS................................................................................................ 11

ACRONYMS AND DEFINITIONS.......................................................................................... 12

Acronyms ................................................................................................................................... 12

Definitions.................................................................................................................................. 12

REFERENCES............................................................................................................................ 14
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REVISION SUMMARY

Revision Number Approval Date Remarks
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1. INTRODUCTION

1.1. PURPOSE

a. The Unsolicited Proposal Guidelines (referred to as “Guidelines” for the remainder of this 

SOP) provide assistance to parties interested in preparing and submitting unsolicited proposals to 

Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA). DTRA enables the Department of Defense (DoD), 

the United States Government, and International partners to counter and deter weapons of mass 

destruction and emerging threats. DTRA carries out its mission by providing subject matter 

expertise and material solutions to Combatant Commanders and Military Services across a 

number of mission areas including nuclear security and surety; arms control and verification; 

cooperative threat reduction; building partner capacity; planning, training, and exercising; and 

developing capabilities.

b. One means by which DTRA obtains innovative ideas from the private sector to meet its

mission is through the unsolicited proposal process. Unsolicited proposals provide a means for 

accomplishing functions not always well served by solicited proposals. The Guidelines outline 

the requirements and procedures for submitting unsolicited proposals to DTRA.

c. Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) and Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) 

solicitations are the preferred methods for receiving ideas and concepts. DTRA does not 

separately budget for unsolicited proposals; hence, any funding related to the acceptance of an 

unsolicited proposal would be obtained from within existing budgets. Offerors are encouraged to 

first consider the opportunities provided under DTRA's various BAAs and SBIR topics before 

submitting an unsolicited proposal. SBIR and Small Business Technology Transfer Research

topics and BAAs can be found at https://www.dodsbirsttr.mil. DTRA BAAs can be found at 

http://sam.gov. 
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2. POLICY

2.1. GENERAL

a. DTRA has a continuing interest in receiving and evaluating proposals containing new 

ideas, suggestions, and inventive concepts for weapons, supplies, facilities, devices, systems, and 

equipment related to its mission. The unsolicited proposal process provides a vehicle for DTRA 

to obtain innovative, unique, or meritorious methods, concepts, or approaches from the private 

sector (i.e., business, industry, or academia) to accomplish its mission.

b. Unsolicited proposals to perform research and development, or other efforts supporting the 

DTRA mission, are distinguished from proposals that are requested by DTRA from qualified 

sources. In order to be considered for contract award, an offeror's unsolicited proposal must 

demonstrate significant technological promise or merit and should represent a product of original 

thinking. Favorably evaluated unsolicited research proposals may qualify under the Federal 

Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 6.302-1(a)(2)(i) for other than full and open competition. 

FAR Subpart 15.607(b)(2) makes it clear that non-research unsolicited proposals will not 

automatically qualify for other than full and open competition, and may have to be returned 

unless they are determined to meet other provisions under FAR Subpart 6.3.

2.2. WHO MAY SUBMIT

a. To gain the greatest benefit from a wide range of intellectual and technological resources, 

DTRA encourages any organization or individual to suggest a research and development effort 

or other efforts that may support DTRA's mission.

2.3. WHEN TO SUBMIT

a. Unsolicited proposals for research and development projects or other efforts supporting the 

DTRA mission, which are original in nature and concept and fall within DTRA's mission, may 

be submitted at any time.

2.4. WHERE TO SUBMIT

a. A vendor portal for solicitations is an enterprise-level service for the DoD within the 

Procurement Integrated Enterprise Environment (PIEE) platform. This capability allows DoD to 

have a more automated and secure process for capturing solicitations and their attachments and 

responses from industry as well as for submission of Unsolicited Proposals. There are two 

vendor roles (Proposal Manager, Proposal View Only) for the PIEE Solicitation Module. A 

vendor registration guide is available at:

https://www.acq.osd.mil/asda/dpc/ce/cap/docs/piee/PIEE_Solicitation_Module_Vendor_Access_

Instructions.pdf; this guide provides step by step instructions for new users to self-register for a 

PIEE user account and existing users to add additional roles. Please refer to the Roles and 

Actions/Functions Matrix in the help section to assist with determining which PIEE Solicitation 

Module role you will need to add.
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b. To expedite evaluation, unclassified proposals should be entered into the PIEE portal. 

After registering and obtaining access to the PIEE portal, follow the steps at:

https://wawftraining.eb.mil/wbt/xhtml/wbt/sol/solicitation/proposals.xhtml to submit an 

Unsolicited Proposal. In order to select DTRA, the vendor should enter “Defense Threat 

Reduction Agency” or any part of the name for it to route to someone that can access it. Offers 

saved but not submitted will not be received or considered. Do not upload classified 

information/proposals into PIEE.

c. Upon signing the proposal, the user is notified of successful submission. Email 

notifications are sent to the Proposal Manager submitting the proposal and the DTRA Office of 

Small Business Programs (OSBP). Upon submission, the unsolicited proposal will be displayed 

in the Submitted Unsolicited Proposals dashboard on the solicitation application homepage. 

Unsolicited proposals saved prior to completion will be displayed on the Saved Unsolicited 

Proposals dashboard on the solicitation application homepage.

2.5. PRE-PROPOSAL ACTIVITIES

a. Unsolicited proposals are to be independently originated and developed by the offeror and 

must be developed without Government supervision, endorsement, direction, or direct

involvement. DTRA will make available on our public website the information listed in FAR 

Subpart 15.604, as applicable, to include:

• General rules for content and definitions of an unsolicited proposal.

• Requirements concerning responsible prospective contractors (FAR Subpart 9.1) and 

organizational conflicts of interest (FAR Subpart 9.5).

• Guidance on preferred methods for submitting ideas and concepts to DTRA (see 1.1).

• Public information on DTRA such as upcoming solicitations, BAAs, and SBIR programs.

• Sources of information on DTRA objectives and areas of potential interest.

 b. Initial contact should be made through the Director, OSBP, to provide this information to 

the appropriate source. The corresponding email address is 

DTRAUnsolicitedProposals_OSBP@mail.mil. 
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3. AUTHORITIES 

3.1. AUTHORITY TO CONTRACT

a. Submitters of unsolicited proposals are advised that only warranted DTRA Contracting 

Officers have authority to contractually bind the Agency.

b. The Director, OSBP is the DTRA central coordinator to receive, initially review, establish 

internal controls, process for evaluation, and execute timely disposition of all unsolicited 

proposals submitted to DTRA. Questions regarding unsolicited proposals should be directed to 

DTRA at DTRAUnsolicitedProposals_OSBP@mail.mil. 

3.2. CLASSIFIED INFORMATION

a. Classified proposals shall be marked and submitted in accordance with the provisions of 

DoD 5220.22-M, "National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual." Do not email 

classified information to DTRAUnsolicitedProposals_OSBP@mail.mil. To submit a classified 

unsolicited proposal, please coordinate in advance and schedule a meeting with the DTRA 

OSBP. A meeting can be requested at DTRA_OSBP@mail.mil. 
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4. PROCEDURES

a. Unsolicited proposals submitted to DTRA via PIEE should include an attached proposal in 

Microsoft Word or Portable Document Format (often known as ".pdf format”), organized in two 

parts: (1) cover letter and (2) technical summary. Offerors are encouraged to coordinate with the 

DTRA OSBP at DTRAUnsolicitedProposals_OSBP@mail.mil when submission of the 

unsolicited proposal is complete in PIEE. 

b. The technical summary should include the following information:

• Offeror's name and address, Commercial and Government Entity Code and Data 

Universal Numbering System.

• Type of organization (profit, nonprofit, educational, small business, foreign government, 

etc.).

• Names and telephone numbers of technical and business personnel to be contacted for 

evaluation or negotiation purposes.

• Names of other Federal, State, local agencies, or parties receiving the proposal or funding 

the proposed effort.

• Date of submission.

• Signature of person authorized to represent and contractually obligate the offeror.

• Project Summary. Concise title and technical abstract (approximately 200 words). This 

should include a brief description of the project objective and description of the effort.

• Summary of Benefits. Anticipated benefits and commercial applications of the proposed 

research or research and development or other efforts supporting the DTRA mission.

• Identification and Significance of the Problem or Opportunity. Define the specific 

technical problem or opportunity addressed and its importance.

• Technical Objectives. Enumerate the specific objectives of the work including questions 

it will try to answer to determine the feasibility of the proposed approach.

• Work Plan. Provide an explicit, detailed description of the approach. It should indicate 

not only what is planned, but how and where the work will be carried out. The effort 

should attempt to determine the technical feasibility of the proposed concept. The 

methods planned to achieve each objective or task should be discussed explicitly and in 

detail. This section should be a substantial portion of the total proposal. It will also 

identify names of subcontractors or affiliates anticipated and roles they would play in the 

work.
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• Related Work. Describe significant activities directly related to the proposed effort 

including those conducted by the principal investigator or proposing firm, consultants, or 

others. Show how these activities interface with the proposed project. Show how 

coordination with outside sources will be conducted, if required. The proposal must 

persuade reviewers of the proposer's awareness of the state of the art in the specific topic.

• Relationship to Future Research or Research and Development or other efforts supporting 

the DTRA mission.

• State the anticipated results of the proposed approach if the project is successful.

• Discuss the significance of the effort in providing a foundation for research and/or 

development effort or other efforts supporting the DTRA mission.

• Potential Applications.

• Discuss whether and by what means the proposed project appears to have potential use by 

the Federal Government and how that potential relates to the DTRA mission; as well as 

any potential commercial applications.

• Key Personnel. Identify key personnel who will be involved in the effort. Provide 

information on qualifications, capabilities, directly related education, and experience. 

Provide concise resume(s) of the principal investigator, team leader, or key personnel 

critical to achieving the proposed objectives. Include any list(s) of relevant publications.

• Facilities and Equipment. Describe available instrumentation and physical facilities 

necessary to carry out the effort. Items of equipment to be purchased shall be justified 

under this section. Identify support needed from DTRA.

• Cost. Provide proposed total estimated cost for the effort in sufficient detail for 

meaningful evaluation.

• Time. Period of time for which the proposal is valid (a minimum of 6 months is 

recommended) as well as the duration of the effort. 

• Type of Contract Preferred. For example: cost plus fixed fee, cost reimbursement, firm 

fixed price, grant, or other transaction agreement. If a cost type contract is preferred, 

indicate whether or not the company has an accounting system approved by the Defense 

Contract Audit Agency. 

• Brief description of organization and previous relevant experience, relevant past 

performance information, and references.

• Other statements, if applicable, about organizational conflicts of interest, security 

clearance, and environmental impact.
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4.1. MARKING TO RESTRICT OR LIMIT USE OF DATA

a. An unsolicited proposal may include data that the offeror does not want disclosed for any 

purpose other than evaluation. The offeror agrees, by submitting an unsolicited proposal or 

entering into a subsequent contract as a result of submitting an unsolicited proposal, to have 

consented to the disclosure of its proposal and associated information to the identified 

companies, if any, providing advisory and assistance services in order to evaluate its unsolicited 

proposal. 

b. Accordingly, prospective offerors should identify to the Government, all trade secrets, 

commercial or financial information, and privileged or confidential information included in an 

unsolicited proposal that is not to be disclosed.

c. If the offeror wishes to restrict the data contained in an unsolicited proposal, the title page 

must be marked with the legend from FAR Subpart 15.609 that is reproduced below. If a 

proposal is rejected because the proposal does not meet any of the stated requirements, the 

agency point of contact will inform the offeror of the reasons for rejection in writing and of the 

proposed disposition of the unsolicited proposal.

• Use and Disclosure of Data: This proposal includes data that shall not be disclosed 

outside the Government and shall not be duplicated, used, or disclosed — in whole or in 

part — for any purpose other than to evaluate this proposal. However, if a contract is 

awarded to this offeror as a result of — or in connection with the submission of these 

data, the Government shall have the right to duplicate, use, or disclose the data to the 

extent provided in the resulting contract. This restriction does not limit the Government's 

right to use information contained in these data if they are obtained from another source 

without restriction. The data subject to this restriction are contained in Sheets [insert 

numbers or other identification of sheets].

d. The offeror shall also mark each sheet of data it wishes to restrict with the following 

legend:

• Use or disclosure of data contained on this sheet is subject to the restriction on the title 

page of this proposal.

e. The offeror's restriction on disclosure of data may not be sufficient to justify withholding 

of a record nor to improperly deny the public access to a record where an obligation is imposed 

on DTRA by the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. 552, as amended. Further, the restriction 

would not limit the Government's right to use information contained in the proposal, if it is 

obtainable from another source without restriction.

f. If the offeror’s unsolicited proposal does not contain any legend, DTRA will assume that 

the offeror does not desire to restrict disclosure of its proposal or to limit use of its data contained 

in the unsolicited proposal.

4.2. RESPONSES TO REQUESTS

a. Responses to requests by the evaluators for further information, revision, and/or 
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resubmission of a proposal shall be at the expense and risk of the submitter and shall create no 

obligation on the Government.

b. The Government is not obligated in any way to reimburse the offeror for any costs 

incurred in preparing and submitting the unsolicited proposal, regardless of its final disposition.

4.3. EVALUATION CRITERIA

a. Unsolicited proposals that satisfy the criteria outlined herein will receive a comprehensive 

evaluation by appropriate personnel engaged in the technical areas related to the unsolicited 

proposal. In addition to other appropriate factors, the following will be considered by technical 

personnel as basic criteria when evaluating unsolicited proposals (in accordance with FAR 

Subpart 15.606-2 and FAR Subpart 15.607):

• Unique, innovative, and meritorious methods, approaches, or concepts demonstrated by 

the proposal that relate to DTRA's mission.

• Overall scientific, technical, or socioeconomic merits of the proposal.

• Potential contribution of the effort to the Agency's specific mission.

• The offeror's capabilities, related experience, facilities, techniques, or unique 

combinations of these that are integral factors for achieving the proposal objectives.

• The qualifications, capabilities, and experience of the proposed principal investigator, 

team leader, or key personnel critical to achieving the proposal objectives.

• Whether this proposal closely resembles any pending acquisition or requirement.

• Whether this capability is available to the Government without restriction from another 

source.

• Whether funds are available in the current fiscal year.

• The realism of the proposed cost.

• Other factors not specified, e.g., recommendations or questions the evaluators may wish 

to address to the submitter.

4.4. EVALUATION RESULTS

a. The individual identified as the point of contact for the organization or entity submitting 

the proposal will be notified by the Director, OSBP, as to the results of the evaluation and any 

intent to pursue negotiation of a contract, grant or other transaction agreement. The Director, 

OSBP, is not a DTRA Contracting Officer. Only the cognizant DTRA Contracting Officer has 

the authority to bind the Government (FAR Subpart 15.604(b)).
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ACRONYMS AND DEFINITIONS

Acronyms

BAA Broad Agency Announcement

DoD Department of Defense

DTRA Defense Threat Reduction Agency

FAR Federal Acquisition Regulation

OSBP Office of Small Business Programs 

PIEE Procurement Integrated Enterprise Environment 

SBIR Small Business Innovative Research 

SOP Standard Operating Procedure

STTR Small Business Technology Transfer Research

Definitions

Advertising material. Material designed to acquaint DTRA with a prospective contractor's 

present products, services, or potential capabilities, or designed to stimulate DTRA's interest in 

buying such products or services.

Commercial item offer. An offer of a commercial item that the vendor wishes to see introduced 

into the DTRA supply system as an alternative or replacement for an existing supply item. This 

term does not include innovative or unique configurations or uses of commercial items that are 

being offered for further development and that may be submitted as an unsolicited proposal.

Contribution. Concept, suggestion, or idea presented to DTRA for its use with no indication that 

the source intends to devote any further effort to it on DTRA's behalf.

Unique and innovative concept. When used relative to an unsolicited research proposal, means 

that:

a. In the opinion and to the knowledge of the Government evaluator, the meritorious 

proposal—

• Is the product of original thinking submitted confidentially by one source;

• Contains new, novel, or changed concepts, approaches, or methods;

• Was not submitted previously by another; and

• Is not otherwise available within the Federal Government

b. In this context, the term does not mean that the source has the sole capability of 

performing the research. 

Unsolicited proposal. A written proposal for a new or innovative idea that is submitted to 

DTRA on the initiative of the offeror for the purpose of obtaining a contract, grant, or other 

transaction agreement with DTRA and that is not in response to a Request For Proposal, BAA, 

SBIR topic, STTR topic, or any other Government-initiated solicitation or program. To be 
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considered for acceptance, an unsolicited proposal to perform research and development must be 

an innovative, unique, meritorious method, approach, or concept. It must be submitted in 

sufficient detail to allow a determination that the concept would benefit DTRA's mission 

responsibilities, and it must not be a response to a DTRA request or an advance proposal for a 

DTRA requirement that could be met by competitive means. Advertising material, commercial 

item offerings, contributions, or white papers are not unsolicited proposals.

White paper. A detailed or authoritative technical report without detailed delivery schedules or 

cost estimates.
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REFERENCES

DoD 5220.22-M National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual

FAR Subpart 6.3

FAR Subpart 6.302-1(a)(2)(i) 

FAR Subpart 9.1

FAR Subpart 9.5

FAR Subpart 15.604

FAR Subpart 15.604(b)

FAR Subpart 15.606-2 

FAR Subpart 15.607

FAR Subpart 15.607(b)(2) 

Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. 552, as amended