Picatinny - Home of American Firepower

Material science, manufacturing processes, virtual reality and simulation, image processing, and non-destructive testing are just a few of the capabilities available to the private sector at Picatinny Arsenal.

Doing Business With Us

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How to Do Business With Us

Partnering Agreements

ARDEC partners with a wide variety of organizations including industry, academia and other Government organizations to accelerate the development and transition of new technologies for the warfighter. ARDEC's research investment has also demonstrated commercial spin-off benefits for the nation's civilian economy. Material science, manufacturing processes, virtual reality and simulation, image processing, and non-destructive testing are just a few of the capabilities available to the private sector. To see a list of the many tools used to establish partnerships with us, please see Partnering Mechanisms.

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Process Map PDF. Note: icons on process map are not functional, for further information contact the ORTA at (973)724-6043 or 7953.

PHASE 1: Concept Development
  1. Identify Technology Transfer Opportunity
  2. Identify High-level Partner Objectives, Timelines, Partnering Tool, Resource Requirements, and any Special Issues
  3. Competency Director/Manager and Stakeholder Coordination
  4. Proceed Yes or No
  5. Define Preliminary Statement of Work with Partner and Partnering Agreement POC
  6. Prepare preliminary Statement of Work with Partner
  7. Begin Project Integration Office Coordination
Related Documents
  • Sample Statement of Work (SOW) PDF
PHASE 2: Draft
  1. Match Opportunity to Partnering Tool
  2. Consult Legal
  3. Preliminary Notification to Senior Leadership
  4. Draft/Modify Agreement with Resource Requirements
PHASE 3: Negotiate and Review
  1. ARDEC and Partner Management/Legal/Technical Review
  2. Formal Negotiation with BIO Lead (Iterative)
PHASE 4: Staffing and Signature
  1. Staff Internally for Organizational Approvals; Obtain Customer and ARDEC Signatures
PHASE 5: Technology Transfer Execution and Control
  1. Provide oversight of Project Initiation, Planning, Execution and Control IAW Partnership Agreement
  2. Receive Customer Funding
  3. Execute IAW Partnership Agreement
  4. Provide Project Execution and Control Phase oversight to ensure proper measurement and reporting (to include Strategic Workout Session (SWS) on the status and success of the project)
PHASE 6: Technology Transfer Project Transition and Closeout
  1. Evaluate Effectiveness of Partnership
  2. Prepare and Publish Final Report; -- (b) Conduct After Action Review; -- (c) Document and Submit Lessons Learned IAW ARDEC 003 LL Procedure
  3. Execute Project Transition and Closeout IAW Partnership Agreement
Related Documents
  • Non-Traditional Customer Survey PDF
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Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)

The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program solicits proposals from small business firms, with strong research and development capabilities, in technical areas most likely to yield results important to the Federal Laboratories and the private sector. ARDEC participates in the Army SBIR program. At least once each year, the Army requests small businesses submit proposals with innovative concepts to solve a list of defense-related scientific or engineering problems, especially those concepts that also have high potential for commercialization in the private sector. The Army SBIR program has five phases:

Phase I: Feasibilty-Awards are typically up to $70,000 in size over a period not to exceed six months. Phase I normally concentrate on proving the scientific and technical feasibility of the effort.

Phase I Option: Awards are up to $50,000 for a period of three months for those companies that have won a Phase II award. This option allows the small business to continue working through the phase II negotiations.

Phase II: Development-Awards are based on the Phase I results and the scientific, technical and commercial merit of the Phase II proposal. Awards are typically up to $730,000 in size over a period not to exceed 24 months. Phase II is the principal research and development effort and is expected to produce a well-defined deliverable product or process.

Phase II Plus: Advanced Development-Matching funds for up to $250,000 are available to extend the Phase II contract for up to one year. The qualifying small business must obtain matching non-SBIR funds from a third party investor to accelerate the phase II project into a commercial or military product.

Phase III: The small business is expected to use non-federal capital to pursue private sector applications of the research or development. Also under Phase III, federal agencies may award non-SBIR funded follow-on contracts for products or processes which meet the mission needs of those agencies.

Links:
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Independent Research & Development (IR&D)

Industry-funded Independent Research & Development (IR&D) comprises a substantial portion of our nations' investment in technology innovation. The U.S. Army Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center (ARDEC) seeks opportunities to help industry focus its IR&D on science and technology that will bring maximum benefit to the Army. Interaction with ARDEC managers, scientists and engineers will not only help the Army leverage industry's IR&D resources, but industry will benefit when it's IR&D is better matched to meet Army mission requirements.

IR&Ds
  • Encourage research and development of innovative concepts.
  • Develops technical competence in two or more contractors to increase competition.
  • Contributes to contractor economic stability by allowing each contractor the technical latitude to develop a broad base of technical products for a broad base of customers.

More specifically, IR&D efforts may be performed by contractors working jointly with one or more non-Federal entities pursuant to a cooperative arrangement. Examples are joint ventures, limited partnerships, teaming arrangements, and collaborative and consortium arrangements. IR&D effort may also be performed by contractors with Federal Laboratories pursuant to Cooperative Research and Development Agreements and other agreements that are in consort with the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Transfer Act of 1980 and other equivalent authority.

Components of a good IR&D program
  • a reasonable mix of research and development efforts.
  • interactions with universities to strengthen the technology base
  • address the full life cycle of a business unit's products, including technology development, technology insertion, and maintenance support reduction.
Links:
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Unsolicited Proposals

The Army has a continuing interest in receiving and evaluating new ideas, suggestions, and inventive concepts. When such ideas are offered outside of a formally advertised request, they are called Unsolicited Proposals.

The U.S. Army Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center (ARDEC) is responsible for providing our soldiers with overwhelming firepower for decisive victory. ARDEC welcomes unsolicited proposals and appreciates the contribution they make towards accomplishing this mission.

The ARDEC has a standard process for reviewing Unsolicited Proposals. A valid Unsolicited Proposal must:

  • Be innovative and unique;
  • Be independently originated and developed by the offeror;
  • Be prepared without Government supervision;
  • Include sufficient detail to permit a determination that Government support could be worthwhile and the proposed work could benefit the agency's research and development or other mission responsibilities; and
  • must not be a proposal for a known agency requirement that can be acquired by competitive methods, such as Broad Agency Announcements (BAA), or the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program.
  • Unsolicited proposals in response to a publicized general statement of agency needs are considered to be independently originated.

The ARDEC has an Unsolicited Proposals Coordinator who will assist by providing general Unsolicited Proposals process guidance, specific regulatory guidance, and information on who the offeror should contact in the proposal's area of technology.

  • Guide for Unsolicited Proposals PDF

For more information, contact:
U.S. Army Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center
ATTN: AMSRD-AAR-EIB
Picatinny, New Jersey 07806-5000
Technical & Industrial Liaison Officer
Telephone: (973)724-9623/7953

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Procurement Contracts

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Opportunities
Federal Resources and Expertise

The U.S. Army Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center (ARDEC) is located 40 miles west of New York City, at Picatinny Arsenal in Morris County, New Jersey. Picatinny Arsenal offers a wealth of valuable resources to the private sector. The Picatinny workforce consists of approximately 3,000 civilians and military personnel. About half of the workforce are either scientists or engineers.

Areas of Expertise

Picatinny stands ready with many new and emerging technologies to contribute towards the "Readiness" of the Army's Transformation. Our main goal has always been to move an idea from development to production to lethality as quickly and efficiently as possible for our ultimate customer - the soldier in the field. ARDEC is a leader in armaments technology, and has a unique collection of specialty technologies as well as a strong manufacturing/quality assurance base. See our Technology Portfolio and Facilities pages for details.

Technology Transfer Mechanisms

Companies can benefit from ARDEC technologies through Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs), Patent Licensing Agreements (PLAs), Test Service Agreements, and other partnering mechanisms.

CRADAs are extremely flexible non-procurement agreements which allow public and private sector companies to perform cooperative R&D with Federal laboratories by contributing funds, personnel, equipment, services, or intellectual property to the effort. Very little paperwork is involved, and there are no advertisement or competitive award requirements. Because a CRADA is not a procurement action, the government cannot contribute funds to the effort but can contribute personnel, equipment, services, and intellectual property to its CRADA partner.

Service Agreements (10USC 2539b(a)(3)) make available, for a fee, the service of ARDEC for the testing of materials, equipment, models, computer software, and other items.

Terms of a Service Agreement normally include:

  • Customer's proprietary information will not be disclosed outside the government.
  • Customer pays full cost of ARDEC's effort.

Another technology transfer mechanism, patent licensing, can provide a company with the competitive advantage it needs in today's marketplace. Patented technologies are available to public and private sector companies on an exclusive, partially exclusive or nonexclusive basis. Companies can also obtain patents and other intellectual property rights through the CRADA mechanism.

CHECK PAYMENT ADDRESS

U.S. Army ARDEC
Managerial Accounting Office
ATTN: RDAR-FMA (Catherine Croft)
Building #1, 3rd Floor
Picatinny Arsenal, NJ 07806-5000

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Our Portfolio
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Policy and Guidance

Legislation and Policy
  • Legislation Highlights PDF
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Non-Disclosures
  • Nondisclosure Policy Statement PDF
  • Policy Statement and Memorandum of Understanding for the Evaluation of Unsolicited Proposals for Contract PDF
  • Nondisclosure Agreement PDF
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ITAR Exemptions
  • Army ITAR Exemption Guidelines PDF
  • ITAR Exemptions Checklist DOC
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CHECKLISTS FOR OCCUYPING FACILITIES ON POST

Environmental

Companies enter into partnerships with ARDEC in many ways, two of which may involve environmental considerations. One way is through the Picatinny Technology Innovation Center established as a Technology Incubator available to small businesses under the auspices of the County College of Morris through a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA). Another is when a company wants to enter into a partnership and lease a building. Leases are handled through the Garrison. In either of these events, companies must abide by established environmental policies which can be found on our Environmental Office site.

  • Compliance with Environmental Issues Part I PDF
  • Compliance with Environmental Issues Part PDF
  • New Project Environmental Checklist PDF

Federal Environmental Regs and Laws can be found at the following address (These include CFR's and Federal Registers):

State NJDEP Laws/Regs can be found here:

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SAFTEY

https://picac2w5.pica.army.mil/safety

  • Magazine InspectionPDF
  • Lab InspectionPDF
  • Machine ShopPDF
  • Office InspectionPDF
  • Safety / Program Requirements PDF

Supervisors with machine shop operations are required to complete DD Form 2272 and place on area bulletin boards. Please view the instructions on how to fill out this form: DD Form 2272 Instructions

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SECURITY

https://picac2w5.pica.army.mil/dpsea/

  • Security Requirements Checklist PDF
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Industrial Security

https://picac2w5.pica.army.mil/dpsea/IndustrialSecurity.asp

Consistent security policies and practices ensure the protection of ARDEC's sensitive information and technologies, and ARDEC's industrial security measures are based on sound threat analysis and risk management practices, as well as national security information guidance and instructions. All contractors must be verified in the Contractor Verification System, and be cleared for accessibility.

What is the Contractor Verification System (CVS)?

  • A secure web-based application. Eligible DoD contractors are entered into the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS)
  • Automates the DD Form 1172-2 process (paperless)
  • Verifies eligibility for issuance of Common Access Cards (CAC) to DoD contractors
  • Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC) supported and maintained
Related Documents
  • Contractor Employee Background Investigation DOC
  • Industrial Security Brief PDF
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FIRE

http://www.pica.army.mil/firedept/

  • Fire Department Checklist PDF
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MISCELLANEOUS
  • Project/Modifications Information Technology (IT) ChecklistPDF
  • Resource Management PDF
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Picatinny, Home of American Firepower