This Broad Agency Announcement (BAA), which sets forth technology areas of interest to the U.S. Army's Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) Armaments Center (AC), Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey, is issued under the paragraph 6.102(d)(2) of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), which provides for the competitive selection of proposals. Proposals submitted in response to this BAA and selected for award are considered to be the result of full and open competition and in full compliance with the provision of Public Law 98-369, "The Competition in Contracting Act of 1984" and subsequent amendments. Proposals and white papers putting forth new and novel ideas are sought for the research and development of technologies to fill the complete spectrum of Armaments Center technology needs throughout our product life cycles through interactive collaborations with industry and academia, the Government expects to advance the development and maturation of areas of technology as applied to armament and associated systems. Proposals and white papers shall be evaluated only if they are for scientific study and experimentation directed toward advancing the state of the art or increasing knowledge and understanding within the Armaments Center's technical community. In order to conserve valuable offeror and Government resources, and to facilitate determining whether a proposed effort meets the guidelines described herein, prospective offerors contemplating submission of a white paper or proposal are strongly encouraged to contact the Technical Point of Contact (TPOC). The TPOC name, telephone number, and e-mail address is listed below. If an offeror elects to submit a white paper, it shall be prepared in accordance with the instructions contained in PART II of this document. Upon receipt of a white paper, it will be evaluated, and the offeror shall be advised of the evaluation results. Offerors whose white papers receive a favorable evaluation may be contacted to prepare a complete proposal in accordance with instructions contained in PART III, Section 3 of this document. The costs of white papers and/or complete proposals in response to this BAA are not considered as an allowable direct charge to any award resulting from this BAA, or any other award. It may be an allowable expense to the normal bid and proposal indirect cost specified in FAR 31.205-18. In accordance with federal statutes, regulations, and Department of Defense and Army policies, no person on grounds of race, color, age, sex, national origin, or disability shall be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving financial assistance from the Army. Offerors submitting proposals are cautioned that only a Contracting, Agreements, or Grants Officer may obligate the Government to any agreement involving expenditure of Government funds. If the technology so dictates, it is preferred that proposals be …