How to work with MilTech, a Department of Montana State University

Working with MilTech

Under our Partnership Intermediary Agreements, MilTech, as a part of Montana State University (MSU), receives government funding that allows us to contract for services and supplies with industry, other state agencies, and NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Program. Our purchasing processes follow State of Montana Procurement laws and guidelines, and our resulting contracts are issued between Montana State University and the vendor, with the majority of the contract language following Montana law. 

MilTech’s Relationship with Vendors

MilTech’s culture and identity is to act as an honest broker with no alignment, investment, involvement, or real or perceived favoritism towards any vendor. However and also, as a Partnership Intermediary, MilTech has always relied on excellent vendors to support our government customers. MilTech is not to act or be perceived as a mechanism for pass throughs or sole sourcing to select vendors and/or be a mechanism to avoid normal contracting.

MilTech follows State of Montana competitive procurement processes and awards to the most qualified vendor or vendors. MilTech’s customer requirements drive the type of subject matter expertise and services that may be needed to support projects. There is no guarantee of work. 

MilTech Security and Other Compliance Requirements

MilTech must be compliant with all requirements of our Partnership Intermediary Agreements. We currently have multiple PIAs and each has a set of contract requirements that are “flowed down” to anyone performing work under that contract. Each work effort will have only one applicable agreement and related requirements.

Due to the nature of MilTech’s work, certain compliance requirements generally exist for vendors on contract with Montana State University – MilTech. Exceptions may be applicable on a case-by-case basis depending on the specific type of work, but most vendors are required to comply with the following requirements. The language of these standard clauses below may vary, depending on the specific requirements of the agreement that is funding the work.

  • Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) – Designed to protect project and sensitive information, a signed NDA is generally required for every vendor employee working on a MilTech project due to the possibility of gaining access to information that is confidential, proprietary, or otherwise protected from disclosure by our prime contracts.
  • Export Control – Technical data, information, or items disclosed or produced in the performance of Montana State University – MilTech agreements may be subject to U.S. export control and trade laws and regulations including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations. Vendors may not transfer technical data, information or items received or developed to any foreign person (including employees and subcontractors) without specific written authorization from MilTech, and must comply with all export control laws and regulations.
  • US Person Requirement – For compliance with national security restrictions, all vendor employees working on MilTech projects must be U.S. Persons, either U.S. Citizens or green card holders.  Vendors will be required to submit the names and citizenship status of each employee involved in MilTech project work, and a Restricted Party Screen search will be performed by MilTech for each vendor employee.
  • Intellectual Property – MilTech work is funded by federal grants and, generally, the U.S. Government has non-exclusive, non-transferable, royalty-free, paid-in full license to use, duplicate, or disclose for Governmental purposes any data, technology, and inventions, whether patented or not, made or developed under the agreement.  Invention disclosure forms are required for nearly all MilTech contracts and task orders in order to satisfy PIA requirements to the government.  
  • Compliance with Safeguarding Covered Defense Information Controls – If vendors performing MilTech work receive Covered Defense Information in the performance of a contract, the vendor must provide adequate security for covered contractor information systems, including security controls identified in the NIST SP 800-171.

How Vendors Work With Montana State University – MilTech

Montana State issues Requests for Proposals (RFPs), similar to, but separate and distinct from, federal government RFPs. Both, federal and state RFPs, are competitive processes. Montana State issues RFPs in order to identify companies that can offer specific capabilities which may be useful to MilTech in assisting our federal government partners. Submission of a response to an MSU RFP on the part of a company does not necessarily mean that the company will receive a contract or be awarded work.  A submission is, however, a means of highlighting a company’s capabilities to MilTech for consideration and could lead to a contract, either immediate or in the future.  

Responding to MilTech RFPs or IFBs

All MilTech RFPs and IFBs are posted and managed on the electronic Montana Acquisition and Contracting System (eMACS) website. Vendors must register on eMACS before they are able to submit a proposal to an RFP or IFB. Once an RFP or IFB is posted and open, interested vendors may submit proposals on eMACS for a specified period of time, after which the bid period closes. 

Submitted proposals are then reviewed and one or more contracts may be awarded to qualified vendors whose proposals demonstrate that they have the expertise needed to perform the type of services identified in the RFP, or to the lowest qualified bidder in the case of IFBs.

Posted RFPs are located at the following eMACS site:  https://bids.sciquest.com/apps/Router/PublicEvent?CustomerOrg=StateOfMontana

Advance vendor registration on eMACS is recommended. eMACS resources for vendors, including information on how to register and submit a bid, are located at the State Procurement Bureau’s site, https://spb.mt.gov/eMACS-Resources

After Contracts Are Awarded

Once a vendor’s contract with Montana State University/MilTech has been fully executed, it is possible then for MilTech to discuss project work with the vendor.  When a MilTech customer need is identified and a vendor on contract meets the desired expertise or services, MilTech will contact the vendor to discuss specific project tasks and deliverables.  Most RFP contracts that are awarded use Task Orders to assign awarded vendors work when available. 

Since MilTech may be contracting vendors for both known present and/or unknown potential future work, an awarded contract does not guarantee immediate, or future, Task Order work with MilTech.

T3 Academy

T3 Academy provides vendors, and other prospective Department of Defense commerical partners with critical insights to accelerate research and development efforts for technologies with particular relevance for the US military.  Similarly, T3 Academy can provide education and support to the US Department of Defense acquisition, contracting, and technology transfer communities.  T3 Academy events provide unparalleled networking and professional development opportunities by bridging the gap between public and private sector stakeholders tasked with ensuring the US warfighter is equipped with the most cutting edge technologies in order to maintain a clear and decisive advantage over would be adversaries.

error: Content is protected !!