DOUBLE TIME OTAs power USAMRDC with speed, options. by Ramin A. Khalili and Sally Robey
resilience in these emerging combat zones. In short, multido- main operations—the ability to defeat near-peer adversaries capable of contesting U.S. power across air, land, maritime, space and cyberspace—will be the key driver of medical inno- vation. It is here that the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command (USAMRDC) shines, as its unique set of acquisition capabilities allows the command to find, fund and—if need be—accelerate the development of prod- ucts needed for the fight.
A
Te foundation of USAMRDC’s success is its collaborative work with a number of partners across both industry and academia. For years, as part of the standard, tailored acqui- sition pathway, bilateral contracts have been the command’s primary means to get products to the warfighter. But there are notable exceptions. Specifically, the use of a special contract- ing tool called a consortium other-transaction authority (OTA) agreement helps USAMRDC move more quickly and nimbly through that pathway, increasing the speed at which Soldiers receive innovative medical technology. For that reason, the OTA has become a valuable player both inside and outside the command.
“We need to place cutting-edge technology quickly into the hands of the warfighter,” said Sara Langdon, USAMRDC’s program manager for other-transaction authority with the Medical Technology Enterprise Consortium (MTEC). “It is
s the nation’s military medical apparatus prepares for a future battlefield that will look markedly different than in previous conflicts, it also must develop the products required to sustain warfighter
vital that we partner in order to fill our medical capability gaps, and OTAs help us to accomplish this.”
A NEW WAY OF DOING BUSINESS USAMRDC received congressional authority to begin using the OTA in 2014 to facilitate the delivery of advanced technology and therapeutic prototypes for a wide array of military-relevant medical and health conditions. What separates the OTA from other standard contracting mechanisms—and what has become one of its defining char- acteristics—is that it allows for increased speed and flexibility for both parties. Notably, it aims to set chosen projects in motion in mere months and allows for complex collaborations. Tis is made possible by the OTA mechanism’s reliance on nontraditional defense contractors and a built-in flexibility in data rights and regulatory terms. Additionally, other-transac- tion agreements allow for more conversation between DOD and the performer, as compared with traditional Federal Acquisition Regulation-based contracts.
Within USAMRDC, most of the other-transaction agree- ments focusing on prototypes are currently awarded through the Medical Technology Enterprise Consortium (MTEC) program, which is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation consisting of more than 540 industry and academic member organiza- tions. MTEC members are committed to developing medical tools that better manage, prevent, diagnose, treat and rehabil- itate a wide range of injuries. Tis kind of consortium-based approach facilitates an environment for frequent interaction among military sponsors, academic institutions, nontraditional defense contractors and large businesses to communicate what
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Army AL&T Magazine Winter 2022
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