NAVY ANALYTIC STUDIES PROGRAM FY21 - CALL FOR STUDY TOPICS:

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SUBJ/NAVY ANALYTIC STUDIES PROGRAM FY21 - CALL FOR STUDY TOPICS//

MSGID/GENADMIN/N7/N72A//
REF/A/DOC/CNO/CNO GUIDANCE FOR POM-22/NOTAL//
REF/B/DOC/CNO/FRAGO 01/2019: A DESIGN FOR MAINTAINING MARITIME 
SUPERIORITY/HTTPS://WWW.NAVY.MIL/CNO/DOCS/CNO%20FRAGO%20012019.PDF//

RMKS/1.  This message solicits study topics for the FY21 Naval Analytic 
Studies Program (NASP). Sponsors requesting CNO funding for analytic studies 
via the NASP must submit O6/GS-15 level topic inputs to OPNAV N7 POCs no 
later than 5 June 2020, followed by final principal-endorsed inputs NLT 26 
June 2020.
    a.  The list of NASP study sponsors (drawn from Echelon 1 and 2 
organizations) is provided at paragraph 10.  Echelon 2 sponsors are 
responsible for consolidating and forwarding any inputs from lower echelons.
    b.  Required information for study topic submissions is provided at 
paragraph 7.a.(1).
    c.  OPNAV N7 POCs are provided at paragraph 12.

2.  The NASP process described here represents a significant shift from the 
FY20 process, designed to instill greater strategic focus and prioritization 
of NASP-funded studies.  As such, this message should be reviewed in its 
entirety.  Additionally, due to COVID-19 mitigation measures the FY21 NASP 
process will be conducted virtually, as described below.

3.  Background:  The FY21 NASP provides central funding for analytic studies 
into research problems of strategic importance to Navy decision-makers at the 
Echelon 1 and 2 levels.

4.  Strategic Focus:  NASP study topics must be directly relevant to the 
CNO's strategic guidance, and must generate actionable findings on timelines 
that support key Navy decision processes.  Sponsors shall specify in their 
topic submissions which CNO-directed strategic focus area(s) each study is 
designed to address.
    a.  NASP studies shall be targeted primarily at the Key Operational 
Problems (KOPs), Key Service Problems (KSPs), and Leverage Points identified 
in CNO Guidance for POM-22 (Ref A).  This classified document can be obtained 
from the OPNAV N7 points of contact listed in paragraph 12.
    b.  NASP study topics may also be derived from CNO FRAGO 01/2019: A 
Design for Maintaining Maritime Superiority (Ref B), or may be designed to 
support the continuing development of naval service operational concepts 
including Distributed Maritime Operations (DMO), Expeditionary Advanced 
Basing Operations (EABO), Littoral Operations in a Contested Environment 
(LOCE), Operational Logistics in a Contested Maritime Environment, and naval 
contributions to Joint warfighting concepts.
    c.  Explicit justification of each study topic's strategic relevance is 
necessary for a study's inclusion in the NASP, and will be a primary 
consideration in the study's prioritization among NASP candidate studies.
    d.  In contrast to previous years' NASP processes, the FY21 NASP build 
will begin with a 1-to-n prioritization of study topics, rather than an 
apportionment of NASP funds across sponsors prior to topic approval.  
Sponsors will have the opportunity to review and comment on the 
prioritization at the working level prior to Flag-level review and approval.
        (1) Because this is a significant process change from FY20 and 
previous NASP cycles, each sponsor is guaranteed that their top priority 
study will be funded as long as it has a substantial strategic justification.
        (2) In addition, sponsors should identify any discrete, unique 
analytic requirements historically funded via the NASP for specific 
consideration in the FY21 funding prioritization process.  Note that this 
does not guarantee funding in the FY21 NASP, which will continue to be 
predicated on strategic relevance as described above.
    e.  Nothing here constrains sponsors' ability to fund desired analysis 
using their own discretionary budgets.

5.  Decision Relevance:  Sponsors must specify in their submissions what 
decision points their studies are designed to support.  These decisions could 
include program milestones, budget submissions, planning for major war games, 
Fleet exercises and experiments, etc.  In every case, the request must 
identify the target decision date and demonstrate the feasibility of 
completing the requested study in time to inform the decision.

6.  Resources:  The estimated funding level for the FY21 NASP is roughly $40M 
(subject to the ongoing PB21 process), including approximately $15M budgeted 
for studies executed by the Center for Naval Analyses (CNA), the Department 
of the Navy's Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC).

7.  Timeline:  The NASP timeline is designed to allow study execution to 
commence on 01 October 2020 upon availability of FY21 funding.  Key 
milestones are listed below (subject to modification due to evolving COVID-19 
mitigation measures).  Sub-paragraphs list key actions and coordination 
occurring after each milestone and prior to the next.
    a.  5 June 2020 - Sponsor topic submissions (O6/GS-15 level) due to OPNAV 
N7 POCs
       (1) Prepare submissions using template available from POCs in 
paragraph 12.  Essential elements of information include:
           (A) Study topic
           (B) Strategic focus IAW paragraph 4 above
           (C) Decision supported by study,
           (D) Rank order of each study relative to other submissions by same 
sponsor
           (E) Study classification
           (F) Rough-order-of-magnitude cost
           (G) Proposed analytic methodology (desired quantitative and/or 
qualitative approach, milestones, and deliverables)
           (H) Requested study provider(s).  Note that Government providers 
(e.g. Warfare Development Centers) will be selected over FFRDCs, UARCs, and 
private contractors unless specific justification is provided.  Consult POCs 
for additional guidance.
       (2) Upon receipt of submissions, OPNAV N72A (Navy Analytic Office) in 
coordination with N81 will prepare an initial 1-to-n ranking (flagging each 
sponsor's top priority as described in paragraph 4.d.(1)).  This process will 
include an assessment of analytic provider suitability, analytic tractability 
(the study's likelihood of producing relevant results), and proposed analytic 
methodology.
       (3) OPNAV N72A will coordinate with sponsor representatives (via the 
Navy Analytic Working Group, or NAWG) to refine draft prioritization, refine 
inputs as required, and identify and eliminate duplicative study requests.
       (4) OPNAV N72A will obtain NAWG comments on draft prioritization prior 
to forwarding for O8-level coordination.
       (5) During this period, sponsors must prepare detailed Statements of 
Work (SOW).
    b.  26 June 2020 - Flag principal-endorsed sponsor inputs due to OPNAV N7 
POCs
    c.  10 July 2020 - O8-level sponsor coordination initiated by OPNAV N7
    d.  17 July 2020 - O8-level coordination complete
        (1) OPNAV N7 will review results of O8-level coordination and provide 
executive guidance to the NAWG for revisions and/or additional coordination 
via OPNAV N72A.
    e.  10 August 2020 - O9-level sponsor coordination initiated by OPNAV N7
        (1) Sponsor leadership will be afforded the opportunity to provide 
executive comments and recommendations on the draft study list, including 
facilitation of Fleet Commanders' comments.
    f.  21 August 2020 - O9-level coordination complete
        (1) OPNAV N7 will coordinate adjudication of any unresolved sponsor 
comments.
    g.  1 September 2020 - N7 approval of final study list
        (1) OPNAV N72A will forward the approved list to sponsors, who shall 
begin the contract development process in order to enable execution beginning 
on 01 October 2020.
    h.  1 October 2021 - Commence execution

8.  Sponsors are responsible for all aspects of study creation, contracting, 
SOW development, provider selection (in coordination with OPNAV N72A), and 
study execution.  Funding will be issued to sponsors in accordance with the 
approved FY21 NASP.  N72A will track fiscal execution and study progress 
throughout the execution year.  Sponsors shall conduct in-progress reviews 
(IPRs) of each study at least quarterly and shall provide copies of IPR 
reports to OPNAV N72A.  Keep OPNAV N72A POCs apprised of scheduled IPR dates: 
representatives from OPNAV N72A and/or OPNAV N81 may attend IPRs at N7 
discretion.

9.  Upon completion of each study, electronic copies of all study products 
must be provided to OPNAV N72A for population of an online repository, 
subject to any special classification requirements (approved in advance by 
OPNAV N7).

10.  Sponsor list:
     a.  Commander U.S. Fleet Forces Command
     b.  Commander U.S. Pacific Fleet
     c.  Director, Navy Staff
     d.  OPNAV N1
     e.  OPNAV N2/N6
     f.  OPNAV N3/N5
     g.  OPNAV N4
     h.  OPNAV N8
     i.  OPNAV N9
     j.  Commander U.S. Naval Forces Europe/U.S. Naval Forces Africa
     k.  Commander U.S. Naval Forces Central Command
     l.  Commander U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command
     m.  Commander U.S. Fleet Cyber Command
     n.  Commander U.S. Naval Special Warfare Command
     o.  Commander U.S. Navy Reserve Force
     p.  Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Research, Development, and
     Acquisition)

11.  Candidate Analytic Providers include Navy and other government 
organizations that can conduct analyses (such as the Naval Warfare Centers, 
Naval War College, Naval Postgraduate School, N81, and Naval Research 
Laboratory), FFRDCs such as the Center for Naval Analyses (CNA), MITRE, and 
RAND; University Affiliated Research Centers (UARCs); and private 
contractors.

12.  OPNAV N72A Points of Contact:
     a.  (Primary) Mr. Chris Griffith:  christopher.griffit1@navy.mil;  
christopher.griffit1@navy.smil.mil;  703-693-8714
     b.  Mr. Carlton Hill, Branch Head, Analytic Studies: 
carlton.hill1@navy.mil; carlton.hill1@navy.smil.mil;  703-697-5420
     c.  CAPT Thane Clare, Director, Navy Analytic Office (OPNAV N72A):  
thane.c.clare1@navy.mil; thane.c.clare@navy.smil.mil; 571-256-9816

13. Released by VADM Stuart B. Munsch, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for 
Warfighting Development, N7.//

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