SOLICITATION NOTICE
A -- NETWORK OF EMBEDDED SOFTWARE TECHNOLOGY (NEST)
- Notice Date
- 3/5/2002
- Notice Type
- Solicitation Notice
- Contracting Office
- Other Defense Agencies, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Contracts Management Office, 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA, 22203-1714
- ZIP Code
- 22203-1714
- Solicitation Number
- BAA02-12
- Response Due
- 3/5/2003
- Archive Date
- 3/6/2003
- Point of Contact
- Vijay Raghavan, DARPA Program Manager, Phone 000-000-0000, Fax 703-522-7161,
- E-Mail Address
-
none
- Description
- NETWORK OF EMBEDDED SOFTWARE TECHNOLOGY (NEST), SOL BAA 02-12, DUE: 03/05/03; POC: DR. VIJAY RAGHAVAN, DARPA/ITO; FAX: (703) 522-7161. The Network of Embedded Software Technology (NEST) program solicits research to contribute to the theoretical foundation and to the technical solutions for issues in resource-constrained networks of embedded nodes. Embedded information processing is fast becoming the primary source for superiority in weapons systems. The current trend is toward "information rich" nodes with little separation between physical processes such as sensing and actuation and computational processes such as monitoring, diagnostics, and overall closed loop system control. Providing software for coordinating these activities in real time in a distributed network of embedded nodes is the fundamental challenge for the NEST program. The central themes of NEST are application independent but customizable coordination and synthesis services in networked embedded systems. Coordination services include fault-tolerant, self-stabilizing protocols for data exchange, synchronization, and replication in large scale (100 to 100,000 node) distributed, real-time systems. Synthesis services provide time-bounded solutions for complex, distributed constraint satisfaction tasks required for dynamic reconfigurations of applications. Limited funds are available for additional research complementing the NEST technology currently being pursued in the program. Of special interest to this solicitation are the following technical topic areas: 1. Security in Resource-Constrained Embedded Networks: A significant technical challenge in the building of networks of embedded systems is that severe resource limitations (of memory, bandwidth, power, and computation) must nevertheless be made to work with a high-level of security, given the range of critical applications envisaged for such systems. Innovative approaches are sought to provide robust solutions for security adaptable to varying levels of resource constraints in such areas as authentication, intrusion detection and tolerance, and encryption. 2. Mathematical models of NEST systems: Networks of embedded systems with the inherent non-determinism, dynamism and computational and communicational limitations have forced us, time and again, to reexamine the assumptions used by "classical" distributed algorithms. There is a need for a sound mathematical model for exploring the rich set of complexities induced by the probabilistic and dynamic interaction of the physical and information processes, operating under various bounds. Of crucial importance, given the extreme scale of such systems, is the ability to predict, analyze, and bound performance "in the large." 3. Other innovative approaches to problem-solving in the NEST domain. PROGRAM SCOPE. Proposed research should specify the topic area 1-3 above that it addresses, and have a research development plan with two phases. Phase I is a feasibility study of the proposed research and should end in 15 months; the proposal should contain well-defined performance metrics that DARPA program management can use to evaluate a culminating baseline demonstration at the end of Phase I. Phase II will integrate the results with existing NEST technology on experimental platforms of interest to the program. The duration of the proposed research should be a maximum of three years. Proposed research should investigate innovative approaches and techniques that lead to or enable revolutionary advances in the state-of-the-art. Proposals are not limited to the specific strategies listed above and alternative visions will be considered. However, proposals should be for research that substantially contributes towards the goals stated. The duration of the proposed research should be a maximum of three years. Research that results in prototype software demonstrating integrated concepts and approaches in experimental platforms used in the NEST program will receive the highest priority. Specifically excluded is research that primarily results in evolutionary improvement to the existing state of practice or focuses on a specific system or solution. Integrated solution sets embodying significant technological advances are strongly encouraged over narrowly defined research endeavors. Proposals may involve other research groups or industrial cooperation and cost sharing. GENERAL INFORMATION. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency/Information Technology Office (DARPA/ITO) requires completion of a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) Cover Sheet Submission for each Proposal, by accessing the URL below: http://www.dyncorp-is.com/BAA/index.asp?BAAid=02-12. After finalizing the BAA Cover Sheet Submission, the proposer must submit the BAA Confirmation Sheet that will automatically appear on the web page. Each proposer is responsible for printing the BAA Confirmation Sheet and submitting it attached to the "original" and each designated number of copies. The Confirmation Sheet should be the first page of your Proposal. Failure to comply with these submission procedures may result in the submission not being evaluated. NEW REQUIREMENTS/PROCEDURES: The Award Document for each proposal selected and funded will contain a mandatory requirement for submission of DARPA/ITO Quarterly Status Reports and an Annual Project Summary Report. These reports will be electronically submitted via the DARPA/ITO Technical - Financial Information Management System (T-FIMS), utilizing the government furnished Uniform Resource Locator (URL) on the World Wide Web (WWW). Details in Proposer Information Pamphlet (PIP). Proposers must submit an original and 4 copies of the full proposal and 2 electronic copies (i.e., 2 separate disks) of the full proposal (in Microsoft Word '97 for IBM-compatible, PDF, Postscript, or ASCII format on one 3.5-inch floppy disk or one 100 MB Iomega Zip disk). Each disk must be clearly labeled with BAA 02-12, proposer organization, proposal title (short title recommended) and Copy ___ of 2. The full proposal (original and designated number of hard and electronic copies) must be submitted in time to reach DARPA by 4:00 PM (ET) Wednesday, April 24, 2002, in order to be considered during the initial evaluation phase. However, BAA 02-12 Network of Embedded Software Technology (NEST), will remain open until 4:00 PM (ET) Wednesday, March 5, 2003. Thus, proposals may be submitted at any time from issuance of this BAA through Wednesday, March 5, 2003. While the proposals submitted after the Wednesday, April 24, 2002, deadline will be evaluated by the Government, proposers should keep in mind that the likelihood of funding such proposals is less than for those proposals submitted in connection with the initial evaluation and award schedule. Proposers must obtain the BAA 02-12 Proposer Information Pamphlet (PIP), which provides further information on the areas of interest, submission, evaluation, funding processes, and full proposal formats. This pamphlet will be posted directly to FedBizOpps.gov and may also be obtained by fax, electronic mail, mail request to the administrative contact address given below, or at URL address http://www.darpa.mil/ito/Solicitations.html. Proposals not meeting the format described in the pamphlet may not be reviewed. This notice, in conjunction with the BAA 02-12 PIP and all references, constitutes the total BAA. No additional information is available, nor will a formal RFP or other solicitation regarding this announcement be issued. Requests for same will be disregarded. The Government reserves the right to select for award all, some, or none of the proposals received. All responsible sources capable of satisfying the Government's needs may submit a proposal that shall be considered by DARPA. Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Minority Institutions (MIs) are encouraged to submit proposals and join others in submitting proposals. However, no portion of this BAA will be set aside for HBCU and MI participation due to the impracticality of reserving discrete or severable areas of this research for exclusive competition among these entities. Evaluation of proposals will be accomplished through a scientific review of each proposal using the following criteria, which are listed in descending order of relative importance: (1) Overall Scientific and Technical Merit: The overall scientific and technical merit must be clearly identifiable. The technical concept should be clearly defined and developed. Emphasis should be placed on the technical value of the development and experimentation approach. (2) Innovative Technical Solution to the Problem: Proposed efforts should apply new or existing technology in a new way such as is advantageous to the objectives. The plan on how offeror intends to get developed technology and information to the user community should be considered. (3) Potential Contribution and Relevance to DARPA Mission: The offeror must clearly address how the proposed effort will meet the goals of the undertaking. The relevance is further indicated by the offeror's understanding of the operating environment of the capability to be developed. (4) Offeror's Capabilities and Related Experience: The qualifications, capabilities, and demonstrated achievements of the proposed principals and other key personnel for the primary and subcontractor organizations must be clearly shown. (5) Plans and Capability to Accomplish Technology Transition: The offeror should provide a clear explanation of how the technologies to be developed will be transitioned to capabilities for military forces. Technology transition should be a major consideration in the design of experiments, particularly considering the potential for involving potential transition organizations in the experimentation process. (6) Cost Realism: The overall estimated cost to accomplish the effort should be clearly shown as well as the substantiation of the costs for the technical complexity described. Evaluation will consider the value to Government of the research and the extent to which the proposed management plan will effectively allocate resources to achieve the capabilities proposed. All administrative correspondence and questions on this solicitation, including requests for Information on how to submit a proposal to this BAA, must be received at one of the Administrative addresses below by 4:00 PM (ET) Wednesday, February 26, 2003; e-mail or fax is preferred. DARPA intends to use electronic mail and fax for some of the correspondence regarding BAA 02-12. Proposals MUST NOT be submitted by fax or e-mail; any so sent will be disregarded. The administrative addresses for this BAA are: Fax: 703-522-7161 Addressed to: DARPA/ITO, BAA 02-12, Electronic Mail: baa02-12@darpa.mil, Electronic File Retrieval: http://www.darpa.mil/ito/Solicitations.html, Mail to: DARPA/ITO, ATTN: BAA 02-12, 3701 N. Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714.
- Record
- SN00035984-W 20020307/020305213354 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps.gov Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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