SOLICITATION NOTICE
A -- Micro Gas Analyzers (MGA)
- Notice Date
- 8/15/2003
- 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
- BAA03-40
- Response Due
- 11/7/2003
- Archive Date
- 8/15/2004
- Point of Contact
- Clark Nguyen, Program Manager, MTO, Phone 5712184586, Fax 7036962206,
- E-Mail Address
-
cnguyen@darpa.mil
- Description
- Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Contracts Management Office (CMO), 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714. A ? MICRO GAS ANALYZERS (MGA), SOL BAA 03-40, DUE 110703, POC DR. CLARK T.-C. NGUYEN, DARPA/MTO, FAX (703) 696-2206 PROGRAM OBJECTIVES AND DESCRIPTION The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is soliciting research proposals in the area of Micro Gas Analyzers (MGA). The proposed research should investigate innovative approaches that enable revolutionary advances in science, devices, or systems. Specifically excluded is research that primarily results in evolutionary improvement to the existing state-of-practice. DARPA seeks innovative proposals in the area of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) implementations of MGA, with the ultimate objective being the realization of tiny separation analyzer-based chemical warfare agent (CWA) sensors capable of orders of magnitude reductions in analysis time, detection limit, and power consumption, over equivalent bench top systems, while maintaining true and false alarm rates on par with bench top gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer (GC/MS) systems. By harnessing the advantages of micro-scale miniaturization, the MGA program is expected to yield chip-scale gas analyzers with unprecedented performance characteristics, such as (but not limited to): (1) An ability to identify all relevant CWA?s against plausible background mixtures of more than 30 different species, including fuels (e.g., JP8), with true and false alarm rates on par with GC/MS systems, which are the gold standard of gas analysis. Proposers are strongly encouraged to present Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve comparisons between their proposed miniature gas analyzer and present-day macro-scale implementations. (2) Overall size less than 2 cm cubed, not including the power source, but including control electronics and any fluid transport, preconcentration, and detection mechanisms, whichever used. (3) Detection limit better than 1 ppt. (4) Total analysis time less than 4 seconds, to include the time needed for any preconcentration, separation, and detection steps. (5) Energy per analysis less than 1 J (the smaller, the better). Note that the above are merely meant to provide rough order of magnitude expectations of what is ultimately deemed possible by the end of the MGA program, and are not to be construed as rigid program specifications. MGA realizations based on micro-scale gas chromatography and mass spectrometry are of particular interest, although other approaches capable of achieving similar performance characteristics, especially with respect to false alarm rates, will also be considered. Fast analysis time and low power are paramount for any proposed approach, and are expected to be achievable via micro-scale miniaturization. In general, approaches that harness small size or micro-scale properties to attain better performance (e.g., lower power) are of particular interest to MGA. Research topics and activities relevant to the implementation of MGA might include, but are not limited to: (1) fast micro-scale preconcentration; (2) strategies for suppression of unwanted species; (3) micro- or nano-engineered separation methods, such as ultra-thin chromatographic columns; (4) nano-engineered stationary phases; (5) methods for fluid transport, including pumpless strategies, if possible; (6) micro-scale thermal isolation for low power operation; and (7) micro- or nano-engineered detectors with unprecedented sensitivity. Among the more compelling drivers behind the MGA program is the need for portable CWA detectors with vastly superior false positive rates relative to present-day portable sensors, and with sizes, response speeds, and power consumptions that enable wearable-mode or projectile-deliverable applications. Part of the impetus behind the technical approach of the MGA program stems from the recognition that micro-scale miniaturization in all physical domains generally provides advantages (beyond size reduction) in speed, power consumption, and sensitivity. For example, the enhanced degree of thermal isolation achievable via MEMS implementations is expected to offer thermal resistances and capacitances that enable substantial reductions in the power consumption and analysis time. Larger surface-to-volume ratios on the micro-scale might increase the effectiveness of surface-interaction based separation methods, greatly increasing the speed of analysis. Smaller operation volumes might allow operation under conditions where smaller molecular mean free paths are acceptable, again, allowing lower power consumption. Finally, nano-scale features and engineering might raise detector sensitivity levels by orders of magnitude and may encourage arrayed approaches pursuant to enhanced selectivity. MGA-enabled devices with characteristics similar to that listed above and achieved via low cost, batch fabrication methods are expected to enable a myriad of strategic capabilities. In particular, the sheer portability of the CWA sensors sought by the MGA program should introduce a host of new applications and deployment scenarios, including wearable sensors for dismounted warriors, projectile-delivered sensors for remote detection applications, and unattended ground sensors for perimeter protection and advanced warning purposes. Although the small size and power consumption sought by MGA are obvious enablers for wearable CWA sensors, it is actually MGA?s pursuit of false alarm rates on par with table top GC/MS systems that makes possible this sort of ?per soldier? deployment strategy, which is presently limited by the unacceptably high incidence of false positives exhibited by current fielded portable CWA sensors. In addition, the fast analysis speed and tiny size (for resilience against high g forces) targeted by the MGA program, together with miniature wireless technologies targeted by other DARPA programs (e.g., NMASP), will enable projectile-deployed MGA?s for remote detection of distant CWA?s, effectively allowing miniature point detectors to operate in a stand-off-like fashion. Furthermore, MGA-enabled low power and low false alarm rates should greatly facilitate the deployment of unattended sensor networks for first warning perimeter applications, as well as environmental monitoring applications in both military and civilian sectors. By enabling a swelling of applications, as illustrated above, miniaturization via MGA technology is expected to generate a need for high volume manufacturing that, together with wafer-level batch fabrication methods enabled by MEMS technology, should substantially lower the cost of GC/MS-equivalent systems, and thus, further fuel expansion of the application suite for MGA technology. DARPA strongly encourages well-coordinated, interdisciplinary research and development activities that take into consideration all significant and relevant engineering tradeoffs and optimizations. Teaming among academic, industrial and/or government partners is encouraged, and it is anticipated that the contributions of the team members are complementary as well as essential to the critical path of the research plan. A technology insertion plan is encouraged and research that holds promise of insertion into Department of Defense (DoD) relevance is of great interest. PROGRAM SCOPE The Micro Gas Analyzers program will consist of a Phase I effort (18 months) followed by an optional Phase II (18 months) and Phase III (18 months) for those efforts that appear to have the greatest potential for production, insertion, transition or overall benefit to DoD. Awards are expected to be made during the third quarter of fiscal year 2003. Organizations wishing to participate in Phase II and Phase III should include them as options in their proposal (separate options for each phase). Multiple awards are anticipated. The formation of multi-disciplinary teams consisting of industry, academia, and/or national laboratories with complementary areas of expertise is strongly encouraged, especially given the sub-system flavor of the MGA program. A web site?http://teaming.sysplan.com/BAA-03-40/ has been established to facilitate formation of teaming arrangements between interested parties. Specific content, communications, networking, and team formation are the sole responsibility of the participants. Neither DARPA nor the Department of Defense (DoD) endorses the destination web site or the information and organizations contained therein, nor does DARPA or the DoD exercise any responsibility at the destination. This web site is provided consistent with the stated purpose of this BAA. Cost sharing is not required and is not an evaluation criterion, but is encouraged where there is a reasonable probability of a potential commercial application related to the proposed research and development effort. Questions concerning this BAA may be directed to the technical POC for this effort, Dr. Clark T.-C. Nguyen, phone: (571) 218-4586, fax: (703) 696-2206, electronic mail: cnguyen@darpa.mil GENERAL INFORMATION Proposers must obtain a pamphlet entitled ?BAA 03-40, Micro Gas Analyzers, Proposer Information Pamphlet? which provides further information on Micro Gas Analyzers, the submission, evaluation, and funding processes, proposal abstract formats, proposal formats, and other general information. This pamphlet may be obtained from the FedBizOpps website: http://www.fedbizopps.gov/, World Wide Web (WWW) at URL http://www.darpa.mil/ or by fax, electronic mail, or mail request to the administrative contact address given below. Proposals not meeting the format described in the pamphlet may not be reviewed. In order to minimize unnecessary effort in proposal preparation and review, proposers are strongly encouraged to submit proposal abstracts in advance of full proposals. An original and seven (7) copies of the proposal abstract and 2 electronic copies (i.e., 2 separate disks) of the abstract [in PDF (preferred), or MS-Word readable, each on a single 3.5 inch High Density MS-DOS formatted 1.44 Megabyte (MB) diskette, a single 100 MB Iomega Zip (registered) disk, or a CD-ROM] should be submitted. Each disk must be clearly labeled with BAA 03-40, proposer organization, proposal title (short title recommended), and Copy __ of 2. The proposal abstract (original and designated number of hard and electronic copies) must be submitted to DARPA/MTO, 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714 (Attn.: BAA 03-40) on or before 4:00 p.m., local time, Friday, September 19, 2003. Proposal abstracts received after this time and date may not be reviewed. Upon review, DARPA will provide written feedback on the likelihood of a full proposal being selected and the time and date for submission of a full proposal. Proposers not submitting proposal abstracts must submit an original and seven (7) copies of the full proposal and 2 electronic copies (i.e., 2 separate disks) of the full proposal [in PDF (preferred), or MS-Word readable, each on a single 3.5 inch High Density MS-DOS formatted 1.44 Megabyte (MB) diskette, a single 100 MB Iomega Zip (registered) disk, or a CD-ROM]. Each disk must be clearly labeled with BAA 03-40, 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 to DARPA/MTO, 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714 (Attn.: BAA 03-40) on or before 4:00 p.m., local time, Friday, November 7, 2003, in order to be considered during the initial round of selections; however, proposals received after this deadline may be received and evaluated up to one year from date of posting on FedBizOpps. Full proposals submitted after the due date specified in the BAA or due date otherwise specified by DARPA after review of proposal abstracts may be selected contingent upon the availability of funds. This notice, in conjunction with the BAA 03-40 Proposer Information Pamphlet, constitutes the total BAA. No additional information is available, nor will a formal RFP or other solicitation regarding this announcement be issued. Requests for the 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 which shall be considered by DARPA. Input on technical aspects of the proposals may be solicited by DARPA from non-Government consultants/experts who are bound by appropriate non-disclosure requirements. Non-Government technical consultants/experts will not have access to proposals that are labeled by their offerors as ?Government Only?. 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/ MI participation due to the impracticality of reserving discrete or severable areas of research in Micro Gas Analyzers. All administrative correspondence and questions on this solicitation, including requests for information on how to submit a proposal abstract or full proposal to this BAA, should be directed to one of the administrative addresses below; e-mail or fax is preferred. DARPA intends to use electronic mail and fax for correspondence regarding BAA 03-40. Proposals and proposal abstracts may not be submitted by fax or e-mail; any so sent will be disregarded. DARPA encourages use of the WWW for retrieving the Proposer Information Pamphlet and any other related information that may subsequently be provided. EVALUATION CRITERIA Evaluation of proposal abstracts and full proposals will be accomplished through a technical review of each proposal using the following criteria, which are listed in descending order of relative importance: (l) overall scientific and technical merit, (2) potential contribution and relevance to DARPA mission, (3) plans and capability to accomplish technology transition, (4) offeror's capabilities and related experience, and (5) cost realism. Note: cost realism will only be significant in proposals which have significantly under or over-estimated the cost to complete their effort. The administrative addresses for this BAA are: Fax: (703) 351-8616 (Addressed to: DARPA/MTO, BAA 03-40), Electronic Mail: BAA03-40@darpa.mil Mail: DARPA/MTO, ATTN: BAA 03-40 3701 North Fairfax Drive Arlington, VA 22203-1714 This announcement and the Proposer Information Pamphlet may be retrieved via the WWW at URL http://www.darpa.mil/ in the solicitations area.
- Record
- SN00403506-W 20030817/030815214714 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps.gov Link to This Notice
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