SOLICITATION NOTICE
A -- BAA05-50 - Wireless Network after Next (WNaN)
- Notice Date
- 9/29/2005
- Notice Type
- Solicitation Notice
- NAICS
- 541710
— Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences
- 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
- BAA05-50
- Response Due
- 9/30/2006
- Archive Date
- 10/15/2006
- Description
- BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT (BAA) 05-50 Wireless Network after Next (WNaN); CLOSING DATE: September 30, 2006; FULL PROPOSALS FOR FIRST SELECTIONS: 12 noon, November 15, 2005; Eastern Standard Time (EST). Point of Contact: Preston Marshall and Stephen Griggs, DARPA/ATO; Email: WNAN@darpa.mil; Web site: http://www.darpa.mil/ato/solicit/WNAN/index.htm PROGRAM OBJECTIVES AND DESCRIPTION: The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency?s (DARPA) Advanced Technology Office (ATO) is soliciting proposals for the Wireless Network after Next (WNaN). The WNaN program seeks to develop and demonstrate technologies and system concepts that will enable intelligent adaptive wireless networks consisting of densely deployed low cost wireless nodes. The premise of the WNaN program is that significant advantages can be realized by densely deploying low cost nodes which have been jointly optimized with network operations. WNaN networks should adapt to changing conditions by adjusting the topology of the network and the operational mode of the nodes to reduce the demands on the nodes in particular on the physical and link layers. By working around the limitations of the low-cost nodes that form the network, and by utilizing the rich interconnection fabric created by dense deployment, the WNaN network should provide reliable and highly available battlefield communications at a low system cost. Previous practice has been to build high cost and hence sparsely deployed nodes, and to organize the network around these nodes. This program aims to shift the approach used to design military wireless networks from design for radio range to design for node density. Proposers should assume node densities associated with deployments in which each warfighter and each vehicle has a WNaN radio node. This BAA is for Phase 1 only. The objective of Phase 1 is the development of a proof-of-concept wireless demonstration platform using readily-available low cost RF hardware components. Later phases will refine the platform using new components as they become available. WNaN wireless nodes should be based on an RF processing circuit which can be replicated to support a variety of network radio capabilities, such as MIMO, dynamic spectrum, multiple-channel beam-forming, and nulling. Although this phase will not require the development of new networking technology, WNaN nodes developed in Phase 1 should be able to form a small ad hoc wireless network and simultaneously participate in a 100BaseT network. In addition, WNaN wireless nodes should serve as platforms for subsequent development of adaptive network technology in later phases. Phase 1 proof-of-concept wireless nodes should be traceable to a production unit with an expected large quantity procurement cost to the Government of no more than $500 per unit. Proposals should cite the quantitative and qualitative success criteria that the proposed effort will achieve at the end of Phase 1. Build and demonstrate 4 RF channel wireless nodes, based on available inexpensive RF circuits, in which the shortcomings of the physical layer can be mitigated at the network layer. $500 unit cost (excluding NRE) in quantities of 100,000. Determination of estimated cost should be based on production node quantities of 1,000 and 100,000, and should include a detailed basis and analysis of the learning curve, a curve plotting performance against practice, to manufacture the nodes. This BAA shall remain open for one (1) year from the date of publication on www.fedbizopps.gov and www.fedgrants.gov. Although the Government may select proposals for award at any time during this period, it is anticipated that the majority of funding for this program will be committed during the initial selections. Proposers may submit a full proposal in accordance with the instruction provided in the Proposer Information Pamphlet (PIP) at any time up to the proposal due date. In order to be considered during the initial round of funding, full proposals must be submitted to DARPA, 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714 (Attn.: BAA05-50) on or before 12 Noon, November 15, 2005, Eastern Standard Time (EST). 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), Minority Institutions (MIs) and small disadvantaged businesses are encouraged to submit proposals and join others in submitting proposals. However, no portion of this BAA will be set aside for HBCU/MI, small, or small and disadvantaged businesses due to the impracticality of reserving discrete or severable areas of this research for exclusive competition among these entities. This BAA affords proposers the choice of submitting proposals for the award of a Grant, Cooperative Agreement, Contract, Technology Investment Agreement, Other Transaction for Prototype Agreement, or such other appropriate award instrument. The type of procurement or assistance vehicle is subject to negotiations. The Proposers? Day Workshop was held on 15 September 2005. The information from this workshop is available on the WNaN website: www.darpa.mil/ato/solicit/WNaN/index.htm. Attendance at the Proposer?s Day is not a prerequisite to responding to this BAA. EVALUATION CRITERIA: Each proposal will be evaluated on the merit and relevance of the specific proposal as it relates to the program rather than against other proposals for research in the same general area, since no common work statement exists. Therefore, in order of importance, the technical evaluation criteria include: 1) Technical Approach with elements: (a) Program Scope and Robustness, (b) Device Performance, (c) Networked Radio Performance, (d) Flexibility and Risk Avoidance, and (e) Radio Production Cost; 2) Management Approach; 3) Potential Contribution and Relevance to the DARPA/ATO Mission; and 4) Cost Realism. For the purpose of award under this BAA, the technical evaluation criteria are more important than cost. The Government reserves the right to select for negotiation all, some, or none of the proposals received in response to this BAA, and to make award without discussions. ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE: Proposers choosing to respond to this BAA must read the associated Proposer Information Pamphlet (PIP) available at www.fedbizopps.gov and www.fedgrants.gov, which provides specific information about this BAA and instructions on how to respond. NOTE: PLEASE DO NOT CONTACT THE CONTRACTING OFFICER IDENTIFIED BELOW WITH RESPECT TO THIS NOTICE. ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS ANNOUNCEMENT SHOULD BE SENT TO WNAN@darpa.mil.
- Record
- SN00906756-W 20051001/050929212226 (fbodaily.com)
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