SOLICITATION NOTICE
A -- Recognize IED and Report (RIEDAR)
- Notice Date
- 1/24/2006
- 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
- BAA06-17
- Response Due
- 2/17/2006
- Archive Date
- 2/17/2007
- Description
- The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is soliciting research proposals in the area of recognizing improvised explosive devices and reporting. Proposed research should investigate innovative approaches that enable revolutionary advances in science, devices or systems. Specifically excluded is research which primarily results in evolutionary improvement to the existing state of practice. The ultimate vision for the Recognize IED and Report (RIEDAR) program is to demonstrate a compact, robust, practical system for the remote detection of IEDs using their chemical vapor signatures and to demonstrate the ability of this system to operate from a moving vehicle with a high probability of detection of the IED and a low false positive rate. Thus, the RIEDAR program would enable an unprecedented level of performance for IED detection. The RIEDAR program objectives are listed below: (1) Standoff detection distance of 400 meters. (2) Detection time of 1 second or less. (3) Area search rate capability of 2700 square meters per second (to search a road 100 meters wide and a meter in the travel direction from a vehicle moving at 60 mph). (4) A false positive rate, P (false positive) of less than or equal to 1E-6. (5) Overall size of the system should be less than 1 meter cubed, not including the power source, but including control electronics and any required device packaging. DARPA seeks innovative proposals to address the following: I. Technical Area One: Direct Optical Standoff Explosive Vapor Detection Technique(s) Development. Phases I, IIa and IIb of this program will focus on the development of optical technologies to increase standoff distance without compromising signal-to-noise ratio. The primary means of detection in the RIEDAR program is limited to direct optical approaches such as Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) and Raman-Based Spectroscopies. Technologies that integrate two or more of these sensing and detection techniques into an orthogonal based detection system are also of interest. Techniques that require the pre-dispersal of sensors or materials in the targeted area are not encouraged. Techniques that detect electronics or electronics on standby, or detect metal or metallic objects are not of interest in this program as a primary means of detection. These techniques may be complementary to the detection of explosives but should not be the primary means of detection. Methods that ?jam? electronics or provide wide area neutralization are not part of this program. Proposers should provide detailed descriptions regarding the choice of a particular detection scheme, the technical concepts and details of the detection scheme(s), and the technology roadmap to meet the program objectives. II. Technical Area Two: Increasing Signal-to-Noise Ratio. Phases I, IIa and IIb of this program will focus on the development of novel technologies to increase the signal-to-noise ratio of detected chemical signatures by the optical methods proposed. The signal-to-noise ratio is significantly reduced not only by increasing standoff distance but also by limiting the time available for scanning the target area. Hence, novel signal-enhancement schemes are required to compensate for the orders of magnitude reduction in signal-to-noise ratio relative to that required for laboratory experiments. Proposers should provide details of signal-to-noise ratio enhancement schemes, and proof of concept data if applicable. III. Technical Area Three: Operationally-Relevant Parameters. Phase III will focus on the development of operationally-relevant technologies that can be incorporated with the chosen optical detection scheme(s) proposed. Proposers should provide technical details of how the proposed approach can be operated with eye-safe lasers (the wavelength(s) of operation, the power needed in Watts per square meter), and schemes that allow scanning a 100 meter wide road while moving at 60 mph. Additional information on these technology areas is provided in the Areas of Interest section of the BAA 06-17 Proposer Information Pamphlet referenced below. PROGRAM SCOPE The Recognize IED and Report (RIEDAR) program will consist of a Phase I (anticipated duration of 18 months), followed by a Phase IIa and IIb (anticipated duration of 12 months each) and a Phase III (anticipated duration of 12 months) for those efforts that appear to have the greatest potential for production, insertion, transition or overall benefit to DoD. Offerors wishing to participate in Phase II and Phase III should include them as options in their proposal. Multiple awards are anticipated. Collaborative efforts/teaming are encouraged. A web site?http://teaming.sysplan.com/BAA-06-17 -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. The technical POC for this effort is Dr. Devanand K. Shenoy, fax: (703) 248-1864, electronic mail: Devanand.Shenoy@darpa.mil. GENERAL INFORMATION Proposers must obtain a pamphlet entitled ?BAA 06-17, Recognize IED and Report (RIEDAR), Proposer Information Pamphlet? which provides further information on direct optical standoff explosive vapor detection technique(s) development, increasing signal-to-noise ratio of optical signals at detection site and detector, and development of eye-safe optical sources to be used in conjunction with optical detection techniques, 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/, FedGrants website: http://www.fedgrants.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 six (6) copies of the proposal abstract and two (2) electronic copies (i.e., two (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 06-17, offeror 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 06-17) on or before 4:00 p.m., local time, Friday, February 17, 2006. 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, which may differ from the originally published date below. Proposers not submitting proposal abstracts must submit an original and six (6) copies of the full proposal and two (2) electronic copies (i.e., two (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 06-17, offeror 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 06-17) on or before 4:00 p.m., local time, Tuesday, April 11, 2006, 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 and FedGrants. 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 06-17 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 and to make awards without discussion. 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), Minority Institutions (MIs), and Small 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 these organizations? participation due to the impracticality of reserving discrete or severable areas of research in the Recognize IED and Report program. Proposers should note that the effort will be subject to International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) restrictions and it is expected that portions of those efforts that continue into the Phase II and Phase III options will be classified. Proposers are also expected to explain how ITAR and classified contracts will be handled. The Government anticipates that proposals submitted under a BAA will be unclassified. In the event that a proposer chooses to submit a classified proposal, the following information is applicable. Security Classification guidance on DD Form 254 will not be provided at this time since DARPA is soliciting ideas only. After reviewing the incoming proposals, if a determination is made that the award instrument may result in access to classified information, a DD Form 254 will be issued and attached as part of the award. Proposers choosing to submit a classified proposal must first receive permission from the Original Classification Authority to use their information in applying to this BAA. An applicable classification guide should be submitted to ensure that the proposal is protected appropriately. For instructions on submitting classified abstracts or full proposals contact: Robert Copeland, Director, Security & Intelligence Directorate (703) 526-6631. In all correspondence, reference BAA 06-17. 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 06-17. 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) 741-7801 (Addressed to: DARPA/MTO, BAA 06-17), Electronic Mail: Pamela.Khan.Ctr@darpa.mil Mail: DARPA/MTO, ATTN: BAA 06-17 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
- SN00972393-W 20060126/060124212627 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
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FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
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