SOLICITATION NOTICE
A -- BAA07-01 - Strategic Technologies
- Notice Date
- 12/6/2006
- 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, UNITED STATES
- ZIP Code
- 00000
- Solicitation Number
- BAA07-01
- Response Due
- 12/31/2008
- Archive Date
- 1/15/2009
- Description
- BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT (BAA) 07-01, STRATEGIC TECHNOLOGIES INTRODUCTION The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's (DARPA) Strategic Technology Office (STO) is soliciting proposals under this BAA for the performance of research, development, design, and testing that directly supports STO. This includes Space and Near-Space Sensors and Systems; Strategic and Tactical Networks; Information Assurance; Counter Underground Facilities; Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Defense; Small Unit Operations; Maritime Operations; and Core Strategic Technologies. TECHNICAL TOPIC AREAS Research supporting any of STO's broad mission objectives identified in the Introduction above may be submitted under this BAA. Topic areas of specific interest include, but are not limited to, the following. I. Space and Near-Space Sensors and Systems a. Active damping and smart materials for precision control of space structures b. Concepts for space systems, sensors, structures, components and materials c. Concepts supporting affordable access - and thus proliferation - of high-performance space sensors and systems d. Extremely large space apertures and structures, including large space structures that have extremely small payload volumes (e.g., rigidized inflatables, isogrid composites, etc.) e. Global tailored tactical surveillance f. High performance microsat and picosat systems g. Innovative sensor systems for space applications including extremely large, lightweight and stowable aperture technologies h. Large distributed array remote sensing systems, both space-based and ground-based, for space object location and identification i. Lightweight and low-mass active/passive membranes j. Next generation power generation systems, including electrodynamic and momentum tethers, and advanced solar systems k. Next generation space technologies and systems l. Novel space-based sensor modalities and systems m. Novel systems and enabling technologies for high-resolution, deep sub-canopy imaging n. Remote optical sensing technologies o. Technologies supporting next-generation tactical space operations, including rapid access, space situational awareness, space, robust anti-jam SATCOM, and persistent tactical grade sensing approaches p. Wide-area urban tracking architectures II. Strategic and Tactical Networks a. 100 Gbps free space optical communication system b. Applications, architecture, control and management, and hardware systems for multi-terabit, fiber-optic core, edge, and mobile-platform networks c. Approaches to interconnect wave-division multiplexed backbone communications infrastructures with IP-based metropolitan networks (may include route discovery/distribution and new addressing schemes) d. Approaches to make tactical networks auto-configuring for both voice and data with the goal of reducing the manpower requirements (may include the complete replacement of IP as the underlying data protocol) e. Hybrid passive/active RADAR systems that are agile over available bandwidth f. Information and communication technologies to enable "power to the edge" for air, land, space, and maritime systems g. Innovative urban sensing systems and networked architectures h. Miniature, low power sensors and networks i. Network centric warfare, including novel approaches to the development, implementation, and control of networked weapons systems j. Network storage and caching protocols for reducing long-haul communications loads k. New approaches to self-forming, wireless, mesh networks of over 10,000 devices with high throughput (at least 50 Mbps across the network between two endpoints). This may include work on multiple frequencies, graph partitioning, and subnet allocations. l. Novel approaches for the development, implementation, and control of heterogeneous networks of human decision makers and human-operated or autonomous sensors and weapons m. Novel approaches that enable mission-centric network-enabled real-time service-oriented architectures (SOA). Problems of interest include, but are not restricted to, dynamic optimization of the allocation of network services to the tactical edge based on volatile mission objectives, dynamic SOA application architecture, automated service-oriented collaborative verification and validation, and dynamic instantiation and allocation of mobile ad hoc networking technologies that optimize the implementation of mission-oriented services. n. Novel approaches to effect collaboration among human decision makers in heterogeneous, coalition environments o. Novel approaches to monitor, visualize and recommend alternative courses of action in the management and defense of massive, heterogeneous wide-area networks (5 million nodes) p. Novel still-image and video wireless transport communications technology q. Novel technologies to enable tactical, operational, and strategic level distributed operations r. Reconfigurable transceiver analog front end technology s. Robust wireless military communication network architecture and system technology to enable graceful degradation under cross-layer fixes t. Signature reduction (low probability of detection/intercept) u. Size-weight-power reduced soldier electronics and communications devices v. Wideband THz communications and networking system technology III. Information Assurance a. Autonomous protection or reconstitution of large network environments from cyber attacks b. Computer forensic and software protection technologies c. Developing secure systems from untrusted components d. High-speed (40 Gbps to 100 Tbps) optical encryption systems that function correctly with fiber amplified cable systems e. Low-cost military grade encryption mechanisms/devices f. Novel approaches to derive confidence of identity of remote information, users, processes, and devices in dynamic, untrusted, networked environments g. Novel approaches to measure, compare, and assess alternative information operations tools and effects h. Novel approaches to quantify binary code security i. Novel methods to deter cyber adversaries j. Novel microprocessor/computing architectures to support secure computing k. Trustworthy computing in mobile environments l. Wide area network firewalls and proxies, capable of dealing with asymmetric data flows and speeds in excess of 5 Gbps IV. Counter Underground Facilities a. Close-in and standoff sensor concepts b. Determining structural layout or locations of specific vulnerabilities c. Development and demonstration of technologies to find unknown facilities, on both strategic and tactical timescales d. Identification of facility function e. Monitoring pace of activity f. Enhancing post-attack bomb damage assessment (BDA) g. Exploitation algorithms and signal processing h. Exploitation of novel observables or substantially improved methods of detecting/analyzing observables, including active source methods i. Improved communications across rugged terrain among assets, and for exfiltration uplinks j. Improved deployable ground and airborne sensors k. New methods for characterizing activities associated with tunnels and caves, to include small and unimproved sites, in both urban and rural areas l. New methods for sensor and system modeling V. Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Defense a. Chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and environmental sensors and deconflict b. Defense against chemical, biological, and radiological weapons c. Sensing approaches for material identification VI. Small Unit Operations a. Advanced explosives for special operations b. Advanced sighting systems for tactical operations c. Detection of indirectly fired mortars and RPGs d. Direction finding capabilities for urban applications e. GPS-free guidance and navigation f. Low cost (<$100) expendable GPS sensors g. Low cost standoff concealed weapons detection h. Miniature, low power sensors and networks i. Non-acoustic bullet detection and tracking technology j. Noncooperative, low probability of detection (LPD) building interior imaging systems k. Non-line-of-sight designation and elimination of urban targets l. Novel approaches for the development and implementation of irregular warfare m. Novel laser remote sensing, laser RADAR, LADAR, and LIDAR systems concepts, techniques and enabling technologies n. Novel methods for tracking, localization, and identification o. Novel miniature, low cost RADAR system concepts p. Novel precision navigation and real-time targeting systems concepts and technologies q. Novel still-image and video wireless transport communications technology r. Novel systems and enabling technologies for high-resolution, deep sub-canopy imaging s. Novel technologies to enable tactical, operational, and strategic level distributed operations t. Personal navigation and high precision targeting technology in GPS-denied and GPS-compromised environments u. Positive detection of urban threats v. Signature reduction (low probability of detection/intercept) w. Size-weight-power reduced soldier electronics and communications devices x. Soldier survivability materials, systems, and devices y. Tactical lighting and imaging devices and technologies (including both visible and IR spectrum) z. Tactical optical systems that aid and enhance the ability of the warfighter aa. Technologies and systems for the detection of suspicious urban vehicles bb. Underwater vision devices for high silt environment military divers cc. Vehicle survivability materials, systems, and devices dd. Wide-area urban tracking architectures VII. Maritime Operations a. High rate-range product underwater communications b. Maritime surveillance systems and technologies c. Miniature, low power underwater (water column and bottom mounted) sensors and networks d. Novel approaches to significantly reduce the cost of undersea warfare, without compromising capability e. Novel underwater high-maneuverability propulsion system f. Underwater vision devices for high-silt environment military divers g. Unmanned long-duration, high-speed underwater vehicles VIII. Core Strategic Technologies a. Advanced 3D image processing, analysis, and feature extraction approaches b. Advanced electronic vision and situation awareness devices, algorithms, and systems c. Biofabrication processes for improved nanostructured devices and materials d. Biomimetic object-vision recognition e. Innovative methods to visualize complex, self-organizing systems f. Microelectronic systems comprising advanced system concepts coupling electronics, sensors and actuators with micro-scale packaging and battery technologies g. Novel three-dimensional data visualization and projection methods h. Power harvesting technologies and devices i. Self assembly and/or manufacture techniques APPROACH The Government encourages responders to this BAA to submit executive summaries, and receive the Government's feedback thereto, prior to preparing and submitting proposal abstracts or full proposals. The purpose of this is to spare responders the burden of preparing abstracts or full proposals that are unlikely to result in an award under this BAA. The required formats for all three submittals (executive summary, proposal abstract, and full proposal) are provided in the Proposer Information Pamphlet (PIP) associated with this BAA. For all responses to this BAA, the responder must clearly identify the technical topic area(s) the proposed effort seeks to address. Responders to this BAA may suggest the award of a Grant, Cooperative Agreement, Procurement Contract, Technology Investment Agreement, Other Transaction for Prototype Agreement, or other such appropriate award instrument. The Government reserves the right to negotiate the type of award instrument determined appropriate under the circumstances. The Government intends to issue awards based on the optimum combination of proposals that offer the best overall value to the Government. The Government reserves the right to award without discussion. The Government reserves the right to select for award all, some, or none of the proposals received in response to this BAA. The Government also reserves the right to select for award some portion(s) of the proposals received; in that event, the Government may select for negotiation all, or portions, of a given proposal. The Government may incrementally fund any award issued under this BAA. PROPOSERS The Government encourages responses from non-traditional defense contractors, nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, small businesses, small disadvantaged business concerns, Historically-Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), Minority Institutions (MI), large businesses and Government laboratories. Teaming arrangements between and among these groups are encouraged. However, no portion of this BAA will be set aside for HBCU/MI, small or small disadvantaged business participation due to the impracticality of preserving discrete or severable areas of research in the technologies sought. Government/National laboratory proposals may be subject to applicable direct competition limitations, though certain Federally Funded Research and Development Centers are excepted per P.L. 103-337 Section 217 and P.L 105-261 Section 3136. Any responsible and otherwise qualified Proposer is encouraged to respond. Responders may be foreign firms or may team with foreign firms as long as the firm meets the criteria in this BAA and the Government is otherwise permitted to conduct business with the firm, however, only unclassified proposals will be considered from foreign sources, or where any proposed teaming arrangement involves a foreign source. Proposers may include foreign personnel as part of their proposed resources as long as these personnel qualify technically, the proposed effort is unclassified, and such foreign personnel sign any and all appropriate non-disclosure agreements prior to participating in the research effort. EVALUATION CRITERIA The criteria to be used to evaluate and select offers under this BAA are, in order of descending importance: (a) Overall Scientific and Technical Merit; (b) Offeror's Capabilities and/or Related Experience; (c) Potential Contribution and Relevance to the DARPA Mission; (d) Plans and Capability to Accomplish Technology Transition and (e) Cost Reasonableness and Realism. Each proposal will be evaluated on its own merit and relevance rather than against other proposals in the same general area, since no common work statement exists. Proposals may be evaluated as they are received, or they may be collected and periodically reviewed. SUBMITTAL INFORMATION This BAA will remain open from date of publication through 31 December 2008. DARPA will employ an electronic upload process for Executive Summary, Abstract and Proposal submissions for BAA 07-01. All submissions will be submitted via http://www.tfims.darpa.mil/baa. (NOTE: University (prime) grant submissions may be made via the Grants.gov web site, http://grants.gov by using the "Apply for Grants" functions. Dual submissions are not required. Performers may find guidance for the submission process at http://www.darpa.mil/sto/solicitations.htm. This announcement and the PIP may be retrieved via the WWW at URL http://www.darpa.mil/ in the solicitations area. The cost of preparing proposals in response to this announcement is not considered an allowable direct charge to any resulting contract or any other contract. Proposers are warned that only Contracting Officers are legally authorized to commit the Government. ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE This Announcement, along with the attached Proposer Information Pamphlet (PIP), constitutes a Broad Agency Announcement as contemplated by FAR 6.102(d)(2)(i). All prospective Proposers MUST refer to the PIP before submitting a proposal. Proposers choosing to respond to this BAA may access the PIP at www.fbo.gov and www.grants.gov. University grant submissions may be made via www.grants.gov by using the "Apply for Grants" function. Government Contractors are required to register at the Government's Central Contractor Registration site (htt://www.ccr.gov) prior to receiving any award resulting from this BAA. All questions (technical, contractual, administrative) pertaining to this BAA must be submitted to DARPA at the following e-mail address: BAA07-01@darpa.mil.
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