SPECIAL NOTICE
A -- U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL) Center for Distributed Quantum Information (CDQI)
- Notice Date
- 8/14/2014
- Notice Type
- Special Notice
- NAICS
- 541712
— Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)
- Contracting Office
- ACC-APG - RTP, ATTN: CCAP-SCR, Research Triangle Park Contracting Division, P.O. Box 12211, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-2211
- ZIP Code
- 27709-2211
- Solicitation Number
- W911NF12R001102
- Archive Date
- 8/14/2015
- Point of Contact
- William Creech, 9195415532
- E-Mail Address
-
ACC-APG - RTP
(william.a.creech3.civ@mail.mil)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- U.S. ARMY RESEARCH LABORATORY (ARL) CENTER FOR DISTRIBUTED QUANTUM INFORMATION (CDQI) The U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL) Center for Distributed Quantum Information (CDQI) will be a collaborative basic research effort connecting ARL, academic, industrial and other government researchers to develop a multi-site, multi-node, modular quantum network based on resilient distributed quantum entanglement preserved by quantum memory and quantum error correction. The Center will explore the fundamentals of a quantum network physical layer, with the long-term objective of identifying and providing beyond-classical capabilities for Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance for stationary and mobile Army elements. Distributed quantum systems may ultimately provide the enabling foundation for many capabilities and applications that are impossible or impractical to achieve through classical means, including quantum teleportation-based, tamper-evident, secure, long-haul communications; a network of high-precision globally-synchronized atomic clocks; and a network of quantum sensors with quantum-limited sensitivity. By contrast, the applications of weak coherent state quantum key distribution, quantum computing, and quantum sensing are not of primary interest to this program. Great advances have been made to increase the fidelity of critical quantum components needed to establish a resilient network of quantum entangled resources in various atomic and solid-state systems. Indeed, although several research groups have demonstrated point-to-point quantum teleportation, entanglement distribution, quantum error correction, and quantum memory, no scalable, integrated, modular architecture exists by which one can connect three or more small quantum nodes and through which quantum information may be processed. The CDQI endeavors to develop and demonstrate such a scalable architecture for an entanglement-based distributed quantum network; to establish the physical-layer protocols and algorithms for this architecture composed of integrated, modular components; to implement quantum error correction applicable to quantum repeaters and memories; to explore Army-relevant applications for such a network; and to identify performance limitations of a distributed heterogeneous quantum network that must be overcome or are fundamental. The U.S. Army Contracting Command - Aberdeen Proving Ground, Research Triangle Park Division, on behalf of the U.S. Army Research Laboratory, is soliciting proposals for the CDQI program under Topics 3.3.2 and 6.2, quote mark Quantum Information Science, quote mark of the ARL Core Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) for Basic and Applied Scientific Research for Fiscal Years 2012 through 2017 at W911NF-12-R-0011. Innovative proposals are sought to develop the essential elements necessary for implementing and exploiting a resilient, scalable multi-node network of distributed quantum entanglement in which each quantum node may use a different physical implementation. Recognizing that distributing, maintaining, and utilizing quantum entanglement (QE) is foundational to any quantum network, proposals must establish how QE is created, efficiently converted to and from photons whose wavelength is appropriate for transmission through free space or optical fiber, distributed among three or more quantum nodes, protected through error correction, locally stored and recovered on demand with high fidelity using quantum memory, and utilized to perform quantum operations that enable capabilities beyond what is possible classically. Proposals must investigate the physical layer and the associated protocols and algorithms necessary to demonstrate a working scalable quantum network composed of three or more quantum nodes, recognizing that the quantum nodes need not be the same physical system (e.g., trapped ions, neutral atoms, nitrogen-vacancies in diamond, superconductors, semiconductor spins) but that all quantum nodes must include integrated, modular components to generate, process, and locally store quantum information and be resiliently connected by fiber-based or free-space photonic links. Proposals must include a base configuration of three quantum nodes. Additional nodes may be included. Proposals must address all of the following aspects of a distributed quantum network using quantum nodes constructed from scalable integrated photonic and quantum components: (1) the physical architecture, (2) heterogeneous system interfaces, and (3) physical-layer network algorithms and protocols. Proposals must include efficient entanglement management protocols with experimental validation in the context of a multi-site (three or more quantum nodes) distributed quantum network. QE management takes into account entanglement routing, characterizing and manipulating multi-site entanglement, and entanglement verification. In addition, proposals should discuss and explore applications for which the quantum network can perform Army-relevant operations in a manner impossible or impractical for commensurate classical systems. Synergistic, multidisciplinary collaborative teams composed of experimental, theoretical, and computational researchers are strongly encouraged. Guided by theory, each team should focus collectively on demonstrating a network of distributed quantum entanglement and may choose the particular experimental systems in which this demonstration is performed. Preference will be given to those collaborative approaches that are, or will lead to, modular, integrated, scalable, and ultimately deployable solutions. Each team must develop methods and metrics that are then experimentally demonstrated. While the BAA and Topic remain open for proposal submission until, 31 March 2017, in order to be eligible for an award for the CDQI, Whitepapers and Proposals must be received in accordance with the due dates and instructions provided in this special notice. The total funding available for this program is $4.5M per year, and it is anticipated that one to three quote mark cooperative agreements quote mark (31 USC 6305) will be awarded, pursuant to 10 USC 2358, Research and Development Projects, each agreement with a period of performance of up to five years. The principal purpose of a cooperative agreement is for the public purpose of supporting and stimulating basic research, not for the acquisition of property or the provision of services for the direct benefit or use of the Government. A Recipient of any cooperative agreement awarded as a result of this special notice will work collaboratively with scientists from ARL to further the goals of the CDQI. ARL will participate in the research and jointly use its in-house technical expertise to plan and execute the research program with a Recipient. Whitepapers and Proposals must explicitly indicate how each team will interact and collaborate with ARL through means such as personnel exchanges, technology transition opportunities, educational seminars, planning workshops, and cooperative research arrangements. Information regarding ARL's intramural effort on distributed quantum information can be found at www.arl.army.mil/quantumscience. Multiple year projects must identify clear goals for each year and a compelling risk mitigation research plan that recognizes critical challenges and identifies alternative paths. The actual amount of an award will be contingent on availability of funds, the specific topic, and the scope of the proposed work. Funding for subsequent years will be contingent upon satisfactory performance and the availability of funds. There is no guarantee that any of the proposals invited for submission and evaluated will be selected for funding. On the other hand, more than one proposal may be selected for funding. The application process to be considered for an award for the CDQI, consists of a Whitepaper stage and a Proposal stage. The purpose of requesting a Whitepaper is to minimize the effort associated with the production of a detailed proposal for those Offerors that have little chance of being selected for funding. The Government's decision to invite a Proposal submission will be based upon the evaluation results of the timely Whitepaper submission. Only the most highly rated Whitepapers will receive an invitation from the Government to submit a Proposal. An Offeror that does NOT receive an invitation from the Government to submit a Proposal is NOT eligible to submit a Proposal for the CDQI and will not receive any feedback on their Whitepaper submission. An Offeror invited to submit a Proposal may receive feedback on their Whitepaper prior to their Proposal submission. An Offeror that doesNOT submit a timely Whitepaper, is NOT eligible to submit a Proposal for consideration for the CDQI. All Whitepapers must be submitted electronically and must be emailed directly to the Technical Point of Contact, Dr. Grace Metcalfe, grace.d.metcalfe.civ@mail.mil. A Whitepaper sent by any other means (e.g., hand-carried, postal service mail, commercial carrier, or fax) will not be considered. Include the BAA number W911NF-12-R-0011-02 and CDQI in the email subject line. Whitepapers must be received at the Government email noted directly above no later than Monday, 29 September 2014 at 11:59 PM (EDT). Offerors shall account for potential delays in file transfer from the originator's computer server to the Government website/computer server and are encouraged to submit their response early to avoid potential file transfer delays due to high demand or problems encountered in the course of submission. For this special notice, Whitepapers are limited to ten (10) pages which include any references, plus a cover page and a one-page addendum for biographical sketches for each of the key personnel. The cost portion of the white paper shall contain a brief cost estimate for all of the component parts of the Whitepaper; including research hours, indirect costs, material costs, travel, etc. Whitepaper evaluations are expected to be complete by late October 2014, and once complete all offerors will be informed via email whether or not they will be invited to submit a full proposal based on their Whitepaper submission. Full proposal submissions must be submitted in accordance with the preparation and submissions instructions under BAA W911NF-12-R-0011-02, except as noted below. As a reminder, an Offeror is not eligible to submit a proposal under the BAA for the CDQI unless their Whitepaper submission is timely, is highly rated, and the Offeror is INVITED to submit a proposal. Proposals shall be submitted electronically through the www.grants.gov portal. A proposal sent by any other means (e.g., hand-carried, postal service mail, commercial carrier, fax or email) will not be considered. INVITED Proposals must be received no later than Monday, 15 December 2014 at 11:59 PM (EST) to be considered for the CDQI. The proposal content information is as specified under BAA W911NF-12-R-0011-02, except the technical proposal (project description) portion of the full proposal must not exceed forty (40) pages. If the technical proposal exceeds 40 pages, only the first 40 pages will be reviewed and evaluated. As described in the BAA W911NF-12-R-0011-02, the proposal must also include a budget for each year of support requested. Proposals will be evaluated using the criteria listed in the BAA. Proposal evaluation is expected to be complete and any award selections made by late January 2015. An Offeror whose proposal is selected for award will be contacted by a Grant Officer/Grant Specialist. Clarifying questions regarding the intent or scope of this special notice may be submitted online at www.arl.army.mil/quantumscience. Answers are expected to be posted online at www.arl.army.mil/quantumscience within seven calendar days of receipt. All clarifying questions must be submitted to the website above before 14 September 2014 at 11:59 PM (EDT). Any clarifying questions submitted outside of the website (e.g., submitted to an email address or by phone) will not be addressed.
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