Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA), Contracts Management Office (CMO), 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714

A -- SCALABLE SYSTEMS AND SOFTWARE SOL BAA95-18 DUE 050595 POC Robert Parker, Glenn Ricart, POC, ARPA/CSTO, FAX: (703)522-2668. The ARPA Scalable Systems and Software Program supports research in computing and advanced software technologies needed to enable the development, introduction, and effective use of secure, scalable, high-performance computing technologies and applications. Research in this area covers a broad range of scalable computing systems technology issues from enabling design and prototyping technology, to research into future generation computing system architectures and associated operating systems and programming environments, to the validation of scalable concepts through application demonstrations that accelerate the transition of that research into both defense systems and commercial systems which are appropriate for defense purposes. Proposed research should investigate innovative approaches and techniques that lead to or enable revolutionary advances in the state-of-the-art. Specifically excluded is research which primarily results in evolutionary improvement to the existing state of practice or focuses on a specific system or hardware solution. Research is sought in the following six technical areas: 1) Prototype Scalable Systems: ARPA seeks research efforts focused on extending fundamental scalability concepts for computing and communication that will enable secure teraflop and beyond computational capabilities. In addition to high performance required to address Grand and National Challenges scalability concepts supporting distributed real-time systems, heterogeneous systems, storage and communication and I/O systems and the computing core for the National Information Infrastructure are also of interest. In addition to scalability desirable system characteristics include security, high availability, improved power efficiency, and improved computational efficiency for parallel applications. These concepts will enable commercial industry to develop scalable high performance computers for a range of defense needs and will also allow defense to procure very high (e.g. teraflops) performance systems for special applications without re-developing architectures, operating systems, or application software. Technical Point of Contact: Robert H. Parker 2) Operating Systems and Services: ARPA seeks research efforts which re-conceptualize the roles, structures, and mechanisms of operating systems and services for new secure, scalable, and distributed computing systems, and which construct prototypes and reference implementations to validate these new concepts. ARPA is particularly interested in designs and systems which support defense requirements for real-time performance, security, robustness, and high assurance. ARPA also seeks strategies for integrating the results of research in this area into commercial operating systems so that defense systems can use off-the-shelf operating systems, services, and compatible applications. Technical Point of Contact: Glenn Ricart 3) HPC Environments and Languages: ARPA seeks research efforts leading to comprehensive HPC programming environments that enable rapid development of applications capable of exploiting the full range of computing resources from workstations to large-scale scalable systems. Toward that end, ARPA is soliciting proposals for the development of optimizing and parallelizing compilers, program visualization and tuning tools, and program debugging tools. ARPA is also seeking the development of compiler infrastructure to enable other research to build upon initial prototypes. Technical Point of Contact: Robert F. Lucas 4) Scalable Software Library Technology: ARPA seeks research into scalable software libraries that will enable the rapid development of scalable code and its portability across a wide range of scalable systems. Demonstrations are sought for the integration of library technology, ranging from low-level functions such as the BLAS to high-level functions such as sparse solvers, into scalable HPC languages and applications. In addition, innovative demonstrations of libraries to supporting computation and communication over wide-area, heterogeneous systems are sought. Technical Point of Contact: Robert F. Lucas 5) Experimental Applications: ARPA is soliciting proposals to develop scalable versions of applications software needed to enable Defense scientists and engineers to exploit the scalable computing technology base. Successful proposals will include integrated teams of applications software developers, Defense users, and vendors of scalable systems and software. In addition, evaluation of scalable systems and software by applications developers and users may be proposed where such evaluation will clearly benefit the vendors as well as the broader HPC community. Technical Point of Contact: Robert F. Lucas (6) Microsystems: Microsystems refers to single or multiple integrated components which can be combined as scalable units of replication to form innovative information systems. A key focus is high performance, densely packaged, low power, scalable components that can be accurately simulated, realized in advanced implementation technologies, and rapidly designed into candidate architectures, considering both hardware and software. Technology investments include tools and techniques and algorithms enabling design of complex digital microsystems, the application of scalable computing and communications technology to accelerate system design, the creation of distributed virtual research and design infrastructures supporting the broad hierarchy of digital design from integrated circuit processes to complex computing systems, and architectural exploration leading to the creation of fundamental scalable components for next generation HPC and Embeddable HPC systems. Research in three specific aspects of Microsystems is solicited, Design Technology, Computational Prototyping, and Microarchitectures. Technical Point of Contact: Robert Parker PROGRAM SCOPE: Proposals for individual efforts should not exceed three years in length. Technologies which have a broad impact on military capability will be given highest priority. Contract awards are expected to be made during the second half of 1995. Multiple awards are anticipated. Collaborative efforts and teaming are encouraged where appropriate. GENERAL INFORMATION: In order to minimize unnecessary effort in proposal preparation and review, proposers are strongly encouraged to submit brief proposal abstracts in advance of full proposals. An original and four (4) copies of the proposal abstract must be submitted to ARPA/CSTO, 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714, (ATTN: BAA 95-18) on or before 4:00 PM, March 16, 1995. Proposal abstracts received after this date may not be reviewed. Upon review, ARPA will provide written feedback on the likelihood of a full proposal being selected. Proposers must submit an original and four (4) copies of full proposals by 4:00 PM, May 5, 1995, in order to be considered. Proposers must obtain a pamphlet, BAA 95-18 Proposer Information, which provides further information on areas of interest, the submission, evaluation, funding processes, proposal abstract, and full proposal formats. This pamphlet may be obtained by fax, electronic mail, or mail request to the administrative contact address given below, as well as at URL address http://www.csto.arpa.mil/Solicitations.html. Proposals not meeting the format described in the pamphlet may not be reviewed. This notice, in conjunction with the pamphlet BAA 95-18 Proposer Information, constitutes the total BAA. No additional information is available, nor will a formal RFP or other solicitation regarding this announcement be issued. Requests for 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 ARPA. Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) and Minority Institutions (MI) are encouraged to submit proposals and join others in submitting proposals. However, no portion of this BAA will be set aside for HBCU and MI participation due to the impracticality of reserving discrete or severable areas of this research for exclusive competition among these entities. Evaluation of proposals will be accomplished through a scientific review of each proposal using the following criteria, which are listed in descending order of relative importance: (1) overall scientific and technical merit, (2) potential contribution and relevance to ARPA mission, (3) offeror's capabilities and related experience, (4) plans and capability to accomplish technology transition, and (5) cost realism. Note: Cost realism will only be significant in proposals which have significantly under- or overestimated the cost to complete their effort. All administrative correspondence and questions on this solicitation, including requests for information on how to submit a proposal abstract or proposal to this BAA, must be directed to one of the administrative addresses below for receipt by 4:00 PM, April 28, 1995, e-mail or fax is preferred. ARPA intends to use electronic mail and fax for correspondence regarding BAA 95-18. Proposals and proposal abstracts may not be submitted by fax, any so sent will be disregarded. The administrative addresses for this BAA are: Fax:(703) 522-2668 Addressed to: ARPA/CSTO, BAA 95-18, Electronic Mail:baa9518@arpa.mil, Electronic File Retrieval: http://www.csto.arpa.mil/Solicitations.html, Mail: ARPA/CSTO, ATTN: BAA 95-18, 3701 N. Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714. (0047)

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