Army Research Laboratory, Adelphi Site Contracts Branch, ATTN: AMSRL-OP-SD-PC, 2800 Powder Mill Road, Adelphi, MD 20783-1197

A -- U.S. ARMY RESEARCH LABORATORY (ARL) MATERIALS DIRECTORATE (MD) BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT (BAA) SOL ARL-96 MATLDIRBAA DUE 032296 POC Linda Klein, Contract Specialist, (301) 394-3372, Carolyn S. Gonser, Grants Officer, (301) 394-1604. ARL intends to issue a BAA specific to materials research on or about 22 Feb 1996. The topic areas addressed by this BAA are: Advanced Materials Characterization, Composite Materials and Dendrimer Polymer Materials. It is the intent of ARL that at least one cooperative agreement will be awarded in each of these three areas. The recipient(s) for ADVANCED MATERIALS CHARACTERIZATION research must be an accredited advanced degree granting educational institution and should be located within reasonable commuting distance of the future ARL/MD research facility at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, and must be capable of providing the research support described herein over a three year period plus an option for an additional two year period. The recipient(s) must be an educational institution noted for world class research in the area of advanced materials and have an established record which demonstrates a strong, interdisciplinary materials science and engineering program, as well as a broad range of state-of-the-art materials characterization instrumentation and expertise, in advanced materials research. The recipient(s) must be qualified to provide four types of scientific and educational support in advanced materials characterization as follows: (1) Conduct innovative research in collaboration with ARL/MD scientists and engineers in focus areas listed below; (2) Provide on- and off-site symposia and educational programs for ARL/MD staff in advanced materials characterization, materials science and engineering; (3) Provide for the mutual exchange of researchers working at each other's institutions on collaborative research projects including the use of unique institution facilities by ARL/MD researchers and use of ARL/MD facilities by scientists and students in an ''Open Lab'' environment, and (4) Periodic interchange of ARL/MD and institution researchers for negotiable duration. The ARL/MD advanced materials characterization focus areas to be supported are: (1) metals, metal alloys, metal matrix composites, and intermetallic materials processing, properties, and microstructure characterization with special emphases on armor, armament, aircraft, and ground vehicle materials and on the characterization of metal corrosion, surface modification, and fracture behavior; (2) ceramics, ceramic matrix composites, and preceramic materials synthesis, processing, properties, and microstructure characterization with special emphasis on structural ceramics, armor, armament, electro-optic, and radome materials and on the characterization of ceramic surfaces, interfaces, fracture behavior, and electromagnetic phenomena; and (3) polymers, polymer matrix composites, and polymer hybrid materials synthesis, processing, properties, and microstructure characterization with special emphasis on chemical/biological protection, armor, lightweight, low observable, and multi-functional materials for aircraft, ground vehicle, and soldier systems and on the characterization of polymer surfaces, interphases, permeability, durability, and fracture behavior. The recipient(s) for COMPOSITE MATERIALS research must be an accredited advanced degree granting educational institution and should be located within reasonable commuting distance of the future ARL/MD research facility at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, and must be capable of providing the research support described herein over a three year period plus an option for an additional two year period. The recipient(s) must be an educational institution noted for world class research in the area of composite materials and have an established record which demonstrates a strong, interdisciplinary materials science and engineering program, as well as a broad range of state-of-the-art advanced composite materials processing, testing, and analysis equipment and expertise. The recipient(s) must be qualified to provide four types of scientific and educational support in composite materials research as follows: (1) Conduct innovative research in collaboration with ARL/MD scientists and engineers in focus areas listed below; (2) Provide on- and off-site symposia and educational programs for ARL/MD staff in composite materials, materials science and engineering; (3) Provide for the mutual exchange of researchers working at each other's institutions on collaborative research projects including the use of unique institution facilities by ARL/MD researchers and use of ARL/MD facilities by scientists and students in an ''Open Lab'' environment; and (4) Periodic interchange of ARL/MD and institution researchers for negotiable duration. The ARL/MD composite materials focus areas to be supported are: (1) polymer composite materials processing-microstructure-properties studies; (2) polymer composite and hybrid materials interface/interphase, adhesive bonding, and coatings research; (3) environmental durability, life extension, fracture and fatigue behavior of composite materials and material systems; and (4) development and assessment of novel composite materials, precursor materials, processing methodology, manufacturing technology, and design and analysis procedures. Special emphases should be placed on composite materials for personnel and vehicular armor (e.g., thick-section polymer matrix composites in monocoque or hybrid form with metallic/ceramic inserts, etc.) and for lightweight structural and multi-functional (e.g., blast protecton, acoustical damping, low observable, damage detection, etc.) applications in aircraft, ground vehicle, armament, and soldier systems. The recipient(s) for DENDRIMER POLYMER research must have broad expertise in the design, synthesis, characterization and application of dendrimer polymer materials; have fully equipped facilities dedicated to the synthesis, pilot-scale processing and evaluation of dendrimers; and be capable of providing the research support described herein over a two year period plus an option for an additional two year period. The recipient(s) must be an institution noted for world-class research in the area of dendrimer polymer materials and have an established record that demonstrates a strong, interdisciplinary research and development program and a demonstrated ability to transition dendrimer research to the commercial sector. The recipient(s) must be qualified to provide four types of scientific and technical support in dendrimer materials research as follows: (1) serve as the domain expert to advise, identify, and help guide dendrimer materials development and applications for the Army; (2) conduct innovative research in direct collaboration with ARL/MD scientists; (3) provide on- and off-site symposia and educational programs to increase awareness and promote the transition of dendrimer materials technology; and (4) provide for the mutual scientific communication and exchange of researchers working at each others institutions on collaborative research projects including the use of unique institution facilities by ARL/MD researchers and use of ARL/MD facilities by scientists and students in an ''Open Lab'' environment. The ARL/MD dendrimer materials focus areas to be supported are: (1) electrically conducting dendrimers; (2) polymer resin and composite material applications research; and (3) adhesive bonding and coatings application research with special emphasis on chemical/biological protection, life extension, armor, low observable, and lightweight structural applications for aircraft, ground vehicle, missile, armament, and soldier systems. This BAA will be available on or about 22 Feb 1996 only via the Internet on the ARL WWW Server (http://w3.arl.mil/md/) or via Anonymous FTP at w3.arl.mil in directory /pub/md. Notices of amendments to this BAA will also be released via the Internet if and when they occur. (0025)

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