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

A -- MICROELECTROMECHANICAL SYSTEMS (MEMS) SOL BAA 96-19 DUE 071996 POC K.J. Gabriel, DARPA/ETO, FAX (703) 696-2206. PROGRAM OBJECTIVES AND DESCRIPTION: The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is soliciting research proposals in the area of Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS). The long-term goal of DARPA's MEMS program is to merge computation, sensors, actuators and mechanical structures to radically change the way people and machines interact with the physical world. As military information systems increasingly leave command centers and appear in weapons and in the pockets and palms of combatants, they are getting closer to the physical world, creating new opportunities for perceiving and controlling the battlefield environment. This phase of the DARPA program will build on advances in MEMS devices, device integration and fabrication resources to develop and demonstrate new systems concepts and resulting capabilities. DARPA seeks proposals in three broad technology areas: (1) MEMS systems developments and demonstrations particularly but not exclusively in signal processing, control of distributed, multi-element ()10,000) sensor and actuator systems, and electromagnetic beam steering, (2) MEMS manufacturing resource development including but not limited to: MEMS electronic design aids, MEMS fabrication/processing equipment, generalized MEMS packaging techniques and tools, and visualization/analysis tools for MEMS device and systems, and (3) integrated microfluidic systems for molecular processing and detection. Additional information on these technology areas is provided in the Areas of Interest section of the BAA 96-19 Proposer Information Pamphlet referenced below. PROGRAM SCOPE: Proposals for individual efforts should not exceed thirty-six (36) months in length. Technologies which have a broad impact will be given the highest priority. To ensure technology transfer in this program, there will be an emphasis on collaborative research and development among university and industry partners. Because this program will span multiple disciplines and capabilities, the formation of appropriate teaming arrangements to integrate the diverse technical areas is encouraged. Awards totaling $50 million over three years are expected to be made during the second half of calendar year 1996. Multiple awards are anticipated. The technical POC for this effort is Kaigham J. Gabriel, Fax (703) 696-2206, electronic mail: kgabriel@darpa.mil. GENERAL INFORMATION: Proposers must obtain a pamphlet, BAA 96-19 Proposer Information Pamphlet, which provides further information on areas of interest, the submission, evaluation, and funding processes, and proposal and proposal abstract formats. This pamphlet may be obtained 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 five (5) copies of the proposal abstract must be submitted to DARPA/ETO, 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714 (ATTN: BAA 96-19), on or before 4:00 P.M., May 17, 1996. Proposal abstracts received after this date may not be reviewed. Upon review, DARPA will provide written feedback on the likelihood of a full proposal being selected and the date and time for submission of a full proposal. Proposers not submitting proposal abstracts must submit an original and ten (10) copies of the full proposal to DARPA/ETO, 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714 (ATTN: BAA 96-19), on or before 4:00 P.M., July 19, 1996, in order to be considered. This notice, in conjunction with the pamphlet BAA 96-19 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 DARPA. 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 research in microelectromechanical systems. All administrative correspondence and questions on this solicitation, including requests for information on how to submit a proposal abstract or 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 96-19. Proposals and proposal abstracts may not be submitted by fax or e-mail, any so sent will be disregarded. EVALUATION CRITERIA: Evaluation of proposal abstracts and 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 and commercialization, (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) 351-8616 (Addressed to: DARPA/ETO, BAA 96-19), Electronic Mail: BAA96-19@arpa.mil, Mail: DARPA/ETO, Attn: BAA 96-19, 3701 N. Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714. This announcement may be retrieved via the WWW at URL http://www.arpa.mil/ in the solicitations area. (0092)

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