Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Contracts Management Office (CMO), 3701 N. Fairfax Dr., Arlington VA 22203-1714

A -- OPTOELECTRONIC MICRO-NETWORKS (OMNET) SOL BAA96-29 DUE 100496 POC Anis Husain and Robert Leheny, DARPA/ETO, fax (703) 696-2206. PROGRAM OBJECTIVE AND DESCRIPTION: The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is soliciting proposals for technical research in the area of Optoelectronic Micro-Networks (OMNET). The Optical Micro-Networks (OMNET) thrust will develop technologies to realize optoelectronic components (transceivers, switches, and distribution fabric) with two to three orders of magnitude improvement in the ratio of Bandwidth to (area-Watt) product over current technology that will be cost effective from 100s of meters down to at least 1 meter. OMNET devices will enable reconfigurable optical interconnection of sensors (such as digitized video/images, or digital radar) to processors and/or for distribution of computation across platforms. This revolutionary capability promises to have the potential to not only change the interconnect fabric, but change the way future military and commercial information processing systems are designed and built. This DARPA program will build on advances in optoelectronic device technology, device integration and fabrication resources to develop and demonstrate revolutionary new system concepts and resulting capabilities. There are two areas of interest in this announcement: (I) OMNET COMPONENT PROTOTYPING. This area includes, but is not limited to, developing and demonstrating integrated optoelectronic transceivers and optical and/or optoelectronic switches for reconfigurable interconnection of sensors to processors, processors to displays, and distributing computation across platforms down to at least one meter length which will revolutionize future information processing systems, and the demonstration of ruggedized prototype modules/links and reconfigurable switches whose optoelectronic components are leveraged off a commercial technology base for high payoff military applications, and, (II) OMNET BASED SYSTEM DEVELOPMENTS AND DEMONSTRATIONS. This area's emphasis is on demonstrating OMNET technology which will enable high-payoff military and commercial applications. The focus is on: interconnects and reconfigurable networks ranging from local area networks, high-speed computer-to-computer/peripheral(eg., memory) interconnect, computer backplanes (board-to-board), and distributed optical sensing and signal processing applications down to at least one meter lengths. Of greatest interest is the application of OMNET technology where the optical interconnects do not merely provide a cable replacement, but where the full advantage of optoelectronics technology is exploited to enable new systems capabilities. Additional information on these areas of interest is provided in the Areas of Interest section of the BAA 96-29 Proposers Information Pamphlet described below. Program Scope: Collaborative efforts, industry-led (by an optoelectronic producer) integrated research teams, are strongly encouraged. Integration refers to close collaboration among component manufacturers, material suppliers, equipment vendors and the system/subsystem integrator (users). The proposed teams should have expertise and experience as industrial producers, commercial users and defense aerospace contractors with experience in ruggedizing commercial optoelectronics equipment. Offerors should be capable of demonstrating the optoelectronic technology developed under the program in both a military and commercial application. The program scope does not include a field insertion but rather a prototype concept demonstration. Offerors are, however, encouraged to propose high-payoff insertion demonstrations as a program option. Offerors must propose as one cohesive program both of the areas of interest. Awards totalling approximately $29,000,000 over three years are expected to be made by the first quarter of calendar year 1997. Multiple awards are anticipated. Cost sharing is strongly encouraged. The technical POCs for this effort are Anis Husain, fax (703) 696-2206, email: ahusain@darpa.mil and Robert Leheny, fax (703) 696-2206, email: rleheny@darpa.mil.GENERAL INFORMATION: Proposers must obtain a pamphlet, BAA 96-29 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 nine (9) copies of the proposal abstract must be submitted to DARPA/ETO, 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714 (ATTN: BAA 96-29), on or before 4:00 P.M., August 9,1996. 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 nine (9) copies of the full proposal to DARPA/ETO, 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714 (ATTN: BAA 96-29), on or before 4:00 P.M., October 4, 1996, in order to be considered. This notice, in conjunction with the pamphlet BAA 96-29 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 (HBCUs) and Minority Institutions (MIs) 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 optical micro-networks 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 96-29. 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: (1) overall scientific quality, technical merit, and realism, (2) potential contribution of the proposed effort in terms of its impact on existing or future systems as well as its impact on broadening the base of optical micro-networks in military and commercial applications and relevance to the DARPA mission, (3) offeror's commitment to commercialization, (4) effectiveness of the management plan and, if applicable, the team structure and team composition, (5) offeror's capabilities, key personnel, past performance, related experience, facilities and techniques, or unique combination of these, that form integral factors for achieving the proposal's objectives, and, (6) 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 96-29), Electronic Mail: BAA96-29@darpa.mil and Mail: DARPA/ETO Attn: BAA 96-29, 3701 N. Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714. This announcement may be retrieved via the WWW at URL http://www.darpa.mil/ in the solicitations area. (0180)

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