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

A -- UNIVERSITY OPTOELECTRONICS CENTERS PROGRAM SOL RA 97-18 DUE 052897 POC R. F. Leheny, DARPA/ETO, FAX (703) 696-2206 WEB: http://www.darpa.mil/, http://www.darpa.mil/. E-MAIL: RA97-18@darpa.mil, RA97-18@darpa.mil. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is soliciting proposals to establish University Optoelectronics Centers for research focused on the application of optoelectronic technologies for future generations of information processing systems. The intent is twofold; first, to create multi-investigator centers capable of revolutionizing optoelectronics in specific technology areas, and second, to provide a source of highly capable expertise in these technologies to meet the future needs of the optoelectronics industry. Proposals from teams of academic researchers to establish optoelectronics centers are solicited. PROGRAM OBJECTIVE AND DESCRIPTION: The objective of this program is to create multi-investigator based centers focused on creating capabilities for specific optoelectronics systems applications such as, but not limited to, optical interconnects and switching systems operating beyond terabit speeds; optical processors with teraflop capacity; and optical memory systems with terabyte capacity. Close industry partnering to determine the critical capabilities that will define and focus the Centers activities toward specific and measurable research goals is anticipated. The individual technology advances to be pursued, as well as the scope of the Centers research programs, should be driven by the capabilities focus of the overall effort. For example, innovative approaches to growth, processing and integration of dissimilar materials for application in teraflop processing or terabyte memory systems, or creative approaches to device designs aimed at realizing multifunctional large scale integrated optoelectronic circuits for use in terabit switching or interconnect systems, etc. are desired. These capability objectives should be aimed at revolutionizing the application of optoelectronic technologies, leading to new generations of compact, portable, very high capacity, real-time information processing systems. Specific technology areas of interest include: 1) optoelectronics CAD and testing, 2) wide bandgap optoelectronic materials and device capabilities, 3) technologies for advanced surface emitting lasers and sensitive detectors, 4) multi-wavelength technology, and 5) integration technologies for multifunctional optoelectronic device modules. DARPA seeks innovative proposals for the establishment of Centers focused on specific topics as described above. These Centers should be located at an academic institution or distributed amongst a team of researchers at academic institutions to perform leading-edge research and strengthen coupling to the optoelectronic device industries. Cost sharing is encouraged and should result in a program enabling access for industry workers to capabilities developed by the university centers academic members. Additional information is provided in the Areas of Interest section of the RA 97-18 Proposer Information Pamphlet described below. PROGRAM SCOPE: The effort is projected to be a multi-year effort with available Government funding for University Optoelectronic Centers estimated at approximately $15,000,000. One or more awards are anticipated during the second half of FY97. Cost sharing is strongly encouraged. The POC for this effort is Dr. R. F. Leheny, fax: (703) 696-2206, electronic mail: rleheny@darpa.mil. GENERAL INFORMATION: Proposers must obtain a pamphlet, RA 97-18 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 from 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 brief proposal abstracts in advance of full proposals. An original and eight (8) copies of the proposal abstract must be submitted to DARPA/ETO, AD North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714 (ATTN: RA 97-18), on or before 4:00 PM, March 21, 1997. 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 eight (8) copies of the full proposal to DARPA/ETO, 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714 (ATTN: RA 97-18), on or before 4:00 PM, May 28, 1997 in order to be considered. This notice, in conjunction with the pamphlet, RA 97-18 Proposer Information, constitutes the total RA. 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 RA will be set aside for HBCU and MI participation due to the impracticality of reserving discrete or severable areas of research in optoelectronics technology. Any objections to the terms of this RA or the RA 97-18 Proposer Information Pamphlet must be presented in writing within fifteen (15) calendar days of the publication of this RA in the CBD. Any objections to the conduct of receipt, evaluation or award of grants, cooperative agreements or other transactions must be presented in writing within ten (10) calendar days of the date the objector knows or should have known the basis for its objection. Objections must be provided in letter format, clearly stating that it is an objection or protest to this RA or to the conduct of evaluation or award of a grant, cooperative agreement, or other transaction, and providing a clearly detailed factual statement of the basis for objection. Objections must be received at the address stated above for delivery of proposals within the times indicated in order to be considered. All administrative correspondence and questions on this solicitation, including requests for information on how to submit a proposal abstract or proposal to this RA, 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 RA 97-18. Proposals and proposal abstracts may not be submitted by fax or e-mail; any so sent will be disregarded. DARPA encourages use of the World Wide Web (WWW) for retrieving the Program Information Package and any related information that may subsequently be provided. 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 the DARPA mission; (3) financial commitment of the offeror to provide cost sharing; (4) plans and capability to accomplish technology transition; and (5) offeror's capabilities and related experience including the ability to manage a multiparticipant program. The administrative addresses for this RA are: Fax: 703-351-8616 (Addressed to: DARPA/ETO, RA 97-18), Electronic Mail: RA97-18@darpa.mil, Mail: DARPA/ETO, Attn.: RA 97-18, 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714. This announcement and the Proposer Information Pamphlet may be retrieved via the WWW at URL http://www.darpa.mil/ in the solicitation area. (0038)

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