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

A -- FREQUENCY AGILE MATERIALS FOR ELECTRONICS SOL BAA97-34 DUE 100197 POC Drs. Stuart Wolf and Francis W. Patten, Fax (703) 696-3999 FREQUENCY AGILE MATERIALS FOR ELECTRONICS SOL BAA#97-34 DUE OCTOBER 1, 1997, POC Drs. Stuart A. Wolf and Francis W. Patten DARPA/DSO, FAX 703-696-3999. BACKGROUND: The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) seeks proposals to discover, develop and exploit new functional materials systems, structures and processes for frequency agile materials, highly innovative device designs using these materials, and military system applications and insertions. Significantly improved frequency agile components and subsystems will be very important for providing new capabilities in military communications, electronic warfare, remote sensing and surveillance systems, while at the same time significantly reducing size and cost. The ability to eventually utilize very small platforms for deploying this technology is of great interest. PROGRAM OBJECTIVES AND DESCRIPTION: The principal objective of the Frequency Agile Materials for Electronics (FAME) program is the development of novel materials, processing techniques and component technology that will lead to frequency or phase agile electronic components for DoD applications. To achieve this objective, DARPA is interested in the development of very low loss, thin and thick film hybrid materials as well as monolithic structures for frequency or phase adaptable filters, circulators, conformal and phased array antennas, oscillators, phase shifters and other rf, or optical devices utilizing the magnetic field dependence of the permeability of ferrite materials or the electric field dependence of the permittivity of ferroelectric materials. Other novel and highly innovative approaches to achieve frequency and phase agility are also solicited. Proposals should also address the development of cost effective and scaleable materials processing technology including sensing and control. Applications of these frequency adaptable or phase shifting materials and structures will undoubtedly require a certain level of integration with semiconductor electronics and therefore DARPA is also interested in the development of fabrication processes that are compatible with conventional semiconductor processing. This program expects to leverage recent advances in theoretical modeling, on-line sensing and process control as well as experimental techniques for rapid synthesis, screening and characterization of novel compounds and structures. The overall goal of the FAME program is to provide an order of magnitude enhancement in component performance over current state of the art accompanied by significant reductions in size and cost, thereby enabling new paradigms in the operability of military systems. Innovative concepts that address any of the above areas are desired since DARPA does not have preconceived ideas of the best approach. Teaming among industrial, academic and government laboratories is encouraged to ensure that advances in materials and components can be rapidly exploited for military systems. Cost sharing is also strongly encouraged, especially for the industrial participants, as it is an indication of commitment. Individual efforts by industrial, academic and government laboratories will also be entertained where a convincing case can be made for comprehensive internal capabilities or broad applicability of the research. The program is currently scheduled for four years with approximately $24M of DoD funds. The proposals should be organized with an initial phase of two years with a significant and demonstrable milestone at the end, followed by a second one or two year phase again with a significant technological accomplishment at the conclusion of the program. All phases should include measurable milestones and technology demonstrations. HOW TO PROPOSE: Proposal submission will be a two stage process: First, offerors should submit pre-proposals which are due at 1600 EDT on 18 July 1997. Based on the evaluation of these pre-proposals, selected offerors will be encouraged to submit full proposals which are due at 1600 EDT on 1 October 1997. The intent of the request for pre-proposalsis to minimize the labor and costs associated with full detailed technical and cost proposals. All interested offerors are therefore encouraged to submit pre-proposals. However, all proposals satisfying the terms and conditions cited herein will be reviewed regardless of the disposition (or lack) of pre-proposals. PRE-PROPOSALS: One original and five single sided, hard copies of pre-proposals of no more than six pages including the required cover page must arrive no later than 1600 EDT, 18 July 1997 to receive consideration. Pre-proposals should have the same page format as the full proposals as described below and in the Proposer Information Pamphlet (PIP). The pre-proposal should concisely: 1) identify the focus of the proposed effort; 2) describe the essence of the new idea; 3) describe the impact on military systems of a successful effort if reduced to practice; 4) identify the central science and technology issues including the identification of the major risks involved in the effort; 5) set forth in tabular form the major tasks, the corresponding milestones, the timing of the milestones, and the funding versus time; 6) identify key individuals along with their institutions, roles and experience; and 7) outline plans, capability and commitment to productization (if appropriate) including character and extent of cost sharing. The pre-proposal should also have a brief cost estimate summary. These pre-proposals should be submitted to DARPA/DSO, ATTN: BAA #97-34/Wolf/Patten, 3701 N. Fairfax Drive Arlington VA 22203-1714. Written requests for the proposer information pamphlet (PIP) or general administrative information should be addressed to Ms. Wendy Lozano, Strategic Analysis, Inc., Suite 175, 4001 N. Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714. Faxed requests: Attn: Wendy Lozano (703) 527-5445. Email requests: lozanw@sainc.com. GENERAL INFORMATION FOR PREPARATION OF FULL PROPOSALS: Proposers should obtain the pamphlet entitled BAA#97-34 Proposer Information Pamphlet (PIP) from the address above. This pamphlet provides detailed information on required proposal formats and forms. The offeror shall submit six single sided hard copies, each 8.5 by 11 inches. The pages shall have 1.25 inch margins and the font size will be no smaller than 12 pitch. Non-conforming proposals may be rejected without review. Facsimile or electronic media transmissions of the proposal will NOT be accepted. Separate attachments, such as institutional brochures, reprints, disks, or videotapes, will be ignored. Proposals shall consist of two volumes: Volume 1 will be the Technical Proposal and Volume 2 the Cost Proposal. The first page of each shall be a required special cover sheet and shall clearly indicate the title, the prime contractor and subcontractors or partners as the case may be, the principal investigator name, phone number, fax number, e-mail, the period of performance, the yearly cost of the effort and the total cost. Volume 1 -- Technical Proposal: the technical proposal shall include, a Table of Contents, Executive Summary, a Program Description, a Program Plan, a Statement of Work, a Milestone Chart, a Facilities and Equipment description, a Description of Relevant Prior Work, a Management Plan, and brief Resumes of Key Individuals and a brief Cost Summary. The page count of Volume 1 shall be limited to a maximum of 50 pages, which includes all figures, references, tables, charts and appendices. Volume 2 -- Cost Proposal: -- The cost proposal shall contain a summary cost breakdown and a detailed cost breakdown. The cost proposal shall be prepared in general accordance with FAR 15.804-6 and shall include a Standard Form 1411, Contract Pricing Proposal Cover Sheet, with all supporting data in order to allow for a complete review by the Government. The detailed breakdown of cost data shall include all costs expected to be incurred under the contract. Cost details, broken-down by cost element, should be prepared for each major task along with supporting rationale. All cost details shall be broken down to coincide with the offeror's accounting periods as related to the specific period of performance as indicated in the proposed milestone chart. The cost proposal shall include all supporting information including, but not limited to: breakdown of labor hours by category, materials (vendor quotes or method of establishing cost), travel, direct, and indirect costs. Prime contractors are responsible for assuring that all proposed subcontracts in excess of $500,000 are supported by an executed SF 1411. The summary breakdown should be shown to the level of major tasks and should indicate manpower levels of effort, equipment and supplies, travel and miscellaneous expenses for the tasks of the entire program, broken out by phases and time. Details of the cost sharing to be undertaken by the offeror, if any, must be included in the summary section of volume 2 of the proposal. The summary shall be one page long (see PIP), but the detailed cost breakdown is not limited in page count. PROPOSAL EVALUATION: Pre-proposals and full proposals will beevaluated according to the following evaluation criteria in descending order of importance: 1) scientific and technological merit of the proposed program and potential for significant (10X) enhancement of performance of frequency agile components; 2) offeror's capabilities and recent related experience, including personnel, facilities, equipment and data; 3) impact of the successful development on defense systems; 4) plans, capability and commitment to productization (if appropriate); and 5) reasonableness of cost. BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT: This CBD notice, in conjunction with BAA#97-34 Proposer Information Pamphlet (PIP) constitutes a Broad Agency Announcement as contemplated by FAR 6.102(d)(2). 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 in response to this announcement. In addition, the Government reserves the right to award either contracts or assistance instruments. No portion of the BAA will be set aside for HBCU and MI participation due to the impracticality of reserving a discrete or severable area of research for exclusive competition among those entities. HBCU's and MI's are encouraged to apply and/or team with other proposers. Awards made under this BAA are subject to the provisions of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 9.5, Organizational Conflict of Interest. All offerors and proposed subcontractors must state in writing, at the time of proposal submission, whether they are supporting any DARPA technical office(s) through an active contract or subcontract. All affirmations must state which office(s) the offeror supports, and identify the prime contract number. All facts relevant to the existence or potential existence of organizational conflicts of interest, as that term is defined in FAR 9.501, must be disclosed. This disclosure shall include a description of the action the Contractor has taken, or proposes to take, to avoid, neutralize or mitigate such conflict. One original and five copies of each proposal shall be sent to DARPA/DSO, ATTN: BAA 97-34/Wolf/Patten, 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714 by 1600 EDT, 1 October 1997. DARPA will acknowledge receipt of pre-proposal and proposal submissions within approximately ten business days of receipt, and assign a control number that should be used in all further correspondence regarding the submission. (0160)

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