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

A -- NEXT GENERATION INTERNET (NGI) SOL BAA 98-02 DUE 121897 POC Dr. Bertram H. Hui, Dr. Gary M. Koob, and Ms. Hilarie Orman NEXT GENERATION INTERNET (NGI) SOL BAA 98-02 DUE 12/18/97 POC Dr. Bertram H. Hui, Dr. Gary M. Koob, and Ms. Hilarie Orman, DARPA/ITO, FAX: (703) 522-7161. The Next Generation Internet (NGI) initiative will develop novel network capabilities to enable a new wave of revolutionary applications. DARPA's role in NGI will involve: experimental research for advanced network technologies; and the development of ultra-high speed switching and transmission technologies that lay the groundwork for terabit per second (Tb/s) networks. The former activity will be organized into two components referred to as Network Engineering and Quorum. The latter is referred to as SuperNet. This announcement solicits proposals for these three components. The objective of the Network Engineering component is to create a networking architecture and tools that greatly automate planning and reduce support functions, thus enabling the growth of networks by a factor of 100 or more while lowering the cost of network management. The Quorum component of NGI is defining a revolutionary approach to network-based computing that positions adaptive quality-of-service (QoS) management as its central architectural principle. Quorum emphasizes the end system software aspects of this problem. As such, it is primarily concerned with leveraging enabling network services by coupling them to the application from the network interface through operating systems, middleware, and resource management layers. The objective of the SuperNet component is to develop ultra-high speed multiplexing and transmission technologies together with advanced configuration management and control capabilities, and demonstrate end-to-end network connectivity involving tens of sites (nodes) and applications. Development of these three component technologies will provide the pathway to terabit per second networks, supported by the appropriate network management and control function with assured end-to-end service. Solicitation information pertaining to the three DARPA components can be obtained individually from the three Proposer Information Pamphlets (PIPs). Other agencies participating in the NGI initiative may independently solicit abstracts and/or proposals in accordance with their own role in NGI. PROGRAM SCOPE: Proposed research should investigate innovative approaches and techniques that lead to or enable revolutionary advances in the state-of-the-art. Research should result in prototype hardware and software demonstrating integrated concepts and approaches on Defense-relevant applications. Specifically excluded is research that primarily results in evolutionary improvement to the existing state of practice or focuses on a specific system or hardware solution. Integrated solution sets embodying significant technological advances are strongly encouraged over narrowly defined research endeavors. Partnering arrangements among academic, industrial, and non-profit research organizations are strongly encouraged. GENERAL INFORMATION: A pre-proposal briefing will be held on Friday, October 31, 1997. Contact one of the administrative addresses below for details regarding time, location, and registration information. 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/ITO, ATTN: BAA 98-02, 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714, in time to reach DARPA by 4:00 PM (ET), Monday, November 10, 1997, to guarantee review. Upon review, DARPA will provide written feedback to offerors either encouraging or discouraging submission of full proposals. Proposers must submit an original and eight (8) copies of full proposals in time to reach DARPA by 4:00 PM (ET), Thursday, December 18, 1997, in order to be considered. Proposers must obtain the appropriate pamphlet(s), BAA 98-02 Proposer Information, which provides further information on the areas of interest, submission, evaluation, funding processes, proposal abstracts, and full proposal formats. The pamphlets may be obtained by fax, electronic mail, or mail request to the administrative contact address given below, as well as at URL address http://www.ito.darpa.mil/Solicitations.html. Proposals not meeting the format described in the pamphlets may not be reviewed. This Commerce Business Daily notice, in conjunction with the pamphlets BAA 98-02 Proposer Information -- Network Engineering; BAA 98-02 Proposer Information -- Quorum; and BAA 98-02 Proposer Information -- SuperNet, 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 that 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 this research for exclusive competition among these entities. Evaluation of proposals will be accomplished through a scientific review of each proposal using the following criteria, which are listed in descending order of relative importance: (1) overall scientific and technical merit, (2) potential contribution and relevance to DARPA mission, (3) offeror's capabilities and related experience, (4) plans and capability to accomplish technology transition, and (5) cost realism. All administrative correspondence and questions on this solicitation, including requests for information on how to submit a proposal abstract or proposal to this BAA, must be directed to one of the administrative addresses below for receipt by 4:00 PM (ET), Thursday, December 11, 1997; e-mail or fax is preferred. DARPA intends to use electronic mail and fax for some of the correspondence regarding BAA 98-02. Proposals and proposal abstracts may not be submitted by fax; any so sent will be disregarded. The administrative addresses for this BAA are: Fax: 703-522-7161 Addressed to: DARPA/ITO, BAA 98-02, Electronic Mail: baa98-02@darpa.mil, Electronic File Retrieval: http://www.ito.darpa.mil/Solicitations.html, Mail: DARPA/ITO, ATTN: BAA 98-02, 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714 (0283)

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