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

A -- ACTIVE NETWORK SOL BAA 98-03 DUE 011298 POC Ms. Hilarie Orman, DARPA/ITO, FAX: (703) 533-7161 ACTIVE NETWORKS SOL BAA 98-03 DUE 1/12/98 POC Ms. Hilarie Orman, DARPA/ITO, FAX: (703) 533-7161. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is soliciting proposals for research and new technology development aimed at making major innovations in computer networks by introducing radically new services and achieving great improvements in existing services. Proposals are solicited addressing the development of active networks, a new generation of networks based on a software-intensive network architecture. This new networking platform is flexible and extensible at runtime to accommodate the rapid evolution and deployment of networking technologies and also to provide the increasingly sophisticated services demanded of the network infrastructure. This information package particularly solicits technology in support of scalable, secure, reliable, and high-capacity active networks utilizing technological advances from recent research (see http://www.ito.darpa.mil/ResearchAreas/ActiveNetsList.htmland http://www.sds.lcs.mit.edu/darpa-activenet). This BAA seeks proposals that will extend and demonstrate the architecture, and it also solicits proposals to integrate and promulgate the technology under development for the purpose of validating its widespread applicability to critical networking problems. For more information see the Proposer Information Pamphlet for BAA 98-03. 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: 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 98-03, 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714, in time to reach DARPA by 4:00 PM (ET), Monday, November 24, 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), Monday, January 12, 1998, in order to be considered. Proposers must obtain a pamphlet, BAA 98-03 Proposer Information, which provides further information on the areas of interest, submission, evaluation, funding processes, proposal abstracts, and full proposal formats. This pamphlet 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 pamphlet may not be reviewed. This Commerce Business Daily notice, in conjunction with the pamphlet BAA 98-03 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 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 andMI 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, Monday, January 5, 1998; e-mail or fax is preferred. DARPA intends to use electronic mail and fax for some of the correspondence regarding BAA 98-03. 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 98-03, Electronic Mail: baa98-03@darpa.mil, Electronic File Retrieval: http://www.ito.darpa.mil/Solicitations.html, Mail: DARPA/ITO, ATTN: BAA 98-03, 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714. (0290)

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