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

A -- TACTICAL MOBILE ROBOTICS SOL BAA 98-08 DUE 121997 POC Dr. Eric Krotkov, DARPA/TTO, FAX (703) 696-2204 WEB: http://www.darpa.mil, http://www.darpa.mil. E-MAIL: baa98-08@darpa.mil, baa98-08@darpa.mil. PROGRAM OBJECTIVE: The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) solicits proposals for research, development, and demonstration of tactical mobile robotics and related technologies. The underlying long-term objective is to support land force domination of urban battlespace by employing teams of mobile robots in interior and exterior terrain during battle conditions. DARPA seeks proposals in the following areas: (A) Technology Development, and (B) System Design. In addition to this BAA, prospective offerors must refer to the associated Proposer Information Pamphlet (PIP) for Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) 98-08, which provides additional information on program scope. (Addresses for obtaining the PIP are given at the end of this solicitation). BAA 98-08 is the first phase of a two-phase procurement; it is expected to be followed by a System Demonstration phase. TECHNICAL SCOPE: Offerors may submit proposals under one or both of the two following areas: (A) Technology Development: In this area, DARPA seeks development and demonstration of unique and innovative mobile robotics technologies, including machine perception, autonomous operation, robotic locomotion, and mission packages. (B) System Design: In this area, DARPA seeks proposals to perform system design of one or more tactical mobile robotic systems capable of performing scenarios such as those described in the PIP. EVALUATION CRITERIA: Proposals in both areas will be evaluated in accordance with the following criteria, listed in descending order of importance. 1. Scientific and technical merit; 2. Applicability to tactical mobile robotics; 3. Expertise and experience in mobile robotics, and ability to complete successfully the proposed work; 4. Degree to which technical data and/or computer software developed under the proposed contract are delivered to DARPA with unrestricted rights; and 5. Availability of funds, proposed cost to the Government, and cost realism. Note: Cost realism will only be significant in proposals which have significantly under- or over-estimated the cost to complete the effort. PROGRAM FUNDING: Up to approximately $18 million may be available for approximately 10 to 20 awards under Part A. Up to approximately $5 million may be available for up to three awards under Part B. For both Part A and Part B, DARPA anticipates awards during the first half of 1998, with a 24-month period of performance. FACILITATED TEAMING: Teaming and cost sharing are encouraged when appropriate, but not required. To assist prospective proposers, a method of capabilities exchange has been established (find addresses at end of this document). PROPOSAL FORMAT: Volume 1 of submitted proposals shall include the following sections in the order listed: Executive Summary (no more than two pages), Technical Approach, Program Plan, Statement of Work, Milestone Chart, Facilities and Equipment Description, Relevant Prior Work, Management Plan, Brief Resumes of Key Individuals, and Description of Proprietary Data Rights. Note: Offerors are directed to the PIPfor additional information on Data Rights proposal requirements. The page count of Volume 1 shall be limited to a maximum of 35 pages, with no more than 2 foldout pages, that includes all figures, tables, and charts, but excludes the attachments on Data Rights and Government Owned Resources (if applicable). Volume 2 shall contain a one-page cost summary and a detailed cost breakdown. Breakdown of cost data shall include all costs expected to be incurred under the contract. All details, broken down by cost element, are to be prepared for each major task along with supporting rationale. The offeror shall prepare the cost proposal in a clear and concise manner that accurately reflects the financial plan for accomplishing the technical effort. Cost breakdown by team member or subcontractor is required, if applicable. The offeror s cost proposal shall coincide with the Government Fiscal Year accounting periods as related to the proposed period of performance. For costing purposes, assume a start date of 1 April 1998. There is no page limitation for Volume 2. The title pages for Volumes 1 and 2 must reference BAA 98-08 and list the title, the proposal date, the name and address of the offering institution(s), the principal investigator (name, phone number, fax, e-mail), the administrative point of contact (name, phone number, fax, e-mail), the duration of the proposed effort, the cost of the proposed effort, and the signature of an authorized official from the submitting institution(s). The title page for Part A proposals shall identify the research category or categories (Perception, Autonomy, Mobility, Mission Package) that best characterize(s) the proposed effort. TYPESETTING: Proposals must be prepared as follows: single-sided, double-spaced pages; page size not larger than 8.5x11 inches; font to be not smaller than 12 point; one-inch left/right margins, 1.25 inch top margin, 0.5 inch bottom margin on all sheets; pages numbered. Foldouts shall not exceed double width in size. Handwritten or faxed materials will not be accepted. Proposals may not be submitted in three-ring binders. PROPOSAL SUBMISSION: This BAA will remain open for 12 (twelve) months from the date of publication; however, in order to be eligible for consideration for FY98 funding, full proposals must be received at the DARPA address listed below not later than 4:00 p.m. EST on Friday, 19 December 1997. Proposals received after this deadline will be evaluated at intervals determined by availability of funding and the volume received. Proposers must submit one original plus nine hard copies. DARPA will neither acknowledge nor return submissions. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST: Awards made under this BAA are subject to the provisions of the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) Subpart 9.5, Organizational Conflict of Interest. All offerors and proposed subcontractors must affirmatively state 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. Affirmation should be furnished at the time of proposal submission as an attachment to the Cost Proposal (Volume II). All facts relevant to the existence or potential existence of organizational conflicts of interest, as that term is defined in the FAR 9.501, must be disclosed. The disclosure shall include a description of the action the offeror has taken, or proposes to take, to avoid, neutralize, or mitigate such conflict. It is the policy of DARPA to treat all proposals as competitive information, and to disclose their contents only for the purpose of evaluation. The Government intends to use the non-Government source Litton/PRC and its subcontractors in administering the evaluation of the proposals. Employees of the organizations engaged for this purpose are restricted by their contracts from disclosing the proposal information, and from using proposal information for other than performing administrative tasks. Personnel are required to sign Nondisclosure Agreements. By submission of its proposal, each offeror agrees that proposal information may be disclosed to this selected contractor for the limited purpose stated above. The Government reserves the right to use non-government technical advisors to assist in the review of proposals. These technical advisors will be excluded from participating in the BAA competition and are required to sign Organizational Conflict of Interest and Nondisclosure Agreements. By submission of its proposal, each offeror agrees that proposal information may be disclosed to these technical advisors for the limited purpose stated above. Selections under this BAA will be made only by Government evaluators. GENERAL INFORMATION: This CBD notice itself and the PIP constitutes the total Broad Agency Announcement as contemplated by FAR 6.102(d). No additional information will be made available; a formal RFP or other solicitation regarding this announcement will not be issued. Due to the anticipated volume of interest and staff limitations, DARPA will not entertain questions on this BAA. All responsible sources capable of satisfying the Government s needs may submit proposals. DARPA anticipates the award instruments will be contracts; however, DARPA reserves the right to negotiate grants or agreements, if applicable. 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 or MI participation due to the impracticality of reserving discrete or severable areas of research in the area of tactical mobile robotics. The Government reserves the right to select for award any, all, part, or none of the proposals received in response to this announcement. Awards are subject to availability of Government funds. NOTICES: Offerors are notified that the United States Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command (USA TACOM) will negotiate, award, and manage contracts for the Tactical Mobile Robotics program. Offerors arenotified that all resulting awards shall contain provisions requiring participation in quarterly interchange and review meetings for the purpose of exchanging information being developed under Part A and Part B. Offerors are notified that the Government reserves the right to take delivery with unrestricted rights to all hardware and software developed with Tactical Mobile Robotics program funding. ADDRESSES: Proposals must be sent to DARPA/TTO, Attn: BAA 98-08, 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714. The BAA, PIP, and Sources Sought Announcement 97-28 may be obtained by faxed request to Litton/PRC Fax: (703) 516-6065. The BAA, PIP, SSA, and Capabilities Exchange may be obtained by accessing the World Wide Web at URL http://www.darpa.mil The Tactical Mobile Robotics program may be found under the Tactical Technology Office (TTO) solicitations page. (0311)

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