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

A -- HYBRID INFORMATION APPLIANCES SOL BAA 98-11 DUE 010798 POC E.D. Maynard, Jr., DARPA/ITO, FAX: (703) 522-7161 HYBRID INFORMATION APPLIANCES SOL BAA 98-11 DUE 1/07/98 POC E.D. MAYNARD, JR., DARPA/ITO, FAX: (703) 522-7161 The Defense Advanced Research Project Agency's (DARPA) UltraScale Computing effort seeks to explore, expand, and enable advanced computing that leads to new computational paradigms applicable to Defense needs for the next millennium. Proposers should familiarize themselves with the UltraScale Computing website that can be found at http://www.ito.darpa.mil/ResearchAreas.html. This BAA, HYBRID INFORMATION APPLIANCES, solicits proposals in four technical topical areas: 1) Hybrid Computation; 2) Hybrid Peripherals; 3) Hybrid Storage; and, 4) UltraScale Prototypes. Responses to this BAA should focus on developing enabling component technologies or integrating advanced components into application-specific prototypes that demonstrate the hybrid operation of biological and electronic components. 1. HYBRID COMPUTATION: Hybrid Computation will demonstrate the controlled growth of tailored organisms invitro and in vivo. Two-way communications channels that transduce electrical/optical/ magnetic signals to chemical processes will be bioengineered. Large numbers of organically based computational units may be integrated with mechanical robotics and conventional computer assets to solve computationally hard problems in drastically reduced elapsed time and with dramatically low power. 2. HYBRID PERIPHERALS: Hybrid Peripherals will explore the use of biological computational elements coupled to biological sensors and actuators. These peripherals will perform limited signal processing, e.g. through gene regulatory networks, under the direction of high performance electronic systems. Responses may address the development of biological computer peripheral components such as: sensors or actuators; mechanisms for performing in situ signal processing; communication and interfaces to electronic computers. Alternatively, responses may address the development of integrated peripherals that combine biological and electronic components. These integrated peripherals should demonstrate how a modicum of bioengineered preprocessing can vastly reduce the need for electronic post-processing or otherwise enable new application capabilities or venues. 3. HYBRID STORAGE: Hybrid Storage will develop mechanisms for data storage and retrieval from organic, cellular, or tissue-based memory subsystems. Symbolic constructs for tissue-based abstractions and models of data storage will be developed. A demonstration of technology that enables greater than 1021 bit/cm3 data storage capability is of particular interest. 4. ULTRASCALE PROTOTYPES: DARPA also solicits proposals for application-specific prototypes of other UltraScale technologies that demonstrate dramatically enhanced performance over conventional processing. PROGRAM SCOPE: Proposals for individual efforts should not exceed three years in length. Technologies that have a broad impact on military capability will be given highest priority. Initial contract awards are expected to bemade during the second quarter of calendar year 1998. Multiple awards are anticipated. Qualifying but unfunded proposals may be held for further consideration for Fiscal Year 1999 funding. Collaborative efforts and teaming are encouraged where appropriate. 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: An outreach briefing will be held on Thursday, December 11, 1997. Contact one of the administrative addresses below for details regarding time, location, and registration information. Proposers must submit an original and eight (8) copies of full proposals in time to reach DARPA by 4:00 PM ET, Wednesday, January 7, 1998, in order to be considered. Proposers must obtain a pamphlet, BAA 98-11 Proposer Information, which provides further information on the submission, evaluation, funding processes, 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 and the pamphlet BAA 98-11 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 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 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, Wednesday, December 31, 1997, e-mail or fax is preferred. DARPA intends to use electronic mail and fax for correspondence regarding BAA 98-11. 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 98-11, Electronic Mail: baa98-11@darpa.mil, Electronic File Retrieval: http://www.ito.darpa.mil/Solicitations.html, Mail: DARPA/ITO ATTN: BAA98-11, 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714 (0318)

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