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

A -- FORMAL METHODS FOR SOFTWARE EVOLUTION SOL BAA 98-10 DUE 010598 POC Dr. D. Helen Gill, DARPA/ITO, FAX: (703) 522-7161 FORMAL METHODS FOR SOFTWARE EVOLUTION SOL BAA 98-10 DUE 1/5/98 POC Dr. D. Helen Gill, DARPA/ITO, FAX: (703) 522-7161 The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is soliciting proposals for research on various aspects of formal methods in support of the DARPA Basic Research Program and the Evolutionary Design of Complex Software (EDCS) Program and in support of other basic research conducted by the National Science Foundation, National Security Agency, USAF Rome Laboratory, the Office of Naval Research, and other agencies. The focus of this research is tool-supported rigorous methods for reasoning about software and systems. Other elements of the EDCS program pursue research in methods for defining component-based software architectures, generating components, managing evolving software designs and design rationale, and effecting change through dynamic language mechanisms. This BAA seeks supporting methods and tools for rigorous analyses of composition of components to assure that software properties are achieved. The goal is an open modeling environment and a useful set of formal representations of software components and architectures, with tools that can create and compose them, analyze them, and interoperate through them. Support is needed to simplify both formalization of software components and rigorous composition checking at higher levels of abstraction (components and architectures). Research is solicited in the following topics: 1) Software Model Creation: Methods are needed for formal modeling of programs to assist in reasoning about software components and architectures. Techniques and tools are sought for creating sound and useful models of software. Both constructive methods that derive software from specifications and analytic methods that interpret programs to derive rigorous models are of interest. The human effort to construct the model should be minimal, and the resulting model should enable application-relevant analyses. 2) Model Composition: Technology is needed for reasoning about properties of software architectures through models of components, resolving assumptions, guarantees, and constraints among aggregates of components. A calculus of models is needed to enable exploration of consistency, completeness, redundancy, and dependence in composites of component models. 3) Framework for Interoperable Representations: Different modeling methods and representations are needed and tools are required to support their rigorous interoperation and conversion. Many systems for formal reasoning are closed and require access to modify a theorem proving environment in order to introduce new methods. We seek research in open, extensible frameworks and tools for rigorous conversion and interoperation of models to assure that new modeling theories (and models expressed in them) can be introduced and properly related. 4) Modeling Interface: An external interface is needed to the open modeling framework to invoke the extensible set of interoperating mapping, analysis, and verification tools. Research is encouraged that supports coherent and convenient use of heterogeneous modeling methods and tools in a programming language or in a software composition environment. PROGRAM SCOPE: Proposed research should investigate innovative approaches and techniques that lead to or enable revolutionary advances in the state-of-the-art. Topics are not limited to those listed above, but proposals should be for research that substantially contributes towards the goals stated. Research should result in prototype 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: Proposers must submit an original and eight (8) copies of full proposals in time to reach DARPA by 4:00 PM (ET), Monday, January 5, 1998 in order to be considered. Proposers must obtain a pamphlet, BAA 98-10 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 98-10 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 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 by 4:00 PM, Monday, December 29, 1997; e-mail or fax is preferred. DARPA intends to use electronic mail and fax for some of the correspondence regarding BAA 98-10. 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 98-10; Electronic Mail: baa98-10@darpa.mil; Electronic File Retrieval: http://www.ito.darpa.mil/Solicitations.html; Mail: DARPA/ITO ATTN: BAA 98-10, 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714. (0318)

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