U.S. Army Research Office, AMXRO-AAA, P.O.Box 12211, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-2211

A -- BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT FOR BASIC RESEARCH CONSORTIUM ON LANDMINE DETECTION SOL DAAG55-98-R-BAA3 DUE 020598 POC Information Line -- (919) 549-4375 WEB: click here to download a copy of the RFP, http://www.aro.ncren.net. The U.S. Army Research Office (ARO, 4300 S. Miami Blvd., P. O. Box 12211, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-2211), announces the competition for a basic research university consortium on landmine detection, identification and location. This solicitation anticipates the possibility of award of single-investigator and/or multi-investigator, 3-year grants to universities. All awardees under this program will be required to participate in the consortium and accept the terms of the Consortium Agreement set forth in the BAA. The purpose is to establish a consortium for basic research into the general area of landmine detection, identification, and location, with emphasis on the investigation of novel and unique approaches and concepts, the exploration of the scientific underpinnings of existing and potential detection and discrimination methodologies, and a determination of physical and statistical limitations to these methodologies. The greatest challenge for this research is the detection and discriminationof buried non-metallic and low-metallic landmines and the reduction in high false alarm rates in the identification of all landmines. The research under this consortium seeks to explore exciting new approaches for faster and more reliable detection and discrimination techniques and to investigate and analyze the science underlying the detection and identification. This basic research is aimed at ultimate applications in the mission areas of countermine and demining, in order to counter threats from landmines to the warfighting and peacekeeping operations conducted by the US Armed Forces and to the safety and survivability of military and civilian personnel. The sharing of research information and the building of collaborations and team approaches within the consortium will be encouraged. Proposals may be submitted only by U.S. graduate institutions of higher education other than federal government, with degree-granting programs in science and/or engineering. Proposals may also be submitted by collaborations of universities forming teams with strengths in multiple science and engineering fields. Awards are anticipated for a period of three years, predominantly for single-investigator grants, each of which will average approximately $100,000 per year, but with the possibility for the teaming of multi-investigator grants up to $400,000 per year. A total program of between $1 million and $1.5 million per year is anticipated. Awards are subject to availability of funds. Original and ten (10) copies of proposals must be received at ARO, ATTN: AMXRO-ICA (DAAG55-98-R-BAA3) by 4:00 p.m. local time on Thursday, February 5, 1998. Proposals are limited to 30 pages in length, excluding the budget. This announcement will only be made available on the Web and will be posted during the week of December 8, 1997, at the following site address: http://www.aro.ncren.net, under the category "Business Opportunities." Printed copies of this BAA are not available. (0339)

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