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

A -- SELF-ADAPTIVE SOFTWARE SOL BAA-98-12 DUE 012798 POC Dr. Robert Laddaga, DARPA/ITO, Fax: (703) 522-7161 SELF-ADAPTIVE SOFTWARE BAA98-12 DUE 1/27/98 POC Dr. Robert Laddaga, DARPA/ITO, FAX: (703) 522-7161. Self-adaptive software evaluates its own behavior and changes behavior when the evaluation indicates that it is not accomplishing what the software is intended to do, or when better functionality or performance is possible. Application domains of interest to the Department of Defense include automatic target recognition (particularly using optical or multi-spectral imaging), signal and image processing, and robotics (including image understanding as well as planning and scheduling). DARPA seeks a new basis for making software adaptive, that doesn't require specific adaptive techniques, such as neural networks or genetic programming, but instead relies on software informed about its mission and about its construction and behavior. This implies that the software has multiple ways of accomplishing its purpose and has enough knowledge of its construction to make effective changes at runtime. Such software should include functionality for evaluating its behavior and performance, as well as the ability to replan and reconfigure its operations in order to improve its operation. Self-adaptive software should also include a set of components for each major function, along with descriptions of the components, so that components of systems can be selected and scheduled at runtime in response to the evaluators. It also requires the ability to impedance match input/output of sequenced components, and the ability to generate some of this code from specifications. In addition, DARPA seeks this new basis of adaptation to be applied at runtime, as opposed to development/design time, or as a maintenance activity. Research is solicited in the following technical topic areas: 1. Evaluation of software functionality and performance at runtime, 2. Runtime configurable software component and system architectures, 3. Convincing application demonstrations, 4. Metrics and success criteria for self-adaptive software, and 5. Other innovative approaches to adaptive software. 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 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. 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 original and seven copies of full proposals must be submitted to DARPA/ITO, ATTN: BAA 98-12, 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714, in time to reach DARPA on or before 4:00 PM (ET), Tuesday, January 27, 1998, in order to be considered. Proposers must obtain a pamphlet, BAA 98-12 Proposer Information, which provides further information on the areas of interest, submission, evaluation, funding processes, and 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 98-12 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 to this BAA, must be directed to one of the administrative addresses below by 4:00 PM, Tuesday, January 20, 1998; e-mail or fax is preferred. DARPA intends to use electronic mail and fax for some of the correspondence regarding BAA 98-12. Proposals 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 98-12, Electronic Mail: baa98-12@darpa.mil, Electronic File Retrieval: http://www.ito.darpa.mil/Solicitations.html, Mail: DARPA/ITO, ATTN: BAA 98-12, 3701 N. Fairfax Drive Arlington, VA 22203-1714. (0346)

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