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

A -- TISSUE BASED BIOSENSORS SOL BAA98-13 DUE 022498 POC Dr. Alan Rudolph, DARPA/DSO, fax (703) 696-3999 TISSUE BASED BIOSENSORS (TBB) SOL BAA#98-13, DUE 24 February 1998; POC: Dr. Alan S. Rudolph, DARPA/DSO; url: http://www.darpa.mil/baa/#dso/; fax: 703-696-3999. BACKGROUND: The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is soliciting proposals for the development and demonstration of innovative cell and multicellular tissue-based sensors which will be a key component of DARPA's programs in Biological Warfare Defense. All aspects of the program are for defensive purposes only. This BAA pertains only to the cell and tissue based sensor portion of the program and excludes environmental detection, environmental modeling and simulation, decontamination and external protection, consequence management, pathogen countermeasures, and advanced molecular based diagnostics. OBJECTIVES AND DESCRIPTION: Our national defense against biological and chemical weapons will by necessity require the ability to rapidly detect and predict physiological consequences of both known and unknown agents. With the increasing ability to modify and engineer potential agents, the ability to detect agents that we have not yet identified and molecularly fingerprinted has become more important. Multicellular assemblies and the communications between cells in a tissue environment may be useful components for devices that are responsive to a wide range of agents and provide a more predictable assessment of the physiological consequences of exposure. This will ultimately result in the deployment of functional biosensors that will allow more reliable assessments of human health risk to our operational forces providing a warning that can be used operationally for alert of a threat. The wide variety of cells and tissues that the human body uses for detection and defense of toxins could be used as physiological based biosensors that functionally respond to known and unknown biological, chemical, or physical stimuli. Cells that could form the basis of the tissue-based biosensor may be primary or transformed cells from a variety of sources including neurons, immune cells, endothelial cells, fibroblasts, myocytes, primordial and peripheral stem cells, etc. The objective of the tissue based biosensor program is to develop functional biosensors that capture the sensitivity and functional sensory performance of biological cells and tissues that exist in two- and three-dimensional environments. Enhanced performance might be demonstrated by examination of patterned or random co-cultures of cells with accompanying support cells in tissue like environments or organotypic cultures in adherent or flow-through systems. The construction of three-dimensional scaffolds or materials which support the fabrication of multicellular arrays or tissues able to respond and report on a wider spectrum of stimuli (e.g., neurotoxin and inflammatory agent) should be examined to allow incorporation of different cell types into the sensor. Issues in the construction of a cell- or tissue-based biosensor include, but are not limited to: nutrient requirements and efficient fluid transport of nutrients and wastes; spatial requirements of cells within the matrix; signal processing and information extraction from electrical, optical, mechanical, or other outputs from incorporated cells; and stability and functional turnover of components. It is recognized that recent advancements in engineering differentiated or undifferentiated primordial cells represents a unique opportunity to engineer functional responses of cells and their organization into a three dimensional matrix for a tissue based biosensor and systems that examine this technology are encouraged. Technologies which explore the use of reporter molecules (e.g., fluorescence, luminescence) present an opportunity to report on cellular reactions of importance to functional responses to agents of interest. In addition, the successful development of a tissue based biosensor will also require the development of new materials that provide scaffolds for the long-term function of cells in a three dimensional environment. Proposals on these materials should examine issues of modification to enhance cellular performance, long-term biocompatibility of these materials, and degradation of the material under operational conditions. Logistical considerations for the deployment of these biosensors should also be addressed. These include: sampling techniques for the introduction of samples in the field, extension of operational duty cycle, long-term potentiation events in cellular and multicellular responses, real-time and remote signal processing, false positives and negatives, and extended shelf-life through fluid, frozen, or freeze-dried treatments in potentially harsh environmental operational conditions. Proposals should address one or more aspects of the development of these systems and should seek to demonstrate the utility of the sensor within the application interests of the Department of Defense. Teaming of interdisciplinary efforts in order to achieve a functional based biosensor system are also encouraged. To assist the process of team formation, an interactive website has been established at url: http://www.sainc.com/darpa/tbb/index.htm/ to enable individual researchers and organizations with specific applicable expertise or capabilities to provide a one- to two-page (non-proprietary) description of their capabilities and interests. This website will remain active from the date of issuance of this BAA until the proposal deadline. Specific information content, communications, networking and team formation are the sole responsibilities of the participants. DARPA will not participate in these activities other than to provide the website forum to enable others to initiate communications. HOW TO PROPOSE: Proposers should obtain information and forms provided in the Proposer Information Pamphlet (PIP) BAA#98-13 by mailing, faxing, or emailing a written request (with name, address, telephone number, and email address) to DARPA/DSO, Attn: BAA#98-13/Rudolph, 3701 N. Fairfax Drive, Arlington, Virginia 22203-1714; faxed requests: 703-696-3999, Attn: DARPA/DSO, BAA#98-13/Rudolph, email requests: baa98-13@darpa.mil. The PIP will be sent via first-class mail to each requester. The PIP contains the required cover sheet and forms as well as detailed information on the required proposal format. The PIP can also be obtained via the url: http://www.darpa.mil/baa/#dso/. Proposals shall be submitted to DARPA/DSO, Attn: BAA #98-13/Rudolph, 3701 N. Fairfax Drive, Arlington, Virginia 22203-1714. PROPOSAL FORMAT: Submit one (1) original and seven (7) single-sided, hard copies, and one (1) electronic version (using Microsoft Word or Word Perfect) of the full proposal due no later than 1600 ET 24 February 1998. Proposals shall consist of two volumes: Volume 1 will be the Technical Proposal and Volume 2 the Cost Proposal. The first page of each volume shall be a required cover sheet provided in the PIP. Volume 1, Technical Proposal shall not exceed thirty (30) pages including required cover sheet, all figures, references, tables, charts, and appendices. Pages shall be single-spaced, have a 1-inch margin and a font size no smaller than 12 pitch. Refer to PIP for further formatting details. The technical effort should be organized in two phases. Phase I -- an initial phase of no more than two years with a significant and demonstrable milestone at the end, followed by Phase II -- a second, one- or two-year follow-on phase again with a significant technological accomplishment at the conclusion of the program. Both Phase I and Phase II should include measurable milestones and technology demonstrations. Volume 2, Cost Proposal shall contain a summary cost breakdown and a detailed cost breakdown. PROPOSAL EVALUATION: Proposals will be evaluated according to the following evaluation criteria in descending order of importance: (1) scientific and technological merit of the proposed program; (2) offeror's capabilities, past performance, and recent related experience, including personnel, facilities, equipment and data; (3) impact of the successful development on defense systems; and, (4) cost realism. Note: cost realism will only be significant in proposals which have significantly under or over-estimated the cost to complete their effort. Early submission of proposals is strongly encouraged. Selections for awards will be made at any time during the evaluation process. Proposals will not be returned. Restrictive notices notwithstanding, proposals may be handled, for administrative purposes only, by Strategic Analysis, Inc., a support contractor. This contractor is bound by appropriate non-disclosure requirements. All proposals will be reviewed by Government officials only. Input on technical aspects of the proposals may be solicited by DARPA from non-Government consultants/experts who are bound by appropriate non-disclosure requirements. Non-Government technical consultants will not have access to proposals that are labeled by the offerors as "GOVERNMENT ONLY." BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT: This Commerce Business Daily (CBD) notice, in conjunction with the BAA#98-13 PIP, constitutes a BAA as contemplated by FAR 6.102(d)(2). No additional information is available nor will a formal Request for Proposal (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 in response to this announcement. Proposals identified for funding may result in a procurement contract, grant, cooperative agreement, or other transaction depending upon the nature of the work proposed, the required degree of interaction between parties, and other factors. The offeror must submit a separate list of all technical data or computer software that will be furnished to the Government with other than unlimited rights (see DFARS Part 227). No portion of the BAA will be set aside for HBCU and MI participation due to the impracticality of reserving a discrete or severable area of research for exclusive competition among those entities. HBCUs and MIs are encouraged to apply and/or team with other proposers. One (1) original and seven (7) paper copies of each proposal and one (1) electronic version (using Microsoft Word or Word Perfect) shall be sent to DARPA/DSO, Attn: BAA#98-13/Rudolph, 3701 N. Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714 by 1600 ET 24 February 1998. (0353)

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