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

A -- SOFTWARE-ENABLED CONTROL SOL BAA 98-16 DUE 022698 POC Dr. D. Helen Gill, DARPA/ITO, Fax: (703) 522-7161 SOFTWARE-ENABLED CONTROL SOL BAA 98-16 DUE 3/2/98 POC Dr. D. Helen Gill, DARPA/ITO, FAX: (703) 522-7161 This solicitation seeks innovative approaches in software-enabled control systems that can increase effective control over a new range of system types and scales. The premise of this effort is that the availability of multi-gigabit DRAMs and processors executing millions of instructions per control interval can enable new approaches in the design of control systems. The goal of this DARPA research is new technology that would spawn a commodity market in computational control systems to enable new applications that are impractical or intractable using existing techniques. Because of the inherently multi-disciplinary nature of this problem, these approaches will combine control theory with methods from computer science. DARPA seeks to advance software-enabled control of simple (single-control-loop) systems; integrated control of interacting systems; and coordinated control of multiple, separately designed, systems. We seek novel approaches for the use of "active" or on-line simulation models to achieve significant advantage over traditional control systems. Also of interest are approaches using active models to improve such aspects of system control as sensing, diagnostics, exception-handling, and advisory subsystems. Examples of applications that challenge current control engineering technology include high-performance air vehicles in unstable operating regions, integrated avionics, power grid stability, close formation flight, and control of single and multi-vehicle systems. Examples of control obstacles that need to be overcome include control of highly-coupled systems; mode identification and transition management in large state and mode spaces; control and coordination of decentralized systems; and control authority management for coordinated, semi-autonomous, and autonomous systems. DARPA solicits proposals in two technical topic areas: 1) Application-driven research prototypes and 2) Toolkits forsoftware-enabled control systems. Proposals should be for an 18-month effort, with an additional 18-month option. For toolkit efforts, the base period should emphasize the design and development of a toolkit for building control systems with features enabling advanced controller designs. The option period should emphasize demonstrations and extensions of the toolkit. For application driven research prototypes, the base period should focus on the development of novel technology to address the control challenges of the application. The option period should emphasize the demonstration of the prototype control system for the application. Collaborative efforts are encouraged to ensure key expertise exists in computer science and control systems. 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 local time, Monday, March 2, 1998 in order to be considered. Proposers must obtain a pamphlet, BAA 98-16 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 mailrequest 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 98-16 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 local time, Monday, February 23, 1998; e-mail or fax is preferred. DARPA intends to use electronic mail and fax for some of the correspondence regarding BAA 98-16. 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 98-16, Electronic Mail: baa98-16@darpa.mil, Electronic File Retrieval: http://www.ito.darpa.mil/Solicitations.html, Mail: DARPA/ITO, ATTN: BAA 98-16, 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714. (0012)

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