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

A -- VEHICLE SELF-PROTECTION TECHNOLOGY (VSPT) SOL BAA 98-14 DUE 040398 POC R. Leheny, DARPA/ETO, Fax (703) 696-2206 WEB: http://www.darpa.mil, http://www.darpa.mil. E-MAIL: BAA98-14@darpa.mil, BAA98-14@darpa.mil. PROGRAM OBJECTIVE AND DESCRIPTION: The Defense Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is soliciting innovative research proposals for technical research in the area of III- Nitride optoelectronic materials and devices applied to the development and demonstration of ultra-violet (UV) sensitive solar-blind, solid-state focal plane array devices for vehicle self-protection (VSP) and other UV detection applications. Detection of light emitted in the short wavelength (UV) region of the spectrum provides a potentially effective means of identifying unique target signatures, such as missile plumes, so that sensor systems based on solar-blind (responsivity peaked in the 250-300nm range) detectors may provide effective early warning and interceptor guidance against missile threats for a wide range of ground vehicles and aircraft. Additional potential applications for short wavelength detectors include atmospheric sensing, covert communications, biological and chemical detection, etc. Existing technology is based on photomultipliers which are bulky, environmentally fragile and relatively expensive, thus limiting their range of effective applications. The VSPT program seeks to develop and demonstrate low-cost, compact, environmentally robust, solid-state focal plane arrays capable of performance matching, or exceeding, that of state-of-the-art photomultiplier tubes. The group III- Nitrides promise the potential for highly efficient and reliable detectors capable of high temperature operation. The program will expand on recent advances in III-Nitride material and device technologies and focus on developing the critical materials growth and processing techniques required to realize efficient photodetector devices, as well as the demonstration of focal plane arrays for solar-blind imaging applications. This will result in the development of a viable device technology which can be rapidly transitioned to industry to meet future military needs enabled by lightweight, environmentally robust, and potential low-cost, solid-state, solar-blind detector arrays. PROGRAM SCOPE: The program is expected to have two elements: the first seeks to develop low-defect substrate material and high quality epitaxial film deposition capabilities to meet the goal of demonstrating a high quantum efficient, low dark-current, solar-blind UV-detector device; and the second seeking to build on these results to demonstrate a focal plane array technology. Additional information on these two elements is provided in the Program Scope section in Section I of the BAA 98-14 Proposer Information Pamphlet referenced below. Teaming is strongly encouraged between material researchers and suppliers, component researchers and vendors (technology suppliers), and system/subsystem integrators (technology users). The program will support a limited number of very innovative individual investigator efforts as well. Teams should be capable of demonstrating the technology developed under the program in a military application. The program scope does not include a field insertionbut rather a concept demonstration. Offerors are, however, encouraged to propose high payoff insertion demonstrations as a program option. Awards totaling approximately $14,000,000 over three years are expected to be made by the third quarter of calendar year 1998. Multiple awards are anticipated. The technical POC for this effort is Robert Leheny, e-mail: rleheny@darpa.mil. GENERAL INFORMATION: Proposers must obtain a pamphlet entitled "BAA 98-14, Vehicle Self-Protection Technology (VSPT), Proposer Information Pamphlet", which provides further information on the program scope; the submission, evaluation, and funding processes; proposal and proposal abstract formats; and other general information. This pamphlet may be obtained from the World Wide Web (WWW) or by fax, electronic mail, or mail request to the administrative contact address given below. Proposals not meeting the format described in the pamphlet may not be reviewed. To minimize unnecessary effort in proposal preparation and review, proposers are strongly encouraged to submit proposal abstracts in advance of full proposals. An original and nine (9) copies of the proposal abstract must be submitted to DARPA/ETO, 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714 (ATTN: BAA 98-14), on or before 4:00 p.m., local time, Friday, February 20, 1998. Proposal abstracts received after this date may not be reviewed. Upon review, DARPA will provide written feedback on the likelihood of a full proposal being selected and the date and time for submission of a full proposal. Proposers not submitting proposal abstracts must submit an original and nine (9) copies of the full proposal to DARPA/ETO, 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714 (ATTN: BAA 98-14), on or before 4:00 p.m., local time, Friday, April 3, 1998, in order to be considered. This notice, in conjunction with the BAA 98-14 Proposer Information Pamphlet, 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 negotiation and/or award all, some, or none of the proposals received. All responsible sources capable of satisfying the Government's needs may submit a proposal which shall be considered by DARPA. Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Minority Institutions (MIs) 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 research in vehicle self-protection systems. All administrative correspondence and questions on this solicitation, including requests for information on how to submit a proposal abstract or proposal to this BAA, should be directed to one of the administrative addresses below; e-mail or fax is preferred. DARPA intends to use electronic mail and fax for correspondence regarding BAA 98-14. Proposals and proposal abstracts may not be submitted by fax or e-mail; any so sent will be disregarded. DARPA encourages use of the WWW for retrieving the Proposer Information Pamphlet and other related information that may subsequently be provided. EVALUATION CRITERIA: Evaluation of proposal abstracts and proposals will be accomplished through a technical review of each proposal using the following criteria, which are listed in descending order of relative importance: (1) overall scientific quality, technical merit, and realism; (2) potential contribution of the proposed effort in terms of its impact on existing or future military and commercial systems and relevance to the DARPA mission; (3) realism of procedures for evaluating technical progress; (4) effectiveness of the management plan and if applicable, the team structure and team composition; (5) offeror's capabilities, key personnel, past performance, related experience, facilities and techniques, or unique combination of these, that form integral factors for achieving the proposal's objectives; and, (6) offeror's cost realism. Note: cost realism will only be significant in proposals which have significantly under or over-estimated the cost to complete their effort. The administrative addresses for this BAA are: Fax: (703) 351-8616 (Addressed to: DARPA/ETO, BAA 98-14), Electronic Mail: BAA 98-14@darpa.mil, Mail: DARPA/ETO, Attn: BAA 98-14, 3701 N. Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714. This announcement and the Proposer Information Pamphlet may be retrieved via the WWW at URL http://www.darpa.mil/ in the solicitations area. (0015)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0005 19980120\A-0005.SOL)