Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Contract Management Directorate (CMD), 3701 N. Fairfax Dr., Arlington, VA 22203-1714

A -- RUNTIME ENVIRONMENTS FOR NETWORKED, EMBEDDED SYSTEMS SOL BAA 99-04 DUE 122198 POC Dr. Robert Laddaga, DARPA/ITO, Fax: (703) 522-7161 WEB: http://www.ito.darpa.mil, http://www.ito.darpa.mil. E-MAIL: baa99-04@darpa.mil, baa99-04@darpa.mil. A number of DARPA research and development programs have a common need for core software capabilities. These programs include SensorIT, Mobile Autonomous Robot Software, Software Enabled Control, and Autonomous Negotiation Teams. All of these programs are focused on providing new capabilities in the context of networked, embedded systems. They each require a runtime environment, either on top of or instead of a standard operating system. DARPA seeks novel software runtime environments to support building and deploying distributed systems of sensors, actuators and computational units. Proposals may build technology on top of existing operating systems, or provide the runtime environment as a native, distributed operating system for one or more explicitly identified hardware architectures. Approaches that leverage new hardware architectures under development within DARPA/ITO's research programs on Adaptive Computing Systems (ACS), and Data Intensive (DI) computing are of special interest. Although this BAA concerns the runtime software core, application domains of interest to the Department of Defense include sensor networks, uninhabited combat air vehicles (UCAVs), other uninhabited military vehicles (land, sea, and air), logistics, dynamic planning and scheduling, novel airframes and rotorcraft, signal and image processing, and robotics. Proposals should address the design, prototype implementation and evaluation of complete runtime systems supporting all or most of the desired characteristics identified below. Proposers should be prepared to cooperate with other selected contractors in order to achieve a common runtime environment. Team efforts are also encouraged. Desired Characteristics: 1.Support for deeply networked systems and mobile code 2. Operating system services in support of sensor/actuator I/O 3. Support for low-latency feedback across software component boundaries 4. Tuning of performance and configuration at runtime 5. Other innovative approaches to providing runtime support for networked, embedded systems PROGRAM SCOPE: Proposed research should investigate innovative approaches and techniques that lead to or enable revolutionary advances in the state-of-the-art. Proposals are not limited to the specific strategies listed above and alternative visions will be considered. However, proposals should be for research that substantially contributes towards the goals stated. Research should result in prototype hardware and/or software demonstrating integrated concepts and approaches. Specifically excluded is research that primarily results in evolutionary improvement to the existing state of practice or focuses on a specific system or solution. Integrated solution sets embodying significant technological advances are strongly encouraged over narrowly defined research endeavors. Proposals may involve other research groups or industrial cooperation and cost sharing. GENERAL INFORMATION: In order to minimize unnecessary effort in proposal preparation and review, proposers are strongly encouraged to submitbrief proposal abstracts in advance of full proposals. An original and eight (8) copies of the proposal abstract must be submitted to DARPA/ITO, ATTN: BAA 99-04, 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714, in time to reach DARPA by 4:00 PM (ET), Wednesday, November 18, 1998, to guarantee review. Upon review, DARPA will make a recommendation to offerors either encouraging or discouraging submission of full proposals. Proposers must submit an original and eight (8) copies of full proposals in time to reach DARPA by 4:00 PM (ET), Monday, December 21, 1998, in order to be considered. Proposers must obtain a pamphlet, BAA 99-04 Proposer Information, which provides further information on the areas of interest, submission, evaluation, funding processes, proposal abstracts, and full 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 99-04 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 abstract or proposal to this BAA, must be directed to one of the administrative addresses below by 4:00 PM (ET), Monday, December 14, 1998; e-mail or fax is preferred. DARPA intends to use electronic mail and fax for some of the correspondence regarding BAA 99-04. Proposals and proposal abstracts 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 99-04, Electronic Mail: baa99-04@darpa.mil, Electronic File Retrieval: http://www.ito.darpa.mil/Solicitations.html, Mail: DARPA/ITO, ATTN: BAA 99-04, 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714. Posted 10/20/98 (W-SN263512). (0293)

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