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

A -- AUTONOMOUS NEGOTIATING TEAMS SOL BAA 99-05 DUE 122298 POC Dr. Robert Laddaga, DARPA/ITO, FAX:(703)522-7161 WEB: http://www.ito.darpa.mil, http://www.ito.darpa.mil. E-MAIL: baa99-05@darpa.mil, baa99-05@darpa.mil. DARPA seeks novel approaches to the problems of dealing with challenging distributed allocation problems, in which both resources and their consumers are moving and subject to change, and have significant individual constraints on action. Such problems include allocating and customizing goods and services to customers. Application domains of interest to the Department of Defense include logistics, dynamic planning and scheduling, and reactive (autonomous) systems that assign defensive weapons to moving targets. Solutions to this type of problem will need to scale to very large problem sizes. The Autonomous Negotiating Teams (ANT) approach to this problem utilizes highly decentralized and autonomous negotiation of tasks, roles and allocations, to provide solutions that are both good enough, and soon enough. To do so, we need negotiation protocols for peer-to-peer organization. To effectively use negotiation, we need to be able to handle alternatives, tradeoffs, and uncertainty, including noting when newcircumstances conflict with current plans. We also need to enable speedy, optimized and time-bounded reasoning processes to allow for real-time response. Finally, we need procedures for measuring the degree to which goals are met, or the degree of optimality obtained, in order to autonomously guide further action. The technology needed to develop and demonstrate the ANT system building capability falls naturally into three main challenges: development of a bottom-up organization framework, developing the details of real-time reasoning based negotiation, and evaluation of the approach via challenge problems. Negotiation as the coordination mechanism is a key distinguishing feature of the ANT approach, but an additional strong issue is dynamically creating higher level ANTs, as opposed to prior static hierarchical organization. To demonstrate the efficacy of ANT technology, we seek convincing application demonstrations that span a range of real-time constraints, and security/safety concerns. At the less demanding end of this range, the DoD is interested in logistic support systems for aircraft. In the mid range, DoD is interested in dynamic planning and scheduling for air campaigns. At the more demanding end of this range, DoD is interested in reactive defense weapon control systems, specifically electronic countermeasures (ECM) for aircraft. Proposals may address one or more of the technical topic areas listed below; however, proposals that address more than one area should be structured with separable options. Proposers should be prepared to cooperate in order to achieve a common software architecture and software base. Team efforts are encouraged. Technical Topic Areas: Research is solicited in the following technical topic areas: Basic ANT architecture and toolkit Reasoning based negotiation and dynamic aggregation of tasks and information Convincing application demonstrations 4. Other innovative approaches to the ANTs problem. 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 submit brief 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 99-05, 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714, in time to reach DARPA by 4:00 PM (ET), Tuesday, November 17, 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), Tuesday, December 22, 1998, in order to be considered. Proposers must obtain a pamphlet, BAA 99-05 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 99-05 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), Tuesday, December 15, 1998; e-mail or fax is preferred. DARPA intends to use electronic mail and fax for some of the correspondence regarding BAA 99-05. 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 99-05 Electronic Mail: baa99-05@darpa.mil Electronic File Retrieval: http://www.ito.darpa.mil/Solicitations.html Mail: DARPA/ITO ATTN: BAA 99-05 3701 North Fairfax Drive Arlington, VA 22203-1714 Posted 10/20/98 (W-SN263513). (0293)

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