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

A -- COMPACT HYBRID ACTUATORS PROGRAM SOL BAA00-03 DUE 112299 POC Dr. Ephrahim Garcia, DARPA/DSO, fax (703) 696-3999 COMPACT HYBRID ACTUATORS PROGRAM SOL BAA#00-03,DUE 22NOV99, POC Dr. Ephrahim Garcia, DARPA/DSO, FAX (703) 696-3999,EMAIL: BAA00-03@DARPA.MIL URL: http://www.darpa.mil/baa/#DSO/. PROGRAM GOALS AND OBJECTIVES: The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is soliciting innovative research proposals in Compact Hybrid Actuation. This effort is focused on developing new types of electromechanical actuators and devices that take advantage of the high energy density of smart material transduction elements. Smart material-based transducer elements containing piezoelectrics, electrostrictives, magnetostrictives, shape memory alloys, and others have been developed, in part, through DARPA funding. The goal of this new program is to develop compact, efficient actuation devices possessing high power density and/or specific power. Work produced by smart transducers needs to be transmitted at appropriate stroke and force levels and frequencies to enable new classes of actuation devices. The energy density ofmaterials such as piezoelectric, electrostrictives, magentostrictives and magnetic shape memory alloys allows for high power density devices if these transducers are driven at high frequencies. However, driving electronics and methods for transmitting very short transducer element motion to large stroke actuators useful for military missions still need to be developed. Power electronic systems are another aspect of compact actuation technology that will be considered in this program. Efficient, electro-mechanical driving circuits that are optimized for specific smart material transducers, electrical load characteristics, and actuation device designs need to be developed. Compact hybrid actuators may use multiple domains to generate the overall desired system performance; power may be moved from one domain to another, e.g., as electro-mechanical to mechanical-fluidic, hence, energizing fluids via the smart material. Methods for increasing the frequency and efficiency of shape memory alloys are also of interest. Compact Hybrid Actuators will enable new capabilities for Department of Defense (DoD) platforms such as adaptive airframes, actuation devices for aerodynamic control surfaces, robotic locomotion, high fidelity articulation of dexterous manipulators, and vibration isolation devices, to name a few. It is preferable that the actuator developed in this program demonstrate a new military capability, as opposed to improving a current DoD system. The goal of the program is to develop actuation systems and devices that exceed the specific power and power density of traditional electromagnetic- and hydraulic-based actuation systems by a factor of 10. This BAA will be managed in two major phases. An 18-month Phase I effort will pursue the development of compact hybrid actuator technology. An 18-month Phase II effort will focus on the application of new compact actuators to platforms and prototypes that demonstrate innovative military capabilities and/or enable new missions. TEAMING: The Compact Hybrid Actuation Program (CHAP) emphasizes integrated approaches to develop actuation systems with military utility (i.e., proposers should demonstrate a clear understanding of the interdisciplinary nature of the problem; and proposals should tackle as many challenges as possible as outlined in the Proposer Information Pamphlet (PIP)). Teaming is strongly encouraged where appropriate, provided that all team members can contribute significantly to the technical objectives. Teaming is encouraged to ensure that advances in actuation system design, material transducers and power electronics can be rapidly integrated into useable military devices. To assist the teaming process an interactive web site has been established at URL: www.sainc.com/DARPA/CHAP/. Individual researchers and organizations with specific, applicable expertise or capabilities may provide non-proprietary descriptions of their capabilities and interest which can then be accessed by all potential proposers. The web site will remain active from the date of issuance ofthis BAA until proposals are due. 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 web site forum to enable others to initiate communications. Individual efforts will be entertained where a convincing case can be made for comprehensive internal capabilities, broad applicability of the specified research, and a potential for later integration into future military systems. However, because integration challenges are so important in the development of new actuators for military platforms, a team approach where insightful research ideas in the aforementioned disciplines are combined with excellent systems engineering is more likely to lead to competitive proposals. FULL PROPOSALS: The proposed effort should be in two phases. Phase I should be a near term, 18-month, effort that demonstrates proof-of-concept and Phase II should be an 18-month effort achieving end of program requirements as outlined in the PIP. The technical portion of the proposal is restricted to 30 pages (including figures). Suggested format for full proposal: 1) an executive summary describing the hybrid actuation concept(s), impetus, approach, and target application; 2) introduction with statement of the perceived technical challenges and the concepts to be exploited to satisfy the requirements of the PIP; 3) detailed technical discussion of the implementation of the proposed concept, technical risks, and a set of metrics for periodically evaluating progress; 4) the overall management plan and a list of participating organizations, their relevant expertise and which tasks will be performed by each team member; 5) a Statement of Work with technical milestones and deliverables, including performance metrics and programmatic design points; 6) a summary cost and implementation schedule; and 7) a plan for transitioning and commercializing the technology to industry and/or Government applications. References, resumes, or other supporting documentation may be included as appendices to the main body of the proposal. A detailed cost and implementation schedule should also be included in a separate cost proposal. Further details are available in the PIP. The total amount of funding available for this BAA is approximately $25M; and it is anticipated that there will be multiple awards. The most important part of the full proposal will be the technical concepts proposed for actuator devices based on smart material transduction and methods for achieving long stroke, high force actuators from elementary smart material constitutive behavior. The goal of these efforts should be the development and demonstration of novel, high power actuation systems that can be implemented into experimental military platforms. What is not wanted is a systematic materials development project, ending with the optimization of material properties only. The end products of this solicitation will be deliverable hardware demonstrating the approach achieved toward meeting the specification listed in the PIP. Proposers must submit an original and nine (9) copies of the full proposal to DARPA/DSO, 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714 (Attn.: BAA#00-03) on or before 4:00 PM, ET, 22 November 1999. Proposals must meet the objective and format guidelines as described in the PIP to be considered. PROPOSAL EVALUATION: Proposals will be evaluated according to the following criteria in decreasing order of importance: (l) scientific and technological merit of the proposed program; (2) impact of the successful development on defense systems; (3) offeror's capabilities, past performance, and recent related experience, including personnel, facilities, equipment and data; and (4) cost realism. 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 and/or 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." 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. The Government reserves the right to select for award all, some, or none of the proposals received. Cost sharing is encouraged, but not required. All responsible sources capable of satisfying the Government's needs may submit a proposal that shall be considered by DARPA. GENERAL INFORMATION: Proposers must obtain the pamphlet entitled "BAA#00-03, Compact Hybrid Actuators Program (CHAP) Proposer Information Pamphlet (PIP)", which provides detailed information on program objectives, areas of interest, the submission, evaluation, and funding processes, proposal formats, and other program information. This pamphlet may be requested from the World Wide Web (WWW) or by fax, electronic mail (e-mail), or mail requests through the administrative contact information given below. This announcement and the PIP may be retrieved via the WWW at URL http://www.darpa.mil/DSO/ in the solicitation area. Proposals not meeting the format described in the pamphlet may not be reviewed. All administrative correspondence and questions on this solicitation, including requests for information on how to submit a proposal to this BAA, should be directed to DARPA/DSO, BAA#00-03, fax: (703) 696-3999, electronic mail (e-mail): BAA00-03@darpa.mil, or mail: DARPA/DSO, ATTN: BAA#00-03, 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714, e-mail or fax is preferred. DARPA intends to use electronic mail and fax for correspondence regarding BAA#00-03. Proposals may not be submitted by fax or e-mail; any so sent will be disregarded. DARPA encourages use of the WWW for retrieving the PIP and any other related information that may subsequently be provided. This notice, in conjunction with the BAA#00-03 PIP, constitutes the total BAA. No additional information is available, nor will a formal RFP or other solicitation regarding this announcement be issued. Requests for the same will be disregarded. Minority Institutions and Historically Black Colleges and Universities are encouraged to submit proposals and join others in submitting proposals. However, due to the technical nature of the hardware demonstration, no portion of this BAA will be set aside specifically for these entities. Posted 10/01/99 (W-SN387539). (0274)

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