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COMMERCE BUSINESS DAILY ISSUE OF NOVEMBER 23,1999 PSA#2481

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

A -- NETWORK MODELING AND SIMULATION (NMS) SOL 00-18 DUE 020100 POC Dr. Sri Kumar, DARPA/ITO, FAX: (703) 522-7161 WEB: http://www.darpa.mil/ito/solicitations.html, http://www.darpa.mil/ito/solicitations.html. E-MAIL: baa00-18@darpa.mil, baa00-18@darpa.mil. PROGRAM GOALS: ADMINISTRATIVE NOTE: NEW REQUIREMENTS/PROCEDURES HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED, EFFECTIVE AS OF SEPTEMBER 1999. The Network Modeling and Simulation (NMS) program solicits innovative research and development leading to the creation of modeling and simulation tools that are trustworthy to predict, with known and characterizable accuracy, network behavior over a broad range of time scales, network sizes and technology composition. The program also seeks research on appropriate online network measurement methodologies, which in conjunction with modeling and simulation tools will provide the basis for online network analysis and control. The analysis, prediction, and control capabilities are aimed at achieving orders of magnitude reduction in the time and cost required for functions such as parameter tuning, dynamic selection of situation specific protocols, and quality-of-service (QoS) provisioning, by eliminating or dramatically reducing any or all manual intervention in these functions. It is the intention that these tools can also be harnessed to significantly improve the efficiency of network operational functions such as network planning, network service provisioning, and failure analysis. This program emphasizes the development of rich, powerful, and efficient models, which based on sound theoretical underpinnings, can capture all relevant network phenomena, and can predict system level network behavior, both internal to the network and end-to-end, to support the goals stated above. The ability of modeling and simulation tools to reproduce and predict behavior, with known accuracy, over a wide range of operating conditions, and at rapid time scales suitable for online analysis and control, is important. The modeling and simulation tools should be applicable to a broad array of network technologies. Network behavior of interest is at packet level and higher. Specifically excluded in this solicitation is research focussing only on the modeling of the physical layer. Research is sought in the following technical areas: Innovative models of traffic, network, and control; Measurement, Validation, and Online Simulation; and Emulation Tools and Online Control. Proposed research may address one or more technical areas. PROGRAM SCOPE: DARPA anticipates the NMS program to be five years in duration. Proposals for this BAA should have duration of no more than 36 months of base funding, and may include additional options. Interdisciplinary research and collaborative experimentation with vendors and service providers are encouraged strongly. Multiple awards are anticipated. 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. Proposals should state their position with respect to delivering open source code. GENERAL INFORMATION: THIS IS A NEWLY IMPLEMENTED REQUIREMENT EFFECTIVE AS OF SEPTEMBER 1999 The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency/Information Technology Office (DARPA/ITO) requires completion of a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) Cover Sheet Submission for each proposed Proposal, by accessing the URL below: http://www.dyncorp-is.com/BAA/index.asp?BAAid=0018 . After finalizing the BAA Cover Sheet Submission, the proposer must submit the BAA Confirmation Sheet that will automatically appear on the web page. Each proposer is responsible for printing the BAA Confirmation Sheet and submitting it attached to the "original" and each designated number of copies. In doing so, the Confirmation Sheet should be the first page of your Proposal. Failure to comply with these submission procedures may result in the submission not being evaluated. Detailed information and instructions are outlined within the Proposer Information Pamphlet (PIP). 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 4 copies of the proposal abstract and 4 electronic copies (i.e., 4 separate disks) of the full proposal (in Microsoft Word '97 for IBM-compatible or ASCII format on one 3.5-inch floppy disk or one 100 MB Iomega Zip disk). Each disk must be clearly labeled with BAA 00-18, proposer organization, proposal title (short title recommended) and Copy ___ of 4). The proposal abstract (original and designated number of hard andelectronic copies) must be submitted to DARPA/ITO, ATTN: BAA 00-18, 3701 Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714, in time to reach DARPA by 4:00 PM (ET), Friday, December 17, 1999, 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 4 copies of the full proposal and 10 electronic copies (i.e., 10 separate disks) of the full proposal (in Microsoft Word '97 for IBM-compatible or ASCII format on one 3.5-inch floppy disk or one 100 MB Iomega Zip disk). Each disk must be clearly labeled with BAA 00-18, proposer organization, proposal title (short title recommended) and Copy ___ of 10. The full proposal (original and designated number of hard and electronic copies) must be submitted in time to reach DARPA by 4:00 PM (ET), Tuesday, February 1, 2000, in order to be considered. Proposers must obtain the BAA 00-18 Proposer Information Pamphlet (PIP), 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, mail request to the administrative contact address given below, or at URL address http://www.darpa.mil/ito/Solicitations.html. Proposals not meeting the format described in the pamphlet may not be reviewed. This Commerce Business Daily notice, in conjunction with the BAA 00-18 Proposer Information Pamphlet and all references, 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: The overall scientific and technical merit must be clearly identifiable. The technical concept should be clearly defined and developed. Emphasis should be placed on the technical value of the development and experimentation approach. (2) Innovative Technical Solution to the Problem: Proposed efforts should apply new or existing technology in a new way such as is advantageous to the NMS objectives. Plan on how offeror intends to get developed technology and information to the user community should be considered. (3) Potential Contributionand Relevance to DARPA Mission: The offeror must clearly address how the proposed effort will meet the goals of the NMS undertaking. The relevance is further indicated by the offeror's understanding of the operating environment of the capability to be developed. (4) Offeror's Capabilities and Related Experience: The qualifications, capabilities, and demonstrated achievements of the proposed principals and other key personnel for the primary and subcontractor organizations must be clearly shown. (5) Plans and Capability to Accomplish Technology Transition: The offeror should provide a clear explanation of how the technologies to be developed will be transitioned to capabilities for military forces. Technology transition should be a major consideration in the design of experiments, particularly considering the potential for involving potential transition organizations in the experimentation process. (6) Cost Realism: The overall estimated cost to accomplish the effort should be clearly shown as well as the substantiation of the costs for the technical complexity described. Evaluation will consider the value to Government of the research and the extent to which the proposed management plan will effectively allocate resources to achieve the capabilities proposed. 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, January 25, 2000; e-mail or fax is preferred. DARPA intends to use electronic mail and fax for some of the correspondence regarding BAA 00-18. 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 00-18; Electronic Mail: baa00-18@darpa.mil; Electronic File Retrieval: http://www.darpa.mil/ito/Solicitations.html Mail to: DARPA/ITO, ATTN: BAA 00-18, 3701 Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714 Posted 11/19/99 (W-SN402316). (0323)

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