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

A -- DYNAMIC ASSEMBLY FOR SYSTEMS ADAPTABILITY, DEPENDABILITY, AND ASSURANCE 9DASADA) SOL BAA 00-20 DUE 020100 POC Dr. John Salasin, DARPA/ISO, Fax (703) 696-2203 or Contractual POC: Ms. Algeria Tate, Fax (703) 696-2208 WEB: http://www.darpa.mil, http://www.darpa.mil. E-MAIL: BAA00-20@darpa.mil, BAA00-20@darpa.mil. DARPA is soliciting proposals to develop and demonstrate technology that will enable systems to meet complex needs under a program called Dynamic Assembly for System Adaptability, Dependability and Assurance (DASADA). As military software systems become more complex, it is evident that they must be able to change themselves by swapping or modifying components, changing component interaction protocols, or changing topology. They must do this dynamically, while the system is operating. Outputs from this program will ensure that the critical properties of complex, heterogeneous software systems are maintained during and after composition, adaptation and deployment. Emphasis is on developing gauges to assess the suitability of components including commercial government off the shelf (GOTS), open source, or other codes for insertion and use in a specific system. System complexity results from the following: a) Partial understanding of the relationship between physical structure and behavior of the system; b) Multiple, essential, interdependent behaviors (e.g. to support functional, safety, reliability, security requirements and c) Dynamic behavior in both component behavior and topology. Survivability and changing operating conditions require adaptation and self-correction. It is not feasible to completely model these increasingly complex systems. Therefore, since successful system implementation is based on having models that are accurate with respect to critical properties, we cannot understand them, predict them, control them, or automatically compose or adapt them. While better modeling techniques are needed, we also need to combine these techniques with an ability to adapt systems (and the models) based on observing the behavior of running systems. Particularly for critical military systems, we need to make changes predictably to ensure safety and reliability. DASADA will build on previous technology efforts in the areas of: a) Design -- to assess the suitability of existing or new, off the shelf or automatically generated components for insertion in a system before assembly, allowing automated (controlled) assembly and on-the-fly transformations that produce predictable, safe systems; b) Coordination -- to assess the correctness of a composition operation during assembly, allowing reconfigurations to be conducted safely across heterogeneous, distributed dynamic systems and; c) Validation -- to allow continual, run-time validation of critical system properties. To achieve this vision, we have to create (through design or recovery) a description of a system's architecture, a specification of critical properties (which may or may not be supported by the present system), and requirements for change. Previous work in several DARPA programs, most recently the "Evolutionary Design of Complex Software (EDCS)" has provided useful lessons, languages, and techniques. More information is available at: a) http://www.darpa.mil/ito/research/edcs/index.html, b) http://www.if.afrl.af.mil/programs/edcs, and c) http://www.if.afrl.af.mil/programs/edcs/demo-days-99/EDCS-99-Demos-Ind ex.html. PROGRAM OBJECTIVE: The DASADA Program objective is to develop dynamic gauges or measures of component composability or interoperability. These gauges should: a) Determine the suitability of components for insertion / (re)use in a given system; b) Enable safe run-time composition and deployment; c) Enable continual monitoring of the system to guide adaptation and d) Ensure that critical (user defined) properties are maintained during and after composition, adaptation, and deployment. PROGRAM SCOPE: The DASADA Program will develop new technology to support software composability and will transition technology to a limited number of system application experiments. The program is anticipated to proceed in two overlapping phases: a) technology development projects to be conducted in two (2) cycles of 22-24 months each, and b) large scale service-led experiments to demonstrate key results and /or new ideas generated by the technology development phase in a more realistic setting. Only the first cycle of phase one will be addressed by this BAA. ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS: Offerors should identify the specific area(s) they are addressing. In their proposals, they should describe the requirements of the area from their perspective, describe the key technical challenges and identify why they are a challenge. They should describe their approach and outline the key attributes that may lead to success. Proposals that address greater parts of the problem space, through innovative integration of component technologies, are highly desired. Technologies with application to DoD systems are also preferred and will receive higher priority for funding in the experiment phase. Technology developers are strongly encouraged to form teams and to share technologies. FUNDING SUMMARY: Funding will be available in late FY00, however, it is anticipated that the majority of work will be done in FY01-FY02. It is estimated that 10-12 technology projects, with durations of 22 to 24 months each, may be funded at a total cost of $500K to $1 million per project. GENERAL INFORMATION: DARPA will not accept classified proposals to BAA 00-20. Proposers must submit an original and three (3) hard copies of full proposals, i.e., Technical -- Volume I and Cost -- Volume II; and three electronic copies of the complete proposal on separate floppy disks. Proposals must be submitted to DARPA by 4:00 PM local time on 01 February 2000, in order to be considered. Proposers must obtain the BAA 00-20 Proposer Information Pamphlet (PIP) that provides further information on the areas of interest, submission, evaluation, funding processes, and full proposal formats. The PIP may be obtained by electronic mail, world wide web, or mail request to the administrative contact address given below, as well as at URL address: http://www.darpa.mil/baa00-20. Proposals not meeting the format described in the PIP may not be reviewed. This Commerce Business Daily notice, in conjunction with the 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. Proposals submitted by fax 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 separable areas of this research for exclusive competition among these entities. EVALUATION CRITERIA: Evaluation of proposals will be performed using the following criteria in order of importance: (1) Overall scientific and technical merit. Consideration will be given to both the technology planned to be produced and the approaches to be used to ensure that the technology does (or can) produce the benefits claimed. (2) Understanding of problem and relevance of research effort to DASADA objectives. Evaluation of projects will be based on the extent to which they support dynamic assembly (or re-assembly) of components and on the specificity with which they define "gauges" to assess properties of components and systems. These gauges should have the capability of assuring critical properties of "off the shelf" or "open source" components with respect to the requirements of a given system. (3) Capabilities, related experience, and qualifications of proposed project personnel. Teaming is encouraged. (4) Stated contribution and relevancy to DoD application. Evaluation of projects will be based on the extent to which they show a match between the technology/gauges they develop and DoD system requirements, where the requirements are relevant to a family of systems, as opposed to a narrow niche. (5) Cost realism/reasonableness or best value. 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. The 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. Teaming among technology developers to share technologies is strongly encouraged. ORGANIZATIONAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST: Awards made under this BAA are subject to the provisions of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 9.5, Organizational Conflict of Interest. All offerors and proposed subcontractors must affirmatively state whether they are supporting any DARPA technical office(s) through an active contract or subcontract. All affirmations must state which office(s) the offeror supports and identify the prime contract number. Affirmations shall be furnished at the time of proposal submission. All facts relevant to the existence or potential existence of organizational conflicts of interest, as that term is defined in FAR 9.501, must be disclosed. This disclosure shall include a description of the action the Contractor has taken, or proposes to take, to avoid, neutralize or mitigate such conflict. If the offeror believes that no such conflict exists, then it shall so state in this section. Restrictive notices notwithstanding, proposals may be handled, for administrative purposes only, by the support contractor, Schafer Corporation. The support contractor is prohibited from competition in DARPA technical research in DARPA /ISO and is bound by appropriate non-disclosure requirements. Only Government officials will evaluate the proposals. Posted 12/03/99 (W-SN405687). (0337)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0004 19991207\A-0004.SOL)