Office of Naval Research, 800 North Quincy St., Arlington, VA 22217-5660

A -- MULTIDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH PROGRAM OF THE UNIVERSITY RESEARCH INITIATIVE SOL 00-013 DUE 111500 POC Point of Contact Negotiator; Vera M. Duberry, ONR 253, (703) 696-2610; Technical Point of Contact: Dr. Clifford Lau, ONR 363, (703) 696-0431 The Department of Defense (DoD) announces the Fiscal Year 2001 competition for the Multidisciplinary Research Program, one element of the University Research Initiative (URI). The URI is a Department of Defense initiative sponsored by the Director of Basic Research, Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Science and Technology (DUSD(S&T)) to enhance universities' capabilities to perform basic science and engineering research and related education in science and engineering areas critical to national defense. The Multidisciplinary Research Program of the URI (MURI) supports university teams whose efforts intersect more than one traditional science and engineering discipline. Multidisciplinary team effort can accelerate research progress in areas particularly suited to this approach by cross-fertilization of ideas and also can help to hasten the transition of basic research findings to practical applications and to train students in science and/or engineering. The DoD expects the MURI program will promote basic science and engineering research, primarily for defense but also for civilian applications. Proposals may be submitted only by U.S. institutions of higher education (hereafter referred to as universities), other than federal government, with degree granting programs in science and/or engineering. Eligible universities may submit proposals either individually or collectively, as consortia. This MURI competition is specifically for the thirty-eight research topics listed as follows: Topic #1 Fundamental Issues Underlying Infrared Detection Topic #2 Dynamic Behavior of Interactive Spin-Based Systems Topic #3 Microchemical Systems Topic #4 Ultra-Wideband (UWB) Communications Topic #5 Biological and Chemical Sensing Science at Terahertz Frequency Topic #6 Mathematics of Failures in Complex Systems Topic #7 New Adaptive, Reconfigurable RF Radio/Sensor Concepts Topic #8 Optimizing Cognitive Readiness Under Combat Conditions Topic #9 Integrated Control and Communication for Networked Systems Topic #10 Intelligent Luminescence for Communication, Display, and Identification Topic #11 Learning Based Control for Multi-Parameter Sensors Topic #12 Computationally Engineered Microstructural Complexity Topic #13 3-D Nanoarchitectures for Future Electrochemical Power Sources Topic #14 Automated Skills in Cognitive Readiness Topic #15 Physical Modeling for Processing of Hyperspectral Data Topic #16 Implantable Microelectronics Topic #17 Ultra Low Phase Noise Solid State Electronics Topic #18 Hybrid Smart Materials and Adaptive Structures Topic #19 Intelligent Biomimetic Image Processing/Classification Systems Topic #20 III-Nitride Crystal Growth and Wafering Topic #21 Mechanisms Responsible for Initiation/Detonation of Energetic Materials Topic #22 Integration and Visualization of Multi-Source Information Topic #23 The Effects of Radiofrequency Pulses on Electronic Circuits and Systems Topic #24 High Temperature Superconductors (HTS) for Power Systems Topic #25 Materials Degradation/Passivation in the Space Environment Topic #26 Polymeric Smart Skin Materials Topic #27 Chalcopyrite Semiconductor Material Development Topic #28 Multi-Functional Nano-Engineered Coatings Topic #29 Space Weather Effects on DoD Operations Topic #30 Compact, Portable Pulse-Power Topic #31 Cooperative Control in Dynamic, Uncertain, Adversarial Environments Topic #32 Biomimetic Cell and Tissue Stasis Topic #33 Electromagnetic Metamaterials Topic #34 Photocatalytically Active Nanoscale Scavengers and Sensors (PANSS) Topic #35 Human Activity Recognition From a Network of Vision Sensors Topic #36 Automated Self-Configuring Surveillance Networks Topic #37 Statistical Machine Translation Topic #38 Quality of Service Technologies for Distributed Systems This notice constitutes a Broad Agency Announcement as contemplated in FAR 6:102(d)(2)(i). The agencies expect that typically each award will be: (1) for a period of three years (funded incrementally or as options) with two additional years possible as options to bring the total award to five years, subject to the availability of appropriations; and (2) at a funding level commensurate with the fields and breadth of research included in the details of each specific proposal, ranging from half a million dollars to about a million dollars per year. More than one award, or no award, may be made for an individual topic. A full description of the program is accessible on the World Wide Web at http://www.onr.navy.mil/ in "Education/URI Programs", at http://www.acq.osd.mil/ddre/ research/muri/muri.htm, or at http://web.fie.com/fedix/afosr. html (the FEDIX of the Federal Information Exchange). A FEDIX computer help-line is also available at 301-975-0103. The DoD will not issue paper copies of this program announcement. The program description on the Web provides general information, eligibility, relevant dates, instructions for submitting white papers and proposals, detailed description of each of the thirty-four research topics and points of contact, and evaluation criteria. The intent of a request for white papers is to minimize the labor and costs associated with the production of detailed proposals. All interested proposers, therefore, are encouraged to submit white papers. However, all proposals submitted under the terms and conditions cited herein will be reviewed, regardless of the disposition (or lack of) white papers. The primary evaluation criteria, of equal weight, are: (1) Scientific and technical merits of the proposed basic science and/or engineering research; (2) Relevance and potential contributions of the research to defense missions; and, (3) Impact of plans to enhance the institution's ability to perform defense-relevant research and to train, through the proposed research, students in science and/or engineering (for example, by acquiring or refurbishing equipment that can support DoD research and research-related educational objectives). Other evaluation criteria, of lesser importance than (l), (2), and (3) but equal to each other, are: (4) The qualifications of the principal investigator and other key research personnel; (5) The adequacy of current or planned facilities and equipment to accomplish the research objectives; (6) The impact of interactions with other organizations engaged in related research and development, in particular industrial organizations, DoD laboratories and other organizations that perform research and development for defense applications; and (7) The realism and reasonableness of cost, including proposed cost sharing. Criteria (1), (2), (3), and (7) will be used to evaluate white papers. All seven criteria will be used to evaluate final proposals. The awards will be made on behalf of the DUSD(S&T) Research Office in these thirty-eight specific research topics under the supervision of the Research Topic Chiefs in the following four agencies: the Army Research Office (ARO), the Office of Naval Research (ONR), the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR), and Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). White papers and proposals addressing topics numbered 1 -- 12 should be sent to the Army Research Office ARO; topics numbered 13 -- 22 to the ONR; topics numbered 23 -- 31 to the AFOSR; and topics numbered 32 -- 38 to the DARPA at the addresses provided in the program description on the Web. White papers are due at the addresses shown for each topic by 4 p.m. local time on Thursday, 13 July 2000. Proposals are due at the addresses shown for each topic by 4 p.m. local time on Wednesday, 15 November 2000. Sponsor: Office of Naval Research, 800 North Quincy Street, Arlington, VA 22217-5660 Posted 05/12/00 (W-SN454179). 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