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

A -- DEFENSE UNIVERSITY RESEARCH INITIATIVE ON NANOTECHNOLOGY (DURINT) SOL 00-014 DUE 112900 POC Point of Contact Negotiator: Vera M. Duberry, ONR 253, (703) 696-2610, Technical Point of Contact: The Department of Defense (DoD) announces the Fiscal Year 2001 competition for the Defense University Research Initiative on NanoTechnology (DURINT). The DURINT program is 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 nanotechnology critical to national defense. The DURINT consists of two components: research and equipment, both of which support education. Through this announcement, two types of proposals are being sought: equipment and research. Equipment proposals and research proposals are to be submitted separately and independently; equipment proposals can be submitted without an accompanying research proposal, or vice versa. Proposals may be submitted only by U.S. institutions of higher education (herein 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. 1. Equipment. A university, or university consortium, can propose to purchase major equipment that would support research on nanotechnology. Only research equipment for the conduct of nanotechnology research will be considered. 2. Research. Universities and/or consortia of universities are encouraged to form teams with strengths in multiple science and engineering fields related to nanotechnology. The DoD expects the DURINT program will promote nanotechnology research, primarily for defense but also for civilian applications. This DURINT competition is specifically for the fifteen research topics listed as follows: Topic #1 Nanoscale Machines and Motors Topic #2 Biomolecular Control of Nanoelectronic and Nanomagnetic Structure Formation Topic #3 Nano-System Energetics Topic #4 Characterization of Nanoscale Elements, Devices, and Systems Topic #5 Synthesis, Purification, and Functionalization of Carbon Nanotubes Topic #6 Nanoscale Electronic Devices and Architectures Topic #7 Nano-Porous Semiconductors -- Matrices, Substrates, and Templates Topic #8 Deformation, Fatigue, and Fracture of Nanostructures and Interfacial Materials Topic #9 Nanostructures for Catalysis Topic #10 Polymeric Nanocomposites for High-Speed and Space Systems Topic #11 Organic Nanophotonics and Nanoelectronics Topic #12 Quantum Computing and Quantum Devices Topic #13 Molecular Recognition and Signal Transduction in Biomolecular Systems Topic #14 Synthesis and Modification of Nanostructure Surfaces Topic #15 Magnetic Nanoparticles for Application in Biotechnology This notice constitutes a Broad Agency Announcement as contemplated in FAR 6:102(d)(2)(i). For equipment proposals, the awards are expected to be for one year, ranging from $50,000 to $1,000,000, subject to the availability of appropriations. For research proposals, the awards typically will be made for three years (through increments or options) with options for two additional years, ranging from about $500,000 to $1,000,000 per year subject to the availability of appropriations. 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/ under "URI/Education/HBCU/MI". The DoD will not issue paper copies of this program announcement. The program announcement on the Web provides: general information; eligibility criteria; relevant dates; instructions for submitting equipment proposals, research white papers and research proposals; detailed description of each of the fifteen research topics; technical points of contact; and evaluation criteria. For research proposals the intent of a request for white papers is to minimize the labor and costs associated with the production of detailed proposals. All those interested in submitting research proposals are encouraged to submit white papers first. However, all proposals submitted under the terms and conditionscited herein will be reviewed, regardless of the disposition (or lack) of white papers. 1. Equipment proposals. The primary evaluation criteria, of equal weight, are: (1) Technical merits and impact of the proposed equipment on currently funded or planned nanotechnology research of importance to DoD; and (2) Potential of the equipment to augment the university's capability to conduct nanotechnology research and related education. Other evaluation criteria, of lesser importance than (1) and (2) but equal to each other, are: (3) Past performance, experience, and qualification of the institution to operate and maintain the equipment proposed for purchase; (4) Past performance, qualification, and experience of the Principal Investigator and other key personnel; and (5) Realism and reasonableness of cost. 2. Research white papers and proposals. 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. Criteria (1), (2), (3), and (7) will be used to evaluate white papers. All seven criteria will be used to evaluate final research proposals. The awards will be made on behalf of the DUSD(S&T) Basic Research Office by the following four agencies: the Army Research Office (ARO), the Office of Naval Research (ONR), the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR), and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). Potential equipment proposers are encouraged to contact the appropriate program managers within these agencies to explore possible mutual interest before submitting an equipment proposal. Equipment proposals can be submitted to any one of the four agencies with appropriate areas of research interest in nanotechnology. Research white papers and proposals addressing topics numbered 1 -- 4 should be sent to ARO; topics numbered 5 -- 8 to ONR; topics numbered 9 -- 12 to AFOSR; and topics numbered 13 -- 15 to DARPA at the addresses provided in the program announcement on the Web. Due dates are as follows: (1) Equipment proposals -- 4:00 p.m.local time on Wednesday, 29 November 2000. (2) Research white papers -- 4:00 p.m. local time on Thursday, 27 July 2000. (3) Research proposals -- 4:00 p.m. local time on Wednesday, 29 November 2000. Sponsor: Office of Naval Research, 800 North Quincy Street, Arlington, VA 22217-5660 Posted 05/23/00 (W-SN457698). (0144)

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