A -- SIMULATION OF BIO-MOLECULAR MICROSYSTEMS (SIMBIOSYS)

Notice Date

September 29, 2000

Contracting Office

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

ZIP Code

22203-1714

Solicitation Number

01-07

Response Due

January 12, 2001

Point of Contact

Dr. Anantha Krishnan, DARPA/MTO, Fax (703) 696-2206

E-Mail Address

BAA01-07@darpa.mil (BAA01-07@darpa.mil)

Description

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is soliciting innovative research proposals in the area of experimental and theoretical analyses of Bio-Molecular Microsystems. Phenomena of interest include molecular recognition processes, transduction of molecular signals into measurable electrical/optical/mechanical signals, and bio-fluidic transport in microsystems. Synergistic and complementary efforts integrating fundamental experiments and theoretical modeling are sought to enable the characterization, quantification (scaling) and control of the above phenomena. Proposed research should investigate innovative approaches that enable revolutionary improvements in the sensitivity, specificity, speed, efficiency and affordability of sensing and detection mechanisms relevant to DoD applications. One of the important goals of SIMBIOSYS is the development and demonstration of advanced computational modeling and simulation tools consisting of scaling rules and phenomenological relationships for the analysis and design of high performance bio-molecular microsystems. DARPA seeks innovative proposals in the following areas: (i) Molecular recognition of target bio-molecules in bio-fluidic samples, (ii) Transduction of molecular recognition into measurable electrical/optical/mechanical signals, (iii) On-chip transport of bio-fluidic samples, and (iv) Design tools and methods for lab-on-a-chip (LoC) systems. All development efforts should target enabling capabilities for the sensing and detection of biological and chemical fluids/molecules relevant to DoD requirements and applications. Proposals should demonstrate a close interaction between fundamental experiments and theoretical modeling in order to be responsive to this solicitation. As stated in the Evaluation Criteria below, the offeror's plan for transitioning the research to DoD and the commercial industry is an important consideration for this BAA. Additional information on these technology areas is provided in the Areas of Interest section of the BAA 01-07 Proposer Information Pamphlet referenced below. PROGRAM SCOPE: Long-term program goals include the development, validation and demonstration of enabling computational technologies, and the integration of these technologies into full-scale, high pay-off systems-level design environments. Funded efforts, pursuant to source selection under this BAA, will be undertaken in two phases. Phase I will be dedicated to experimental and theoretical models of molecular recognition and transduction processes and the interfacing of these models with microfluidic system models. Phase II will be dedicated to the benchmark validation of the microfluidic models and the demonstration of design tools on the prototyping of biological/chemical microsystems. Phase II tasks will be funded as options under this program to be decided during FY03. Awards totaling approximately $25 million are expected to be made during the first half of calendar year 2001. Multiple awards are anticipated. Collaborative efforts/teaming and cost sharing are encouraged. The technical POC for this effort is Dr. Anantha Krishnan, fax: (703) 696-2206, electronic mail: BAA01-07@darpa.mil. GENERAL INFORMATION: Proposers must obtain a pamphlet entitled "BAA 01-07, Simulation of Bio-Molecular Systems (SIMBIOSYS), Proposer Information Pamphlet" which provides further information on SIMBIOSYS, the submission, evaluation, and funding processes, proposal abstract formats, proposal formats, and other general information. This pamphlet may be obtained from the World Wide Web (WWW) at URL http://www.darpa.mil/ or by fax, electronic mail, or mail request to the administrative contact address given below. Proposals not meeting the format described in the pamphlet may not be reviewed. In order to minimize unnecessary effort in proposal preparation and review, proposers are strongly encouraged to submit proposal abstracts in advance of full proposals. An original and seven (7) copies of the proposal abstract must be submitted to DARPA/MTO, 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714 (Attn.: BAA 01-07) on or before 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time (ET), Monday, October 30, 2000. Proposal abstracts received after this time and date may not be reviewed. Upon review, DARPA will provide written feedback on the likelihood of a full proposal being selected and the time and date for submission of a full proposal. Proposers not submitting proposal abstracts must submit an original and seven (7) copies of the full proposal to DARPA/MTO, 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714 (Attn.: BAA 01-07) on or before 4:00 p.m., ET, Friday, January 12, 2001, in order to be considered. This notice, in conjunction with the BAA 01-07 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 the 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 which shall be considered by DARPA. Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Minority Institutions (MIs) 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 research in this program. The formation of multi-disciplinary teams consisting of industry, academia, and/or national laboratories with complementary areas of expertise is strongly encouraged. To this end, DARPA invites all interested offerors of whatever size or capacity to provide capability statements to assist with teaming arrangements. An interactive web site has been established at URL http://sukova.sysplan.com/SimbiosysBAA/ in which these capability statements will be posted. The web site will remain active from the date of issuance of this BAA until January 12, 2001. Specific information content, communications, networking, and team formation are the sole responsibilities of the participants. Neither DARPA nor the DoD endorses the destination web site or the information and organizations contained therein, nor does DARPA or the DoD exercise any responsibility at the destination. All administrative correspondence and questions on this solicitation, including requests for information on how to submit a proposal abstract or full proposal to this BAA, should be directed to one of the administrative addresses below; e-mail or fax is preferred. DARPA intends to use electronic mail and fax for correspondence regarding BAA 01-07. Proposals and proposal abstracts may not be submitted by fax or e-mail; any so sent will be disregarded. DARPA encourages use of the WWW for retrieving the Proposer Information Pamphlet and any other related information that may subsequently be provided. EVALUATION CRITERIA: Evaluation of proposal abstracts and full proposals will be accomplished through a technical review of each proposal using the following criteria, which are listed in descending order of relative importance: (l) overall scientific and technical merit, (2) potential contribution and relevance to DARPA mission, (3) plans and capability to accomplish technology transition, (4) offeror's capabilities and related experience, and (5) cost realism. Note: cost realism will only be significant in proposals which have significantly under or over-estimated the cost to complete their effort. The administrative addresses for this BAA are: Fax: (703) 351-8685 (Addressed to: DARPA/MTO, BAA 01-07), Electronic Mail: BAA01-07@darpa.mil, Mail: DARPA/MTO, ATTN: BAA 01-07, 3701 North Fairfax Drive Arlington, VA 22203-1714 This announcement, the Proposer Information Pamphlet, and "Frequently Asked Questions" may be retrieved via the WWW at URL http://www.darpa.mil/ in the solicitations area.

Web Link

http://www.darpa.mil (http://www.darpa.mil)

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20001003/ASOL002.HTM (W-273 SN502373)