A -- FUTURE COMBAT SYSTEMS (FCS) COMMUNICATIONS

Notice Date

October 20, 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

BAA0-01

Response Due

October 3, 2001

Point of Contact

Technical POC: Dr. James Freebersyser, DARPA Advanced Technology Office, Facsimile (703) 696-9781, Email BAA01-01@darpa.mil (Email contact preferred); Contractual POC: Charles Nurse, DARPA Contracts Management Office, 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714, Facsimile (703) 696-2208, Email cnurse@darpa.mil (Email contact preferred)

Description

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Advanced Technology Office (ATO) is soliciting proposals (technical and cost) from qualified corporations, research centers, and universities for the Future Combat Systems Communications BAA 01-01. By 2010, Future Combat Systems (FCS) is envisioned to provide the Army with an affordable system capable of overwhelming lethality, strategic deployability, self-sustainment, and high survivability. As a separate initiative managed by the DARPA Tactical Technology Office (TTO), FCS has already begun to develop concepts, model, and prototype a rapidly deployable, lightweight, multi-mission combat system heavily reliant on robotics, distributed sensors, direct and indirect fire weapons, and C4ISR functions. Additional information on FCS can be found at http://www.darpa.mil/fcs/index.html. The effort described in this BAA is intended to progressively develop and demonstrate state-of-the-art advancements in communications technology necessary to support the notional FCS operational concept. FCS implicitly acknowledges an overriding need for high data rate and low latency communications to support real-time FCS fire control and robotic missions. Since FCS will operate in a hostile electromagnetic environment, the communications system developed by this program must provide robustness to jamming and possess low probability of detection (LPD) characteristics. DARPA proposes to meet these opposing constraints through a multi-tiered mobile ad hoc network utilizing both directional antennas at low-band (e.g. Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) bands) and highly directional antennas at high-band (above microwave frequencies). Providing the data rates, range, LPD, and robustness to jamming necessary to meet FCS operational needs will require significant advancements in low-band and high-band components (transmitters, receivers, etc.), directional antenna technology which can be made suitable for FCS platforms, and mobile ad hoc networking techniques utilizing directional antennas. These mobile ad hoc networks are likely to be comprised of airborne and terrestrial platforms, possibly deploying autonomously to provide the needed coverage on a dynamic and ad hoc basis. Additional overview information on the FCS Communications program can be found in the industry day brief at http://www.darpa.mil/ato/solicit.htm. DARPA seeks innovative technology proposals in the following technical areas: 1) High band technology (transmitters, receivers, antennas, etc.) for dynamically exploiting microwave frequencies and above; 2) Low band (e.g. future JTRS) technology for dynamically exploiting complex Radio Frequency (RF) environments, including multi-path mitigation with diversity techniques, multi-user detection, and space-time processing; 3) RF information assurance techniques at the network layer and below; 4) Mobile ad hoc network technology for smoothly blending the high band and low band technologies into a single network, including routing, Quality of Service (QoS) for real-time traffic, topology optimization, acquisition and tracking, and mobility management, all using directional antennas; and 5) Novel concepts not covered in 1) -- 4) but applicable to FCS communications, to include modeling and simulation. Proposals are to address only one of the five technical areas listed above. Should a proposer desire to submit proposals in more than one of the five technical areas listed above, separate proposals for each technical area are required. ACQUISITION INFORMATION: This BAA solicits proposals for the technology development phase of the FCS Communications program. As much as a total of $7,000,000 may be available for base awards in Government Fiscal Year (GFY ending September 30) 2001, and as much as a total of $10,000,000 for option awards in GFY 2002 and 2003. The base and option periods for the technology development phase are expected to continue through GFY 03. Multiple awards are anticipated covering the 5 technical areas for this BAA. Base awards ranging up to a maximum of $1,500,000 are planned. Awards are anticipated to be made in January 2001. The technology development phase will focus on maturing technology, performance modeling and analysis, laboratory demonstration, and testing. Multiple, parallel awards to varied design approaches are anticipated with future down selects. Proposers should submit a proposal with a base award period of 12 months, and three options of 10, 4, and 6 months for the sub-system, system, and demonstration phases of the program as further described in the Proposer Information Pamphlet (PIP). The objective desire of the sub-system/system phase will be to team new innovative technologies funded under this BAA into a sub-system/system design. An additional announcement will be published in the Commerce Business Daily soliciting potential sources for the subsystem/system phase to integrate the technologies developed and demonstrated under this BAA. Both the technology development and the sub-system/system phases will include progressive performance demonstrations to achieve Technology Readiness Level 5 (as defined by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Technology Plan) by 3QFY03. The goal of the demonstration would be to exercise the communications infrastructure of a single notional FCS unit cell using surrogate platforms. Unique ideas in regards to intellectual property are solicited; however a minimum of Government-purpose rights will be required to facilitate the ultimate goal of integrating the technologies developed into FCS. To accomplish this effort, DARPA encourages innovative approaches from both Government traditional and non-traditional Government contractors. In this regard, DARPA intends to make maximum use of flexible, non-traditional Government methods such as the use of 10 U.S.C 2371, Section 845, Other Transactions for Prototypes. Teaming and cost sharing are acceptable to the extent that they are meaningful and beneficial to the Government. GENERAL INFORMATION: Proposers must obtain a pamphlet entitled "BAA 01-01, FCS Communications, Proposer Information Pamphlet" (PIP) which provides further information on the submission, evaluation, and funding processes, proposal formats including page limitations, and other general information. This pamphlet may be obtained from the World Wide Web (WWW) at http://www.darpa.mil/baa/ (under the ATO section) one working day after publication of the BAA or by fax, electronic mail, or mail request. While discussions are anticipated, the Government reserves the right to make awards under this BAA without discussions. Questions regarding this BAA or comments to the PIP may be sent to BAA01-01@darpa.mil. Proposers must submit an original and ten paper copies of the proposal, and one electronic copy (in a format readable by Microsoft Word 2000, i.e. rich text file format or MS Word 2000 or below format, and on PC formatted 3.5 inch, 1.4 MB disks or PC formatted 100 MB disks that are readable by Iomega 100MB Zip disk drives) of the proposal, to Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, DARPA/ATO BAA 01-01, Attn: Dr. James A. Freebersyser, 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714 by 21 November 2000, 1700 hours Eastern Daylight Savings Time, in order to be considered in connection with the initial evaluation and award schedule for this program discussed in the PIP. However, BAA 01-01, FCS Communications, will remain open for one year following the release date. Thus, proposals may be submitted at any time during the year. While the proposals submitted after the 21 November 2000 deadline above will be evaluated by the Government, proposers should keep in mind that the likelihood of funding such proposals is less than for those proposals submitted in connection with the initial evaluation and award schedule. Proposals may not be submitted by fax or e-mail; any sent in this manner will be disregarded. Provisions for submitting classified proposals are detailed in the PIP. Proposals submitted shall be in accordance with this announcement and the PIP. The Government shall not be liable for the cost of proposal preparation and submission. This notice, in conjunction with the BAA 01-01 PIP, constitutes the total BAA. No additional information is available, nor will a formal Request For Proposal (RFP) or other solicitation regarding this announcement be issued and requests for such information will be disregarded. Proposers should be alert for any BAA amendments that may be published. 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. Offerors may be foreign firms or may team with foreign firms as long as the firm meets criteria in this solicitation and the Government is permitted to conduct business with the firm. Offerors may also include foreign personnel as part of their proposed resources as long as these personnel qualify technically and possess the proper security clearances ultimately required. 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. All administrative correspondence and questions on this solicitation, including requests for information on how to submit a proposal to this BAA, should be directed to BAA01-01@darpa.mil. EVALUATION CRITERIA: Evaluation of proposals will be accomplished through a review of each proposal using the following criteria, which are listed in descending order of relative importance: (1) overall scientific and technical merit; (2) potential contribution and relevance to the DARPA/FCS mission; (3) proposer's capabilities; (4) technology transition plans, including the potential of the technology to achieve Technology Readiness Level 5 by 15 April 2003; and, (5) cost realism.

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20001024/ASOL002.HTM (W-294 SN5047Y7)