A -- ACTIVITY DETECTION TECHNOLOGIES (ADT)

Notice Date

November 7, 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

BAA01-05

Response Due

March 1, 2001

Point of Contact

Dr. Alan Rudolph, DARPA/DSO, Fax(703) 696-3999

Description

ACTIVITY DETECTION TECHNOLOGIES (ADT); SOL: BAA 01-05; DUE 03/01/01; POC: Dr. Alan S. Rudolph, DARPA/DSO; FAX: (703) 696-3999; URL: http://www.darpa.mil/baa/baa01-05.htm;. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is soliciting innovative research and development proposals in activity detection technologies. The goal of the DARPA Activity Detection Technologies Program is to develop and demonstrate detection systems capable of extracting information on the biological activity, mechanisms of action, and consequences of exposure to chemical and biological agents of interest to the Department of Defense. These systems will address the growing list of emerging or engineered threats that may evade current detection systems based on structural identification of a threat and produce probabilistic results that determine a state change or event detection, agent classification (e.g., nerve agent, bacterial, viral, toxin, etc.) and estimation of dose exposure. Development of traditional systems, directed towards one assay and/or one pathogen structure-based identification, will be excluded. The program will also explore and define performance metrics of activity systems for potential applications critical to Defense needs. Possible applications of activity detection systems include monitoring air or water quality, rapidly reporting on environmental contamination, evaluating toxicity of agents of interest in deployment toxicology, providing epidemiological surveillance of clinical diagnostic samples, and providing high throughput drug screening. BACKGROUND: Past efforts in the development of activity detection systems revolved around capturing the sensitivity and functional sensory performance of biological cells and tissues (Tissue Based Biosensors) and the creation of biological signatures from these systems for environmental detection or advanced medical diagnostics. Although progress has been made in the development of cell or tissue based biosensors and diagnostics, additional work is needed for successful integration, demonstration, testing, and evaluation of such systems. The Activity Detection Technologies Program aims to further the development and testing of these existing cell and tissue based systems as well as solicit ideas for novel approaches to activity detection systems. OBJECTIVES: A number of key research areas are likely to be involved with the successful development of activity detection systems. These include assay development; longevity and stability; chip interface design and engineering; computational design, statistical analysis and data mining tools; sample collection and preparation, and system modeling and integration. Proposals that address any of these areas will be considered. The design of new functional assays that generate a library of key cell/tissue/organism or other responses to a range of biological and chemical agents may include key assay features such as sensitivity of assay, specificity, precision, probability of detection, mean-detection level, false positives and negatives, and possible interferants. The utility of activity detection systems in the field will depend on system longevity and stability. Novel methods to stabilize these systems and increase shelf-life as well as functional performance will be considered. The development of competent chip interface design and engineering could involve examining the efficient electrical, optical, or applicable extraction of signals in single or arrayed systems and the design and fabrication of microfluidic circuits. The ability to extract critical information from the system may require addressing statistical parameters and data-mining tools needed in order to construct a library of activity and to generate probabilistic methods of extracting system response including state change from background and probabilistic determination of agent classification (e.g., nerve agent, bacterial, viral, toxin) and identification. Challenges in sample collection and preparation may include pre-treatment requirements, acceptable sample matrices (air/water/soil/food/blood/urine/breath/sweat), and sample collection and preparation time. Finally, proposals that examine the integration and system operation of a working system and define design trade-offs for a working device will be considered. Validation and testing of activity detection systems for use in specific Defense applications will also be considered. Defense applications such as air and water quality monitoring systems, trigger systems for existing specific assays, and disease surveillance or advanced medical diagnostic tools could be addressed. TECHNICAL APPROACH: Proposals may address any or all of the research areas described or propose other areas as they relate to the successful development of an activity detection system that addresses the functional response to a chemical or biological threat of interest to the Department of Defense. Further information on the technical approach can be found in the Proposer Information Pamphlet (PIP). The technical effort should not exceed a period of three years and should be organized into two phases. Phase I -- the initial phase of the proposal of no more than 12-18 months with a demonstrable milestone at the end of Phase I. Phase II -- the second follow-on phase not to exceed a period of two years with significant demonstrable milestones at the end of the phase. Milestones and accomplishments for each phase should clearly define metrics of performance to allow a determination of whether the effort is moving toward demonstration of the system capability. GENERAL INFORMATION: Proposers may obtain a PIP, which provides detailed information on program objectives, areas of interest, submission, evaluation, funding processes, proposal format, and other program information, via the World Wide Web (WWW) at URL http://www.darpa.mil/dso under Solicitations, or by fax, e-mail, or mail request to the administrative contact address given below. TEAMING: Proposers are highly encouraged to form integrated collaborative teams (including industries, universities, and/or federal and national laboratories with complementary areas of expertise) to better address the different technological and scientific aspects in the Advanced Detection Technologies program. To assist with teaming arrangements, an interactive web site has been established at URL: http://www.sainc.com/darpa/adt. Individual researchers and organizations with specific, applicable expertise or capabilities may provide non-proprietary descriptions of their capabilities and interests. The web site will remain active from the date of issuance of this BAA until February 9, 2001. Specific information content, communications, networking, and team formation are the sole responsibilities of the participants. DARPA will not participate in these activities other than to provide the web site forum to enable others to initiate communications. WHITE PAPERS: Submission of white papers is highly recommended. Submission and review of white papers is intended to minimize unnecessary effort in proposal preparation and review. All white paper submissions will be evaluated for their responsiveness to the stated goals and tasks associated with this BAA. Offerors should submit an original and ten (10) copies of the white paper to DARPA/DSO, ATTN: BAA 01-05, 3701 N. Fairfax Drive, Arlington, Virginia 22203-1714 on or before 4:00 p.m. ET December 14, 2000. Fax or e-mail transmissions will not be accepted. White papers must meet the objective and format guidelines as described in the PIP in order to be considered. The white paper should not exceed ten (10) pages in length, including the special cover sheet, all charts, figures, and appendices. Within ten (10) business days, DARPA will acknowledge receipt of the white paper submission and assign a control number that should be used in all further correspondence. Recommendations for full proposal submission will be made within approximately thirty (30) days of receipt. Regardless of this recommendation, the decision to submit a full proposal is the responsibility of the proposer. All full proposal submissions will be fully evaluated regardless of the disposition of the white paper. FULL PROPOSALS: Proposals should provide a detailed description of a coherent effort addressing one or all of the specific topics of interest in a manner consistent with the overall program goals. An original and ten (10) copies should be submitted to DARPA/DSO, ATTN: BAA 01-05, 3701 N. Fairfax Drive, Arlington, Virginia 22203-1714 on or before 4:00 p.m. ET, March 1, 2001. Full proposals must meet the objective and format guidelines as described in the PIP and consist of two volumes: a technical volume and a cost volume. The offeror must submit a separate list of all technical data or computer software that will be furnished to the Government with other than unlimited rights (see DFARS Part 227). The cost proposal should be valid for a period of six (6) months after the date of submission. Proposed programs should be no longer than 36 months. Fax or e-mail transmissions will not be accepted. EVALUATION OF PROPOSALS: Within approximately ten (10) business days of receipt of full proposals, DARPA will acknowledge receipt of the submission and assign a control number that should be used in all further correspondence regarding the proposal. DARPA reserves the right to select for award specific sections of any proposed effort. DARPA's intent is to review proposals as soon as possible after they arrive. Evaluation of white papers and full proposals will be accomplished through a technical review of each proposal using the following criteria: (1) Scientific and Technological Merits; (2) Potential Impact on Future Military and Commercial Systems; (3) Offeror's Capabilities, Past Related Experience, and Facilities; and (4) Cost Realism. Proposals that are considered less than satisfactory in the Scientific and Technical Merit criterion will not be evaluated further. Cost sharing is also encouraged, but not required. Government officials will review proposals and white papers. Input on purely technical aspects of white papers and proposals may be solicited by DARPA from non-Government consultants/experts bound by appropriate non-disclosure requirements. Non-Government technical consultants will not have access to submissions that are labeled by the offerors as "GOVERNMENT ONLY." A support contractor may handle white papers and proposals for administrative purposes only, restrictive notices notwithstanding. The contractor is bound by appropriate non-disclosure requirements. Early submission of proposals is encouraged; selections may be made at any time during the process. Not all proposals deemed selectable may be funded. Proposals may be considered for funding for a period of up to one year. The Government reserves the right to select for award all, some, or none of the proposals received. Multiple awards are expected. Proposals identified for funding may result in a contract, grant, cooperative agreement, or other transaction, depending upon the nature of the work proposed and other factors. All administrative correspondence and questions on this solicitation should be directed to BAA 01-05, FAX: (703) 696-3999, E-MAIL: baa01-05@darpa.mil, or MAIL: DARPA/DSO, ATTN: BAA 01-05, 3701 N. Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714. This notice, in conjunction with the BAA 01-05 PIP, 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. 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 HBCUs and MIs specifically.

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20001109/ASOL004.HTM (W-312 SN5061C7)