A -- CONTINUOUS ASSISTED PERFORMANCE (CAPS)

Notice Date

June 28, 2001

Contracting Office

Other Defense Agencies, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Contracts Management Office, 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA, 22203-1714

ZIP Code

22203-1714

Solicitation Number

BAA01-28

Response Due

October 1, 2001

Point of Contact

John Carney, DSO PM, Phone 703-696-4641, Fax 703-696-3999, Email jcarney@darpa.mil

Description

CONTINUOUS ASSISTED PERFORMANCE (CAP); SOL: BAA 01-28;=20 DUE 10/01/01; POC: Dr. John Carney, DARPA/DSO; FACSIMILE: (703) 696-3999; URL: http://www.darpa.mil/dso/; E-MAIL: BAA01-28@darpa.mil. PROGRAM GOALS: The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is soliciting innovative research and development proposals in the prevention of degradation of cognitive performance due to sleep deprivation. The goal of the DARPA Continuous Assisted Performance Program (CAP) is to identify those approaches that extend the performance envelope of the warfighter irrespective of the job requirement, branch of service, or theater of operation. The capability to resist the mental and physiological effects of sleep deprivation will fundamentally change current military concepts of "operational tempo" and contemporary orders of battle for the military services. In short, the capability to operate effectively, without sleep, is no less than a 21st Century revolution in military affairs that results in operational dominance across the whole range of potential U.S. military employments. The CAP program will develop a number of different strategic approaches to prevent the effects of sleep deprivation over an extended period of time, nominally set at 7 days (24/7). These approaches will capitalize on emerging concepts in neuroscience, neurobiology, cognitive psychology, cell signaling/regulation, non-invasive imaging technologies and novel mathematical approaches to modeling and analysis. BACKGROUND: As combat systems become more and more sophisticated and reliable, the major limiting factor for operational dominance in a conflict is the warfighter. Eliminating the need for sleep while maintaining the high level of both cognitive and physical performance of the individual will create a fundamental change in warfighting and force employment. Such a capability has the potential to disrupt enemy OPTEMPO, increase the effectiveness of small footprint military forces and shorten the duration of conflict. The logistics impact of this capability is realized in the time of delivery of personnel, materiel and weapons platforms to overseas theaters of war or conflict. Because of the ubiquitous contribution of enhanced alertness to the armed forces, this technology advantage is not restricted by service roles and missions. OBJECTIVES: In order to accomplish this goal, the program will need to understand how and what systems degrade as a result of sleep deprivation. In particular, it may be possible to identify problem solving brain circuits/strategies that are or can be trained to be resistant to the effects of sleep deprivation. Understanding these processes will give additional insight into the design and programming of the warfighter-equipment interface. Preventing the degradation of cognitive performance in the face of prolonged sleep deprivation is the goal of the CAP program. Because information processing and memory are complex, multi-system processes, it is likely that there can be several different approaches that successfully accomplish the goal of preventing the breakdown of cognitive performance caused by sleep deprivation. The development of specific research areas to prevent sleep deprivation effects is likely to build on the understanding of how sleep deprivation interferes with brain function, how the brain solves short term and long term memory problems, how stress changes the synaptic connection in critical brain areas and interacts with changes caused by sleep deprivation, how the development of novel training approaches can establish neural pathway strategies that are less vulnerable to disruption, how controlling the biochemistry of synapses can prevent the effects of sleep deprivation and how controlling the process of neurogenesis can significantly extend the ability to perform cognitive tasks during extended periods of sleep deprivation. 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 approach that will extend the performance envelope of the warfighter. Further information on the technical approach can be found in Section 1 of the Proposer Information Pamphlet (PIP). The technical effort should not exceed a period of fifty-four months and should be organized into two phases. See section 1.2 (Technical Program Structure) in the PIP for more details on the requirements for completing each phase of the program. Phase I -- the initial phase of the proposal is 18 months with a milestone evaluation between months 14 and 16 prior to the end of Phase I. Phase II -- proposed as an option, will be a downselection from Phase I, not to exceed a period of three years with significant demonstrable milestones. Milestones and accomplishments for each phase should clearly define metrics of performance to allow a determination of whether the effort is moving toward development of effective treatment. Because of the systems complexity and the risk associated with the CAP goals, it is expected that a smaller number of projects will be selected to proceed to Phase II, compared to the number selected in Phase I. Based upon the time critical nature of the overall program integration Phase I efforts must be completed in the performance period specified (no exceptions) in order to complete the down selection process for Phase II performers. 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 facsimile, 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 Continuous Assisted Performance program. To facilitate in the formation of collaborative teams DARPA and the CAP program will be sponsoring a teaming workshop in Las Vegas, Nevada, at the Imperial Palace Hotel August 21-23, 2001. For further information and registration please access http://safe.sysplan.com/cap_meeting. To assist with teaming arrangements, an interactive web site has been established at URL: http://teaming.sysplan.com/CAP/. 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 October 1, 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. 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 01-28, 3701 N. Fairfax Drive, Arlington, Virginia 22203-1714 on or before 4:00 p.m. ET, October 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 one year after the date of submission. Proposed programs should be no longer than fifty-four (54) months. Facsimile 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 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; (3) Offeror's Capabilities; 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 will be considered, but not required. Government officials will review proposals. Input on purely technical aspects of 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 "REVIEW BY GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ONLY." Restrictive notices notwithstanding, proposals may be handled, for administrative purposes only, by a DARPA support contractor. 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 will preferably result in a contract; however, other contractual instruments will be considered. All administrative correspondence and questions on this solicitation should be directed to BAA 01-28, FACSIMILE: (703) 696-3999, E-MAIL: BAA01-28@darpa.mil, or MAIL: DARPA/DSO, ATTN: BAA 01-28, 3701 N. Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714. This notice, in conjunction with the BAA 01-28 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/or team with others in submitting proposals. However, no portion of this BAA will be set-aside for HBCUs and MIs specifically. =20

Web Link

Visit this URL for the latest information about this (http://www.eps.gov/spg/ODA/DARPA/CMO/BAA01-28/listing.html)

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20010702/ASOL008.HTM (D-179 SN50Q3A0)