COMMERCE BUSINESS DAILY ISSUE OF OCTOBER 30, 2001 PSA #2967
SOLICITATIONS
A -- METABOLIC ENGINEERING FOR CELLULAR STASIS
- Notice Date
- October 26, 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
- BAA02-01
- Response Due
- December 14, 2001
- Point of Contact
- Joseph Bielitzki, DARPA Program Manager, Phone 703-696-5278, Fax 703-696-3999, Email none
- Description
- METABOLIC ENGINEERING FOR CELLULAR STASIS SOL: BAA02-01, DUE: December 14, 2001, POC: Joseph T. Bielitzki, DARPA/DSO, PHONE: (703) 696-5278, FAX: (703) 696-3999, EMAIL: BAA02-01@DARPA.MIL, URL: http://www.darpa.mil/dso/. PROGRAM GOALS AND OBJECTIVES: The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) seeks proposals for innovative research and applications of natural mechanisms of survival and metabolic function under environmental extremes to control the metabolic demands and requirements of cells, tissues, organs, and organisms. The goal of this effort is to increase the survival of warfighters on the battlefield after injury and/or reduce the logistics/support requirements to provide medical support on the battlefield at all levels of care. In order to accomplish this goal, we will extract principles of survival from natural systems and use this information to drive the development of products for increased survival to the warfighter. Many natural systems (e.g., organisms) have evolved mechanisms at the cellular and tissue system level for surviving in environmental extremes such as temperature, humidity, salinity, radiation, dehydration, oxygen, and nutrient availability. A primary objective is to identify materials, mechanisms, and integrated processes for controlling cellular metabolism and activity in cells, tissues, organs, and model organisms and apply this knowledge to the development of useful products, such as freeze-dried platelets and erythrocytes, which would assist in providing medical care on the battlefield. 1) Metabolic stabilization: A primary focus is to develop reversible methods for the long-term storage of platelets, erythrocytes, leukocytes, lymphocytes, hematopoetic stem cells, and mesenchymal stem cells. An ideal situation is for long duration storage at a variety of environmental temperatures and reduced weight of the preparation coupled with ease of reconstitution. Methods of storage and transportation of cells must occur with a minimum of specialized equipment and/or high survivability and functionality of cells on reconstitution for clinical application. Attention to methodologies and techniques that minimize damage and/or compromise to genetic material, proteins, membranes, organelles, other essential molecules, and differential compartmentalization of protectants within the cell should be considered. Methods that systematically evaluate freezing, vitrification, desiccation, and the incorporation of model protective mechanisms into the biological material of concern are of interest. 2) Control of the wound response/healing process: Methods for the control, regulation, and enhancement of the healing process, both during crisis (on the battlefield trying to stabilize the wounded), as well as definitive care (enhance, speed, and improve outcome of injury recovery) will be considered. Methods involved in the in vivo control and regulation of mesenchymal stem cell populations (adult-derived) and the potential to control stem cell maintenance and migration are of interest. Proposals directed at understanding and controlling the stages of differentiation when antigenic expression is genotypically defined and immune neutrality of donor cells is lost are encouraged. Enhancement of the organic immune system, improvement of cellular growth and regeneration, enhanced utility/recovery from wounds (regain full function after injury), and reduced atrophy of organs/muscles are of interest. 3) Intentional metabolic modification: The ability to induce and control the onset of metabolic changes to adapt to extremes of environment (lowered O2 at higher elevations, high and low temperature extremes, reduced water/nutrients, etc.) is of interest. This would include allowing warfighters to either adapt faster or to intentionally modify their metabolism in a prophylactic manner. GENERAL INFORMATION: Proposers must obtain a Proposer Information Pamphlet (PIP), which provides detailed information on program objectives, areas of interest, submission, evaluation, funding processes, proposal formats, and other program information. This may be obtained by fax, electronic mail (e-mail), or mail requests to the administrative contact addresses given below, or from the World Wide Web (WWW) at URL http://www.darpa.mil/dso/. TEAMING: Because the focus of Metabolic Engineering is on systematic methodology, proposals involving teams of investigators having expertise that spans all key areas of metabolic engineering are appropriate. Proposals involving individual investigators or investigator teams of narrower expertise may be appropriate if they show clear applicability to the broad Metabolic Engineering goals. To ensure that metabolic engineering advances closely address DoD needs and can be readily integrated into useful practice, investigators are encouraged to incorporate expertise that increases the DoD's ability to deploy biological materials, particularly blood, blood products, and tissues to forward positions for combat casualty care or to augment the healing process in a controlled manner. To assist in the teaming process, a website has been established at URL: http://www.sainc.com/darpa/me/. 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 website forum to enable others to initiate communications. The teaming website will be available until the BAA closing date of December 14, 2001. FULL PROPOSALS: Proposals should address the ability to store cell and tissue products for use later in traumatic injury care. Cells and tissues should be able to recover from storage with the capability of functioning as normal without detrimental effects or compromise to the tissue or the recipient with the potential for transition to clinical application. Proposers must submit an original and six (6) copies of the proposal to DARPA/DSO, ATTN: BAA 02-01, 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714 on or before 4:00 PM ET, December 14, 2001. Proposals must meet the objective and format guidelines as described in the PIP. Each proposal should present the following technical content: 1) A description of the innovation and concepts addressing the issues and demonstrating the key features; 2) Major technical challenges and how they will be approached; 3) Projected impact of these developments on DoD applications; 4) Management plan with details of program coordination; 5) Program plan with technical milestones; 6) Descriptions of experience and expertise of prime contractor and sub-contractors; and 7) Proposed funding level. Proposals shall consist of two volumes: Volume 1, Technical Proposal and Volume 2, Cost Proposal. Both volumes should be printed on 8-1/2 by 11 inch pages with 1-inch margins and type not smaller than 12 point. Further detail on specific content and format are found in the PIP. Except for a bibliography attachment, Volume 1 is limited to thirty (30) pages. Volume 2 should be valid for a period of six (6) months after the date of submission. When the effort consists of multiple portions that could be reasonably partitioned for purposes of funding, these should be identified with separate cost estimates for each. Details of any cost sharing should also be included. EVALUATION PROCEDURES: 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 and/or to encourage teaming between competing proposers. DARPA's intent is to review proposals as soon as possible after they arrive. Evaluation of proposals will be accomplished through a technical review of each proposal using the following criteria: 1) Overall scientific and technical merit; 2) Impact of successful development efforts on Defense systems; 3) Abilities of the proposer(s) to implement the program; and 4) Cost realism. Cost sharing and collaboration with other existing research activities that complement the proposed research are both acceptable. All proposals will be reviewed by Government officials only. 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 "GOVERNMENT REVIEW ONLY." Restrictive notices notwithstanding, proposals may be handled, for administrative purposes only, by a 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. Proposals identified for funding may result in a contract, grant, cooperative agreement, or "Technology Investment Agreement" (TIA), depending upon the nature of the work proposed, the required degree of interaction between parties, and other factors. 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). 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 DARPA/DSO, BAA 02-01, fax: (703) 696-3999, electronic mail (e-mail): BAA02-01@darpa.mil, or mail: DARPA/DSO, ATTN: BAA 02-01, 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714; e-mail or fax is preferred. Proposals submitted by fax or e-mail will be disregarded. This notice, in conjunction with the BAA 02-01 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.
- Web Link
- Visit this URL for the latest information about this (http://www.eps.gov/spg/ODA/DARPA/CMO/BAA02-01/listing.html)
- Record
- Loren Data Corp. 20011030/ASOL004.HTM (D-299 SN5116Q0)
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