Attachment_D_Proposal_Template_Vol._1-Tech_and_Mgmt_-_ONISQ_amendment_1.docx

HR001119S0052 Optimization with Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum devices (ONISQ)BAA

Volume 1: Technical and Management Volume Template

The Technical and Management Volume must address the full program (Base + Options).

Use of this template is mandatory for all proposal submissions to this BAA. Proposals not meeting the format prescribed herein may not be reviewed.

This document must include all components described herein and must be submitted in .pdf, .odx, .doc, or .docx formats. The slides described herein must be in .ppt or .pptx format and should be attached as a separate file to this document.

All submissions must be written in English and all pages shall be formatted for printing on 8-1/2 by 11-inch paper with 1-inch margins and font size not smaller than 12 point. Font sizes of 8 or 10 point may be used for figures, tables, and charts.

Proposers are encouraged to submit concise, but descriptive, proposals. Specific examples of problems, approaches, or goals are preferred to qualitative generalities. The Government will not consider pages in excess of the page count limitations, as described herein. Proposals with fewer than the maximum number of pages will not be penalized. Additional information not explicitly called for in the Technical and Management Volume must not be submitted with the proposal, but may be included as links in the bibliography. Such materials will be considered for the reviewers’ convenience only and not evaluated as part of the proposal.

Technical and Management Volumes shall not exceed a maximum of 20 pages.

Official transmittal letter

Table of Contents

Proposal Summary Slide

Resumes

References/Bibliography (Optional)

Technical Papers (no more than 3)

[PRIME ORGANIZATION LOGO]

HR001119S0052 Optimization with Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum devices (ONISQ) Volume 1: Technical and Management Volume

Proposal Title

Proposer Organization

Technical Area(s)

Proposer Reference Number, if any

Address:

Telephone:

Email:

Address:

Telephone:

Email:

Place(s) of Performance

Period(s) of Performance

Months

Organization:

Organization Type:

Year 2: $ Year 3: $ Year 4: $ Total: $

Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number[endnoteRef:2] [2: The DUNS number is used as the contractor identification code for all Government procurement-related activities. Go to http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform/index.jsp to request a DUNS number (may take at least 1 business day). ]

Taxpayer identification number (TIN)[endnoteRef:3] [3: See https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/taxpayer-identification-numbers-tin for information on requesting a TIN. Note, requests may take from 1 business day to 1 month depending on the method (online, fax, mail).]

Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) code[endnoteRef:4] [4: A CAGE Code identifies companies doing or wishing to do business with the Federal Government. See BAA Section VI.B.2 for further information.]

Administration Office POC at Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA)[endnoteRef:5] or Office of Naval Research (ONR)[endnoteRef:6], if known [5: https://pubapp.dcma.mil/CASD/CasdSearch.do.] [6: http://www.onr.navy.mil/Contracts-Grants/Regional-Contacts.aspx.]

Name:

Address:

Telephone:

Audit Office POC at Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA)[endnoteRef:7], if known [7: http://www.dcaa.mil/Home/Locator?title=Locator]

Name:

Address:

Telephone:

Date Proposal was Prepared

Proposal Validity Period (minimum 120 days)

Table of Contents

Source Selection Information – See FAR 2.101 and 3.104

HR001119S0052 Volume 1 7 Official Transmittal Letter [Attach the official transmittal letter from the prime proposer organization.]

Proposal Summary

a. Slide [Using the Proposal Summary Slide template provided as an attachment to the BAA, provide a summary in PowerPoint that effectively and succinctly conveys the main objective, key innovations, expected impact, and other unique aspects of the proposed project. Include the PowerPoint slide as a separate attachment to this document.]

b. Discussion [Provide a top-level synopsis of the proposed project, including answers to the following questions:

· What is the proposed work attempting to accomplish or do?

· How is it done today, and what are the limitations?

· Who or what will be affected and what will be the impact if the work is successful?

· How much will it cost, and how long will it take?

The summary should include a description of the key technical challenges, a concise review of the technologies proposed to overcome these challenges and achieve the project’s goal, and a clear statement of the novelty and uniqueness of the proposed work.] Goals and Impact [Describe what you are trying to achieve and the difference it will make (qualitatively and quantitatively), if successful. Describe the innovative aspects of the project in the context of existing capabilities and approaches, clearly delineating the uniqueness and benefits of this project in the context of the state of the art, alternative approaches, and other projects from the past and present. Describe how the proposed project is revolutionary and how it significantly rises above the current state of the art. Describe the deliverables associated with the proposed project and any plans to commercialize the technology, transition it to a customer, or further the work. Discuss the mitigation of any issues related to sustainment of the technology over its entire lifecycle, assuming the technology transition plan is successful.]

Technical Plan [Outline and address technical challenges inherent in the approach and possible solutions for overcoming potential problems. Demonstrate a deep understanding of the technical challenges and present a credible (even if risky) plan to achieve the project’s goal. Discuss mitigation of technical risk. Provide appropriate measurable milestones (quantitative if possible) at intermediate stages of the project to demonstrate progress, and a plan for achieving the milestones. List Government-furnished materials or data assumed to be available.

For TA1 proposers: Ensure to address the following:

· Specify which combinatorial optimization problem will be solved, and describe the national security relevance. Explain how it is solved today and justify why the proposed approach is expected to perform better.

· Describe in detail the NISQ hardware that will be used and how it will be scaled up to achieve the program objectives. Provide a discussion about the challenges related to achieving the required quantum circuit size and depth, and error mitigation techniques that will be employed in order to achieve quantum advantage.

· Describe clearly how the algorithm will be implemented in your NISQ hardware and how its implementation will be optimized.

· Describe in detail the algorithm characterization procedures and measurements, which measure of quantum advantage will be used and why it is the relevant measure for the chosen problem.

· Describe the classical state of the art, provide a detailed procedure for benchmarking the quantum algorithm against the best classical for the chosen problem, and describe how any quantum advantage will be quantified.

For TA2 proposers: Describe which subarea(s) you propose to address and provide a clear path to meeting the corresponding program milestones.]

Management Plan [Provide a summary of the proposed team, including any subawardees/consultants and key personnel who will be executing the work. Identify a principal investigator (PI) for the project. Provide a clear description of the team’s organization including an organization chart that illustrates, as applicable, the relationship of team members; unique capabilities of team members; task responsibilities of team members; teaming strategy among the team members; and key personnel with the amount of effort to be expended by each person during the project. Provide a detailed plan for coordination including explicit guidelines for interaction among collaborators/subawardees of the proposed project. Include risk management approaches. Describe any formal teaming agreements that are required to execute this project.]

Personnel, Qualifications, and Commitments [List key personnel (no more than one page per person), showing a concise summary of their qualifications, discussion of previous accomplishments, and work in this or closely related research areas. Indicate the level of effort in terms of hours to be expended by each person during each contract year and other (current and proposed) major sources of support for them and/or commitments of their efforts. DARPA expects all key personnel associated with a proposal to make substantial time commitment to the proposed activity and the proposal will be evaluated accordingly. It is DARPA’s intention to put key personnel conditions into the awards, so proposers should not propose personnel that are not anticipated to execute the work.]

Capabilities [Describe organizational experience in relevant subject area(s), existing intellectual property, or specialized facilities. Discuss any work in closely related research areas and previous accomplishments. Identify other Government solicitation(s) to which this concept has been proposed. If applicable, state whether funding or a positive funding decision has already been received, and from which agency.] Statement of Work (SOW) [Provide a detailed task breakdown by calendar year, citing specific tasks and their connection to the interim milestones and metrics, as applicable. Do not include proprietary information. For each defined task/subtask, provide:

· A general description of the objective.

· A detailed description of the approach to be taken to accomplish each defined task/subtask.

· Identification of any tasks/subtasks that will involve human subjects or animals.

· Identification of any tasks/subtasks that will be performed on campus at a university.

· Identification (by name) of the primary organization (prime contractor, subawardee(s), consultant(s)) responsible for task/subtask execution.

· A measurable milestone (e.g., a deliverable, demonstration, or other event/activity that marks task completion).

· A definition of all deliverables (e.g., data, reports, software) to be provided to the Government in support of the proposed tasks/subtasks.]

Schedule and Milestones [Provide a detailed schedule showing tasks (task name, duration, work breakdown structure element as applicable, performing organization), milestones, and the interrelationships among tasks. The task structure must be consistent with that in the SOW. Measurable milestones should be clearly articulated and defined in time relative to the start of the project.]

Novelty of Proposed Work Has the proposed work been submitted to any other Government solicitation?

No Yes [If yes, provide the following information]

· Solicitation number ________________________

· Agency _________________________

· Proposed work has already received funding or a positive funding decision.

No Yes Decision pending

Bibliography (Optional) [Provide a brief (no more than 5 pages) bibliography with links to relevant papers, references, reports, resumes of key team members, etc.]