Defense Sciences Office (DSO) Office-wide

Added: Jun 12, 2017 4:10 pm Modified: Feb 20, 2018 4:30 pmTrack Changes The mission of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Defense Sciences Office (DSO) is to identify and pursue high-risk, high-payoff research initiatives across a broad spectrum of science and engineering disciplines and to transform these initiatives into disruptive technologies for U.S. national security. In support of this mission, the DSO Office-wide BAA invites proposers to submit innovative basic or applied research concepts that address one or more of the following technical domains: Frontiers in Math, Computation and Design, Limits of Sensing and Sensors, Complex Social Systems, and Anticipating Surprise. Each of these domains is described below and includes a list of example research topics that highlight several (but not all) potential areas of interest. Proposals must investigate innovative approaches that enable revolutionary advances. DSO is explicitly not interested in approaches or technologies that primarily result in evolutionary improvements to the existing state of practice.

Added: Dec 20, 2017 2:01 pm  

In accordance with FAR 16.103(d)(1)(iv), the Memorandum for Record documents why a cost-plus-fixed-fee (CPFF) contract type was selected for this effort.

Rationale Each paragraph below corresponds to the lettered subparagraph under FAR 16.103(d)(1)(iv):

•(A)              Goals, objectives, specifications, and cost estimates for this research effort are insufficient to permit use of a fixed price contract.  Because of this absence of precise specifications and difficulties with estimating costs with accuracy, FAR 35.006 indicates the use of a CPFF contract is appropriate.

•(B)              The contractor's accounting system is adequate for determining costs applicable to this CPFF contract.

•(C)              Government resources are adequate to properly plan, award, and administer this CPFF contract.  Contract administration is being assigned to the cognizant Office of Naval Research (ONR) office in accordance with FAR 42.202.  The ONR administrative contracting officer will be assisted in monitoring contractor performance by the certified contracting officer's representative appointed in accordance with FAR 1.602-2(d).

             (D)       The DARPA contract work, through the Vesperix Corp, is in support of the DARPA Defense Sciences Office Fundamental Design Effort.  There is no plan to further develop or mature this effort or transition to a firm-fixed price contract while the program is managed at DARPA.

Added: Nov 20, 2017 7:29 am  

In accordance with FAR 16.103(d)(1)(iv), the Memorandum for Record documents why a cost-plus-fixed-fee (CPFF) contract type was selected for this effort.

Rationale Each paragraph below corresponds to the lettered subparagraph under FAR 16.103(d)(1)(iv):

•(A)              Goals, objectives, specifications, and cost estimates for this research effort are insufficient to permit use of a fixed price contract.  Because of this absence of precise specifications and difficulties with estimating costs with accuracy, FAR 35.006 indicates the use of a CPFF contract is appropriate.

•(B)              The contractor's accounting system is adequate for determining costs applicable to this CPFF contract.

•(C)              Government resources are adequate to properly plan, award, and administer this CPFF contract.  Contract administration is being assigned to the cognizant Office of Naval Research (ONR) office in accordance with FAR 42.202.  The ONR administrative contracting officer will be assisted in monitoring contractor performance by the certified contracting officer's representative appointed in accordance with FAR 1.602-2(d).

            (D)       The DARPA contract work, through Raytheon BBN Technologies Corp, will develop an agent-based simulation where agents 1) are goal-driven, making context-dependent decisions at the level of an individual agent, 2) possess static traits and malleable states, 3) experience local and global environmental effects on agent states and behaviors, and 4) lead to the emergence of social networks governing interpersonal interactions and influence.  There is no plan to further develop or mature this effort or transition to a firm-fixed price contract while the program is managed at DARPA.

Added: Jun 12, 2017 4:10 pm Modified: Oct 18, 2017 4:44 pmTrack Changes The mission of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Defense Sciences Office (DSO) is to identify and pursue high-risk, high-payoff research initiatives across a broad spectrum of science and engineering disciplines and to transform these initiatives into disruptive technologies for U.S. national security. In support of this mission, the DSO Office-wide BAA invites proposers to submit innovative basic or applied research concepts that explore Physical and Natural Systems, Human-Machine and Social Systems, and/or Math and Computational Systems through the lens of one or more of the following technical domains: Complexity Engineering, Science of Design, Noosphere, Fundamental Limits, and New Foundations. Proposals must investigate innovative approaches that enable revolutionary advances. DSO is explicitly not interested in approaches or technologies that primarily result in evolutionary improvements to the existing state of practice.

**Updated NAICS Code only.**

Added: Jun 12, 2017 4:10 pm Modified: Sep 13, 2017 3:10 pmTrack Changes The mission of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Defense Sciences Office (DSO) is to identify and pursue high-risk, high-payoff research initiatives across a broad spectrum of science and engineering disciplines and to transform these initiatives into disruptive technologies for U.S. national security. In support of this mission, the DSO Office-wide BAA invites proposers to submit innovative basic or applied research concepts that explore Physical and Natural Systems, Human-Machine and Social Systems, and/or Math and Computational Systems through the lens of one or more of the following technical domains: Complexity Engineering, Science of Design, Noosphere, Fundamental Limits, and New Foundations. Proposals must investigate innovative approaches that enable revolutionary advances. DSO is explicitly not interested in approaches or technologies that primarily result in evolutionary improvements to the existing state of practice.

Added: Jun 12, 2017 4:10 pm Modified: Aug 10, 2017 1:20 pmTrack Changes The mission of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Defense Sciences Office (DSO) is to identify and pursue high-risk, high-payoff research initiatives across a broad spectrum of science and engineering disciplines and to transform these initiatives into disruptive technologies for U.S. national security. In support of this mission, the DSO Office-wide BAA invites proposers to submit innovative basic or applied research concepts that explore Physical and Natural Systems, Human-Machine and Social Systems, and/or Math and Computational Systems through the lens of one or more of the following technical domains: Complexity Engineering, Science of Design, Noosphere, Fundamental Limits, and New Foundations. Proposals must investigate innovative approaches that enable revolutionary advances. DSO is explicitly not interested in approaches or technologies that primarily result in evolutionary improvements to the existing state of practice.

Added: Jun 12, 2017 4:10 pm The mission of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Defense Sciences Office (DSO) is to identify and pursue high-risk, high-payoff research initiatives across a broad spectrum of science and engineering disciplines and to transform these initiatives into disruptive technologies for U.S. national security. In support of this mission, the DSO Office-wide BAA invites proposers to submit innovative basic or applied research concepts that explore Physical and Natural Systems, Human-Machine and Social Systems, and/or Math and Computational Systems through the lens of one or more of the following technical domains: Complexity Engineering, Science of Design, Noosphere, Fundamental Limits, and New Foundations. Proposals must investigate innovative approaches that enable revolutionary advances. DSO is explicitly not interested in approaches or technologies that primarily result in evolutionary improvements to the existing state of practice.