Defense sciences research and technology

Added: February 14, 2007 Modified: November 20, 2007Track Changes Modification 02 to BAA07-21 and Addendums 1 through 7.

This modification serves the purpose of changing the BAA Point of Contact from Ms. Barbara McQuiston to Dr. Brett Giroir. Dr. Giroir may be reached at DSO-BAA@darpa.mil.

Added: February 14, 2007 Modified: October 25, 2007Track Changes PROGRAMMABLE MATTER; BAA 07-21, Addendum 7; Full Proposals Due: January 3, 2008, no later than 4:00PM ET. Technical Point of Contact: Dr. Mitchell R. Zakin, DARPA/DSO; Ph: (703) 248-1509, Email: BAA07-21@darpa.mil; URL: http://www.darpa.mil/dso/solicitations/solicit.htm; Website Submission: http://www.sainc.com/dsobaa/

DESCRIPTION



(Note: This Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) Addendum 7 is submitted as a Special Focus Area as described in the original BAA, 07-21.)



The properties of future military systems must be more fluid and controllable in order to meet the challenges of complex missions. One means of achieving such enhanced capability is the development of dynamic materials which can be directly programmed to reversibly change their fundamental properties, on demand and in real-time, when desired by the user. These properties include size, shape, form factor, and moduli. Such programmable materials will create revolutionary new capabilities for the warfighter. A simple example would be an ?Instant Toolkit,? an amorphous material that can be programmed to instantly become a hammer, wrench, or screwdriver on demand, and then return to its initial form so it can be reused.



In response to this challenge, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is seeking innovative proposals to develop Programmable Matter: a new functional form of matter constructed from mesoscale building blocks (?MesoParticles? up to 1 cm size), which reversibly assemble into complex 3D objects upon external command. These 3D objects will exhibit all the functionality of their conventional counterparts. Programmable Matter represents the convergence of chemistry, information theory, and control, into a new materials design paradigm, referred to here as ?InfoChemistry,? building information directly into materials.



A key feature of Programmable Matter is the MesoParticle-based construction. At the mesoscale level, building blocks are large enough to contain intricate structures with real functionality. MesoParticles can have a variety of sizes, shapes, compositions, and functions; they communicate and interlock with their neighbors to create dynamic bulk structures with mechanical integrity. Building blocks can include mesoscale computers, wireless transmitters, machines, gears, fluidics, and other devices, as well as polymer, metal, ceramic, and other particles. MesoParticles are of sufficient size to build practical macroscale objects. Importantly, MesoParticles exhibit the critical feature of separability of structure and function: the external geometry determines packing, assembly, and bulk structure, while the interior has the machinery to process information, generate action, etc. In principle, separability can be exploited to create dynamic materials of unprecedented complexity and capability.



In order to create 3D objects from building blocks, Programmable Matter must be capable of performing the following key unit operations in sequence:



1. Activate by external signal;

2. Decode and propagate instructions;

3. Translate information into action;

4. Transport particles and assemble shapes;

5. Interlock particles to form object;

6. Perform error-checking and encode final state information;

7. Activate by external signal; and

8. Disassemble into starting materials.



The first phase of this program focuses on the design and modeling of practical Programmable Matter with manufacturable properties. The second phase focuses on experimental realization of the key elements of Programmable Matter: assembly of 3D solid objects of varying geometry from a common set of building blocks, and reversible interlocking of MesoParticles to create bulk materials with the elastic modulus of typical plastics. The specific Phase I/II milestones are presented under the Program Goals and Milestones section.



BACKGROUND

Critical features that must be considered in the development of Programmable Matter include:



Chemistry: (1) Mesoscale particles with the right size, shape, composition, and functionality; (2) Means for transporting particles around in fluid and dry states; and (3) Interlocking/adhesive mechanisms to reversibly hold particles together and create materials with mechanical integrity.



Information Theory: Particles that variably decode and encode information (i.e., instruction sets), propagate information, and translate instructions into action (e.g., bind, move, etc.), in response to internal or external commands.



Control: Particles that are addressable by external means (e.g., EM field), and that ideally have error-checking capability to test the structural/functional integrity of the assembled object.



To achieve the Programmable Matter vision, key technological breakthroughs will center on the following critical areas:



1. Encoding information into chemistry, or fusing materials with machines;

2. Fabrication of mesoscale particles with arbitrary complex shapes, composition, and function;

3. Interlocking/adhesion mechanisms that are strong AND reversible;

4. Global assembly strategies that translate information into action; and

5. Mathematical theory for construction of 3D objects from particles.



Of critical importance are radical new material architectures that maximize the efficiency of information processing/transfer, and design rules for the optimal number, size, and shape of particles required to create objects of a specific size and spatial feature resolution.



Any innovative approach for Programmable Matter that meets the goals of this BAA will be considered.



PROGRAM GOALS AND MILESTONES

The goal of this program is to demonstrate a new functional form of matter, based on mesoscale particles, which can reversibly assemble into complex 3D objects upon external command.



Program Phases

The Programmable Matter Program will be separated into three phases. The goal of Phase I is to develop designs, theoretical models and computer simulations for Programmable Matter. The goal of Phase II is the physical realization of Programmable Matter. Depending on the success of the Phase II demonstrations, the goal of Phase III will be to develop fully-functional Programmable Matter for specific applications.



Phase I will be a 6-month research effort. Phase II will be a research effort of 18 months or less; shorter duration efforts are strongly encouraged.



A successful proposal will thoroughly cover all details for meeting the milestones set forth for both Phase I and Phase II. Thus programs should be submitted as 24-month (or less) efforts encompassing both Phase I and an optional Phase II, including detailed budgets for both phases. At the end of each phase, performance will be evaluated based on achievement of the stated milestones. Successful completion of Phase I does not guarantee selection in Phase II.



Program Milestones

The Phase I milestone is:



1. Build a mathematical model that, given a set of mesoscale particles with manufacturable properties, theoretically confirms at least one viable procedure for constructing and disassembling macroscopic 3D solid objects under external command. The objects must have functional properties that are useful in the real world (e.g., a wrench).



The Phase II milestones are:



1. Starting with a single set of mesoscale particles, experimentally demonstrate externally-directed assembly of four distinct macroscopic 3D solids (cube, cylinder, sphere, triangular prism), each ~100 cm3 in volume;



2. Experimentally demonstrate interlocking/adhesion of mesoscale particles to create bulk matter with an elastic modulus typical of plastics (0.2 to 4 GPa), followed by unlocking to recover the original particles.



Phase III is expected to be a research effort of between 18 and 24 months. The Phase III milestones will be determined by the results of the Phase I/II effort and the specific applications that are proposed.



To realize the program vision and meet the Phase I/II milestones, each research effort requires performers with expertise in materials chemistry and physics, information theory, control theory, modeling, and computer simulation. Teaming is encouraged, especially when interdisciplinary approaches to a problem are required.



FULL PROPOSAL SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

All proposals submitted electronically by means of an Electronic Business Application Tool or proposal submission web site (not including Grants.gov) must be encrypted using Winzip or PKZip with 256-bit AES encryption. Only one zipped/encrypted file will be accepted per proposal and proposals not zipped/encrypted will be rejected by DARPA. An encryption password form must be completed and emailed to BAA07-21@darpa.mil at the time of proposal submission. See https://www.tfims.darpa.mil/baa/ for the encryption password form.



The word ?PASSWORD? must appear in the subject line of the above email and there are minimum security requirements for establishing the encryption password. Failure to provide the encryption password may result in the proposal not being evaluated. For further information and instructions on how to zip and encrypt proposal files, see https://www.tfims.darpa.mil/baa/.



Note: the TFIMS website listed above will not be used for DSO proposal submissions. After visiting the TFIMS link for encryption instructions, please use the following website for all DSO white paper and proposal submissions: http://www.sainc.com/dsobaa/.



Full proposals will be due January 03, 2008, NO LATER THAN 4:00PM ET. Proposals submitted by fax will not be accepted. Note that a full proposal may be submitted at any time before the close of the solicitation.



As described in BAA 07-21, full proposals shall consist of two volumes: Technical and Cost. Follow the general guidelines for full proposal format and content provided at: http://www.darpa.mil/baa/BAA07-21pt2.html.



In addition to the guidelines found at the link above, the Technical section of the research proposal must contain the following information:



1. Concept Definition: Clearly describe the proposed chemical, information theory, and control concepts for Programmable Matter, including the structure and composition of the MesoParticles, the means for particle manipulation and assembly, the activation process, and how information will be processed and translated into action. Describe the underlying physical mechanisms that enable construction of solid 3D objects from MesoParticle building blocks, and the reversible interlocking/adhesion of particles to achieve desired bulk moduli. Proposals MUST describe an end-to-end solution for Programmable Matter, from modeling/simulation to physical realization; the proposer team must have demonstrated expertise in ALL pertinent technical areas.



2. Supporting Technical Analysis: Provide a detailed analysis of the technical rationale that supports the proposed Programmable Matter concept, including performance estimates.



3. Research Plan: Provide a detailed research plan that describes the methods for achieving the Phase I/II milestones specified in this BAA. Provide several specific, quantitative milestones at intermediate stages of the program to assess progress towards meeting the Phase I/II milestones.



4. Brief list of relevant references.



Awards made under this BAA are subject to the provisions of the FAR Subpart 9.5, Organizational Conflicts of Interest. Consequently, all proposers and proposed subcontractors must, therefore, affirm whether they are providing scientific, engineering and technical assistance (SETA) or similar support to any DARPA technical office(s) through an active contract or subcontract, either sponsored and awarded by DARPA through the Contracts Management Office (CMO) or through an outside Contracting Agent acting on behalf of DARPA (i.e. Army, Navy, Air Force issued contract award). All affirmations must state which office(s) the proposer supports, and identify the prime contract numbers.



Evaluation of Proposals

Evaluation of the proposals will be in accordance with BAA 07-21. For general administrative questions, please refer to the original FEDBIZOPPS solicitation, BAA07-21, of February 14, 2007: http://www.darpa.mil/dso/solicitations/solicit.htm.



All proprietary information should be marked on the full proposal. It is the policy of DARPA to treat all proposals as competitive information and to disclose their contents only for the purpose of evaluation. Standard proprietary disclaimers notwithstanding, proposals may be reviewed by non-Government technical experts who have signed a nondisclosure agreement with DARPA, unless the specific phrase ?TO BE REVIEWED BY GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES ONLY? appears on the cover sheet. In any case, personnel under exclusive contract with DARPA who have completed the appropriate nondisclosure agreements will handle the proposals for administrative purposes.



Web Address for Proposal Submission: http://www.sainc.com/dsobaa/.



Address for Proposal Submission:

DARPA/DSO

ATTN: BAA 07-21, Addendum 7, Dr. Mitchell R. Zakin

3701 North Fairfax Drive

Arlington, VA 22203-1714



General Information

In all correspondence, reference BAA 07-21, Addendum 7



Technical Point of Contact

Dr. Mitchell R. Zakin, DARPA/DSO; Phone: (703) 248-1509; Email: Mitchell.Zakin@darpa.mil

Added: February 14, 2007 Modified: October 19, 2007Track Changes Modification 01 to BAA07-21 and Addendums 1 through 6 is hereby modified to include the following language.

All proposals submitted electronically by means of an Electronic Business Application Tool or proposal submission web site (not including Grants.gov) must be encrypted using Winzip or PKZip with 256-bit AES encryption. Only one zipped/encrypted file will be accepted per proposal and proposals not zipped/encrypted will be rejected by DARPA. An encryption password form must be completed and emailed to BAA07-21@darpa.mil at the time of proposal submission. See https://www.tfims.darpa.mil/baa/ for the encryption password form.



Note the word "PASSWORD" must appear in the subject line of the above email and there are minimum security requirements for establishing the encryption password. Failure to provide the encryption password may result in the proposal not being evaluated. For further information and instructions on how to zip and encrypt proposal files, see https://www.tfims.darpa.mil/baa/.

Added: February 14, 2007 Modified: September 13, 2007Track Changes Attached is Addendum 6 to BAA07-21 entitled "Nanostructured Materials for Power"

Added: February 14, 2007 Modified: July 2, 2007Track Changes BLOOD PHARMING SOL, BAA 07-21, Addendum 5, White Papers Due: 4:00PM ET, August 6, 2007; Full Proposals Due: 4:00PM ET, October 1, 2007; Technical POC: Dr. Jon Mogford, Program Manager, DARPA/DSO; Ph: (571) 218-4928; Email: BAA07-21@darpa.mil; URL: http://www.darpa.mil/dso/solicitations/solicit.htm; Website Submission: http://www.sainc.com/dsobaa/

DESCRIPTION

(Note: This BAA Addendum 5 is submitted as a Special Focus Area, as described in the original BAA, 07-21.)



The Defense Sciences Office seeks innovative proposals to develop the science and technology necessary to enable in-theatre production of red blood cells (RBCs) from a progenitor cell source thus replacing the current system of donor blood. The vision for the Blood Pharming Program is to develop novel technologies to enable in vitro production of red blood cells that are untainted, readily available, and free of storage lesions. The ultimate goal of the program is the development of an automated, fieldable cell culture and packaging system capable of producing transfusable amounts of universal donor (Type O negative) RBCs using human progenitor cells as starting material. RBCs produced by the system must be shown to be the functional equivalent of donor-derived RBCs and induce no greater responses than normal donor derived RBCs. Submissions must provide evidence of a highly integrated, multi-disciplinary team led by a Systems Integrator (SI) capable of fulfilling the vision, objectives and milestones of the program as detailed herein. The final product will be an automated culture system that 1) maintains a self-renewing progenitor cell population, 2) supports the differentiation, separation and packaging of transfusable RBCs, and 3) is ready for submission to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for all applicable device and transfusable cell product approvals. This effort will be conducted over a 36-month period in three phases. Proposers are requested to submit a proposal focused on addressing the Phase 1 milestone and metrics and describe how the approach will transition to the subsequent phases.



BACKGROUND

Transfusion therapy has been an integral part of military medicine since the middle of the last century. As the O2-carrying component of blood, RBCs are the most transfused blood product in battlefield trauma care. Unfortunately, it is likely that fresh RBCs are either unavailable or limited in supply in a battlefield environment due to the inherent liabilities of the donor system (e.g., recruitment challenges, increasing deferment criteria) coupled with the global nature of U.S. military operations. In addition, well-documented changes occur to RBCs during ex vivo storage that affect normal function and may be detrimental to the recipient. In the seriously injured warfighter, such ?storage-induced lesions? may compound the physiologically stressful effects of trauma by induction of inflammatory and/or immunologic responses.



The purpose of the Blood Pharming Program is to overcome these problems by creating an automated culture and packaging system that will yield a donorless supply of universal donor RBCs from progenitor cell sources in theater. In order to achieve the program goals, several significant technical challenges in the fields of cell biology, bioreactor capability, and design must be overcome. For example, it has been shown that mature, functional RBCs can be derived from a number of different progenitor cell types including those derived from bone marrow, cord blood, apheresed blood, etc. However, large-scale production of transfusable RBCs has not been achieved regardless of the progenitor cell source to date. In addition, it is imperative that RBCs produced by the progenitor-based system be functionally equivalent to fresh donor cells especially with regard to O2-carrying capacity and morphology. Separately, an automated cell culture system capable of a) maintaining a self-renewing progenitor population, b) providing a milieu for efficient differentiation along the erythroid pathway, c) sorting/purifying end-product RBCs, and d) packaging RBCs in a ?ready for transfusion? manner does not exist. It is envisioned that the automated culture/packaging system will be placed in military medical treatment facilities, and therefore must operate under field conditions and with minimal user intervention. To achieve these goals, revolutionary advances in research areas such as control of progenitor cell expansion/differentiation and development of automated bioreactor systems that are capable of automated cell manipulation and cell purification will be necessary.



PROGRAM GOALS AND MILESTONES

The Blood Pharming Program is a 36-month thrust to deliver a fully integrated RBC production system and the protocols enabling large-scale production of transfusable RBCs. The program is comprehensive and will deliver a system that is sufficiently mature to enter the appropriate FDA approval processes for general medical use.



This will be an extremely aggressive, milestone-driven program. Consequently, it is necessary that progress be assessed regularly throughout the program via scheduled milestones and metrics associated with the performance of critical components. This program will be divided into three major phases (9-month Phase I, 18-month Phase II and a 9-month Phase III).



It is understood that research in many areas will be required in order to reach the ultimate goal. These research areas will include, but are not limited to: progenitor cell biology and erythroid differentiation; RBC physiology; cellular support matrices/scaffolds; automated cell culture systems; and cell sorting, purification and packaging. Achievement of program milestones/metrics will demand prompt identification of areas requiring further research and rapid application of advancements made in these areas. Proposers must detail the critical steps for progenitor cell maintenance and erythroid differentiation, as well as the components necessary to construct an automated RBC production and packaging system and address how their collective team will achieve those challenges.



Successful Phase I teams will demonstrate production of 10 Units of universal donor RBCs per week for 4 weeks in an automated culture system using a non-self-renewing (replaceable) progenitor cell population. For the realization of this milestone, research efforts should:

1) Demonstrate at least 2x106-fold expansion from progenitor source to mature RBCs,

2) Identify at least 3 stage-specific cell properties (size, shape, biomarker expression) that support automated culture, and

3) Demonstrate normal RBC properties and function including, but not limited to:

Blood Type: O negative

Morphologic Characteristics: Size 7-8 micrometers, Biconcave Disc, Loss of organelles

Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration: 32 to 36 g/dl

Mean Corpuscular Volume: 80 - 100 fL

Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin: 29 - 31 pg/cell

Loss of Progenitor Markers: CD34, c-kit, Sca-1, CD133, CD38, CD71 (specific markers for the chosen progenitor cell source should be provided)

Expression of RBC Markers: Lin, LDS staining

Deformability: DI max 0.41 to 0.53

Enzymatic Activity: Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) 8.6-18.6 IU/g hemoglobin, Pyruvate Kinase (PK) 2.0-8.8 IU/g hemoglobin

Oxygen equilibrium measurements; Kinetics of CO2 Rebinding: log(P50) value 1.3, N50 2.29; Two phases corresponding to R and T states

Inflammatory/Immunogenic Markers: Pyrogen- and pathogen-free; in vitro absence of immuno-inflammatory response (e.g., mixed lymphocyte culture assay)



Successful Phase II teams will demonstrate production of 100 Units of universal donor RBCs per week for 8 weeks in an automated culture system using a self-renewing (not replaceable) progenitor population. For the realization of this milestone, research efforts must:

1) Maintain Phase I cellular product,

2) Demonstrate at least 2x108-fold expansion of progenitor population to mature RBCs, and

3) Prepare and submit all applicable FDA documentation for the cell production system and for a transfusable blood product.



Successful Phase III teams will develop a fieldable, RBC production system less than or equal to a 47 ft3 total dimension. For the realization of this milestone, research efforts must:

1) Maintain Phase 2 metrics, and

2) Have a production system that meets current military specifications for use in an in-theater medical treatment facility including the ability to withstand extremes of temperature, humidity, dust, frequent transport, and electrical transients.



TEAM ORGANIZATION

The goals of the Blood Pharming Program demand that a central element of the successful proposal will be a multi-disciplinary team with demonstrated capability. Involved fields of expertise should include progenitor cell biologists, cell culture experts, bioreactor engineers, cell separation scientists, clinicians, and experience with product commercialization and with the FDA regulatory environment. Proposals that center solely on one research area, while neglecting the overall vision, will not be considered for funding.



It is critical that the research team be built from its inception around a Systems Integrator (SI). The SI will be responsible for the overall team direction, organization, and accomplishment of all milestones and the delivery of the final product, including the FDA approval application. Consequently, the SI must have a proven record of success in integration efforts of similar complexity, as well as a commitment to shepherd the program to commercial transition. The SI must demonstrate complete understanding and sharing of the DARPA vision of an automated production system to create a donorless source of universal donor RBCs that is ultimately fieldable; the SI that is strictly in the effort for project management will not be successful. As the team leader held accountable for timely delivery of the proposed work, the SI must have the authority to develop and maintain the proper team membership to ensure accomplishment of the task. During the course of performance, it is expected that some team members may be more active than others and that some team members may need to be replaced.



PROPOSAL SUBMISSION

A two-stage source selection is anticipated. It is STRONGLY ENCOURAGED that a white paper be submitted prior to full proposal submission, according to the guidelines provided below.



White Paper and Full Proposal Deadlines

White papers will be accepted until August 6, 2007, NO LATER THAN 4:00PM ET. All white papers will be reviewed no later than August 27, 2007 and recommendations for full proposals will be provided at that time. Full proposals will be due October 1, 2007, NO LATER THAN 4:00PM ET. White papers and proposals submitted by fax will not be accepted. All full proposal submissions will be evaluated regardless of the disposition of the white paper. Note that a full proposal may be submitted at any time before the close of the solicitation without having submitted a white paper.



White Paper Submission Guidelines

White papers of 8 pages or less (not counting cover sheet) will be reviewed for the purpose of recommending the submission of full proposals. The white paper must include the following sections:



1) A cover sheet that includes the Technical Point of Contact's information (salutation, name, address, phone, fax, email, lead organization and business type), the title of the proposed work, the estimated cost, and the duration (in months) of the proposed work. (Note: cover sheet does not count towards page limit.)



2) An executive summary, including a clear statement of the uniqueness of the idea. DSO is looking for ideas that will revolutionize advances in progenitor cell expansion, their efficient differentiation and the development of automated bioreactor systems capable of automated cell manipulation and purification.



3) A concise statement of the approach to the problem, the scientific and technical challenges inherent in this approach, and possible solutions for overcoming potential problems. This statement will also serve to demonstrate an understanding of the state-of-the-art in the field.



4) An analysis of the changes in current state-of-the-art approaches necessary to achieve the goals of this program.



5) Timelines and milestone achievements by which progress can be measured. These timelines and milestones should be as detailed as possible. Milestones must be associated with demonstrable metrics.



6) A cost estimate for resources over the proposed timeline. This cost estimate should include both labor and materials costs.



7) A summary of expertise of the key personnel on the project relevant to the program goals. The SI should be identified, and if the team is multi-organizational, a proposed management structure should be included.



8) Brief list of relevant references.



Full Proposal Submission Guidelines

As described in BAA 07-21, full proposals shall consist of two volumes: Technical and Cost. Follow the general guidelines for full proposal format and content provided at: http://www.darpa.mil/baa/BAA07-21pt2.html.



Each technical proposal must have a clearly defined, multi-disciplined research team and management approach. The research team must incorporate people with expertise in all appropriate research areas listed above, and the proposal must clearly define how the team will work together to achieve the program goals. One of the team members must be designated as the SI. The SI will be responsible for coordinating the team and demonstrating the project milestones. Proposals that address only a subset of the research areas listed above or do not contain a clear indication of the management approach may not be considered for funding.



In addition to the sections specified in the BAA announcement, the technical volume of the research proposal must also contain the following information (limited to a maximum of 25 pages):



1) Technical Approach: Clearly outline the scientific and technical approaches for achieving the Phase I milestones listed above. Specific technical challenges may include, but are not limited to:

a) Determination of the most appropriate and available type of progenitor cell source based on availability, genetic stability and efficiency of RBC production,

b) Optimization of culture conditions for maintenance of a self-renewing progenitor population while driving a subset of cells into erythroid differentiation,

c) Development of strategies to control RBC antigen presentation,

d) Development of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)-compliant automated cell culture systems, and

e) Development of methods to adequately preserve starting progenitor cell stocks and matured RBCs.

Obstacles inherent in addressing the Phase I milestones and solutions for overcoming potential problems should be provided. In addition, a list of smaller project accomplishments that should occur to meet the Phase I milestones should be listed. All technical descriptions should be grouped into the research areas relevant to achieving the Phase I goals.



2) Research Team: Clearly define the capabilities of the SI and individual team members and how their expertise relates to the research areas defined in the technical approach.



3) Phase Transition: Succinctly detail the team?s vision for transition to subsequent program phases. This should include how the chosen technical approaches will be expanded to address Phase II and III milestones described above.



EVALUATION OF PROPOSALS

Evaluation of the proposals will be in accordance with BAA 07-21. For general administrative questions, please refer to the original FEDBIZOPPS solicitation, BAA 07-21, of February 14, 2007: http://www.darpa.mil/dso/solicitations/solicit.htm.



Web address for Proposal Submission: http://www.sainc.com/dsobaa/.



Address for White Paper and Full Proposal Submission:

DARPA/DSO

ATTN: BAA 07-21, Addendum 5

3701 North Fairfax Drive

Arlington, VA 22203-1714



Email Address: BAA07-21@darpa.mil



General Information

In all correspondence, reference BAA 07-21, Addendum 5.



Technical Point of Contact

Dr. Jon Mogford, Program Manager, DARPA/DSO; Phone: (571) 218-4928; Email: jon.mogford@darpa.mil

Added: February 14, 2007 Modified: April 27, 2007Track Changes The purpose of modification to BAA07-21 addendum 3 is to add:

Collaborative efforts/teaming are encouraged. A web site http://www.sainc.com/IHEDCTeaming/ has been established to facilitate formation of teaming arrangements between interested parties. Specific content, communications, networking, and team formation are the sole responsibility of the participants. Neither DARPA nor the Department of Defense (DoD) endorses the destination web site or the information and organizations contained therein, nor does DARPA or the DoD exercise any responsibility at the destination.



And to change:



Full Proposals Due: 4:00PM ET, May 23, 2007

Added: February 14, 2007 Modified: April 3, 2007Track Changes SYNTHETIC EVOLVABLE MATERIALS, BAA 07-21 Addendum 4;Full Proposals Due: May 22, 2007, no later than 4:00PM ET. TECHNICAL POCs:

Dr. Mitchell R. Zakin, DARPA/DSO; Ph: (703) 248-1509; or

Dr. Leo Christodoulou, DARPA/DSO; Ph: (703) 696-2374;

Email: baa07-21@darpa.mil;

URL: http://www.darpa.mil/dso/solicitations/solicit.htm;

Website Submission: https://www.sainc.com/dsobaa/



DESCRIPTION

(Note: This BAA Addendum 4 is submitted as a Special Focus Area as described in the original BAA, 07-21.)



The design and manufacture of advanced materials and material systems is critical to all DoD systems. DARPA seeks innovative proposals for the development of a new class of synthetic evolvable materials that will enable radical new capabilities in the functionality, survivability, lethality, and manufacturability of materials for military systems. For the purposes of this BAA, synthetic evolvable materials are defined as non-biological materials that utilize environmental cues to autonomously self-organize, self-propagate, and self-select specific internal configurations for the purposes of optimizing or maintaining system functionality under dynamically changing conditions. Synthetic evolvable materials will require minimal energy input to function, e.g., exhibit auto-amplification, and have an intrinsic memory or an embedded instruction set that encodes the present state of the material. We envision that synthetic evolvable materials will have the intrinsic capacity to autonomously adapt their structure/properties to changing external conditions over a broad range of lengthscales and timescales as required. This is akin to the way that biological materials exhibit functionalities such as antigen/antibiotic resistance, metabolic control, and reflexes.



Heterogeneous combinations of sensing materials, actuators, processing electronics, and power sources are not considered in this BAA.



PROGRAM COMPONENTS



The concept of evolvable materials is very broad and encompasses a diverse set of scientific and engineering disciplines. To narrow down the concept and to focus initial efforts in this broad area, DARPA is seeking proposals that address one or more of the following technical topics:



1) Development of nonequilibrium material systems: Many biological systems are known to operate in a nonequilibrium state. This enables them to be very agile and responsive to environmental cues and allows them to change states with only minimal energy input. One aspect of this BAA is to develop the theoretical basis and experimental demonstration of synthetic material systems that utilize nonequilibrium dynamics productively for the purpose of changing state in response to environmental cues.



2) Self-organizing, self-propagating, and self-selecting networks: The concept of self-organization and self-assembly is central to the synthesis of biological materials. Furthermore, biological networks often incorporate signaling processes that consist of a cascade of events triggered by energy input at one node of the network. In this manner, biological systems can propagate information over long distances with modest energy input. One goal of this BAA is to develop synthetic analogs to self-organizing, self-propagating, and self-selecting networks. Such a development may enable new means of information transfer in non-biological material systems or new means of introducing large changes in a system or network with only small amounts of energy input at a discrete location, e.g., autoamplification.



3) Response to environmental cues: Environmental pressures cause adaptation in biological systems over an immense range of time scales. Examples of short time scale response include the thermal control system of a warm-blooded animal that causes perspiration in response to elevated external temperature. Over long time scales, environmental pressures can cause adaptation of whole populations to new conditions. In all of these cases, the adaptation is intrinsic to the biological system. Through this BAA, DARPA seeks to incorporate intrinsic changes to environmental cues into synthetic material systems. The purpose of these changes would be to optimize functionality and performance at the system level. Once again, we emphasize that the responsive properties of evolvable materials must be intrinsic, and not the result of a heterogeneous combination of sensors, actuators, and external control systems.



PROGRAM GOALS AND MILESTONES



This request is for modestly priced proposals of not more than 6 months in length that are focused exclusively on the elements described above. It is expected that the total funding under this BAA Addendum 4 will be at the level of $1M to $2M and a total of 3-6 awards will be made. The success of these individual efforts will be a major factor in determining whether a more extensive DARPA program in this area is initiated. The government reserves the right to fund no proposals under this BAA or award without discussions.



PROPOSAL SUBMISSION



Full Proposal Submission Guidelines

Full proposal submissions must follow the guidelines set forth in BAA 07-21. Full proposals must be received by 4:00 PM ET, May 22, 2007. Proposals received after this time will not be considered.



The technical volume of the full proposal must include the following:



1) Notional concept for the synthetic evolvable material system.

2) A clear discussion of the relevance of the notional concept to the program component(s) discussed above.

3) Detailed supporting analysis of the scientific and technical challenges associated with the development of the evolvable material system.

4) A discussion of the DoD impact of the proposed evolvable material system.

5) Listing of team members, relevant capabilities, and a management plan.

6) Budget for a 6-month effort.

7) A listing of intermediate milestones and 6-month milestones for the effort.



Evaluation of Proposals

Evaluation of the proposals will be in accordance with BAA 07-21. For general administrative questions, please refer to the original FEDBIZOPPS solicitation, BAA07-21, of February 14, 2007: http://www.darpa.mil/dso/solicitations/solicit.htm.



Web Address for Proposal Submission: https://www.sainc.com/dsobaa/.



Address for Proposal Submission:

DARPA/DSO

ATTN: BAA07-21, Addendum 4, Dr. Mitchell R. Zakin

3701 North Fairfax Drive

Arlington, VA 22203-1714



GENERAL INFORMATION

In all correspondence, reference BAA 07-21, Addendum 4



TECHNICAL POINTS OF CONTACT

Dr. Mitchell R. Zakin, DARPA/DSO; Phone: (703) 248-1509; Email: Mitchell.Zakin@darpa.mil



Alternate POC

Dr. Leo Christodoulou, DARPA/DSO; Phone: (703) 696-2374; Email: Leo.Christodoulou@darpa.mil

Added: February 14, 2007 Modified: March 27, 2007Track Changes INTEGRATED HIGH ENERGY DENSE CAPACITORS (IHEDC)BAA 07-21, Addendum 3

Full Proposals Due: 4:00PM ET, May 16, 2007

TECHNICAL POC: Sharon Beermann-Curtin, DARPA/DSO

Ph: (571) 218-4935; Email: BAA07-21@darpa.mil

URL: www.darpa.mil/dso/solicitations/solicit.htm

Website Submission: http://www.sainc.com/dsobaa/



PROGRAM OBJECTIVES AND SCOPE



(Note: This BAA Addendum 3 is submitted as a Special Focus Area as described in the original BAA, 07-21.)



The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) seeks proposals for innovative approaches that enable revolutionary advances in materials science and processes resulting in long life, high energy dense and high temperature capacitors for high power electrical systems. It is envisioned that new materials incorporating high permittivity together with high electric field strengths as well as innovative processing and packaging techniques will bring revolutionary operational capabilities. The IHEDC program is interested in developing new environmentally safe materials to reduce the weight and volume of high power capacitors along with novel packaging techniques that will maintain the material gains. The ultimate goal of the IHEDC program will be to provide reliable, compact capacitors tightly integrated with active power electronic components to enable prognostics, adaptability, and therefore smart capacitors. The ability to integrate active and passive power electronic components will open the design space for high power electrical systems.



The program is structured into two phases - Phase I and Phase II - with specific technical goals for each phase as noted herein. Satisfactory attainment of the goals for Phase I will be a determining factor in the decision to proceed to Phase II.



BACKGROUND



The militarys direction for the future is towards more electrical weapons and platforms. To meet these high power demands requires improved passive electrical components keeping pace with technical improvements in the state-of-the-art active power electronics. Improved energy storage devices for high power electronic systems are critical to the successful implementation of pulse power as well as power conditioning applications for envisioned platforms. Current electrical system size and weight is driven by the passive components rather than the active components. This is especially true in pulse power applications, where the capacitor comprises fifty percent of the system volume.



Existing capacitors cannot meet the future platform size and weight constraints while simultaneously providing higher energy storage capability. New materials are required to both reduce the size and weight of current capacitors and to meet or exceed the stringent temperature, stress and multi-functional requirements for the next generation of military high power electrical systems. Additionally, the developed capacitor must utilize materials that are environmentally friendly, have quick discharge rates and sustain a charge for enhanced periods of time. These materials must be packaged using unique solutions that allow for an integrated power system with improved functionality and operability in confined spaces.



PROGRAM GOALS AND MILESTONES



Phase I Metrics:

Develop materials and processes required to produce capacitors with metrics as specified below. The dielectric material with a permittivity to meet the metrics must be capable of being manufactured in sufficient quantities to provide 20 single cell capacitors at the end of Phase I. The proposer must show a path forward to reliably produce the dielectric materials with properties and attributes that lend themselves to manufacturability of large areas (sheets or otherwise). It is critical that the proposer have access to a facility to produce the required 20 capacitors or team with partners that are capable of manufacturing the deliverable capacitors. Critical metrics include: high temperature, high energy density, long life, environmentally friendly materials, and quick discharge rates.



Phase I Packaged Metrics:

Energy (J): greater than 100

Energy Density (J/cc): greater than 20

Dielectric Loss (at 1 kHz): less than 0.001

Discharge Time (usec): less than 10

Voltage (kV) at operating temperature: greater than 1

Charge/Hold (hour): greater than 0.5

Lifetime (at full rating): greater than 1000 cycles

High Temperature Operation (degree C): greater than 200



Phase I Deliverables:

20 Fully Packaged Single Cell Capacitors



Phase II Metrics:

Provide further innovations on Phase I deliverables to enable scaling, higher reliability and increased operating parameters. Develop a smart capacitor through integration of active electronics into the capacitor. Examples include the ability to provide internal prognosis (temperature, capacitance, etc.) and identification of external faults allowing re-routing to nearby capacitors. The envisioned smart capacitor will open up the design space for modularity, adaptability, and recoverability in the passive components with capability of todays active components. The design should utilize the capacitor as a building block, thus eliminating over-designed power electronic structures and interconnects, alleviating the use of additional thermal management.



Phase II Packaged Metrics:

Energy (J): greater than 400

Energy Density (J/cc): greater than 20

Dielectric Loss (at 1 kHz): less than 0.001

Discharge Time (usec): less than 10

Voltage (kV) at operating temperature: greater than 1

Charge/Hold (hour): greater than 1

Lifetime (at full rating): 10000 cycles

High Temperature Operation (degree C): greater than 200

Integration of Active Power Electronics into Capacitors



Phase II Deliverables:

20 Fully Packaged and Integrated Capacitors



PROPOSAL PROCESS



Proposal Submission and Deadlines

Proposals may be submitted and received at any time until the final proposal deadline of 4:00PM ET, Wednesday, May 16, 2007. Proposals will be evaluated against the criteria set forth in BAA 07-21, and the proposer will be notified either that: (1) the proposal has been selected for funding, or (2) the proposal has not been selected for funding. Proposers may elect to have their proposal withdrawn from consideration at any time during the evaluation process. If a formal request is not made, DARPA will assume that continued evaluation is desired. One copy only of each proposal that is not selected for funding will be retained in DSO files for one year after the signing of the last instrument resulting from this BAA.



The government reserves the right to select for award all, some, or none of the proposals received in response to this announcement. The government also reserves the right to fund proposals in phases with options for continued work at the end of one or more of the phases. Proposals identified for funding may result in a procurement contract, grant, cooperative agreement, or "Other Transaction," depending upon the nature of the work proposed, the required degree of interaction between parties, and other factors. The proposer 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).



Full Proposal Submission Guidelines

As described in BAA 07-21, full proposals shall consist of two volumes: Technical and Cost. Follow the general guidelines for full proposal format and content provided at: http://www.darpa.mil/baa/BAA07-21pt2.html.



The technical section of the full proposal must include:



1) Description of the vision to integrate active components within a high energy dense capacitor including a description of the envisioned enabling capabilities that will be provided at the system level.

2) Concise explanation of approach to develop the dielectric material being proposed. If more than one material is proposed, include a metrics-based explanation of how the material downselect will be made. Material parameters should include the morphology that needs to be achieved and a chart of material expected attributes (e.g., permittivity, voltage breakdown, temperature, etc.).

3) Description of approach to achieve metallization of electrodes and numerical prediction of the expected capacitor properties due to the packaging that will be employed to achieve required energy densities.

4) A detailed research plan with calculations including experimental measurement procedures for dielectrics and packaged capacitor.

5) Detailed explanation of the electrode and packaging processes to achieve energy densities and active electronics integrations at required temperatures.

6) A quad chart that outlines the vision, approach, and enabling military capabilities of the effort.

7) Quantified technical and schedule milestones and deliverables for Phase I and for Phase II.



OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION FOR PROPOSAL SUBMISSION



Teaming and Team Composition

Teaming is encouraged, especially when interdisciplinary approaches to a problem are required. Proposals may include, or be led by, foreign firms and/or personnel provided all export control laws and U.S. national security requirements are adhered to in the conduct of the effort and that the work relating to the foreign firm or personnel is unclassified. The onus of understanding and complying with export control rests with the proposer, not the government.



Evaluation of Proposals

Evaluation of the proposals will be in accordance with BAA 07-21. For general administrative questions, please refer to the original FEDBIZOPPS solicitation, BAA07-21, of February 14, 2007: http://www.darpa.mil/dso/solicitations/solicit.htm.



Web Address for Proposal Submission: http://www.sainc.com/dsobaa/.



Address for Proposal Submission:

DARPA/DSO

ATTN: BAA 07-21, Addendum 3, Sharon Beermann-Curtin

3701 North Fairfax Drive

Arlington, VA 22203-1714



General Information

In all correspondence, reference BAA 07-21, Addendum 3.



Technical Point of Contact

Sharon Beermann-Curtin, Program Manager, DSO; Phone: (571) 218-4935; Email: Sharon.Beermann-Curtin@darpa.mil

Added: February 14, 2007 Modified: March 23, 2007Track Changes CHEMICAL ROBOTSBAA 07-21, Addendum 2

White Papers Due: May 3, 2007, no later than 4:00PM ET;

Full Proposals Due: July 2, 2007, no later than 4:00PM ET. Technical Point of Contact: Dr. Mitchell R. Zakin, DARPA/DSO; Ph: (703) 248-1509, Email: baa07-21@darpa.mil;

URL: www.darpa.mil/dso/solicitations/solicit.htm;

Website Submission: https://www.sainc.com/dsobaa/



DESCRIPTION

(Note: This BAA Addendum 2 is submitted as a Special Focus Area as described in the original BAA, 07-21.)



The ability to safely and covertly gain access to denied or hostile areas and perform useful tasks provides critical advantages to warfighters over a broad spectrum of military operations. An effective and logistically attractive means for gaining entry to denied areas is to deploy an unmanned platform, such as a robot. However, often the only available points of entry are small openings in buildings, walls, under doors, etc. In these cases, a robot must be soft enough to squeeze or traverse through small openings, yet large enough to carry an operationally meaningful payload. Current robotic platforms are constructed primarily from hard materials and, while capable of locomotion with embedded payloads, cannot change their physical dimensions to rapidly traverse arbitrary size/shape openings whose dimensions are much smaller than the robot itself and are not known a-priori.



In response to this challenge, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is seeking innovative proposals to develop Chemical Robots (ChemBots): soft, flexible, mobile objects that can identify and maneuver through openings smaller than their static structural dimensions; reconstitute size, shape, and functionality after traversal; carry meaningful payloads; and perform tasks. ChemBots represent the convergence of soft materials chemistry and robotics to create a fundamentally new class of soft meso-scale robots that can perform the following key unit operations in sequence:



1. Travel a distance;

2. Traverse an arbitrary-shaped opening much smaller than the largest characteristic dimension of the ChemBot;

3. Reconstitute size, shape, and functionality after traversing the opening;

4. Travel a distance; and

5. Perform a function using the embedded payload.



The first phase of this program focuses on the development of novel materials, material systems, and/or robot architectures, that can both move and morph under the influence of an appropriate driving force (e.g., electromagnetic, acoustic, chemical, etc.), as well as demonstration of a rudimentary meso-scale ChemBot. The specific Phase I milestone is presented under Program Goals and Milestones.



BACKGROUND

To achieve the ChemBots vision, key technical breakthroughs will center on the development of materials and architectures that can both locomote and reversibly change their form factor in order to traverse small openings and reconstitute size/shape on the other side. There are two basic traversal mechanisms: squeeze through the opening, or first transform to the appropriate form factor and then traverse. Critical features that must be considered in the ultimate ChemBot devices are:



1. Morphability in all three dimensions;

2. Architectures that can sense and morph responsively to openings, e.g., using local tactile sensing;

3. Flexible backbone structures or architectures that themselves morph or dissolve, then reconstitute - keystone that enables system;

4. Payloads that remain viable after traversal. Hard payloads, including power sources, must be smaller than the largest characteristic size of the opening. Novel soft payloads that morph and reconstitute may be larger than this size;

5. Modest power requirements. ChemBots may be self-powered, self-consuming, or energy-scavenging;

6. Autonomous or user-controlled operation, depending on application. ChemBots must not be tethered to controllers or power sources;

7. Meso-scale in size, preferentially with size-scalable architecture; and

8. Robust over typical range of military operational conditions (temperature, humidity, rain, etc.).



Nature provides many examples of ChemBot functionality. Many soft creatures, including mice, octopi, and insects, readily traverse openings barely larger than their largest ?hard? component, via a variety of reversible mechanisms. These mechanisms include (1) using elastic materials to twist, crumple, and bend with many degrees of freedom, (2) utilizing the flexibility of the musculoskeletal structure to squeeze through openings, and (3) exploiting reversible changes in modulus (i.e., flexible to stiff) to achieve dimensional reductions which can exceed 10:1. Soft invertebrates typically locomote by crawling, e.g., peristalsis (earthworms, caterpillars), pedal waves (snails, slugs), cilial motions, etc., and utilize means such as gripping, hooking, and suction to ensure sufficient traction with the terrain.



Potential approaches to achieve soft meso-scale robots include, but are not limited to:



1. Gel-solid phase transitions;

2. Non-Newtonian systems (e.g., shear-thinning and -thickening fluids and gels);

3. Shape-memory materials;

4. Electro- and magneto-rheological materials;

5. Electrostatic, electrostrictive, electro-osmotic, electroadhesive, and dielectrophoretic phenomena;

6. Reversible chemical and/or particle association and dissociation;

7. Geometric transitions, e.g., folding phenomena;

8. Modulus-shifting materials; and

9. New classes of materials and/or system architectures.



Any innovative approach that meets the goals of this BAA will be considered.



PROGRAM GOALS AND MILESTONES

The goal of this program is to develop a payload-carrying soft robotics platform that can be used in military operations to access denied territory through small openings and perform functions.



The ChemBots Program will be separated into two phases. The goal of Phase I is to develop critical material/architecture technologies and demonstrate a rudimentary meso-scale ChemBot with moving and morphing capabilities. Depending on the success of the Phase I demonstrations, the goal of Phase II will be to develop a suite of fully-functional ChemBots for specific applications.



Phase I will be a research effort of not more than 24 months; however, shorter duration efforts are strongly encouraged.



The Phase I milestone is:



1. Demonstrate a ChemBot, approximately the size (but not necessarily the form-factor) of a regulation softball (i.e., 30 cm circumference; 10 cm diameter; 500 cm3 volume), that can:

a) travel a distance of 5 meters at a speed of 0.25 meters/minute;

b) achieve a 10-fold reduction in its largest dimension; and

c) traverse through a 1 cm opening of arbitrary geometry and reconstitute its original size and shape, in 15 seconds.



Phase II is expected to be a research effort of between 18 and 24 months. The Phase II milestones will be determined by the results of the Phase I effort and the specific applications that are proposed.



To realize the program vision and meet the Phase I milestone, each research effort requires performers with expertise in materials chemistry and physics, robotics, command and control algorithms, and systems integration.



PROPOSAL SUBMISSION

We anticipate a two-stage source selection. It is STRONGLY ENCOURAGED that a white paper be submitted according to the guidelines provided below.



White Paper and Full Proposal Deadlines

White papers will be accepted until May 3, 2007, NO LATER THAN 4:00PM ET. All white papers will be reviewed no later than May 17, 2007, and recommendations for full proposals will be provided at that time. Full proposals will be due July 2, 2007, NO LATER THAN 4:00PM ET. White papers and proposals submitted by fax will not be accepted. All full proposal submissions will be evaluated regardless of the disposition of the white paper. Note that a full proposal may be submitted at any time before the close of the solicitation without having submitted a white paper.



White Paper Submission Guidelines

White papers of eight pages or less (not counting cover sheet) will be reviewed for the purpose of recommending the submission of full proposals. The white paper must include the following sections:



1. A cover sheet that includes the Technical Point of Contact's information (name, address, phone, fax, email, lead organization and business type), the title of the proposed work, the estimated cost, and the duration (in months) of the proposed work. (Note: cover sheet does not count towards page limit.)

2. An executive summary, including a clear statement of the uniqueness of the idea. We are looking for revolutionary ideas that will firmly establish the field of soft robotics if the proposed work is successfully completed.

3. A concise statement of the approach to the problem, the scientific and technical challenges inherent in this approach, and possible solutions for overcoming potential problems. Provide supporting technical analysis. This statement should end with a description of the proposed ChemBot architecture and an initial estimate of ChemBot performance. This statement will also serve to demonstrate an understanding of the state-of-the-art in the field.

4. Briefly outline the research areas relevant to achieving program milestones, initial experiments to be conducted, and how progress towards these milestones will be assessed.

5. A cost estimate for resources over the course of the proposed timeline. This cost estimate should include both labor and materials costs.

6. A summary of expertise of the key personnel on the project relevant to the program goals. If the team is multi-organizational, a proposed management structure should also be included.

7. Brief list of relevant references.



Full Proposal Submission Guidelines

As described in BAA 07-21, full proposals shall consist of two volumes: Technical and Cost. Follow the general guidelines for full proposal format and content provided at: http://www.darpa.mil/baa/BAA07-21pt2.html.



The Technical section of the research proposal must contain the following information:

1. Concept Definition: Clearly describe the proposed materials, actuation, and systems architecture concepts for ChemBots. Describe the underlying physical mechanisms that enable locomotion, shape morphing, and reconstitution, including associated on-board power/computing requirements and resources. Describe the basic strategy for traversal through arbitrary size/shape openings.

2. Supporting Technical Analysis: Provide a detailed analysis of the technical rationale that supports the proposed ChemBots concept, including performance estimates.

3. Research Plan: Provide a detailed research plan that describes the methods for achieving the Phase I milestone specified in this Broad Agency Announcement. Provide several specific, quantitative milestones at intermediate stages of the program to assess progress towards meeting the Phase I milestone.

4. Brief list of relevant references.



In addition, all proposals should be supplemented by a one-page Quad Chart describing the program objectives, relevance to the military population, performers, technical milestones, and Fiscal Year total budget. The Quad Chart should include a schematic illustration of the proposed concept showing the principle(s) of operation. The Quad Chart will not count against the total page limit.



Evaluation of Proposals

Evaluation of the proposals will be in accordance with BAA 07-21. For general administrative questions, please refer to the original FEDBIZOPPS solicitation, BAA07-21, of February 14, 2007: http://www.darpa.mil/dso/solicitations/solicit.htm.



Web Address for Proposal Submission: http://www.sainc.com/dsobaa/.



Address for Proposal Submission:

DARPA/DSO

ATTN: BAA 07-21, Addendum 2, Dr. Mitchell R. Zakin

3701 North Fairfax Drive

Arlington, VA 22203-1714



General Information

In all correspondence, reference BAA 07-21, Addendum 2



Technical Point of Contact

Dr. Mitchell R. Zakin, DARPA/DSO; Phone: (703) 248-1509; Email: Mitchell.Zakin@darpa.mil

Added: February 14, 2007 DEFENSE SCIENCES RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY PART ISOL: BAA07-21

DUE: 2/14/08

POC: Ms. Barbara K. McQuiston, DARPA/DSO

FAX: (571) 218-4553

WEB: http://www.darpa.mil/dso/solicitations/solicit.htm

E-MAIL: BAA07-21@darpa.mil



PLEASE SEE ATTACHMENT 1, PART II, BEFORE SUBMITTING TO BAA07-21



PROGRAM OBJECTIVES, SCOPE AND FUNDING



The mission of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's (DARPA) Defense Sciences Office (DSO) is to identify and pursue high-risk/high- payoff research initiatives throughout a broad spectrum of the science and engineering disciplines, and to transform these initiatives into important, radically new military capabilities. To carry out this mission, DSO seeks research ideas and areas that might lead to innovations in science and engineering. Therefore, DSO is soliciting proposals for advanced research and development in a variety of enabling technical areas as described below.



Proposals may be either basic or applied research. However, in all cases, proposers should demonstrate that their proposed effort is aimed at high-risk/high-payoff technologies that have the potential for making, in the 5-10 year timeframe, revolutionary rather than incremental improvements to national security, including emerging threats and operational challenges. Proposals that are not within the topical areas described below may be considered out of scope and may not be evaluated (see Other Technical Areas). Likewise, proposals for the integration of existing technologies or development of systems will also be considered out of scope and will not be evaluated.



Multiple awards are anticipated. The amount of resources made available to this BAA will depend on the quality of the proposals received and the availability of funds. While there is no specific requirement for cost and duration of the proposed effort, it is recommended that proposers include a Phase I of 12 to 18 months in length that addresses the most critical issues on the path to success.



This BAA constitutes the entire solicitation for this effort. No Proposer Information Pamphlet or other additional information will be published, nor will a formal request for proposal or other solicitation regarding this research and development be issued. Requests for same will be disregarded.



TECHNICAL TOPIC AREAS OF INTEREST TO DSO



This section describes the general technical interests of DSO. Please note that while the topics are organized by traditional disciplines, interdisciplinary proposals are encouraged. Regardless of the technical area, the ultimate success of a proposal is based on the specific technical idea(s) advanced within these areas and especially the uniqueness of the proposed approach. Consequently, proposing within one of these topic areas is not sufficient to make a compelling case for funding. For this reason, white papers are strongly suggested before submitting a full proposal (see White Paper Submissions below).



New Materials, Materials Concepts, Materials Processing and Devices:



Specific areas of interest include, but are not limited to:



Demonstrations of multifunctional (structure + function) materials;

Demonstrations of smart materials and structures;

Novel approaches for manufacturing and self-assembly of materials and structures;

Engineered materials and material systems with designed structure and morphology (e.g., meta-materials);

Novel functional (e.g., magnetic, optical) materials;

Materials and enabling technologies for power generation and energy storage at all scales;

Materials structures and devices for use in space environment;

Materials and structures with functionalized engineered surfaces;

Materials for ultra lightweight armor and protection from blast and non-lethal weapons;

Novel approaches to non-destructive evaluation, property/life prediction and related technologies;

Materials and enabling technologies for measuring and controlling quantum and non-equilibrium behavior (e.g., atom interferometers; slowing, storing, and processing of light; quantum computation and communication, etc.);

Materials and rapid screening technologies for molecular-based memory and computing;

Lightweight or thin film materials with near zero coefficient of thermal expansion;

Biomaterials and biomimetic materials, including adaptive/malleable systems;

Self-healing, -sensing and -adapting materials;

Engineered material systems control of mechanical, electrical, electromagnetic, and thermal properties;

Ubiquitous biologically based material for electronic device and electronic fabrication;

Materials and material systems for autonomous regeneration of surface properties; and

Materials and processing methods that enable multi-parameter, high spatial and temporal resolution single-molecule spectroscopy.



Living Materials, Programmable and Self-Assembly:



Specific areas of interest include, but are not limited to:



New concepts in materials that translate biomolecular mechanisms to innovative, highly advantages new routes for material and device systems;

New mechanisms for dynamic self-assembly of hierarchical and device synthesis;

Novel biotic-abiotic material systems that exhibit multifunctional behavior;

Novel biotic-abiotic material systems that are robust, durable, and survivable in operating environments relevant to military platforms;

New methods for direct manipulation and control of biomaterials (e.g. proteins) on length scales and temporal scales commensurate with biological processes;

New concepts for dynamically reconfigurable composite materials;

Materials whose properties are pre-programmable or evolvable in response to stimuli;

Real-time methods to determine the structure of biomolecules and cell surfaces in solution;

New methods to achieve precise molecular recognition;

New tools to enable large-scale systems biology including real-time parallel measurement of molecular size;

New self-assembled materials;

Artificial recognition elements (e.g., antibody mimetics); and

Technologies for fabrication of particles and functional structures in the microns-to-millimeters size range, with arbitrary geometry.



Advanced Mathematics: Application and development of advanced mathematics for applications of interest to the Department of Defense (DoD):



Specific areas of interest include, but are not limited to:

Dimensionality reduction, error propagation, and uncertainty management in databases, models, and experiments;

Modeling of materials, physics, and biology;

Tools to predict the performance of complex systems across a variety of application domains (e.g., physics, biology, and sociology);

Adaptive sensing, waveform design, and scheduling;

Methods for the design of experiments that minimize the number of experiments and that maximize information for coupled non-linear systems;

Representation and analysis of large and/or disparate data sets;

Computational geometry and topology;

Electromagnetic modeling and simulation;

Quantum information sciences;

Signal and image processing; and

New applications of traditionally pure mathematics.



Defense against Weapons of Mass Destruction: Technologies to render biological, chemical, nuclear, or radiation attacks against the U.S. military harmless:



Specific areas of interest include, but are not limited to:



Unique approaches for pre-symptomatic diagnosis of disease and health;

Remote detection/characterization of naturally occurring or engineered biological substances;

Technologies that radically accelerate pre-clinical evaluation of the safety or efficacy of therapeutics and vaccines;

Accelerated, high-yield manufacture of biological therapeutics, including vaccines and immune modifiers.



Applications of Biology to Defense Applications:



Specific areas of interest include, but are not limited to:



Biological approaches for maintaining the warfighter's performance, capabilities and medical survival in the face of harsh battlefield conditions;

Biological approaches for minimizing the after-effects of battle injuries, including neurotrauma from penetrating and non-penetrating injuries as well as faster recuperation from battlefield injuries and wounds;

Approaches for maintaining the general health of deployed troops;

Bio-inspired systems;

Biomolecular devices;

Biological approaches to the growth of materials and devices;

Understanding the human effects of non-lethal weapons;

Micro/nano-scale technologies for non-invasive assessment of health (e.g., vital signs, blood chemistry);

Technologies to enable remote interrogation and control of biological systems at the system/organ/tissue/cellular/molecular scales;

Investigation of the interactions between physical forces, materials and biology (e.g., interface of biology with magnetics);

Novel mathematical and computational approaches to characterizing and simulating complex biological processes;

New technologies to drastically reduce the logistics burden of medical treatment in the field;

Advanced signal processing techniques for the decoding of neural signals in real time, specifically those associated with operationally relevant cognitive events, including target detection, errors, and other decision-making processes;

Novel techniques and experimental methods for understanding the impact of stress on the brain: including information processing, decision making, attention and memory with a specific interest in translating work on animal models to human populations;

Systems biology approaches to emitter/receiver hard problems including human to human communications, chemical signaling (e.g. olfaction) and other information transductions common in biology;

Novel interface and sensor designs for interacting with the central (cortical and subcortical structures) and peripheral nervous systems, with a particular emphasis on non-invasive and/or non-contact approaches;

New approaches for understanding and predicting the behavior of individuals and groups, especially those that elucidate the neurobiological basis of behavior and decision making; and

Technologies to engineer field medical therapies at the point of care, such as production of multiple drugs from a single pro-drug, or to adapt therapies for wide variations in body mass, metabolism, or physiologic stress.



Novel Technologies to Improve the Human Consequences of Transformation:



Specific areas of interest include, but are not limited to:



New approaches for training individuals and teams, including embedded training and simulation;

New approaches for creating greater adaptability and flexibility for the solider;

Understanding and improving team performance; and

New approaches for improving rapid decision-making in chaotic or data-poor environments.



Novel Approaches to Energy Technologies:



Specific areas of interest include, but are not limited to:

Technologies that dramatically reduce the logistics and/or weight burden of energy production/utilization during military deployment;

New approaches to engine designs that are non-heat based;

Novel ideas in the chemical extraction of energy; and

Novel and new non-carbon based fuel sources.



Special Focus Areas



From time to time, DARPA will publish addenda to this BAA that will highlight particular areas of interest. It is highly recommended that potential proposers look periodically for these updates. Addenda will have deadlines for submission of white papers and proposals that are different from the deadline in this BAA. Under addenda, the technical content for a submission as well as the overall structure of the proposed effort may also differ. DARPA will not establish a distribution list for automatic distribution of these addenda. Any specific instructions or criteria in a published addendum will take precedence over this BAA in response to that addendum only.



Other Technical Areas



Ideas outside of the advertised focus areas will be considered in scope only if the proposers can demonstrate that they have the potential for radical improvement to national security and are within the technical interests of the office. Proposals that integrate existing technologies or products into systems generally do not fall within the purview of DSO and are likely to be rejected.



WHITE PAPER SUBMISSIONS



Before proposers put together a full proposal, it is highly recommended (though not required) that they submit a white paper in response to the BAA. This white paper should clearly state the uniqueness of the idea presented in the context of existing state of the art in the technical area of interest. Demonstrating that the proposer has a clear understanding of the state of the art and that their proposed effort will make significant improvements therein is essential for a successful proposal. The white paper should also describe the proposed approach and explain why it is unique. Further, the proposer should demonstrate an understanding of the payoff of the technical idea, especially in terms of how it might make a difference to Defense capabilities. Key milestones expected in the effort should be described. Also, a brief discussion of the technical expertise of the proposed principal investigator and other key team members should be provided. Finally, an estimate of the program costs and duration (in months) should be included. White papers should not be longer than 8 pages; however, shorter white papers that can cover the content above are strongly encouraged.



A website http://www.sainc.com/dsobaa has been set up to facilitate the submission of white papers. This site will allow proposers to fill in contact information and upload a white paper document in either Word or PDF format. It will provide a method by which proposers can track their submissions. White paper submissions may also be made by attachment to an e-mail sent to BAA07-21@darpa.mil (Word 97 or higher is recommended). Embedded text and Postscript are also acceptable. Note: If the website is not used, then the body of the e-mail and the attachment must include name, mailing address, phone number, and fax number of the proposer. If this information is not contained in the body, the e-mail will be returned for inclusion of that information. (If proposers choose not to use e-mail, U.S. mail may be used. White papers and proposals will not be accepted by way of facsimile transmissions.) Within two weeks of receipt of the white paper, the proposer will receive a confirmation providing a log number and both a technical and administrative point of contact. The formal recommendation about whether a full proposal is recommended will be made as soon as possible. However, the exact time for response will depend on a variety of circumstances, including the number of white papers received. Procedures have been put in place that will help proposers to rapidly determine the applicability of their white paper to DARPA/DSO and to help develop promising ideas into formal proposals with a reasonably high probability of funding. Proposers may recommend a program manager to review their proposals based on prior discussions and/or information on the DSO website. Please note, this recommendation and any additional feedback provided is for the benefit of the proposer and following these recommendations is not a guarantee that the full proposal will be funded. All full proposal submissions will be evaluated regardless of the disposition of the white paper.

Added: February 14, 2007 TRANSPORTABLE MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING SYSTEM BAA 07-21 Addendum 1DUE: May 15, 2007.

TECHNICAL POC: Dr. John R. Lowell, DARPA/DSO

Ph: (571) 218-4685

Email: baa07-21@darpa.mil

URL: www.darpa.mil/dso/solicitations/solicit.htm; Website Submission: http://www.sainc.com/dso0721/



DESCRIPTION

(Note: This BAA Addendum 1 is submitted as a Special Focus Area as described in the original BAA, 07-21.)



The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is seeking innovative proposals for the development of a transportable Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) system capable of field deployment to in-theater Combat Support Hospitals (CSHs) for diagnosis and assessment of traumatic brain injuries (TBI) to front-line soldiers, sailors, and airmen. Proposals are suggested for research programs that demonstrate technology development and integration into an MRI system that weighs less than 800 pounds and has a footprint of less than 10 square feet; the system should have a field of view 25 cm x 25 cm x 25 cm with 1.5 mm x 1.5 mm x 1.5 mm voxel dimensions (hereafter 1.5 mm cubic voxel) that effectively produces 2D axial images in 45 seconds (per 1.5 mm slice) or less.



It is expected that each research effort will consist of an interdisciplinary team with the skills needed to address all of the relevant research challenges necessary to meet the program goals. These research areas include (but are not limited to): 1) Novel lightweight magnet designs that maximize field strength and homogeneity while simultaneously minimizing stray fields and magnet weight; 2) High performance radio-frequency multi-element receiver designs; 3) Techniques to reliably compensate for magnetic field inhomogeneities and/or non-linear field gradients, including the use of tailored pulse sequences and/or magnet-specific hardware to spatially compensate for static field coil inhomogeneities; 4) Novel ultra-high sensitivity (and/or low-frequency) receivers that allow operation in lower magnetic field regimes; 5) Techniques to miniaturize signal acquisition, distribution, and processing hardware, including low-noise amplifiers and analog-to-digital (A/D) converters, novel (including optical) data transfer techniques, and miniature connector designs; and 6) Disciplined system engineering to enable use by untrained personnel in harsh operating conditions, including reduced outward system complexity without sacrificing overall reliability, techniques for site placement, self-calibration, and software design that minimizes the number of operator actions for the most commonly performed tasks.



BACKGROUND



Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs) are one of the most devastating injuries in the battlefield, accounting for 15-25 percent of battlefield injuries since WWII [Bellamy and Zajtchuk (1991) 'The Management of Ballistic Wounds of Soft Tissue' in: Textbook of Military Medicine (R. Zajtuchuk, ed.), Washington, D.C.; Office of the Surgeon General, pp 163-220]. At the same time, over 50 percent of all moderate-severe TBIs from Desert Storm resulted in death. One of the few established techniques for early diagnosis and assessment of TBIs is to perform screening with a MRI system. This is especially true for mild to moderate TBI, which invariably present as normal on CT scanners, the only tool available at the Combat Support Hospitals (CSHs).



Early diagnosis of TBIs is critical for successful treatment, especially since TBIs can go unnoticed for days; current standards of soldier care typically result in extra-theater patient transfer during this period. While patients with TBIs are able to be transported, special care must be taken to avoid placing patients at increased risk; clear diagnosis and assessment of TBI before inter-theater transport is therefore medically prudent. Placing an MRI in the CSH will therefore have an immediate impact on front-line readiness, inter-theater logistics burden, and the long-term outlook of injured soldiers, as early TBI diagnosis means significantly higher probability that soldiers will regain normal quality of life.



Combat Surgical Hospitals do not have MRI systems; their extreme weight (greater than 10 tons), large size (greater than 300 sq ft of floor space), and significant infrastructure burdens (cryogen supply for superconducting magnets, concrete shielded room devoid of metal, etc.) make them nearly impossible to field in the demanding environment of a CSH, which can range from a converted hospital to an office building to a tent.



Commercial MRI system development stresses the production of large external magnetic fields using superconducting magnets to increase spin polarization within the imaging volume. These magnets are designed to increasingly demanding field homogeneity specifications, and with the addition of linear field gradients, allow received signals spread over a range of frequencies to be de-correlated and reconstructed into a spatial distribution of spin populations that form the basic elements of the produced image. Recent research activities [c.f. Perlo, et al., Science 308, 1279 (2005); McDermott et al., PNAS 101, 7857 (2004); Mair et al., Magnetic Resonance in Medicine 53, 745 (2005); and Bouchard, Phys. Rev. B, 74, 054103 (2006)] have pointed to a suite of technologies that collectively appear to offer the distinct possibility of producing an MRI system significantly smaller and lighter than current commercially available systems. In general, these research activities have addressed either production of high quality images in significantly reduced field regimes (at the extreme, this includes earth-field imaging using superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) or atomic magnetometers) or the production of images in static magnetic fields with significantly increased inhomogeneity. When viewed alongside other technical advances made in such diverse fields such as quantum information science, near-field RF antenna design, and efficient signal processing, the research activities above indicate that a concerted effort should be made to design a transportable MRI system to meet the compelling needs of injured soldiers.



PROGRAM GOALS AND MILESTONES



The goal of this Program is to develop an MRI system that weighs less than 800 pounds and has a footprint of less than 10 square feet; the system should have a field of view 25 cm x 25 cm x 25 cm, volumetric and planar image acquisition capability with 1.5 mm cubic voxels, and acquisition times on the order of 45 seconds per slice.



The Transportable MRI Program will be separated into two phases. The Phase I goal is to demonstrate the highest risk elements necessary to meet the end of program goals. The Phase II program goals are to develop, demonstrate, and thoroughly test an MRI system capable of meeting all of the stated performance criteria (system weight, image volume, image resolution, image acquisition time, and structure delineation). Note that proposed technologies and experimental design should incorporate all relevant National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) standards for evaluation of magnetic resonance imaging systems (and FDA regulatory approval of medical devices).



Phase I will be a research effort of not more than 24 months.



Phase I program goals are:



1. Demonstrate the operation of a Phase I Magnetic Resonance Imaging system. The Phase I system should have a minimum imaging volume of 15,625 cm3 (a cube with each side 25 cm) and a maximum system weight of 2000 lbs (909 kg). Using the Phase I system, the performer must demonstrate in a constructed phantom, that they can achieve the end-of-program performance goals in at least one of the three areas listed below (a, b, or c) without exceeding the minimum (maximum) acceptable performance in the other areas:

a. Linear pixel dimension for 2D axial image (Goal: less than 1.5 mm; Maximum: 1 cm)

b. Effective 2D axial image acquisition time (Goal: less than 45 sec; Maximum: 200 sec)

c. Image structure delineation (Goal: less than 10 percent proton density difference; Maximum: 35 percent proton density difference). Acquired images should enable clear delineation of adjacent structures in an imaging phantom with proton density differences analogous to structures found within neuroradiological images (white matter, grey matter, CSF, etc)



2. Perform experiments that provide evidence that the areas left for performance demonstration in Phase II will scale from their Phase I values to the Phase II goals. These experiments need not be performed on the Phase I experimental apparatus, although that is preferred, provided the same technical approaches are utilized in any experimental apparatus utilized.



3. Produce a design of a Phase II MRI system, a work plan to develop it (experimental plan, technical gap analysis), and show how the experiments proposed in Phase II are poised to achieve the Phase II milestones.



Phase II is expected to be a research effort of between 24 and 36 months. The Phase II program goals are to develop, demonstrate, and thoroughly test an MRI system capable of meeting all of the following performance criteria:



1. System weight less than 800 pounds (364 kg)



2. Imaging volume: greater than 15,625 cm3 (25 cm cube)



3. Linear image resolution for 2D axial image: less than 1.5 mm



4. Effective 2D axial image acquisition time: less than 45 sec



5. Image structure delineation: less than 10 percent proton density difference for adjacent structures.



To the extent possible, experiments should be conducted to demonstrate the ability of the developed Phase I or Phase II MRI systems for non-invasive, non-structural or functional imaging of the brain (i.e., functional MRI, or fMRI; Magnetic Resonance Angiography, or MRA; Magnetoencephalography, or MEG; and similar techniques) with identical or minimally-modified hardware.



Phase II deliverables must include a summary report of experimental data which demonstrates that each of the five performance criteria have been achieved. Additionally, consideration should be given to the completeness of the experimental plan to enable submission of an application for device classification and Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) with the FDA upon completion of Phase II. Please see http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/devadvice/ for information of the FDA regulatory requirements for diagnostic medical devices.



PROPOSAL SUBMISSION



We anticipate a two-stage source selection. It is STRONGLY ENCOURAGED that a white paper be submitted according to the guidelines provided below.



White Paper and Full Proposal Deadlines



White papers will be accepted until March 21, 2007, NO LATER THAN 4:00PM ET. All white papers will be reviewed no later than April 16, 2006 and recommendations for full proposals will be provided at that time. Full proposals will be due May 15, 2006, NO LATER THAN 4:00PM ET. White papers and proposals submitted by fax will not be accepted. All full proposal submissions will be evaluated regardless of the disposition of the white paper. Note that a full proposal may be submitted at anytime before the close of the solicitation without having submitted a white paper.



White Paper Submission Guidelines



White papers of ten pages or less (not counting cover sheet) will be reviewed for the purpose of recommending the submission of full proposals. The white paper must include the following sections:



1) A cover sheet that includes the Technical Point of Contact?s information (name, address, phone, fax, email, lead organization and business type), the title of the proposed work, the estimated cost, and the duration (in months) of the proposed work. (Note: cover sheet does not count towards page limit.)



2) An executive summary, including a clear statement of the uniqueness of the idea. We are looking for ideas that will revolutionize MRI systems if the proposed work is successfully completed.



3) A concise statement of the approach to the problem, the scientific and technical challenges inherent in this approach, and possible solutions for overcoming potential problems. This statement should end with a description of the proposed functional system architecture. This statement will also serve to demonstrate an understanding of the state-of-the-art in the field.



4) Briefly outline the research areas relevant to achieving program goals, initial experiments to be conducted, and how progress towards these goals will be assessed.



5) Provide an initial estimate for the Phase I system weight, broken out by functional and/or physical sub-system. Clearly state any assumptions and provide justification for your estimate.



6) A cost estimate for resources over the proposed timeline. This cost estimate should include both labor and materials costs.



7) A summary of expertise of the key personnel on the project relevant to the program goals. If the team is multi-organizational, a proposed management structure should also be included.

8) Brief list of relevant references.



Full Proposal Submission Guidelines



As described in BAA 07-21, full proposals shall consist of two volumes: Technical and Cost. Follow the general guidelines for full proposal format and content provided at: http://www.darpa.mil/dso/solicitations/solicit.htm.



Each technical proposal must have a clearly defined research team and management approach. The research team must incorporate people with expertise in all appropriate research areas listed above, and the proposal must clearly define how the team will work together to achieve the program goals. One of the team members must be designated the Principal Investigator. The Principal Investigator will be responsible for coordinating the team and demonstrating the project milestones.



Proposals that address only a subset of the research areas listed above or do not contain a clear indication of the Management Approach may not be considered for funding.



In addition to the sections specified in the BAA announcement, the technical volume of the research proposal must also contain the following information (limited to a maximum of 35 pages):



1) Technical Approach, which should specifically address:

a. Proposed Phase I MRI system architecture. At a minimum, the functional system architecture must be described; to the extent possible, physical and other descriptions should be included. This should be accompanied by a concise statement of the approach to the problem.

b. In the context of the proposed Phase I MRI system architecture, clearly outline the scientific and technical challenges inherent in this approach, and possible solutions for overcoming potential problems. These should be grouped into research areas relevant to achieving the Phase I goals. For each research thrust, describe initial experiments to be conducted, the expected contributions to the system functions of each research thrust, and how progress along these research thrusts will be assessed.

c. Given the stated Phase I Go/No-Go milestones (see item #4 below), provide a detailed estimate for the Phase I system weight, broken out by functional and/or physical sub-system. Clearly state any assumptions and provide justification for your estimate.

d. Given the stated Phase I Go/No-Go milestones, describe the test plan utilized to verify system and sub-system performance. In particular, provide a detailed description of the object(s) to be imaged, including known part and/or serial numbers, calibration(s) performed on the object, and how the object may be used to verify system performance.

e. For the proposed Phase I system, describe the steps needed to initially place the unit at a remote site in order to achieve the Phase I Go/No-Go milestones. Include quantitative descriptions of all services (power, water, etc.) needed for system operation.



2) Research Team: Clearly define the expertise of the individual team members and how their expertise relates to the research areas defined in the technical approach.



3) Management Approach: Define a single Principal Investigator who will coordinate the team and be responsible for demonstrating the Go/No-Go project milestones listed below.



4) Phase I milestones:

a. End of Phase I (Go/No-Go) milestones: The Go/No-Go milestones must be a set of specific deliverables (e.g., demonstration, hardware, report) based on the Phase I program goals outlined above, and must be clearly and explicitly stated.

b. Interim Phase I progress assessments: A list of smaller project accomplishments that should occur to meet the Go/No-Go milestone must be listed. To the extent possible, these should be time-ordered, and a lead researcher should be identified as responsible for that accomplishment.



5) Phase II milestones: Explicitly state the Phase II milestones based on the Phase II program goals outlined above. In particular, address both the set of specific deliverables and any interim progress assessments needed.



Evaluation of Proposals



Evaluation of the proposals will be in accordance with BAA07-21. For general administrative questions, please refer to the original FEDBIZOPPS solicitation, BAA07-21, of February 14, 2007: http://www.darpa.mil/dso/solicitations/solicit.htm.



Web address for Proposal Submission: http://www.sainc.com/dso0721/



Address for Proposal Submission:

DARPA/DSO, ATTN: BAA07-21, Addendum 1

3701 North Fairfax Drive

Arlington, VA 22203-1714



General Information

In all correspondence, reference BAA07-21, Addendum 1.



Technical Point of Contact

John R. (Jay) Lowell, DARPA/DSO; Phone: (571)218-4685; Email: jay.lowell@darpa.mil



Point of Contact

Barbara McQuiston, Deputy Director, DSO; Phone: (703) 526-4759; Fax: (571) 218-4553; Email: barbara.mcquiston@darpa.mil