MODIFICATION
A -- Defense Sciences Research and Technology
- Notice Date
- 1/14/2003
- Notice Type
- Modification
- Contracting Office
- Other Defense Agencies, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Contracts Management Office, 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA, 22203-1714
- ZIP Code
- 22203-1714
- Solicitation Number
- BAA03-02
- Response Due
- 11/7/2003
- Archive Date
- 11/8/2003
- Point of Contact
- Steven Wax, Deputy Director, Defense Sciences Office, Phone 703-696-2281, Fax 571-218-4553,
- E-Mail Address
-
none
- Description
- METABOLIC DOMINANCE, BAA 03-02, Addendum 2, DUE 041703, POC: DR. JOSEPH T. BIELITZKI, DARPA/DSO, Fax: (571) 218-4553, Email: baa03-02@darpa.mil, URL: www.darpa.mil/baa/#dso. PROGRAM GOALS AND OBJECTIVES: The Defense Sciences Office is interested in proposals to develop innovative science and technology capable of affording superior physiological qualities to the warfighter. The vision for the Metabolic Dominance Program is to develop novel strategies that exploit and control the mechanisms of energy production, metabolism, and utilization during short periods of deployment requiring unprecedented levels of physical demand. The ultimate goal is to enable superior physical and physiological performance by controlling energy metabolism on demand. An example is continuous peak physical performance and cognitive function for 3 to 5 days, 24 hours per day, without the need for calories. Continuous exertion over numerous days is currently limited by: 1) the ability to transport and ingest adequate calories and/or effectively access stored calories (e.g., adipose, glycogen); 2) available training time; extended training periods are required to adapt muscle and mitochondria to meet intense physical loads; and 3) the ability of physiological systems to rapidly recover after extended, repeated bouts of physical exertion. Metabolic Dominance (MD) is a two phase program. Phase 1 will establish proof-of-concept for four integrated areas of emphasis that together address methods for enhancing soldier performance. These areas of emphasis focus on: 1) optimizing metabolic performance by developing an understanding of how to control substrate availability and remove metabolic waste products; 2) controlling the thermal environment where energy metabolism occurs; 3) regulating the number and efficiency of cells and organelles necessary for energy production; and 4) identifying the cause of fatigue and, thus, short- or long-term performance degradation. Phase 2 will provide specific expanded deliverables based on the successful completion of Phase 1. Proposals responding to this BAA should describe an 18-month Phase 1 effort focused on one or more of the areas of emphasis described below. Although Phase 2 proposals will be requested at a later date, proposers should clearly indicate what their Phase 2 goals would be and how their 18-month milestones in Phase 1 would lead to the success of those goals. Phase I proposals should address one or more of the following areas of emphasis: 1) METABOLIC OPTIMIZATION: The warfighter cannot consume adequate calories to sustain metabolic needs over short, intense periods of deployment. This area seeks concepts for increasing substrate availability to tissues important for strength and endurance, including, but not limited to, proposals investigating: a) methods and mechanisms for rapidly inducing a switch from carbohydrate metabolism to lipolysis as a sustainable source of cellular energy; b) the development of an idealized and customized program for nutritionally preloading the warfighter to facilitate the metabolic transition to lipolysis, c) the development of nutriceuticals or natural products that provide demonstrable benefit for maintaining strength and endurance; d) methods and mechanisms to increase oxygen and metabolite availability to selected tissues, to increase the rate and/or the efficiency of energy metabolism, and/or to provide supplemental high energy phosphates to targeted populations of cells; e) methods and mechanisms to remove or control accumulated metabolic byproducts and/or reactive oxygen species. A key 18-month milestone for the MD Program is demonstration of the ability to selectively regulate the metabolic source of calories on demand, that is, the ability to control the switch from carbohydrate to lipid metabolism, and reverse, for energy production. Key milestones for the end of Phase 2 include the ability to selectively regulate the metabolic energy source; as well as identification of several methods for increasing nutrient availability to muscle; identification of an idealized program of nutritional preconditioning, including objective evaluations of nutriceuticals, natural products, and traditional nutritional supplements; and methods for controlling hunger during extended periods of lipid metabolism, resulting in enhanced physical performance while utilizing stored calories. 2) THERMOPHYSIOLOGY: Fluctuations in core body temperature limit warfighter performance. This area seeks concepts, methodologies, and technologies to control core body temperature within an ideal range that would greatly enhance physical performance. This includes, but is not limited to, proposals investigating: a) the relationship between core body temperature and muscle and mitochondrial efficiency, including enzymology, kinetics, mechanisms, and limiting factors; and b) physical methods (non-invasive) for controlling core body temperature that result in enhanced physical strength and endurance. A key 18-month milestone is the ability to control core body temperature within an ideal range for energy metabolism. This ability enhances the effectiveness of physical training and physical performance. By the end of Phase 2, it is anticipated that a deployable device for controlling core body temperature within 0.5o F will be available for transition to the military services. In addition to controlling core body temperature, this device will enhance the effectiveness of training and (when combined with other elements of this BAA) result in a 30% increase in strength and duration of activity. 3) MUSCLE AND MITOCHONDRIA: The ideal warfighter is an endurance athlete. This area seeks methods and mechanisms for rapidly increasing the numbers and efficiency of cardiomyocytes, slow twitch muscle fibers and mitochondria. This includes, but is not limited to proposals investigating: a) physical methods (non-invasive), small molecule regulators, or other methods that increase mitochondrial numbers and efficiency in muscle and other tissues; b) the control of muscle phenotype and mechanisms involved in the controlled switching of muscle fiber type; c) non-traditional approaches that improve energy utilization without affecting mitochondria or muscle phenotype; d) mechanisms and methods for controlling mitochondrial uncoupling proteins in order to effect heat dissipation and, thus, greater energy production. A key 18-month milestone is the ability to increase mitochondrial numbers and efficiency and alter muscle fiber phenotype, regardless of the degree of physical activity or exercise. By the end of Phase 2, it is anticipated that both physical methods and small molecule regulators responsible for increasing mitochondrial numbers and encouraging a slow twitch muscle fiber phenotype will be identified and that these increases (when combined with other elements of this BAA) result in a 30% increase in strength and duration of activity. Achieving a clear understanding of the mechanisms associated with how calories are partitioned into energy or heat and how this distribution can be modified to enhance physical performance is also a Phase 2 goal. 4) RECOVERY AND MAINTENANCE: Continuous physical exertion can lead to fatigue, illness, and injury. There is significant interest in the early identification of detrimental sequella associated with physical demand. This includes but is not limited to proposals investigating: a) identification of the cytokine/chemokine profile related to exertion; b) the control of these inflammatory mediators to afford reduced recovery periods or longer periods of exertion; c) negative sequella associated with increased muscle and/or mitochondrial function that could cause harm; d) methods to rapidly identify and minimize problems associated with recovery and maintenance; e) the relationship between immune function and exertion in order to effectively immunize the warfighter prior to deployment and/or optimize the immune response during deployment. A key 18-month milestone is the ability to reduce post-exertion recovery time and to minimize negative consequences of enhanced performance. At the end of Phase 2, a clear understanding of the relationship between exertion and immune response will be determined, including methods to control deleterious cytokine or chemokine effects, and the role of inflammation in exertion. The process of controlled energy metabolism and enhanced performance will be reversible without deleterious or irreversible effects. Adverse effects are to be identified with mechanisms for intervention. TEAMING: Progress in the Metabolic Dominance Program will depend on the formation of well-managed interdisciplinary efforts that draw on expertise from such areas as metabolic physiology, thermophysiology, nutrition, endocrinology, muscle physiology, mitochondrial physiology, kinesiology, sports medicine, immunology, biochemistry, and vascular biology. In addition, it is expected that a strong mathematic and/or computer modeling component will be included where necessary. Members of interdisciplinary teams will be required to work collaboratively and collectively maintain sharp focus toward achieving the Phase 1 objectives. SUBMISSION OF WHITE PAPERS: We invite white papers (10 pages or less) in response to this announcement. The white paper should be organized as follows: 1) An Executive Summary; 2) The idea. Which area(s) of emphasis are you addressing? 3) The approach. How will you address these areas? Briefly define the research plan you intend to follow. What are the research challenges, and how will they be addressed? What is unique or revolutionary about your approach? What additional capabilities do you envision will be enabled by your ideas? How do you plan to demonstrate the success of the research effort within the 18-month period of funding? Every white paper must describe specific 18-month quantitative milestone(s) that will be achieved in order to demonstrate progress in reaching the ultimate goals of the program; 4) The cost. What is your cost estimate for resources required for the proposed time line? This section should include a clear description of both the research and personnel resources required. 5) The Management Plan. A brief description of the technical expertise of the principal investigator and the key team members must be provided, along with a management plan describing how different disciplines represented on the team will be integrated to ultimately generate a proof-of-concept to be completed within 18 months. White papers sent in response to this addendum are due to DARPA no later than 1600 hours EST, February 18, 2003. Proposers submitting white papers will be notified within 10 business days of that date if a full proposal will be requested. To facilitate the submission of white papers, website http://www.sainc.com/dso/ has been set up. For more detailed instructions on submitting white papers, please refer to BAA03-02. Not withstanding the disposition of white papers, DARPA will accept full proposals for this addendum. PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS: Each proposal should: 1) explicitly address tests, demonstrations, and other research activities planned in the area(s) of interest described above, 2) include at least two specific and quantitative 18-month scientific and/or technical objectives for each scientific/technical area of interest addressed in the proposal that clearly demonstrate the research is on track for meeting the ultimate program goals, 3) include clearly delineated intellectual property arrangements and transition paths, and 4) include identification and assessment of critical scientific and/or technical barriers to the program objective and plausible approaches to develop solutions or overcome their limiting effects. Upon award, specific deliverables and appropriate level demonstrations of the science and/or technology elements will be required periodically, and a final demonstration of the deliverable system is required at the end of the program. Given the breadth of the areas of interest, it is anticipated that only comprehensive and fully integrated team efforts addressing the entire challenge problem will be funded and, therefore, bidder teaming is highly encouraged. Proposed Phase 1 efforts should not exceed 18 months, but consideration should be given to possible continuation of the effort into Phase 2. If proposals include use of Government facilities, offerors will be expected to conclude commercial services arrangements with the providing Government facility. Offeror teaming with DoD Government activities for R&D efforts other than facility use is discouraged. If multiple awards are made, down-selection may occur annually based on technical progress and achievements. Proposals with cost share should clearly identify the specific tasks to be cost shared in the technical proposal and separately break out the corresponding costs in the cost proposal. The number of awards will be dependent on the suitability of proposals received and availability of funds. Full proposals shall consist of two volumes: technical and cost. The technical and cost volumes shall conform to the guidelines in DARPA (DSO) BAA 03-02 of December 16, 2002. To receive consideration under this addendum PROPOSALS ARE DUE NO LATER THAN 1600 EDT APRIL 17, 2003, to the address shown below. Proposals received after that date, will be considered under the open BAA but not this addendum. In addition to the required original and 5 copies of the proposal, proposers are required to submit an electronic copy of the proposal on a ZIP disk. EVALUATION OF PROPOSALS: Evaluation of the proposals will be in accordance with BAA03-02. For general administrative questions, please refer to the original CBD announcement, BAA 03-02 of December 16, 2002. GENERAL INFORMATION: In all correspondence, reference BAA03-02, Addendum 2. TECHNICAL POINT OF CONTACT: Dr. Joseph Bielitzki, DARPA/DSO; Phone: (703) 696-5278; Fax: (571) 218-4553.
- Record
- SN00239301-W 20030116/030114214126 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
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