SOLICITATION NOTICE
A -- MEMS/NEMS S&T Fundamentals
- Notice Date
- 12/20/2005
- Notice Type
- Solicitation Notice
- NAICS
- 541710
— Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences
- 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
- RA06-07
- Response Due
- 1/31/2006
- Archive Date
- 1/31/2007
- Description
- The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is soliciting research proposals in the area of Microelectromechanical/Nanoelectromechanical (MEMS/NEMS) S&T Fundamentals. The MEMS/NEMS S&T Fundamentals effort is seeking research by means of multi-performer (university/ nonprofit/industry/other) focus centers dedicated to advancing a number of core technologies considered essential to the advancement of MEMS/NEMS technology for applications important to the Department of Defense (DoD). Proposed research should investigate innovative approaches capable of having a pervasive impact on continuing technology advances with significant potential for contributing to the transition of MEMS/NEMS technology into DoD systems. The contemplated program is intended to foster the creation of multiple and highly interactive MEMS/NEMS focus centers composed of university, industrial, and government laboratory organizations. DARPA seeks innovative proposals for focus centers in the following fundamental technology areas: Surface Physics: Understanding the chemical and physical nature of MEMS/NEMS surfaces, interfaces, and how bonds terminate. Approaches directed toward enhancing fundamental understanding of the role of surfaces and materials interfaces during processing, device operation, and long-term reliability are desired. Noise Mechanisms: Understanding noise limitations in MEMS/NEMS devices. Approaches directed toward enhancing fundamental understanding of the ultimate limitations of all sources of noise to the performance of individual devices and more complex microsystems are desired. Reliability Physics: Understanding the physical basis for failure in all types of MEMS/NEMS. Fundamental work in this area might include scientific studies of fatigue of materials and interfaces at micro- and nano-scales. Scaling Physics: Understanding dimensional scaling trade-off spaces in electrical, mechanical, optical, chemical, and biological MEMS, as well as limits to the dynamic range of scaled devices and systems. Microfluidics: Understanding and controlled manipulation of fluids in micro- and nanosystems. Issues related to the reliability physics and compatibility of fluidic components such as valves, pumps, capillaries, etc. Interconnections: Interfacing the nano-to-macro world; impedance matching between the macro, micro, and nano domains. Single-Molecule Methods: Bottom-up construction of MEMS/NEMS structures and devices, surface functionalization, atom-by-atom engineering; self-replicating MEMS/NEMS. Modeling: New methods for simulating MEMS/NEMS performances (e.g., understanding the limits in quality factor (Q) in vibrating micro- and nanomechanical resonators. Signal Processing Methods: Frequency domain versus time domain computation. Other Areas: Any fundamental technical issues critical to continuing development of NEMS/MEMS technology. Focus centers must develop a balance between basic long-term research requirements in the MEMS/NEMS area and the more common industry focus on short-term specific technical problems. All research conducted as part of the effort will be considered pre-competitive and must be openly shared among all participants through annual reviews. PROGRAM SCOPE Collaborative university/nonprofit/industry proposals for fundamental research focus centers in the areas specified above are requested. Proposals should address fundamental science and technology needs of the MEMS/NEMS community in the form of a three-year base program with up to three subsequent optional one-year phases. The prime contractor for each MEMS/NEMS S&T Fundamentals focus center will be a single university or nonprofit organization. Sub-contracted efforts to other universities and to selected organizations, including but not limited to industry program sponsors, are anticipated. This arrangement is intended to ensure substantial and interactive participation among all program performers in pursuing technical program objectives. Each selected MEMS/NEMS S&T Fundamentals focus center effort will require co-funding of the proposed research by one or more industry team members. Cost sharing by industry partners is required and will be an important evaluation criterion during the proposal review and performer selection process. The DARPA:Industry cost-sharing ratios planned for the program will be 1.5:1 in Years 1-3, 1:1 in Year 4, and 1:2 in Years 5-6. Cost sharing must be in the form of dollar resources provided by the industry partners to the selected awardee. Additional cost sharing from universities and other government agencies will be eligible for DARPA matching but will not be an evaluation criterion. A web site - http://teaming.sysplan.com/RA_06_07/ 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. This web site is provided consistent with the stated purpose of this RA. Industry cost sharing is required and is an evaluation criterion. The technical POC for this effort is Dr. Dennis Polla, fax: (703) 516-8761; electronic mail: dennis.polla@darpa.mil. GENERAL INFORMATION Proposers must obtain a pamphlet entitled ?RA 06-07, MEMS/NEMS S&T Fundamentals, Proposer Information Pamphlet? that provides further information on MEMS/NEMS S&T Fundamentals the submission, evaluation, and funding processes, proposal abstract formats, proposal formats, and other general information. This pamphlet may be obtained from the FedBizOpps website: http://www.fedbizopps.gov/, FedGrants website: http://www.fedgrants.gov/, World Wide Web (WWW) at URL http://www.darpa.mil/ or by fax, electronic mail, or mail request to the administrative contact address given below. Proposals not meeting the format described in the pamphlet may not be reviewed. In order to minimize unnecessary effort in proposal preparation and review, proposers are strongly encouraged to submit proposal abstracts in advance of full proposals. An original and three (3) copies of the proposal abstract and two electronic copies of the abstract (in MS-Word readable (preferred) or PDF format), each on a separate CD-ROM disk, should be submitted. Each disk must be clearly labeled with RA 06-07, proposer organization, proposal title (short title recommended), date submitted, and Copy __ of 2. The proposal abstract (original and designated number of paper and electronic copies) must be submitted to DARPA/MTO, 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714 (Attn.: RA 06-07), and it must be received by DARPA on or before 12:00 PM, local time 31 January 2006. Proposal abstracts received after this time and date may not be reviewed. Upon review, DARPA will provide written feedback on the likelihood of a full proposal being selected and the time and date for submission of a full proposal. Proposers not submitting proposal abstracts must submit an original and three (3) copies of the full proposal and two electronic copies of the full proposal (in MS-Word readable (preferred) or PDF format), each on a separate CD-ROM disk. Each disk must be clearly labeled with RA 06-07, proposer organization, proposal title (short title recommended), date submitted, and Copy __ of 2. The full proposal (original and designated number of hard and electronic copies) must be submitted to DARPA/MTO, 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714 (Attn.: RA 06-07), and must be received by DARPA on or before 12:00 PM, local time, 04 April 2006, in order to be considered during the initial round of selections. Proposals received after this deadline, however, may be received and evaluated up to one year from the date of posting on FedBizOpps and FedGrants. Full proposals submitted after the due date specified in the RA or due date otherwise specified by DARPA after review of proposal abstracts may be selected contingent upon the availability of funds. This notice, in conjunction with the RA 06-07 Proposer Information Pamphlet, constitutes the total Research Announcement. No additional information is available, nor will a formal RFP, RA, or other solicitation regarding this announcement be issued. Requests for the same will be disregarded. The Government reserves the right to select for award all, some, or none of the proposals received. All responsible sources capable of satisfying the Government's needs may submit a proposal which shall be considered by DARPA. Input on technical aspects of the proposals may be solicited by DARPA from non-Government consultants /experts who are bound by appropriate non-disclosure requirements. Non-Government technical consultants/experts will not have access to proposals that are labeled by their offerors as ?Government Only?. Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Minority Institutions (MIs) are encouraged to submit proposals and join others in submitting proposals; however, no portion of this RA will be set aside for HBCU and MI participation due to the impracticality of reserving discrete or severable areas of research in MEMS/NEMS S&T Fundamentals. All administrative correspondence and questions on this solicitation, including requests for information on how to submit a proposal abstract or full proposal to this RA, should be directed to one of the administrative addresses below; e-mail or fax is preferred. DARPA intends to use electronic mail and fax for correspondence regarding RA 06-07. Proposals and proposal abstracts may not be submitted by fax or e-mail; any so sent will be disregarded. DARPA encourages use of the WWW for retrieving the Proposer Information Pamphlet and any other related information that may subsequently be provided. EVALUATION CRITERIA Evaluation of proposal abstracts and full proposals will be accomplished through a technical review by government personnel of each proposal using the following criteria: (l) overall scientific and technical merit, (2) potential contribution and relevance to DARPA mission, (3) plans and capability to accomplish technology transition, (4) offeror's capabilities and related experience, and (5) cost realism and required cost-sharing. Note: cost realism will only be significant in proposals that have significantly under or over-estimated the cost to complete their effort. In addition, the documented amount of required matching funds from industry will be considered as an evaluation criterion. Additional funding derived from universities and other government agencies used to directly support university research will be matched by DARPA but will not be considered as an evaluation criterion. The administrative addresses for this RA are: Fax: (703) 351-8616 (Addressed to: DARPA/MTO, RA 06-07) Electronic Mail: RA06-07@darpa.mil Mail: DARPA/MTO, ATTN: RA 06-07 3701 North Fairfax Drive Arlington, VA 22203-1714 This announcement and the Proposer Information Pamphlet may be retrieved via the WWW at URL http://www.darpa.mil/ in the solicitations area.
- Record
- SN00955591-W 20051222/051221080217 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
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FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
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