Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Contracts Management Office (CMO), 3701 N. Fairfax Dr., Arlington VA 22203-1714

A -- ADVANCED THERMOELECTRIC MATERIALS AND DEVICES SOL BAA96-25 DUE 092396 POC Dr. Stuart A. Wolf, Program Manager/DSO, FAX (703) 696-3999. ADVANCED THERMOELECTRIC MATERIALS AND DEVICES SOL BAA#96-25 DUE 23 September 1996, POC Dr. Stuart A. Wolf, DARPA/DSO, FAX 703-696-3999. BACKGROUND: The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) seeks proposals to discover/develop/exploit, for the benefit of advanced military systems, recent and predicted advances in thermoelectric materials and devices. It is believed that these discoveries of novel materials and concepts for thermoelectric devices and the ability to utilize the latest in computational techniques for calculating and understanding the electronic and lattice structure as well as the transport properties of these and other potentially important materials has provided a unique opportunity to: 1) use both novel synthesis methods and predictive capabilities to discover new materials or combinations of materials that can increase the coefficient of performance of thermoelectric devices for refrigeration and power generation, 2) develop characterization methods and facilities to provide rapid and accurate information on the relevant transport and thermodynamic properties of potentially useful materials and to disseminate this information to the community, and 3) develop new ways to build thermoelectric devices that can enhance the performance of these devices for a particular application. Improved, all solid state thermoelectric devices can and will find important applications in military systems. More efficient coolers will simplify the cryogenics of infrared systems for surveillance and targeting. Advanced thermoelectrics could be important for man portable micro-climate systems and cooling aboard submarines. The utilization of superconducting subsystems for advanced radar and electronic warfare will be enhanced dramatically if thermoelectric coolers can be developed that reach 70 K in just a few stages. Cooling and thermal management of high power analog and digital semiconductor electronics for a host of military and commercial applications is inevitable and thermoelectrics will provide a simple and cost effective solution if their efficiency is enhanced. Power generation utilizing advanced thermoelectrics can turn the waste heat on trucks and other military vehicles into useful energy for reducing fuel consumption or charging batteries, etc. PROGRAM OBJECTIVES AND DESCRIPTION: This program focuses on efforts to synthesize, model and characterize novel thermoelectric materials (e.g., bulk, thin film, granular, mesoporous, etc.) and structures (e.g., quantum well, superlattices, graded) to create new classes of thermoelectric devices for cooling and power generation that can offer at least a ten fold enhancement in the coefficient of performance at low cost. This would make these all solid state devices competitive with gas phase or phase change systems. It is envisioned that there will be efforts spanning very basic materials science through applied device fabrication, and optimization for particular systems. Teaming among industrial, academic and government laboratories is strongly encouraged to ensure that materials advances can be quickly exploited in device development. Cost sharing is also strongly encouraged, especially for the industrial partners, and will be used as an indication of commitment. Individual efforts by industrial, academic and government laboratories will also be entertained where a convincing case can be made for broad applicability of the research. The program is scheduled for four years with approximately $16M of DoD funding. The work will fund materials and device development. HOW TO PROPOSE: Proposal submission will be a two stage process: First, concept papers are sought from prospective offerors and are due at 1600 EDT on 15 July 1996. Based on the evaluation of these concept papers, selected offerors will be invited to submit full proposals which are due at 1600 EDT on 23 September 1996. The intent of the request for concept papers is to minimize the labor and costs associated with full detailed technical and cost proposals. All interested offerors are therefore encouraged to submit concept papers. However, proposals satisfying the terms and conditions cited herein will be reviewed regardless of the disposition (or lack) of concept papers. CONCEPT PAPERS: Six single sided, hard copies of concept papers of no more than six pages including the special cover page must arrive no later than 1600 EDT, 15 July 1996 to receive consideration. Concept papers should concisely: 1) identify the focus of the proposed effort, 2) describe the essence of the new idea, 3) describe the impact of a successful effort if reduced to practice, 4) identify the central science and technology issues, 5) set forth in tabular form the major tasks, the corresponding milestones, the timing of the milestones, and the funding level versus time, 6) identify key individuals along with their institutions, roles and experience, and 7) outline plans, capability and commitment to productization (if appropriate) including character and extent of cost sharing. These concept papers should be submitted to Dr. Stuart Wolf, DARPA/DSO, 3701 N. Fairfax Drive Arlington VA 22203-1714. Written requests for the proposer information pamphlet (PIP) or general administrative information should be addressed to Ms. Alice Burgess, Strategic Analysis, Inc. Suite 175, 4001 N. Fairfax Dr. Arlington VA 22203-1714. Faxed requests: Attn: Alice Burgess (703) 527-5445. Email requests: burgea@sainc.com. FULL PROPOSALS: Full proposals will be evaluated according to the following criteria in descending order of importance: 1) scientific and technological merit of the proposed program, 2) offeror's capabilities and recent related experience, including personnel, facilities, equipment and data, 3) impact of the successful development on defense systems, 4) plans, capability and commitment to productization (if appropriate), and 5) reasonableness of cost . GENERAL INFORMATION FOR PREPARATION OF FULL PROPOSALS: Proposers should obtain the pamphlet entitled ''BAA#96-25 Proposer Information Pamphlet'' (PIP) which provides detailed information on required proposal formats and forms. The offeror shall submit six single sided hard copies, each 8.5 by 11 inches. The pages shall have 1.25 inch margins and the font size will be no smaller than 12 pitch. Non-conforming proposals may be rejected without review. Proposals shall consist of two volumes: Volume 1 will be the Technical Proposal and Volume 2 the Cost Proposal. The first page of each shall be a required special cover sheet and shall clearly indicate the title, the prime contractor and subcontractors or partners as the case may be, the principal investigator name, phone number, fax number, e-mail, the period of performance, the yearly cost of the effort and the total cost. Volume 1 - Technical Proposal: the technical proposal shall include, a Table of Contents, Executive Summary, a Program Description, a Program Plan, a Statement of Work, a Milestone Chart, a Facilities and Equipment description, a Description of Relevant Prior Work, a Management Plan, and Resumes of Key Individuals. The page count of Volume 1 shall be limited to a maximum of 50 pages, which includes all figures, references, tables, charts and curriculum vitae of the principals. Volume 2 - Cost Proposal: - The cost proposal shall contain a summary cost breakdown and a detailed cost breakdown. The summary breakdown should be shown to the level of major tasks and should indicate manpower levels of effort, equipment and supplies, travel and miscellaneous expenses for the tasks of the entire program, broken out by phases and time. Details of the cost sharing to be undertaken by the offeror, if any, must be included in the summary section of volume 2 of the proposal. The summary shall be one page long (see PIP), but the detailed cost breakdown is not limited in page count. BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT: This CBD notice, in conjunction with BAA#96-25 Proposer Information Pamphlet (PIP) constitutes a Broad Agency Announcement as contemplated by FAR 6.102(d)(2). No additional information is available nor will a formal RFP or other solicitation regarding this announcement be issued. Requests for same will be disregarded. The government reserves the right to select for award all, some or none of the proposals received in response to this announcement. No portion of the BAA will be set aside for HBCU and MI participation due to the impracticality of reserving a discrete or severable area of research for exclusive competition among those entities. HBCU's and MI's are encouraged to apply and/or team with other proposers. One original and five copies of each proposal shall be sent to Dr. Stuart A. Wolf, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington VA 22203-1714 by 1600 EDT, 23 September 1996. DARPA will acknowledge receipt of pre-proposal and proposal submissions within approximately ten business days of receipt, and assign a control number that should be used in all further correspondence regarding the submission. Written requests for proposer information pamphlet or general administrative information should be addressed to Ms. Alice Burgess, Strategic Analysis, Inc. Suite 175, 4001 N. Fairfax Dr. Arlington VA 22203-1714. Faxed requests: Attn: Alice Burgess (703) 527-5445. Email requests: burgea@sainc.com. (0152)

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