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

A -- FLIGHT ENABLING TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADVANCED MICRO AIR VEHICLES SOL BAA 97-30 DUE 070297 POC Dr. James McMichael, DARPA/TTO, FAX (703) 696-8401 WEB: http://www.darpa.mil/baa/, http://www.darpa.mil/baa/. E-MAIL: BAA97-30@DARPA.mil, BAA97-30@DARPA.mil. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Tactical Technology Office is soliciting proposals for research, development, and demonstration of flight enabling technologies for advanced Micro Air Vehicle (MAV) systems. In addition to this Broad Agency Announcement and before submitting a proposal, prospective offerors MUST also refer to the associated Proposer Information Pamphlet (PIP) for BAA 97-29 and BAA 97-30 that provides further information on the technical scope, program structure, and proposal format. BAA 97-29, Micro Air Vehicle Systems, is a companion BAA to BAA 97-30. Information on both can be found in the PIP. PROGRAM OBJECTIVES: DARPA is soliciting proposals for innovative approaches to the development and demonstration of flight-enabling technologies for advanced MAVs. For the purpose of this solicitation, Micro Air Vehicles are defined as airborne vehicles no larger than 15 cm in length, width or height, capable of performing a useful military mission at an affordable cost. Micro air vehicles are envisioned as fully functional, militarily capable, fully integrated, small flight vehicles. TECHNICAL SCOPE: DARPA is soliciting proposals for innovative research and development of any one or more of the following flight-enabling technologies for advanced MAVs: a) novel, integrated approaches for aerodynamics, flight stability and control, b) lightweight and novel approaches to propulsion and power, c) low-power, light-weight navigation, communications, and on-board processing, d) advanced structures and packaging, and e) MAV-tailored payload technologies, including imaging or other sensors with requirements unique to Micro Air Vehicles. Advanced MAVs include, but are not limited to, vehicles with superior performance characteristics (such as very long range or endurance), or vehicles with extraordinary capabilities (such as covert systems capable of operation in interior spaces), or vehicles exploiting novel approaches (such as flapping propulsion). Technologies that would lead to significantly enhanced MAV operational capability or that would enable unique, special and useful new military applications are of particular interest. Technologies with unusually effective multifunctionality are highly encouraged. TEAMING FACILITATION: Technology developers are encouraged to team with other developers to provide highly integrated and multifunctional solutions for advanced flight enabling technologies for MAVs. It is anticipated that the breadth of expertise required to successfully respond to this solicitation may benefit from the formation of interdisciplinary teams. To assist prospective proposers, a method of capabilities exchange has been set up on DARPA s web site at (http://www.darpa.mil/baa/). Interested parties are invited to post their technical interests and capabilities on this web site, and to identify other prospective developers with complementary expertise. Federally Funded Research and Development Centers are precluded from submitting proposals or teaming on proposals under this BAA. Offerors are directed to the PIP for further information. PROGRAM SCOPE AND FUNDING: Multiple awards are anticipated during the fourth quarter of FY1997. Each offeror must submit a proposal for one or more of the flight enabling technologies listed above. Multifunctional solutions to two or more of these technology areas are desirable, but not essential. Teaming is encouraged but not required. All offerors are required to segment and cost proposals as follows: an initial 12-month effort followed by an option for an additional period not to exceed a total of 24 additional months beyond the base period. Offerors are directed to the PIP for further information on program scope. DARPA has budgeted approximately $2.8M of FY 97 funds and, pending Congressional approval, anticipates approximately $12M of FY 98 funds for the MAV Program, for both BAA 97-29 and BAA 97-30 combined. Total program funding available through FY 2000 is expected to be approximately $35M. GENERAL INFORMATION: An original and four (4) copies of each proposal must be submitted to DARPA/TTO, 3701 N. Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714 (ATTN: BAA 97-30) no later than 4:00 p.m. EDT on July 11, 1997. Proposals submitted by fax or e-mail will not be considered. Each technical proposal shall be in the format specified in the PIP. Proposals not meeting the format may not be reviewed. This CBD notice itself and the PIP constitute the total Broad Agency Announcement as contemplated by FAR 6.102(d). No additional information will be made available, and a formal RFP or other solicitation regarding this announcement will not be issued. All responsible sources capable of satisfying the Government's needs may submit proposals which will be evaluated as received. Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) and Minority Institutions (MI) are encouraged to submit proposals and join others in submitting proposals; however, no portion of this BAA will be set aside for HBCU or MI participation due to the impracticality of reserving discrete or severable areas of research in Micro Air Vehicles and associated flight enabling technologies. EVALUATION AND AWARD: Proposals will not be evaluated against each other since they are not submitted in accordance with a common work statement. Evaluation of the proposals will be accomplished using the following criteria which are listed in descending order of importance: 1) overall scientific merit in relationship to the soundness and innovativeness of the technical approach; 2) offeror s ability to implement the proposed program as demonstrated by availability of qualified personnel, equipment and facilities, and expertise relevant to the proposed flight-enabling technologies; 3) potential utility and effectiveness of the proposed technology for advanced MAVs; 4) the offeror s commitment to transfer the technology to MAV systems integrators, and the degree to which technical data and/or computer software developed under the proposed contract are to be delivered to DARPA with unrestricted rights; and 5) proposed cost and cost realism. Note: cost realism will only be significant in proposals which have significantly under- or overestimated the cost to complete their effort. Evaluation and selection of proposal(s) for award will be made on the basis of the criteria listed and on overall balance considered most advantageous to the DARPA MAV Program. Awards are subject to availability of Government funds. Not all proposals deemed selectable will be funded. The Government reserves the right to select for award all, some, or none of the proposals received. Awards made under this BAA are subject to the provisions of the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) Subpart 9.5, Organizational Conflict of Interest. All offerors and proposed subcontractors must affirmatively state whether they are supporting any DARPA technical office(s) through an active contract or subcontract. All affirmations must state which office(s) the offeror supports, and identify the prime contract number. Affirmation should be furnished at the time of proposalsubmission. All facts relevant to the existence or potential existence of organizational conflicts of interest, as that term is defined in the FAR 9.501, must be disclosed. The disclosure shall include a description of the action the offeror has taken, or proposes to take, to avoid, neutralize or mitigate such conflict. It is the policy of DARPA to treat all proposals as competitive information, and to disclose their contents only for the purpose of evaluation. DARPA reserves the right to use technical expertise from Lincoln Laboratory for advice on technical issues that arise during proposal evaluation. The Government intends to use employees from a non-Government source (SRS Technologies, Inc.) to assist as technical experts, and in administering the evaluation of the proposals. By submission of your proposal, you agree that your proposal information may be disclosed to those employees of the organization identified above for the limited purpose stated above. Selections under this BAA will be made only by Government evaluators. All requests for the PIP and administrative correspondence should be directed to one of the administrative addresses below; e-mail or fax is preferred. Due to the anticipated volume of interest and staff limitations, DARPA will not entertain questions on this BAA. The administrative addresses for BAA 97-30 are: Fax: (703) 528-4715 (Addressed to: SRS Technologies, BAA 97-30); Mail: DARPA/TTO, Attn: BAA 97-30, 3701 N. Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714. The PIP must be obtained by accessing the World Wide Web at URL address (http://www.darpa.mil/baa/) and downloading the information for storage and/or printing. (0149)

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