Defense Supply Service-Washington, 5200 Army Pentagon, Washington, D.C., 20310-5200

A -- BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT -- US ARMY RESEARCH INSTITUTE FOR BEHAVIORAL AND SOCIAL SCIENCE S BASIC PROGRAM POC Point of Contact -- Ms. Debbie Smith, Contracting Officer on 703/614-4577 The Research and Advances Concepts Office (RACO) of the U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences (ARI) solicits new proposals for its Fiscal Year 1998 contract program of fundamental research in behavioral science under this Broad Agency Announcement issued per FAR 35.016. The purpose of the research is to add new, fundamental knowledge to behavioral science subdisciplines and discover generalizable principles. novel and state-of-the-art approaches to difficult problems are especially welcome, as are integrated programmatic efforts to develop and test theory. A portion of available funding may be made available for meritorious proposals from minority institutions and historically Black colleges and universities and these entities are encouraged to participate. Investigations which focus on purely physiological mechanisms or psychopathology cannot be considered by this agency; however, neuroscience approaches to memory, cognition, and personality are not excluded. Similarly, no consideration can be given to applied research projects. However, support for basic science does depend on the judgment that its research findings will have the potential to stimulate new behavioral technologies -- those capable of improving the effectiveness of Army personnel and their units. II. SCIENTIFIC PROBLEMS FOR BASIC RESEARCH. The areas listed below are of high relevance to the Army: 1) Leadership. ARI is interested in assessing the impact of leadership on crew, team, and unit performance; developing measures of leadership; better understanding the development of leadership; and creating a theoretical framework for understanding the implications for leadership of new communication technologies. Proposed research should contribute to an analysis of leadership and organization dynamics within a military context. We are particularly interested in research addressing the nature and assessment of knowledge representations and higher order skills possessed by effective leaders. 2) Foundations of distributed interactive simulation training. The Army increasingly uses distributed interactive simulation (DIS) and virtual reality in training. Research is sought that will provide a theoretical basis for the development of simulation and virtual reality in individual and team training. This research should address issues such as the conditions that promote transfer from simulated to real tasks, the use of feedback in training and the effective of spatial abilities. (Because of limitation in funds, ARI will not be able to support fully the building of virtual reality environments.) 3) Individual Performance and Information Comprehension. The smaller size of the Army, new missions such as peacekeeping and counter-terrorism, and new equipment and processes may require that soldiers do more and perform at higher levels than before. We week research to provide the foundations for developing high levels of individual performance through more rapid training, training that provides more skill flexibility, training at a distance, improved job design and personnel selection, and training that is more resistant to forgetting and the effects of stress, fatigue, and distractions. Of particular interest are tasks that involve the effective processing and communication of large amounts of information. 4) Social Structures Affecting Army Performance. Although RACO maintains a large program in this area, creative ideas are sought for understanding element of the Army culture in terms of sociological concepts and their influence on morale, recruitment, reenlistment, performance and discipline; developing a model of the Army culture, relating to other armies and to civilian society; and understanding how major societal issues influence the Army. 5) Picturing the future. To prepare for the future Army, ARI seeks research using existing databases that can be used to develop a vision of the future for key Army concerns. These concerns include, but are not limited to, predictors of enlistment propensity. 6) Methods to evaluate military training. For many years, the U.S. military has been training foreign military, particularly officers, and foreign civilians associated with the military establishment. These programs have included training in professional military affairs, management and technical skills, human rights, resource management, and civil-military relations. ARI seeks innovative research to develop methods for evaluating the international training and applying that evaluation to previous and existing programs. III. TIME, PERSONNEL, AND OTHER FEATURES OF THE RESEARCH. Normally, research programs can range from 1 to 3 years. However, short-term efforts with modest budgets are particularly encouraged this year. These proposals may include an option for further research that will be exercised by ARI if early results are promising,. Short-term, small-scale efforts in high-risk/high-gain areas are also welcome. Finally, investigators are encouraged to conduct their basic research in realistic contexts, where appropriate. Both single-investigator and collaborative research efforts are acceptable, as are multidisciplinary approaches to a central problem. Collaborative efforts may involve researchers at a single institution or in cooperating institutions. Offerors with questions about the appropriateness of their planned research, may send e-mail or call the relevant program manager. However, use of e-mail is optional and not a secure method of communication. The government is not responsible for technical difficulties or disclosures resulting from e-mail communications. IV. APPLICATION PROCEDURES. Proposals should include an abstract and be sufficiently detailed to be responsive to the criteria, described below, for evaluation. The formal proposal must include institutional endorsement, signature of the proposed principal investigator, time frames for all phases of the project, and detailed accounts of proposed work and budget. The technical section of the formal proposal must be no greater than 25 pages in length, single spaced. Additional materials may include budget, vitae, references and institutional information. Five copies must be submitted. They will be reviewed by scientific peers according to the following criteria (in order of importance) (1) Importance of the research for ARI s mission and Army concerns. (2) Scientific significance of the issue and originality. (3) Technical merit, appropriateness, and feasibility of the proposed approach. (4) The qualifications, capabilities, and experience of the proposed principal investigator and key personnel; and institutional resources and facilities. Moreover, successful proposals must have proposed costs that are both affordable and realistic for the proposed effort. The evaluation of proposed cost is subordinate to the technical evaluation. The primary basis for selecting proposals for acceptance shall be technical merit, importance to relevance to Army programs, and funds availability. Also, past performance and prior research and research and development contracts to include timely completion and cost effectiveness will be considered will be considered. V. CONCEPT PAPERS. ARI invites potential Offerors who are unsure of the relevance of their topics to submit concept papers. Concept papers are optional, but if submitted must be less than 5 pages, concisely address the proposed research, and should contain only an approximate total budget projection. Please enclose and e-mail address and a telephone number where you can be reached. Because of the short duration before the first deadline for formal proposals, concept papers should only be used by those Offerors who are seeking to meet the second deadline for formal proposals. Two copies of each concept paper must be submitted by 26 November 1997. VI. DEADLINES. To be considered for early funding, formal proposals must be received no later than 3:30 PM, 4 November 1997. For consideration or later funding, proposals must be received no later than 3:30 PM, 10 February 1998. The lag between proposal deadline dates and actual contract award cannot beexpected to be less than six months. Investigators should take this into consideration when projecting start dates and budgets. Where to Mail Inquiries, concept papers, and formal proposals should be addressed to: U.S. ARI, ATTN.: PERI-BR(6.1), 5001 Eisenhower Ave., Rm 6S06, Alexandria, VA 22333-5600. For hand deliveries between 8:30 AM and 3:30 PM, call 617-8721, 617-5572 or 617-8641 from the lobby. Faxed proposals will not be accepted. VII. PROGRAM MANAGERS. Chief, RACO: Dr. Michael Drillings (Topics 1, 4, 5 and 6) (703) 617-8641; Dr. Joseph Psotka (Topics 2, 3, 5, and 6) (703) 617-5572; International Research Programs (all applicants from outside U.S.): Contact Dr. Michael Strub, Chief, European Science Coordination Office, 44-171-514-4903, London, UK. E-mail addresses: Drillings@ari.fed.us or drillings@ari.army.mil - -- Psotka@ari.fed.us or psotka@ari.army.mil -- Mstrub@army.ehis.navy.mil; ARI maintains a web page where this announcement may be seen at http://www-ari.army.mil or at http://198.97.199.12/baa98.html (AC0910024-11) (0254)

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