Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Contract Management Directorate (CMD), 3701 N. Fairfax Dr., Arlington, VA 22203-1714

A -- RESEARCH WEB-IN-A-BOX SOL BAA01-41 DUE 092600 POC Dr. Jean Scholtz, FAX: (703) 522-7161 WEB: click here for electronic file retrieval, http://www.darpa.mil/ito/Solicitations.html. E-MAIL: click here for point of contact for BAA00-41, baa00-41@darpa.mil. WEB-IN-A-BOX (WiaB) SOL BAA 00-41 DUE 09/26/00 POC DR. JEAN SCHOLTZ, DARPA/ITO, FAX: (703) 522-7161 The Web-in-a-Box (WiaB) initiative will provide timely access to globally accessible information under connectivity constraints. This capability will enable deployed naval fleets and remote command posts to have access to information in order to make better and more timely decisions. The Web-in-a-Box concept envisions two components: a local information repository at the remote command post and a next-generation proxy server with a large bandwidth connection to the global information source. The next-generation proxy server will be responsible for detecting information needs and information changes and for delivering needed information intelligently to the local information repository utilizing existing bandwidth. The interesting research challenges will be automatic user profiling, information change monitoring, and intelligent dissemination in a completely dynamic environment. The technologies developed will be integrated into a demonstrable prototype during the third year. This solicitation seeks proposals in the following technical topic areas: Information Usage Modeling Optimizing Database Freshness Value-Maximized Bandwidth Utilization Information Decay Other (Identify) The program will also develop an architecture to support the integration of the various technologies developed. PROGRAM SCOPE: Proposals should be submitted for a three year period. However, work in year three should be submitted as an option. Recipients will be expected to share technical details/code of the algorithms developed under this program with the other program principal investigators (PIs). A password protected web page will be set up for dissemination of this information within the program. Proposed research should investigate innovative approaches and techniques that lead to or enable revolutionary advances in the state-of-the-art. Proposals are not limited to the specific strategies listed above and alternative visions will be considered. However, proposals should be for research that substantially contributes towards the goals stated. Research should result in prototype hardware and/or software demonstrating integrated concepts and approaches. Specifically excluded is research that primarily results in evolutionary improvement to the existing state of practice or focuses on a specific system or solution. Integrated solution sets embodying significant technological advances are strongly encouraged over narrowly defined research endeavors. Proposals may involve other research groups or industrial cooperation and cost sharing.GENERAL INFORMATION: The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency/Information Technology Office (DARPA/ITO) requires completion of a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) Cover Sheet Submission for each Proposal, by accessing the URL below: http://www.dyncorp-is.com/BAA/index.asp?BAAid=00-41 After finalizing the BAA Cover Sheet Submission, the proposer must submit the BAA Confirmation Sheet that will automatically appear on the web page. Each proposer is responsible for printing the BAA Confirmation Sheet and submitting it attached to the "original" and each designated number of copies. The Confirmation Sheet should be the first page of your Proposal. Failure to comply with these submission procedures may result in the submission not being evaluated. Detailed information and instructions are outlined within the Proposer Information Pamphlet (PIP). ABSTRACT FORMAT: In order to minimize unnecessary effort in proposal preparation and review, proposers are strongly encouraged to submit brief proposal abstracts in advance of full proposals. An original and 4 copies of the proposal abstract and 9 electronic copies (i.e., 9 separate disks) of the abstract (in Microsoft Word '97 for IBM-compatible, PDF, Postscript, or ASCII format on one 3.5-inch floppy disk or one 100 MB Iomega Zip disk). Each disk must be clearly labeled with BAA 00-41, proposer organization, proposal title (short title recommended) and Copy ___ of 9). The proposal abstract (original and designated number of hard and electronic copies) must be submitted to DARPA/ITO, ATTN: BAA 00-41, 3701 Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714, in time to reach DARPA by 4:00 PM (ET), Friday, August 4, 2000, to guarantee review. Upon review, DARPA will make a recommendation to offerors either encouraging or discouraging submission of full proposals. PROPOSAL FORMAT: Proposers must submit an original and 4 copies of the full proposal and 9 electronic copies (i.e., 9 separate disks) of the full proposal (in Microsoft Word '97 for IBM-compatible, PDF, Postscript, or ASCII format on one 3.5-inch floppy disk or one 100 MB Iomega Zip disk). Each disk must be clearly labeled with BAA 00-41, proposer organization, proposal title (short title recommended) and Copy ___ of 9). The full proposal (original and designated number of hard and electronic copies) must be submitted in time to reach DARPA by 4:00 PM (ET), Tuesday, September 26, 2000, in order to be considered. Proposers must obtain the BAA 00-41 Proposer Information Pamphlet (PIP), which provides further information on the areas of interest, submission, evaluation, funding processes, proposal abstracts, and full proposal formats. This pamphlet may be obtained by fax, electronic mail, mail request to the administrative contact address given below, or at URL address http://www.darpa.mil/ito/Solicitations.html. Proposals not meeting the format described in the pamphlet may not be reviewed. This Commerce Business Daily notice, in conjunction with the BAA 00-41 Proposer Information Pamphlet and all references, constitutes the total BAA. 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. All responsible sources capable of satisfying the Government's needs may submit a proposal that shall be considered by DARPA. 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 and MI participation due to the impracticality of reserving discrete or severable areas of this research for exclusive competition among these entities. Evaluation of proposals will be accomplished through a scientific review of each proposal, using the following criteria which are listed in descending order of relative importance: Overall Scientific and Technical Merit: The overall scientific and technical merit must be clearly identifiable. The technical concept should be clearly defined and developed. Emphasis should be placed on the technical value of the development and experimentation approach. (2) Innovative Technical Solution to the Problem: Proposed efforts should apply new or existing technology in a new way such as is advantageous to the objectives. The plan on how offeror intends to get developed technology and information to the user community should be considered. (3) Potential Contribution and Relevance to DARPA Mission: The offeror must clearly address how the proposed effort will meet the goals of the undertaking. The relevance is further indicated by the offeror's understanding of the operating environment of the capability to be developed. (4) Offeror's Capabilities and Related Experience: The qualifications, capabilities, and demonstrated achievements of the proposed principals and other key personnel for the primary and subcontractor organizations must be clearly shown. (5) Plans and Capability to Accomplish Technology Transition: The offeror should provide a clear explanation of how the technologies to be developed will be transitioned to capabilities for military forces. Technology transition should be a major consideration in the design of experiments, particularly considering the potential for involving potential transition organizations in the experimentation process. (6) Cost Realism: The overall estimated cost to accomplish the effort should be clearly shown as well as the substantiation of the costs for the technical complexity described. Evaluation will consider the value to Government of the research and the extent to which the proposed management plan will effectively allocate resources to achieve the capabilities proposed. All administrative correspondence and questions on this solicitation, including requests for information on how to submit a proposal abstract or proposal to this BAA, must be received at one of the administrative addresses below by 4:00 PM (ET), Tuesday, September 19, 2000; e-mail or fax is preferred. DARPA intends to use electronic mail and fax for some of the correspondence regarding BAA 00-41. Proposals and proposal abstracts may not be submitted by fax or e-mail; any so sent will be disregarded. The administrative addresses for this BAA are: Fax: 703-522-7161 Addressed to: DARPA/ITO, BAA 00-41 Electronic Mail: baa00-41@darpa.mil Electronic File Retrieval: http://www.darpa.mil/ito/Solicitations.html Mail to: DARPA/ITO ATTN: BAA 00-41 3701 Fairfax Drive Arlington, VA 22203-1714 Posted 07/05/00 (W-SN471458). (0187)

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