B -- BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT FOR RESEARCH AND STUDIES

Notice Date

October 12, 2000

Contracting Office

Defense Supply Service-Washington, 5200 Army Pentagon, Rm. 1D245, Washington, DC 20310-5200

ZIP Code

20310-5200

Solicitation Number

DASW01-01-K

Response Due

February 21, 2001

Point of Contact

Dr. Michael Drillings (703) 617-8641; Dr. Jonathan Kaplan (703) 617-8828

E-Mail Address

Broad Agency Announcement (drillings@ari.army.mil)

Description

BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT: U.S. ARMY RESEARCH INSTITUTE FOR BEHAVIORAL AND SOCIAL SCIENCES'S BASIC RESEARCH PROGRAM. I. The Research and Advanced Concepts Office (RACO) of the U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences (ARI) solicits new proposals for its Fiscal Year 2001 contract program of fundamental research in behavioral science. This Broad Agency Announcement is 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 special interest: A. Basic Research-Training. The Army seeks continuous improvement in how the training mission is performed. We seek research to: (a) identify factors that enhance transfer and to gain a better understanding of the order in which tasks should be taught; (b) develop training strategies that will guide the effective mix of training modes (classroom, live exercises, and simulations); and (c) understand how to train individuals to comprehend the meaning and relevance of large amounts of ambiguous information. Army training aimed at the individual is increasingly being performed at a distance. To support that Army mission, we seek research to: (a) examine and predict the usefulness of technologies such as desktop videoconferencing, virtual whiteboards, and multi-user simulation environments for training applicable knowledge and performance; (b) understand the role of the instructor leading to improved instructor models for simulation-based learning systems; and (c) understand the role of self-management skills and other concepts in self-directed learning. Teams perform most of the Army's key tasks. To better understand the fundamentals of team learning, we seek research that will: (a) result in theories regarding the development of collective and team skills; and (b) result in a better understanding of the mechanisms of learning and skill retention in collaborative and problem-based learning. B. Basic Research-Soldiers Recruiting. At its most fundamental level, recruiting involves understanding individual choice in the context of interacting societal and military factors. Such choices are complex and involve major life decisions. We wish to support research leading to a better understanding of how such choices are made, including the factors that most directly impact upon them. We are interested in supporting the development of a longitudinal model of occupational choice that is broad enough to encompass decisions impacted upon by the recruiting process leading to a choice to enlist or not enlist. The changing nature of the Army and the impact these changes are likely to have on such decisions also needs to be considered. C. Basic Research-Leadership. The skills necessary for successful leadership change during a career as people move from one organizational level to another. The ability of someone to change is a function of several underlying attributes that apply to learning including self-awareness, ability to learn from experience, ability to learn from formal sources, and ability to integrate learned material. We are interested in funding research leading to increased knowledge about how these and other attributes operate and manifest themselves and how they interact with the changing requirements of leadership through a career. For example: (a) What are the lessons of experience? (b) How does experience manifest itself in cognitive structures? (c) How does reflection interact with recognitional strategies during acquisition and after expertise has been attained? The ultimate goal of such research is to understand these attributes so that they can be measured and enhanced through training. We also seek research that will investigate how leaders can develop and enhance shared understanding of team tasks and objectives to result in improved performance. D. Basic Research-Social Structures Affecting Army Performance. The Army does not exist in a vacuum. It is a component of the overall societal system and is affected by changes in that system. We are interested in supporting creative research for understanding how major societal conditions and trends, changing Army missions, and Army culture influence morale, cohesion, discipline, and military performance. 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. 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 (less preferred method) 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. Please include an e-mail address and telephone number where technical questions can be addressed. 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 background and technical sections 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 to 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 or relevance to Army programs, and funds availability. Also, past performance, prior research, and research and development contracts to include timely completion and cost effectiveness will be considered. A research proposal should contain the following sections: Abstract, Background, Technical Approach, References, Resumes of proposed researchers, and Budget. Abstract. The abstract should be one page or less. It should describe the problem underlying the research, the hypothesis being tested, explain the objective of the proposal, and provide a condensed, but meaningful description of the technical approach. Background. The background should include a description of the problem as the proposal author understands it. It is helpful if the author shows an understanding of the Army and ARI contexts that apply to the proposed research. The description of the problem should be tied to a an account of significant previous and current research which is applicable. Clearly, there will not be enough space to write a critical, annotated bibliography, but the author should demonstrate meaningful knowledge of the background of the research that is being proposed. Technical Approach. This is a critical part of the proposal and it should be responsive to the listed criteria. It should include a description of the hypothesis upon which the research is to be based, the goal of that research, and a detailed account of how the research is to be done. This account should be much like the methods section of a research paper. It should include a description of the data to be collected, the methods for collecting the data, the number and source of subjects and how they will be acquired, and the proposed research design and likely analysis methods. It is possible that an intermediate or final product of research might include training packages, simulation models, or other software-based devices. In this case, the author should show how such a product relates to the hypothesis being tested and should provide sufficient detail to permit understanding and evaluation. References. This should be a list of all the references called out in the body of the proposal. It should not include publications that are not referred to in the body. It should be in American Psychological Association format. Resumes. Resumes or vitae should be included for all proposed researchers with special emphasis on the Principal Investigator(s). It is particularly important that the resumes include those publications that bear on the research being proposed. Budget. This should be a typical budget section as is required by other federal agencies. However, it should also include a description of total dollars required overall, per government fiscal year (the government fiscal years run from October 1 through the following September 30), and the number of person hours/months per government fiscal year broken out by personnel type (senior scientist, graduate student, research associate, clerk, etc.). V. Concept papers. ARI invites potential offerors who are unsure of the relevance of their topics to submit concept papers, preferably by e-mail. 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 an e-mail address and a telephone number where you can be reached. Please submit concept papers at least 2 months before the deadline for proposals. Concept papers submitted late may not receive a timely response. VI. Deadlines. To be considered for funding, formal proposals must be received no later than 3:30 P.M. 21 February 2001. The lag between proposal deadline dates and actual contract award cannot be expected 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 sent to: U.S. ARI, ATTN: TAPC-ARI-BR (6.1) 5001 Eisenhower Ave., Rm. 6S58 Alexandria, VA 22333-5600. For hand deliveries between 8:30 A.M. and 3:30 P.M., call 617-8721, 617-8641 or 617-8828 from the lobby. Faxed proposals will not be accepted. VII. Program Managers. Chief, RACO: Dr. Michael Drillings (703) 617-8641; Dr. Jonathan Kaplan (703) 617-8828; E-mail addresses: drillings@ari.army.mil kaplan@ari.army.mil ARI maintains a web page at http://www-ari.army.mil This announcement may be accessed directly at http://207.133.209.51/baa01.html

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20001016/BSOL002.HTM (W-286 SN504169)