A -- ANALOG OPTICAL SIGNAL PROCESSING (AOSP)

Notice Date

June 18, 2001

Contracting Office

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

ZIP Code

22203-1714

Solicitation Number

BAA01-31

Response Due

September 14, 2001

Point of Contact

W. Schneider, DARPA/MTO, Fax: (703) 696-2206

Description

Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Contracts Management Office (CMO), 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714. ANALOG OPTICAL SIGNAL PROCESSING (AOSP), SOL BAA 01-31, DUE 091401, POC WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, DARPA/MTO, FAX (703) 696-2206. PROGRAM OBJECTIVES AND DESCRIPTION. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is soliciting research in the area of Analog Optical Signal Processing (AOSP). Proposed efforts should investigate and develop innovative approaches that enable revolutionary advances in science, devices or systems. Specifically excluded is research that primarily results in evolutionary improvement to the existing state of practice. Specific interest is in optical technologies appropriate for wideband arbitrary waveform generation, spatial and spectral filtering, and traditional analog signal processing functions (i.e. correlation, ambiguity function, wavelet, Space Time Adaptive Processing (STAP), etc.). Large dynamic range and bandwidth are key goals for all devices. The program objectives are to significantly enhance the performance of, and enable entirely new capabilities/architectures for tactical and strategic radio frequency (RF) systems by expanding the dynamic range (bandwidth and time-bandwidth limits by a factor of 1000 or more) through the introduction of analog optical signal processing components into the system front ends. Specific components developed should address the three basic functions of an advanced RF system: (1) Interference Mitigation i.e. high Q tunable filters (spatial, spectral, and temporal); (2) Signal Detection high performance all optical signal processors (time bandwidth products greater than 200,000, dynamic range greater than or equal to 100dB); (3) Optical Arbitrary Waveform Generation (greater than 12 bits resolution at 10 GHz bandwidth). The operational impact of the most promising device technologies will be demonstrated in a system relevant context. Additional information on these technology areas is provided in the Areas of Interest section of the BAA 01-31 Proposer Information Pamphlet referenced below. PROGRAM SCOPE. Awards totaling approximately $40 million over four years are expected to be made during the first half of calendar year 2002. Multiple awards are anticipated. Collaborative efforts/teaming are encouraged. Cost sharing is encouraged where there is a reasonable probability of a potential commercial application related to the proposed research and development effort. The technical POC for this effort is William Schneider, fax: (703) 696-2206, electronic mail: wschneider@darpa.mil. GENERAL INFORMATION. Proposers must obtain a pamphlet entitled "BAA 01-31, Analog Optical Signal Processing (AOSP), Proposer Information Pamphlet" which provides further information on Analog Optical Signal Processing (AOSP), the submission, evaluation, and funding processes, proposal abstract formats, proposal formats, and other general information. This pamphlet may be obtained from the World Wide Web (WWW) or by fax, electronic mail, or mail request to the administrative contact address given below. Proposals not meeting the format described in the pamphlet may not be reviewed. In order to minimize unnecessary effort in proposal preparation and review, proposers are strongly encouraged to submit proposal abstracts in advance of full proposals. An original and no more than nine (9) copies of the proposal abstract must be submitted to DARPA/MTO, 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714 (Attn.: BAA 01-31) on or before 4:00 p.m., local time, Wednesday, July 25, 2001. Proposal abstracts received after this time and date may not be reviewed. Upon review, DARPA will provide written feedback on the likelihood of a full proposal being selected and the time and date for submission of a full proposal. Proposers not submitting proposal abstracts must submit an original and no more than nine (9) copies of the full proposal to DARPA/MTO, 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714 (Attn.: BAA 01-31) on or before 4:00 p.m., local time, Friday, September 14, 2001, in order to be considered. This notice, in conjunction with the BAA 01-31 Proposer Information Pamphlet, constitutes the total BAA. No additional information is available, nor will a formal RFP or other solicitation regarding this announcement be issued. Requests for the 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 which shall be considered by DARPA. Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Minority Institutions (MIs) 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 research in Analog Optical Signal Processing (AOSP). All administrative correspondence and questions on this solicitation, including requests for information on how to submit a proposal abstract or full proposal to this BAA, should be directed to one of the administrative addresses below; e-mail or fax is preferred. DARPA intends to use electronic mail and fax for correspondence regarding BAA 01-31. Proposals and proposal abstracts may not be submitted by fax or e-mail; any so sent will be disregarded. DARPA encourages use of the WWW for retrieving the Proposer Information Pamphlet and any other related information that may subsequently be provided. EVALUATION CRITERIA. Evaluation of proposal abstracts and full proposals will be accomplished through a technical review of each proposal using the following criteria, which are listed in descending order of relative importance: (l) overall scientific and technical merit, (2) potential contribution and relevance to DARPA mission, (3) plans and capability to accomplish technology transition, (4) offeror's capabilities and related experience, and (5) cost realism. Note: cost realism will only be significant in proposals that have significantly under or over-estimated the cost to complete their effort. The administrative addresses for this BAA are: Fax: (703) 351-8616 (Addressed to: DARPA/MTO, BAA 01-31), Electronic Mail: BAA01-31@darpa.mil. Mail: DARPA/MTO, ATTN: BAA 01-31, 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714. This announcement and the Proposer Information Pamphlet may be retrieved via the WWW at URL http://www.darpa.mil/ in the solicitations area.

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20010620/ASOL004.HTM (W-169 SN50P2H1)