A -- INTEGRATED SENSING AND PROCESSING

Notice Date

July 5, 2001

Contracting Office

Other Defense Agencies, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Contracts Management Office, 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA, 22203-1714

ZIP Code

22203-1714

Solicitation Number

BAA01-30

Response Due

October 23, 2001

Point of Contact

Douglas Cochran, Program Manager, Phone 000-000-0000, Fax (703) 696-0218, Email dcochran@darpa.mil

Description

INTEGRATED SENSING AND PROCESSING SOL: BAA01-30, DUE: October 23, 2001, POC: Douglas Cochran, DARPA/DSO, FAX: (703) 696-3999, EMAIL: BAA01-30@DARPA.MIL, URL: http://www.darpa.mil/dso/. PROGRAM GOALS AND OBJECTIVES: The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) seeks proposals for innovative research, development, and validation projects of up to 30 months in duration to support the Integrated Sensing and Processing (ISP) initiative. The ISP program will develop and demonstrate innovative mathematical methodologies enabling end-to-end design, operation, and management of sensor/exploitation systems and networks as required to meet computational and performance challenges posed by next-generation Department of Defense (DoD) surveillance, reconnaissance, and strike scenarios. DARPA seeks to establish the foundations for a new ISP-based paradigm for DoD sensor systems via multidisciplinary research efforts combining advances in novel adaptive sensing modalities, data analysis and processing, data exploitation, and complex system optimization methodologies with respect to evaluation metrics that are meaningful in the context of DoD sensing problems. =20 The initial focus of the ISP program and of the efforts sought under this BAA is development of new mathematical methodology for end-to-end sensor system design and operation. Development of such methodology is expected to require fundamental advances in information science, in adaptive reduced degree of freedom representations and associated approximate optimizations, in computational modeling of relevant sensor phenomenology, and in reduced degree of freedom control methodologies that specifically address integration of traditionally independent functions in sensing, signal processing, and information exploitation. These advances will be applied to the joint optimization of sensor/exploitation subsystems to demonstrate that much larger gains in end-to-end system performance can be obtained through ISP methods than would be possible by independent development and optimization of the subsystems alone. Proposals should address the development and validation of integrated methodologies enabling unified gains in end-to-end optimized design and operation of sensor systems. Of greatest interest will be methodological advances that could be generalized and extended to encompass a broad class of sensing systems, yet can be readily reduced to practice in the context of a given specific sensing application. Proposals must clearly identify a path towards demonstration of the innovative methodologies in DoD-specific sensor system applications. Projects should plainly demonstrate that significant new capabilities of specific interest to the DoD can be realized as a direct consequence of the application of advanced mathematical techniques and approaches developed. It is anticipated that a subsequent phase of the ISP program will focus on demonstration of ISP methodology in settings involving actual DoD systems and that a solicitation for such projects will be the subject of a future DARPA BAA. GENERAL INFORMATION: Proposers must obtain a Proposer Information Pamphlet (PIP), which provides detailed information on program objectives, areas of interest, submission, evaluation, funding processes, proposal formats, and other program information. This may be obtained by fax, electronic mail (e-mail) or mail requests to the administrative contact address given below, or from the World Wide Web (WWW) at URL http://www.darpa.mil/dso/. =20 TEAMING: Because the focus of ISP is on systemic methodology, proposals involving teams of investigators having expertise that spans all key areas of traditional sensor system design are appropriate. Proposals involving individual investigators or investigator teams of narrower expertise may be appropriate if they show clear applicability to the broad ISP goals. To ensure that mathematical advances closely address DoD needs and can be readily integrated into useful practice, investigators are encouraged to incorporate expertise with specific DoD sensing problems into their teams. A pre-solicitation ISP information and teaming workshop was held on March 26, 2001. To assist in the teaming process, a web site containing information presented at this workshop has been established at URL http://www.sainc.com/darpa/isp/. In case of conflict, information in this BAA and the PIP take precedence over information at this web site. The web site also allows individual researchers and organizations with specific, applicable expertise or capabilities to provide non-proprietary descriptions of their capabilities and interests. The web site will remain active from the date of issuance of this BAA until October 23, 2001. Specific information content, communications, networking, and team formation are the sole responsibilities of the participants. DARPA will not participate in these activities other than to provide the web site forum to enable others to initiate communications.=20 WHITE PAPERS: Submission and review of white papers are intended to minimize unnecessary effort in proposal preparation and review. All white paper submissions will be evaluated for responsiveness to the stated goals and objectives of this BAA. Upon review, DARPA will make a recommendation to offerors either encouraging or discouraging submission of full proposals; however, proposers may still submit a full proposal. Proposers must submit an original and five (5) copies of the white paper to DARPA/DSO, ATTN: BAA 01-30, 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714 at or before 4:00 PM ET, August 7, 2001. White papers must meet the objective and format guidelines described in the PIP in order to be considered. White papers are limited to seven (7) pages including cover sheet and should contain: 1) descriptions of concepts and technical approaches addressing the topics of this ISP solicitation, 2) a program plan with technical milestones, 3) an overview of the projected impact of the proposed effort on DoD applications, 4) a summary management plan describing roles and interactions of prime and sub-contractors, 5) proposed duration and funding levels for the effort, and 6) summaries of relevant experience and expertise of prime contractor, sub-contractors, and key personnel. Within ten (10) business days, DARPA will acknowledge receipt of white papers and assign a control number that should be used in all further correspondence. Recommendations for full proposal submission will be made within approximately thirty (30) days of receipt. Submission of white papers is strongly encouraged, but is not required; all full proposal submissions will be evaluated regardless of the disposition of the white paper. FULL PROPOSALS: Proposals should provide a detailed description of a coherent effort to develop and validate ISP methodology in a manner consistent with the overall program goals. Proposers must submit an original and five (5) copies of the proposal to DARPA/DSO, ATTN: BAA 01-30, 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714 at or before 4:00 PM ET, October 23, 2001. Full proposals must meet the objective and format guidelines as described in the PIP. Each proposal should present the following technical content: 1) Description of the proposed mathematical and algorithmic developments, technical rationale, proposed approach, demonstrations, and plan for accomplishment of program goals; 2) Detailed discussion of the major mathematical innovations anticipated including clear descriptions of how they are connected with the ISP concept as described above and in the PIP; 3) Discussion of the potential impact of program developments on actual military systems; 4) Description of testing and validation procedures that will adequately evaluate algorithmic components under development; and 5) Elaboration of the capabilities and roles of each of the team members. Proposals shall consist of two volumes: Volume 1, Technical Proposal and Volume 2, Cost Proposal. Both volumes should be printed on 8-1/2 by 11 inch pages with 1-inch margins or A4 paper with 2.5 cm margins and type not smaller than 12 point. Further details on specific content and format are found in the PIP. Except for a bibliography attachment, Volume 1 is limited to thirty (30) pages. Volume 2 should be valid for a period of six (6) months after the date of submission. When the effort consists of multiple portions that could reasonably be partitioned for purposes of funding, these should be identified with separate cost estimates for each. Details of any cost sharing should also be included. EVALUATION PROCEDURES: Within approximately ten (10) business days of receipt of full proposals, DARPA will acknowledge receipt of the submission and assign a control number that should be used in all further correspondence regarding the proposal. DARPA reserves the right to select for award specific sections of any proposed effort and/or to encourage teaming between competing proposers. DARPA's intent is to review proposals as soon as possible after they arrive. Evaluation of white papers and full proposals will be accomplished through a technical review of each proposal using the following criteria: l) Overall scientific and technical merit; 2) Impact of successful development efforts on Defense systems; 3) Abilities of the proposer(s) to implement the program; and 4) Cost realism. Cost sharing and collaboration with other existing research activities that complement the proposed research are both acceptable. All proposals and white papers will be reviewed by Government officials only. Input on purely technical aspects of white papers and proposals may be solicited by DARPA from non-Government consultants/experts bound by appropriate non-disclosure requirements. Non-Government technical consultants will not have access to submissions that are labeled by the offerors as "GOVERNMENT REVIEW ONLY." Restrictive notices notwithstanding, white papers and proposals may be handled, for administrative purposes only, by a support contractor. The contractor is bound by appropriate non-disclosure requirements. Early submission of proposals is encouraged; selections may be made at any time during the process. Not all proposals deemed selectable may be funded. Proposals may be considered for funding for a period of up to one year. The Government reserves the right to select for award all, some, or none of the proposals received. Proposals identified for funding may result in a contract, grant, cooperative agreement, or "Technology Investment Agreement" (TIA), depending upon the nature of the work proposed, the required degree of interaction between parties, and other factors. The offeror must submit a separate list of all technical data or computer software that will be furnished to the Government with other than unlimited rights (see DFARS Part 227). All administrative correspondence and questions on this solicitation, including requests for information on how to submit a proposal to this BAA, should be directed to DARPA/DSO, BAA 01-30, fax: (703) 696-3999, electronic mail (e-mail): BAA01-30@darpa.mil, or mail: DARPA/DSO, ATTN: BAA 01-30, 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714; e-mail or fax is preferred. Proposals or white papers submitted by fax or e-mail will be disregarded. This notice, in conjunction with the BAA 01-30 PIP, 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. 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 HBCUs and MIs specifically.

Web Link

Visit this URL for the latest information about this (http://www.eps.gov/spg/ODA/DARPA/CMO/BAA01-30/listing.html)

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20010709/ASOL003.HTM (D-186 SN50Q9T8)