A -- AUGMENTED COGNITION

Notice Date

July 25, 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

BAA 01-38

Response Due

September 11, 2002

Point of Contact

LCDR DYLAN SCHMORROW, Ph.D., DARPA/ITO; FAX: (703) 522-7161

E-Mail Address

baa01-38@darpa.mil (baa01-38@darpa.mil)

Description

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is soliciting proposals for research on various aspects of human computer symbiosis under the Augmented Cognition effort. The goal of the DARPA Augmented Cognition effort is to extend, by an order of magnitude or more, the information management capacity of the human-computer relationship for the 21st century warfighter. This will be achieved by developing and demonstrating quantifiable enhancements to human cognitive ability in diverse, stressful, operational environments. Specifically, this effort will empower one human's ability to accomplish the functions currently carried out by three or more individuals and will improve and enhance the quality of military decision-making. A key objective of the effort is to foster the development of novel (and improvement of existing) prototypes and enabling technologies, in order to experiment with and understand the means by which they may be integrated into developing and existing operational systems. By both delivering new design principles for human-computer symbiosis and incorporating our new-found knowledge of the human brain, Augmented Cognition will totally reconceptualize our current computing systems. This program seeks early implementation of technologies that demonstrate advances in the state-of-the-art in human-machine collaborative systems. This solicitation seeks proposals in the following technical topic areas: 1. Cognitive & Neurological Tools and Metrics; 2. Technology Development for Human Capability Enhancement; 3. Cognitive Amplication Environment; 4. Evaluate Cognition Under Stress. The research interest areas listed above are not exhaustive nor are they prioritized. PROGRAM SCOPE: 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=01-38. 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. NEW REQUIREMENTS/PROCEDURES: The Award Document for each proposal selected and funded will contain a mandatory requirement for submission of DARPA/ITO Quarterly Status Reports and an Annual Project Summary Report. These reports will be electronically submitted via the DARPA/ITO Web-Based Information Tool, utilizing the government furnished Uniform Resource Locator (URL) on the World Wide Web (WWW). Details in Proposer Information Pamphlet. Proposers must submit an original and 4 copies of the full proposal and 2 electronic copies (i.e., 2 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 01-38, proposer organization, proposal title (short title recommended) and Copy (Number) of 2. 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 11, 2001, in order to be considered in connection with the initial evaluation and award schedule for this program discussed in the PIP. However, BAA 01-38, Augmented Cognition, will remain open until 4:00 PM (ET) Wednesday, September 11, 2002. Thus, proposals may be submitted at any time from issuance of this BAA through September 11, 2002. While the proposals submitted after the September 11, 2001 deadline above will be evaluated by the Government, proposers should keep in mind that the likelihood of funding such proposals is less than for those proposals submitted in connection with the initial evaluation and award schedule. Proposers must obtain the BAA 01-38 Proposer Information Pamphlet (PIP), which provides further information on the areas of interest, submission, evaluation, funding processes, 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 notice, in conjunction with the BAA 01-38 PIP 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 (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 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 listed in descending order of relative importance: (1) 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 to this BAA, must be received at one of the administrative addresses below by 4:00 PM (ET) Tuesday, September 4, 2001; e-mail or fax is preferred. DARPA intends to use electronic mail and fax for some of the correspondence regarding BAA 01-38. Proposals MUST 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 01-38; Electronic Mail: baa01-38@darpa.mil; Electronic File Retrieval: http://www.darpa.mil/ito/Solicitations.html; Mail to: DARPA/ITO, ATTN: BAA 01-38, 3701 N. Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714.

Web Link

http://www.darpa.mil/ito/Solicitations.html (http://www.darpa.mil/ito/Solicitations.html)

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20010727/ASOL001.HTM (W-206 SN50S8Y0)