A -- ELECTRONIC TEXTILES

Notice Date

August 21, 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

BAA01-41

Response Due

December 6, 2001

Point of Contact

Elana Ethridge, DARPA Program Manager, Phone 703-696-2206, Fax 703-696-2206, Email none -- Robert Graybill, DARPA PM, Phone 703-696-4534, Fax 703-696-4534, Email none

Description

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is soliciting research proposals in the area of Electronic Textiles. DARPA seeks innovative proposals to develop a revolutionary approach to integrate textiles and electronics into military applications in a manner that could not otherwise be economically or technically realized. The focus of this program is on developing enabling technologies, fabrication techniques for the economical manufacture of large-area, flexible, conformable information systems and demonstrations of functional prototype systems. Electronic textiles are not expected to compete with high-density, high-performance electronic systems typified by current computer or telecommunications products. Rather, electronic textiles are expected to have unique applications that are typified by the need for flexible and conformable systems or those that can take advantage of the availability of large surface areas (walls, parachutes, aircraft wings, ship hulls, etc.). Distribution of elementary sensors, actuators, logic, and power sources combined with reconfigurable network architectures with fault tolerance and operational longevity is desired. It is expected that lower system costs for these types of applications will be achieved through the use of textile manufacturing processes that are appropriately modified to incorporate electronic components (conventional or yarn based), automated or self-assembled attachment and interconnection techniques, and efficient designs created by the integration of current electronic and textile computer aided design systems. A key to the success of this program is leveraging the disparate technologies and techniques available within the established electronics and textiles industries. Additional Electronic Textile background information is available at http://www.darpa.mil/ito/research/e-textile/index.html. To date there is limited cooperative research among the electronics and textiles communities. It is important to emphasize that the framework for achieving the program objectives is nonexistent. New technologies, new designs, new processes and, most importantly, a new philosophy for designing and fabricating large-scale information systems are crucial to the success of the program. Therefore, both highly focused proposals and proposals that include multidisciplinary teams are encouraged. APPROACH: The Electronic Textiles program is focused on development in two major technology areas: physical hardware and information technology. Tasks specific to physical hardware development are: (1) Basic Yarn Component Development, (2) Textile Circuits, and (3) Device Manufacturing CAD and Device Simulation. Tasks specific to information technology development are: (4) System Simulation, Design, and Modeling, (5) System and Micro Architecture, and (6) Application Analysis and Concept Demonstrations. The two major technology areas will be integrated to develop textile application and development tools. This will result in a multi-disciplinary infrastructure for the development of electronic textile systems. A series of early filament, yarn, textile circuit and system demonstrations will be demonstrated to evaluate technical progress and focus technical developments. Since this is a core technology demonstration program, final technology feasibility, use and application recommendations will be documented for potential follow on programs. PROGRAM SCOPE: The Electronic Textiles program is divided into two phases and six specific tasks over the five-year period. Phase 1 will emphasize fundamental technology development. Phase 2 of the program will be focused upon developing specific applications that successfully demonstrate electronic textile capabilities. Applications with Department of Defense (DoD) relevance are of great interest. Phase 1 proposals that focus on a single task or a subset of tasks 1-5 are acceptable. Proposals that address specific tasks or subsets must incorporate a technology development and insertion plan for higher levels of integration into electronic textile based applications. All multi-task and Task 6 proposals are required to have well-coordinated interdisciplinary research and development teams to address all selected research areas. Teaming among academic, industrial and/or government partners is encouraged, and it is anticipated that the contributions of the team members will be complementary as well as essential to the critical path of the research plan. 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 toward the goals stated. 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. Phase 1 awards are anticipated during the first half of calendar year 2002 for a 24-month period of performance. Multiple awards are anticipated. Collaborative efforts/teaming encouraged. A second BAA for Phase 2 is anticipated in the future for the remaining years of the five-year program. GENERAL INFORMATION: Proposers must obtain a pamphlet entitled ?BAA 01-41, Electronic Textile, Proposer Information Pamphlet? which provides further information on electronic textiles, 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), at URL http://www.darpa.mil 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 nine (9) copies of the proposal abstract and 2 electronic copies (i.e., 2 separate disks) of the abstract [in PDF (preferred), MS-Word readable, HTML, or ASCII format each on a single 3.5 inch High Density MS-DOS formatted 1.44 Megabyte (MB) diskette, a single 100 MB Iomega Zip(registered) disk, or a CD-ROM] should be submitted. Each disk must be clearly labeled with BAA 01-41, proposer organization, proposal title (short title recommended) and Copy __ of 2. The proposal abstract (original and designated number of hard and electronic copies) must be submitted to DARPA, 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714 (Attn.: BAA 01-41) on or before 4:00 p.m., local time, Monday, October 1, 2001. Proposal abstracts received after this time and date may not be reviewed. Upon review, DARPA will provide written recommendation to offerors to encourage or discourage the submission of a full proposal being selected. Proposers must submit an original and nine (9) copies of the full proposal and 2 electronic copies (i.e., 2 separate disks) of the full proposal [in PDF (preferred), MS-Word readable, HTML, or ASCII format, each on a single 3.5 inch High Density MS-DOS formatted 1.44 Megabyte (MB) diskette, a single 100 MB Iomega Zip(registered) disk, or a CD-ROM]. Each disk must be clearly labeled with BAA 01-41, proposer organization, proposal title (short title recommended) and Copy __ of 2. The full proposal (original and designated number of hard and electronic copies) must be submitted to DARPA, 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714 (Attn.: BAA 01-41) on or before 4:00 p.m., local time, Thursday, December 6, 2001, in order to be considered. This notice, in conjunction with the BAA 01-41 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 Electronic Textiles. The formation of multi-disciplinary teams consisting of industry, academia, and/or national and DoD laboratories with complementary areas of expertise is strongly encouraged. To this end, DARPA invites all interested offerors, of whatever size or capacity, to provide capability statements to assist with teaming arrangements. An interactive web site has been established at URL http://teaming.sysplan.com/E-TEX-BAA-01-41/ in which these capability statements will be posted. The web site will remain active from the date of issuance of the BAA until December 6, 2001. Specific information content, communications, networking, and team formation are the sole responsibilities of the participants. Neither DARPA nor the DoD endorses the destination web site or the information and organizations, contained therein, nor does DARPA or the DoD exercise any responsibility at the destination. This web site is provided consistent with the stated purpose of this BAA. 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 01-41. 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. The cost realism evaluation will consider the value to the Government of the research and the extent to which the proposed management plan will effectively allocate resources to achieve capabilities proposed. The administrative addresses for this BAA are: Fax: (703) 351-8689 (Addressed to: DARPA/MTO, BAA 01-41); Electronic Mail: BAA01-41@darpa.mil; Mail: DARPA, ATTN: BAA 01-41, 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. =20

Web Link

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Record

Loren Data Corp. 20010823/ASOL006.HTM (D-233 SN50V5F1)