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A -- BAA07-01 - Strategic Technologies (OB1844935) (2006-12-11)

BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT (BAA) 07-01, STRATEGIC TECHNOLOGIES

INTRODUCTION

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's (DARPA) Strategic Technology
Office (STO) is soliciting proposals under this BAA for the performance of
research, development, design, and testing that directly supports STO. This
includes Space and Near-Space Sensors and Systems; Strategic and Tactical
Networks; Information Assurance; Counter Underground Facilities; Weapons of
Mass Destruction (WMD) Defense; Small Unit Operations; Maritime Operations;
and Core Strategic Technologies.

TECHNICAL TOPIC AREAS

Research supporting any of STO's broad mission objectives identified in the
Introduction above may be submitted under this BAA. Topic areas of specific
interest include, but are not limited to, the following.

I. Space and Near-Space Sensors and Systems
a. Active damping and smart materials for precision control of space
structures
b. Concepts for space systems, sensors, structures, components and
materials
c. Concepts supporting affordable access - and thus proliferation - of
high-performance space sensors and systems
d. Extremely large space apertures and structures, including large space
structures that have extremely small payload volumes (e.g., rigidized
inflatables, isogrid composites, etc.)
e. Global tailored tactical surveillance
f. High performance microsat and picosat systems
g. Innovative sensor systems for space applications including extremely
large, lightweight and stowable aperture technologies
h. Large distributed array remote sensing systems, both space-based and
ground-based, for space object location and identification
i. Lightweight and low-mass active/passive membranes
j. Next generation power generation systems, including electrodynamic and
momentum tethers, and advanced solar systems
k. Next generation space technologies and systems
l. Novel space-based sensor modalities and systems
m. Novel systems and enabling technologies for high-resolution, deep sub-
canopy imaging
n. Remote optical sensing technologies
o. Technologies supporting next-generation tactical space operations,
including rapid access, space situational awareness, space, robust anti-jam
SATCOM, and persistent tactical grade sensing approaches
p. Wide-area urban tracking architectures

II. Strategic and Tactical Networks
a. 100 Gbps free space optical communication system
b. Applications, architecture, control and management, and hardware
systems for multi-terabit, fiber-optic core, edge, and mobile-platform networks
c. Approaches to interconnect wave-division multiplexed backbone
communications infrastructures with IP-based metropolitan networks (may
include route discovery/distribution and new addressing schemes)
d. Approaches to make tactical networks auto-configuring for both voice
and data with the goal of reducing the manpower requirements (may include the
complete replacement of IP as the underlying data protocol)
e. Hybrid passive/active RADAR systems that are agile over available
bandwidth
f. Information and communication technologies to enable "power to the
edge" for air, land, space, and maritime systems
g. Innovative urban sensing systems and networked architectures
h. Miniature, low power sensors and networks
i. Network centric warfare, including novel approaches to the
development, implementation, and control of networked weapons systems
j. Network storage and caching protocols for reducing long-haul
communications loads
k. New approaches to self-forming, wireless, mesh networks of over 10,000
devices with high throughput (at least 50 Mbps across the network between two
endpoints). This may include work on multiple frequencies, graph
partitioning, and subnet allocations.
l. Novel approaches for the development, implementation, and control of
heterogeneous networks of human decision makers and human-operated or
autonomous sensors and weapons
m. Novel approaches that enable mission-centric network-enabled real-time
service-oriented architectures (SOA). Problems of interest include, but are
not restricted to, dynamic optimization of the allocation of network services
to the tactical edge based on volatile mission objectives, dynamic SOA
application architecture, automated service-oriented collaborative
verification and validation, and dynamic instantiation and allocation of
mobile ad hoc networking technologies that optimize the implementation of
mission-oriented services.
n. Novel approaches to effect collaboration among human decision makers
in heterogeneous, coalition environments
o. Novel approaches to monitor, visualize and recommend alternative
courses of action in the management and defense of massive, heterogeneous wide-
area networks (5 million nodes)
p. Novel still-image and video wireless transport communications
technology
q. Novel technologies to enable tactical, operational, and strategic
level distributed operations
r. Reconfigurable transceiver analog front end technology
s. Robust wireless military communication network architecture and system
technology to enable graceful degradation under cross-layer fixes
t. Signature reduction (low probability of detection/intercept)
u. Size-weight-power reduced soldier electronics and communications
devices
v. Wideband THz communications and networking system technology

III. Information Assurance
a. Autonomous protection or reconstitution of large network environments
from cyber attacks
b. Computer forensic and software protection technologies
c. Developing secure systems from untrusted components
d. High-speed (40 Gbps to 100 Tbps) optical encryption systems that
function correctly with fiber amplified cable systems
e. Low-cost military grade encryption mechanisms/devices
f. Novel approaches to derive confidence of identity of remote
information, users, processes, and devices in dynamic, untrusted, networked
environments
g. Novel approaches to measure, compare, and assess alternative
information operations tools and effects
h. Novel approaches to quantify binary code security
i. Novel methods to deter cyber adversaries
j. Novel microprocessor/computing architectures to support secure
computing
k. Trustworthy computing in mobile environments
l. Wide area network firewalls and proxies, capable of dealing with
asymmetric data flows and speeds in excess of 5 Gbps

IV. Counter Underground Facilities
a. Close-in and standoff sensor concepts
b. Determining structural layout or locations of specific vulnerabilities
c. Development and demonstration of technologies to find unknown
facilities, on both strategic and tactical timescales
d. Identification of facility function
e. Monitoring pace of activity
f. Enhancing post-attack bomb damage assessment (BDA)
g. Exploitation algorithms and signal processing
h. Exploitation of novel observables or substantially improved methods of
detecting/analyzing observables, including active source methods
i. Improved communications across rugged terrain among assets, and for
exfiltration uplinks
j. Improved deployable ground and airborne sensors
k. New methods for characterizing activities associated with tunnels and
caves, to include small and unimproved sites, in both urban and rural areas
l. New methods for sensor and system modeling

V. Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Defense
a. Chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and environmental sensors
and deconflict
b. Defense against chemical, biological, and radiological weapons
c. Sensing approaches for material identification

VI. Small Unit Operations
a. Advanced explosives for special operations
b. Advanced sighting systems for tactical operations
c. Detection of indirectly fired mortars and RPGs
d. Direction finding capabilities for urban applications
e. GPS-free guidance and navigation
f. Low cost (<$100) expendable GPS sensors
g. Low cost standoff concealed weapons detection
h. Miniature, low power sensors and networks
i. Non-acoustic bullet detection and tracking technology
j. Noncooperative, low probability of detection (LPD) building interior
imaging systems
k. Non-line-of-sight designation and elimination of urban targets
l. Novel approaches for the development and implementation of irregular
warfare
m. Novel laser remote sensing, laser RADAR, LADAR, and LIDAR systems
concepts, techniques and enabling technologies
n. Novel methods for tracking, localization, and identification
o. Novel miniature, low cost RADAR system concepts
p. Novel precision navigation and real-time targeting systems concepts
and technologies
q. Novel still-image and video wireless transport communications
technology
r. Novel systems and enabling technologies for high-resolution, deep sub-
canopy imaging
s. Novel technologies to enable tactical, operational, and strategic
level distributed operations
t. Personal navigation and high precision targeting technology in GPS-
denied and GPS-compromised environments
u. Positive detection of urban threats
v. Signature reduction (low probability of detection/intercept)
w. Size-weight-power reduced soldier electronics and communications
devices
x. Soldier survivability materials, systems, and devices
y. Tactical lighting and imaging devices and technologies (including both
visible and IR spectrum)
z. Tactical optical systems that aid and enhance the ability of the
warfighter
aa. Technologies and systems for the detection of suspicious urban vehicles
bb. Underwater vision devices for high silt environment military divers
cc. Vehicle survivability materials, systems, and devices
dd. Wide-area urban tracking architectures

VII. Maritime Operations
a. High rate-range product underwater communications
b. Maritime surveillance systems and technologies
c. Miniature, low power underwater (water column and bottom mounted)
sensors and networks
d. Novel approaches to significantly reduce the cost of undersea warfare,
without compromising capability
e. Novel underwater high-maneuverability propulsion system
f. Underwater vision devices for high-silt environment military divers
g. Unmanned long-duration, high-speed underwater vehicles

VIII. Core Strategic Technologies
a. Advanced 3D image processing, analysis, and feature extraction
approaches
b. Advanced electronic vision and situation awareness devices,
algorithms, and systems
c. Biofabrication processes for improved nanostructured devices and
materials
d. Biomimetic object-vision recognition
e. Innovative methods to visualize complex, self-organizing systems
f. Microelectronic systems comprising advanced system concepts coupling
electronics, sensors and actuators with micro-scale packaging and battery
technologies
g. Novel three-dimensional data visualization and projection methods
h. Power harvesting technologies and devices
i. Self assembly and/or manufacture techniques

APPROACH

The Government encourages responders to this BAA to submit executive
summaries, and receive the Government's feedback thereto, prior to preparing
and submitting proposal abstracts or full proposals. The purpose of this is
to spare responders the burden of preparing abstracts or full proposals that
are unlikely to result in an award under this BAA. The required formats for
all three submittals (executive summary, proposal abstract, and full proposal)
are provided in the Proposer Information Pamphlet (PIP) associated with this
BAA. For all responses to this BAA, the responder must clearly identify the
technical topic area(s) the proposed effort seeks to address.

Responders to this BAA may suggest the award of a Grant, Cooperative
Agreement, Procurement Contract, Technology Investment Agreement, Other
Transaction for Prototype Agreement, or other such appropriate award
instrument. The Government reserves the right to negotiate the type of award
instrument determined appropriate under the circumstances.

The Government intends to issue awards based on the optimum combination of
proposals that offer the best overall value to the Government. The Government
reserves the right to award without discussion. The Government reserves the
right to select for award all, some, or none of the proposals received in
response to this BAA. The Government also reserves the right to select for
award some portion(s) of the proposals received; in that event, the Government
may select for negotiation all, or portions, of a given proposal. The
Government may incrementally fund any award issued under this BAA.

PROPOSERS

The Government encourages responses from non-traditional defense contractors,
nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, small businesses, small
disadvantaged business concerns, Historically-Black Colleges and Universities
(HBCU), Minority Institutions (MI), large businesses and Government
laboratories. Teaming arrangements between and among these groups are
encouraged. However, no portion of this BAA will be set aside for HBCU/MI,
small or small disadvantaged business participation due to the impracticality
of preserving discrete or severable areas of research in the technologies
sought. Government/National laboratory proposals may be subject to applicable
direct competition limitations, though certain Federally Funded Research and
Development Centers are excepted per P.L. 103-337 Section 217 and P.L 105-261
Section 3136. Any responsible and otherwise qualified Proposer is encouraged
to respond.
Responders may be foreign firms or may team with foreign firms as long as the
firm meets the criteria in this BAA and the Government is otherwise permitted
to conduct business with the firm, however, only unclassified proposals will
be considered from foreign sources, or where any proposed teaming arrangement
involves a foreign source. Proposers may include foreign personnel as part of
their proposed resources as long as these personnel qualify technically, the
proposed effort is unclassified, and such foreign personnel sign any and all
appropriate non-disclosure agreements prior to participating in the research
effort.
EVALUATION CRITERIA

The criteria to be used to evaluate and select offers under this BAA are, in
order of descending importance: (a) Overall Scientific and Technical Merit;
(b) Offeror's Capabilities and/or Related Experience; (c) Potential
Contribution and Relevance to the DARPA Mission; (d) Plans and Capability to
Accomplish Technology Transition and (e) Cost Reasonableness and Realism.
Each proposal will be evaluated on its own merit and relevance rather than
against other proposals in the same general area, since no common work
statement exists. Proposals may be evaluated as they are received, or they
may be collected and periodically reviewed.

SUBMITTAL INFORMATION

This BAA will remain open from date of publication through 31 December 2008.
DARPA will employ an electronic upload process for Executive Summary, Abstract
and Proposal submissions for BAA 07-01. All submissions will be submitted via
http://www.tfims.darpa.mil/baa. (NOTE: University (prime) grant submissions
may be made via the Grants.gov web site, http://grants.gov by using the "Apply
for Grants" functions. Dual submissions are not required. Performers may find
guidance for the submission process at
http://www.darpa.mil/sto/solicitations.htm. This announcement and the PIP may
be retrieved via the WWW at URL http://www.darpa.mil/ in the solicitations
area. The cost of preparing proposals in response to this announcement is not
considered an allowable direct charge to any resulting contract or any other
contract. Proposers are warned that only Contracting Officers are legally
authorized to commit the Government.

ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE

This Announcement, along with the attached Proposer Information Pamphlet
(PIP), constitutes a Broad Agency Announcement as contemplated by FAR 6.102(d)
(2)(i). All prospective Proposers MUST refer to the PIP before submitting a
proposal. Proposers choosing to respond to this BAA may access the PIP at
www.fbo.gov and www.grants.gov. University grant submissions may be made via
www.grants.gov by using the "Apply for Grants" function. Government
Contractors are required to register at the Government's Central Contractor
Registration site (htt://www.ccr.gov) prior to receiving any award resulting
from this BAA. All questions (technical, contractual, administrative)
pertaining to this BAA must be submitted to DARPA at the following e-mail
address: BAA07-01@darpa.mil.

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