DEFENSE ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGENCY

Submission of Proposals

DARPA’s charter is to help maintain U.S. technological superiority over, and to prevent technological surprise by, its potential adversaries.  Thus, the DARPA goal is to pursue as many highly imaginative and innovative research ideas and concepts with potential military and dual-use applicability as the budget and other factors will allow.

DARPA has identified technical topics to which small businesses may respond in the second fiscal year (FY) 2001 solicitation (FY 2002.1).  Please note that these topics are UNCLASSIFIED and only UNCLASSIFIED proposals will be entertained. Although they are unclassified, the subject matter may be considered to be a “critical technology”.  If you plan to employ NON-U.S. Citizens in the performance of a DARPA SBIR contract, please inform the Contracting Officer who is negotiating your contract. These are the only topics for which proposals will be accepted at this time.  A list of the topics currently eligible for proposal submission is included followed by full topic descriptions.  The topics originated from DARPA technical program managers and are directly linked to their core research and development programs.

Please note that 1 original and 4 copies of each proposal must be mailed or hand-carried.  DARPA will not accept proposal submissions by electronic facsimile (fax).  A checklist has been prepared to assist small business activities in responding to DARPA topics.  Please use this checklist prior to mailing or hand-carrying your proposal(s) to DARPA.  Do not include the checklist with your proposal.

·                      DARPA Phase I awards will be Firm Fixed Price contracts.

·                      Phase I proposals shall not exceed $99,000, and may range from 6 to 8 months in duration.  Phase I contracts cannot be extended.

·                      DARPA Phase II proposals must be invited by the respective Phase I technical monitor (with the exception of Fast Track Phase II proposals – see Section 4.5 of this solicitation).  DARPA Phase II proposals must be structured as follows: the first 10-12 months (base effort) should be approximately $375,000; the second 10-12 months of incremental funding should also be approximately $375,000.  The entire Phase II effort should generally not exceed $750,000.

·                      It is expected that a majority of the Phase II contracts will be Cost Plus Fixed Fee.  However, DARPA may chose to award a Firm Fixed Price Contract or an Other Transaction, on a case-by-case basis. 

Prior to receiving a contract award, the small business MUST be registered in the Centralized Contractor Registration (CCR) Program.  You may obtain registration information by calling 1-888-352-9333 or Internet: http://www.ccr.dlsc.dla.mil  and http://www.ccr2000.com/.

The responsibility for implementing DARPA’s SBIR Program rests in the Contracts Management Office. The DARPA SBIR Program Manager is Ms. Connie Jacobs.  DARPA invites the small business community to send proposals directly to DARPA at the following address:

DARPA/CMO/SBIR

Attention:  Ms. Connie Jacobs

3701 North Fairfax Drive

Arlington, VA 22203-1714

(703) 526-4170

Home Page http://www.darpa.mil

SBIR proposals will be processed by the DARPA Contracts Management Office and distributed to the appropriate technical office for evaluation and action.

DARPA selects proposals for funding based on technical merit and the evaluation criteria contained in this solicitation document.  DARPA gives evaluation criterion a., “The soundness and technical merit of the proposed approach and its incremental progress toward topic or subtopic solution” (refer to section 4.2 Evaluation Criteria - Phase I), twice the weight of the other two evaluation criteria.  As funding is limited, DARPA reserves the right to select and fund only those proposals considered to be superior in overall technical quality and highly relevant to the DARPA mission.  As a result, DARPA may fund more than one proposal in a specific topic area if the technical quality of the proposal(s) is deemed superior, or it may not fund any proposals in a topic area.  Each proposal submitted to DARPA must have a topic number and must be responsive to only one topic.

·                      Cost proposals will be considered to be binding for 180 days from closing date of solicitation.

·                      Successful offerors will be expected to begin work no later than 30 days after contract award.

·                      For planning purposes, the contract award process is normally completed within 45 to 60 days from issuance of the selection notification letter to Phase I offerors.

The DOD SBIR Program has implemented a Fast Track process for SBIR projects that attract matching cash from an outside investor for the Phase II SBIR effort, as well as for the interim effort between Phases I and II.  Refer to Section 4.5 for Fast Track instructions.  DARPA encourages Fast Track Applications ANYTIME during the 6th month of the Phase I effort. The Fast Track Phase II proposal must be submitted no later than the last business day in the 7th month of the effort.  Technical dialogues with DARPA Program Managers are encouraged to ensure research continuity.  If a Phase II contract is awarded under the Fast Track program, the amount of the interim funding will be deducted from the Phase II award amount.  It is expected that interim funding generally, will not exceed $40,000. 

To encourage the transition of SBIR research into DoD Systems, DARPA has implemented a Phase II Enhancement policy.  Under this policy DARPA will provide a Phase II company with additional Phase II SBIR funding, not to exceed $200K, if a DARPA Program Manager can match the additional SBIR funds with DARPA core-mission funds or the company can match the money with funds from private investors; or at the discretion of the DARPA Program Manager.  DARPA will generally provide the additional Phase II funds by modifying the Phase II contract.


DARPA FY2002.1 Phase I SBIR

Checklist

1)   Proposal Format

                                                                                                                                                                                                        

      a.      Cover Sheet (formerly referred to as Appendices A and B) MUST be submitted electronically                              ______

               (identify topic number)

      b.      Identification and Significance of Problem or Opportunity                                                                                       ______

      c.      Phase I Technical Objectives                                                                                                                                      ______

      d.      Phase I Work Plan                                                                                                                                                      ______

      e.      Related Work                                                                                                                                                              ______

      f.      Relationship with Future Research and/or Development                                                                                           ______

      g.      Commercialization Strategy                                                                                                                                        ______

      h.      Key Personnel, Resumes                                                                                                                                            ______

      i.       Facilities/Equipment                                                                                                                                                   ______

      j.       Consultants                                                                                                                                                                 ______

      k.      Prior, Current, or Pending Support                                                                                                                            ______

      l.       Cost Proposal (see Appendix C of this Solicitation).  Ensure your cost proposal is signed.                                    ______

      m.     Company Commercialization Report (formerly referred to as Appendix E)                                                             ______

               MUST be registered electronically and a signed hardcopy submitted with your proposal

               (register at http://www.dodsbir.net/submission)

2)   Bindings

      a.      Staple proposals in upper left-hand corner.                                                                                                               ______

      b.      DO NOT use a cover.                                                                                                                                                ______

      c.      DO NOT use special bindings.                                                                                                                                  ______

3)   Page Limitation

      a.      Total for each proposal is 25 pages inclusive of cost proposal and resumes.                                                            ______

      b.      Beyond the 25 page limit do not send appendices, attachments                                                                                ______

               and/or additional references.

      c.      Company Commercialization Report (formerly referred to as Appendix E)                                                             ______

               IS NOT included in the page count.

4)   Submission Requirement for Each Proposal

      a.      Original proposal, including signed Cover Sheet (formerly referred to as Appendix A)                                            ______

              

b.         Four photocopies of original proposal, including signed Cover Sheet                                                                       ______

and Company Commercialization Report

(formerly referred to as Appendices A, B and E)


INDEX OF DARPA FY2002.1 TOPICS

DARPA SB021-001                                               Continuous Wave Terahertz Source

DARPA SB021-002                                               Unique Packaging of Exposed MEMS Sensors

DARPA SB021-003                                               Bistatic Terrain Scattering Model for Microwave SAR Simulation

DARPA SB021-004                                               Densely Multiplexed Photonic mm-wave Radio Modulator and Demodulator

DARPA SB021-005                                               Mathematical Methods for Video Registration in Autonomous Navigation Applications

DARPA SB021-006                                               Novel Concepts for Soldier-Centric Technology in Non-Traditional Combat Casualty Care

DARPA SB021-007                                               Quality Water Lubrication of Special Triboceramics, Alloys and Self-Lubricating Composites

DARPA SB021-008                                               Detecting Misleading Information

DARPA SB021-009                                               Modeling Asymmetric Economic Threats to Critical DoD Technology Sectors

DARPA SB021-010                                               Modeling Organizational Behavior within Operations Other than War

DARPA SB021-011                                               Multi-Modal Control for Automatic Vehicle Management Systems

DARPA SB021-012                                               Tools for Design and Validation of Quantum Algorithms and Protocols

DARPA SB021-013                                               Reading Signs in Context to Support Perception-Based Autonomous Navigation

DARPA SB021-014                                               Electronic Textiles

DARPA SB021-015                                               Three Dimensional Micro-Fluidics

DARPA SB021-016                                               Design Tools for Integrated 3-Dimensional Electronic Circuits

DARPA SB021-017                                               Wide Bandgap Semiconductor (eg., SiC, GaN) Front-End Electronics for Wide Dynamic Range Analog/Digital Converters

DARPA SB021-018                                               VHF/UHF Endo-Clutter SAR Fiducial Marker

DARPA SB021-019                                               Airplane Optimal Periodic Flight Control

DARPA SB021-020                                               Water-Based Thrusters for Space Propulsion

DARPA SB021-021                                               Tracklet Fusion for strategic GMTI


SUBJECT/WORD INDEX TO THE DARPA FY2002.1 TOPICS

Subject/Keyword                                                                                                                                    Topic Number

Acceleration of Healing.............................................................................................................................................. 6

Activity Monitoring.................................................................................................................................................. 8

Adversarial Reasoning............................................................................................................................................... 8

Algorithms............................................................................................................................................................... 12

Analog/Digital Converters....................................................................................................................................... 17

Asymmetric Warfare................................................................................................................................................. 9

Atmospheric Sensing................................................................................................................................................. 1

Automated Vehicles................................................................................................................................................. 11

Autonomous Behaviors........................................................................................................................................... 13

Autonomy............................................................................................................................................................... 11

Bandwidth................................................................................................................................................................. 4

Behavior Modeling.................................................................................................................................................. 10

Bio-MEMS.............................................................................................................................................................. 15

Bi-static..................................................................................................................................................................... 3

Clutter........................................................................................................................................................................ 3

Cognitive Modeling................................................................................................................................................. 10

Common-Sense Reasoning......................................................................................................................................... 8

Communications........................................................................................................................................................ 1

Computer-Aided Design.......................................................................................................................................... 16

Digital/Analog Converters....................................................................................................................................... 17

Dominant Situational Awareness............................................................................................................................ 21

Economic Stability..................................................................................................................................................... 9

Electric Thrusters.................................................................................................................................................... 20

Electromagnetic Therapy........................................................................................................................................... 6

Electronic Components........................................................................................................................................... 14

Evidential Reasoning.................................................................................................................................................. 8

Fabric....................................................................................................................................................................... 14

Feature Aided TrackingData Fusion........................................................................................................................ 21

Fibers....................................................................................................................................................................... 14

Fiducial Marker....................................................................................................................................................... 18

Flight Control Systems............................................................................................................................................ 11

Fraud Detection......................................................................................................................................................... 8

GMTI...................................................................................................................................................................... 21

Ground Moving Target Indication........................................................................................................................... 21

High Resolution Range Profiling.............................................................................................................................. 21

Hybrid Control Systems......................................................................................................................................... 11

Image Registration................................................................................................................................................... 18

Imagery...................................................................................................................................................................... 3

Improving Airplane Performance............................................................................................................................ 19

Information Operations............................................................................................................................................. 8

Information Warfare.................................................................................................................................................. 8

Integrated Circuits................................................................................................................................................... 16

Interconnect Latency............................................................................................................................................... 16

Lab-on-a-Chip......................................................................................................................................................... 15

Materials.................................................................................................................................................................... 2

Medical Imaging......................................................................................................................................................... 1

MEMS....................................................................................................................................................................... 2         

Micro Fluidics......................................................................................................................................................... 15

Micro-Optics............................................................................................................................................................. 2

Mission Planning..................................................................................................................................................... 10

Mission Rehearsal................................................................................................................................................... 10

Mixed Signal Systems.............................................................................................................................................. 16

Mixed-Signal Circuits.............................................................................................................................................. 17

MM-Wave................................................................................................................................................................. 4

Navigation............................................................................................................................................................ 5, 13

OOTW..................................................................................................................................................................... 10

Operations Other Than War.................................................................................................................................... 10

Optical Parametric Oscillator.................................................................................................................................... 1

Optimal Cruise........................................................................................................................................................ 19

Optimal Cyclic Cruise............................................................................................................................................. 19

Optimal Periodic Flight........................................................................................................................................... 19

Organizational Modeling......................................................................................................................................... 10

Packaging ............................................................................................................................................................ 2, 14

Pattern Detection....................................................................................................................................................... 8

Perception................................................................................................................................................................ 13

Periodic Flight Control............................................................................................................................................ 19

Personal Transportation.......................................................................................................................................... 11

Photonic Band Engineering........................................................................................................................................ 1

Photonic..................................................................................................................................................................... 4

Plausible Reasoning................................................................................................................................................... 8

Protocols.................................................................................................................................................................. 12

Quantum Computing............................................................................................................................................... 12

Quantum Information.............................................................................................................................................. 12

Radio Frequency........................................................................................................................................................ 4

Reduced Fuel Consumption.................................................................................................................................... 19

Registration................................................................................................................................................................ 5

Remote Sensing.......................................................................................................................................................... 3

Resolution.................................................................................................................................................................. 3

RF.............................................................................................................................................................................. 4

Robots..................................................................................................................................................................... 13

Sample Preparation.................................................................................................................................................. 15

SAR ................................................................................................................................................................ 3, 18 21

Satellites................................................................................................................................................................... 20

Sensors .................................................................................................................................................................. 2, 5

Simulation................................................................................................................................................................ 12

Space Propulsion..................................................................................................................................................... 20

Spectroscopy............................................................................................................................................................. 1

Splints........................................................................................................................................................................ 6

Stabilization of Injury................................................................................................................................................ 6

Synthetic Aperture Radar ................................................................................................................................. 18, 21

Terahertz Devices...................................................................................................................................................... 1         

Terahertz Sources...................................................................................................................................................... 1

Textiles.................................................................................................................................................................... 14

Thermal Management.............................................................................................................................................. 16

Threat Assessment.................................................................................................................................................... 9

Three-Dimensional Integration................................................................................................................................ 16

Thrusters................................................................................................................................................................. 20

Tourniquets............................................................................................................................................................... 6

Traffic and Road Sign Recognition.......................................................................................................................... 13

Tribology................................................................................................................................................................... 7

Vehicle Management Systems................................................................................................................................. 11

Video.......................................................................................................................................................................... 5

Vision-Based Decision Making............................................................................................................................... 13

Water-Lubrication...................................................................................................................................................... 7

Wide Bandgap Semiconductor Devices................................................................................................................... 17

Wide Bandgap Semiconductor Integrated Circuits.................................................................................................. 17

Wide Dynamic Range Data Converters................................................................................................................... 17

Wireless Communications......................................................................................................................................... 4


FY2002.1 DARPA Topic Descriptions



DARPA SB021-001
                                  TITLE:  Continuous Wave Terahertz Source


KEY TECHNOLOGY AREA:  Sensors, Electronics, and Battlespace Environment


OBJECTIVE:  Technological advancements in the terahertz (1012 Hz) region of the electromagnetic spectrum have been hampered by the lack of cost effective sources of terahertz radiation.  Applications in ranging, imaging, and communications are just a few of the areas that would benefit from efficient terahertz sources.  The objective of this task is to develop a cost effective device to produce continuous wave, coherent, terahertz radiation.

DESCRIPTION:  The optical, infrared, millimeter, and microwave portions of the electromagnetic spectrum have been extensively exploited for communications, radar, imaging, and other military and civilian applications.  The ability to utilize practical systems in these portions of the electromagnetic spectrum is a result of the availability of cost effective sources and detectors in each spectral region.  While terahertz sources do exist, they tend to be bulky and expensive.  To date, the available sources consist of extremely large systems, such as free electron lasers, or use pulsed optical radiation to generate pulses of terahertz radiation.  While the pulsed radiation has many applications, there is also a need for continuous wave sources in the terahertz range, particularly coherent sources.  Without cost effective sources, the terahertz region of the spectrum will remain an interesting area of research confined to specialized applications.  Recently, the field of photonic band engineering has emerged as a possible approach to solving the problem of terahertz sources.