A -- BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT (BAA) 07-22 Quantum Sensors

BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT (BAA) 07-22 Quantum SensorsCLOSING DATE: One year from the date of publication in www.fbo.gov; PROPOSALS FOR FIRST SELECTIONS DUE: 4:00 PM (Arlington VA local time), March 1st 2007. It is anticipated that the majority of funding for this program will be committed during the first selections. Full proposals must be submitted to DARPA, 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714 (Attn.: BAA07-22). POC: Dr. Michael Zatman, DARPA/STO; Email: quantum@darpa.mil; Website: https://dtsn.darpa.mil/qsp. PROGRAM OBJECTIVE AND DESCRIPTION: The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency?s (DARPA) Strategic Technology Office (STO) is soliciting proposals under this BAA for the Quantum Sensors Program (QSP). The objective of QSP is to develop practical sensors operating outside of a controlled laboratory environment that exploit non-classical photon states (e.g. entangled, squeezed, or cat) to surpass classical sensor resolution. The Government encourages responses to this BAA by 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 organizations of a specific business classification 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 PL 103-337 ? 217 and PL 105-261 ? 3136. Any responsible and otherwise qualified offeror is encouraged to respond (see the Proposer Information Pamphlet Section 3.2 for possible Conflicts of Interest and Ethical Considerations). Phase I of the Quantum Sensors Program is unclassified but still has publication restrictions. However, Phase II and all future phases of the program will be classified. Proposers 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. Proposers may include foreign personnel as part of their proposed resources as long as these personnel qualify technically, export control laws are complied with and such foreign personnel sign any and all appropriate non-disclosure agreements prior to participating in the research effort. This BAA affords proposers the choice of submitting proposals for the award of a Contract, Technology Investment Agreement, Other Transaction Agreement or such other appropriate award instrument. The type of procurement or assistance vehicle is subject to negotiation. The Government intends to issue awards based on the optimum combination of proposals that offers 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. EVALUATION CRITERIA: The criteria to be used to evaluate and select proposals for this Program are (of equal importance): (a) Scientific Merit; (b) Innovation; (c) Technical Qualifications and Management; (d) Cost and Schedule Realism and Reasonableness; (e) Potential Contribution and Relevance to the DARPA Mission SECURITY: The Government anticipates the proposals submitted under this BAA will be UNCLASSIFIED. Submission of classified proposals requires prior instructions and approval from DARPA as well as approval from the classifying agency. ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE: Additional information regarding program objectives, anticipated schedule, technical milestone criteria, and proposal preparation and submittal is provided in the PIP (Proposer Information Pamphlet) associated with this BAA. Proposers choosing to respond to this BAA may access the PIP www.fbo.gov, by emailing a request to quantum@darpa.mil, or by visiting the Quantum Sensors Program web site at https://dtsn.darpa.mil/qsp. NOTE: Do not contact the contracting officer identified below with respect to this announcement. All questions should be sent to quantum@darpa.mil.