A -- Micro-Power Services

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is soliciting innovating research proposals in the area of micro-meter scale energy storage. The Department of Defense continues to develop very small remote sensors, robotic devices and electronic systems. The computing and sensing technologies as well as the sensors on these micro systems continue to shrink in volume, weight, and power requirements. In many cases, the limiting component for the overall lifetime, volume, or weight of these small systems is the power source. The challenge is to develop high energy dense, low volume power sources, which are scalable to fit the energy needs of micro electromechanical systems (MEMS), and easily integrated into various small device and systems architectures. The development and demonstration of these power sources is the subject of this solicitation. PROGRAM SCOPE The MPS Program will consist of three Phases with contractor defined Go Ahead critical milestones at the end of each phase. Clearly stated, quantitative milestones at each phase with clearly defined deliverables are required. Organizations wishing to participate in Phases II and III should include them as options in their proposal. It is expected that proposers will deliver between 2-5 prototype power sources to the Government for testing and integration on a relevant micro system to determine performance at the end of each phase of the program. Offerers will also be responsible for monthly technical progress reports. A list and timetable of deliverables should be included in the proposal. Multiple awards are anticipated. Cost sharing is not required and is not an evaluation criterion, but is encouraged where there is a reasonable probability of a potential commercial application related to the proposed research and development effort. Questions concerning this BAA may be directed to the technical POC for this effort, Ms. Sharon Beermann-Curtin, sharon.beermann-curtin@darpa.mil. Teaming is strongly encouraged but is not a requirement. The viability of teaming arrangements, including tasks and measurable milestones for each team member, should be clearly explained in the proposal. Emphasis will be placed on integrated approaches, i.e. integrated teams formed to better address the wide breadth of technological and scientific aspects of the MPS Program. For example, areas of expertise that might be incorporated into these teams include materials science, device physics, design, simulation, fabrication, testing, and integration, etc. Teaming between industries, commercial and defense system integrators, federal and national laboratories, and universities with complementary areas of expertise is strongly encouraged. Each team will address the challenges discussed above and form an integrated program leading to functional, high performance energy sources. We realize that this is a challenging and high-risk program. In order to mitigate risk, we envision that different teams with different technical approaches will be supported. A website (http://teaming.sysplan.com/BAA-06-033/index.cgi) has been established to facilitate teaming between interested parties. Interested parties may post on the web site the points of contact (POC), their address, telephone and fax numbers, e-mail information and any non-proprietary information about their areas of expertise and interest that may help in forming the teams. Specific information content, communications, networking, and team formation are the sole responsibilities of the participants. Neither DARPA nor the Department of Defense (DoD) endorses the destination website or the information and organizations contained therein, nor does DARPA or the DoD exercise any responsibility at the destination. This website is provided consistent with the stated purpose of this BAA. GENERAL INFORMATION Proposers must obtain a pamphlet entitled - BAA 06-33, Micro-Power Sources (MPS), Proposer Information Pamphlet which provides further information on the objectives of the MPS BAA the submission, evaluation, and funding processes, proposal abstract formats, proposal formats, and other general information. This pamphlet may be obtained from the FedBizOpps website: http://www.fedbizopps.gov/, Grants.Gov website: http://www.grants.gov/, 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. Proposers must submit an original and five (5) copies of the full proposal as specified in the Proposer Information Pamphlet, along with two (2) electronic copies (i.e., two (2) separate disks) of the full proposal [in PDF (preferred), or MS-Word readable, 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 06-33, offeror 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/MTO, 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714 (Attn.: BAA 06-33) on or before 12:00 p.m., local time, Wednesday, May 26, 2006, in order to be considered during the initial round of selections; however, proposals received after this deadline may be received and evaluated up to one year from date of posting on FedBizOpps and Grants.Gov. Full proposals submitted after the due date specified in the BAA or due date otherwise specified by DARPA after review of proposal abstracts may be selected contingent upon the availability of funds. This notice, in conjunction with the BAA 06-33 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 and to make awards without discussion. In the event that DARPA desires to award only portions of a proposal, negotiations will be opened with that offeror. All responsible sources capable of satisfying the Government's needs may submit a proposal which shall be considered by DARPA. Input on technical aspects of the proposals may be solicited by DARPA from non-Government consultants /experts who are bound by appropriate non-disclosure requirements. Non-Government technical consultants/experts will not have access to proposals that are labeled by their offerors as - Government Only. Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Minority Institutions (MIs), and Small and Small Disadvantaged Businesses are encouraged to submit proposals and join others in submitting proposals; however, no portion of this BAA will be set aside for these organizations participation due to the impracticality of reserving discrete or severable areas of research in Micro-Power Sources (MPS). 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 06-33. Proposals and proposal abstracts may not be submitted by fax or e-mail; any so sent will be disregarded. DARPA encourages use of the http://www.darpa.mil/mto/solicitations/index.html 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, (5) realism of the proposed schedule, and (6) cost realism. Note: cost realism will only be significant in proposals which have significantly under or over-estimated the cost to complete their effort. Cost/price reasonableness will be made prior to award. The administrative addresses for this BAA are: Fax: (703) 351-8616 (Addressed to: DARPA/MTO, BAA 06-33), Electronic Mail: BAA06-33@darpa.mil Mail: DARPA/MTO, ATTN: BAA 06-33 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.