Request for Information (RFI): Tools for Recognizing Unconscious Signals of Trustworthiness (TRUST)

Synopsis The Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA) often selects its research efforts through the Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) solicitation process. This Request For Information (RFI) is intended to provide basic information relevant to a possible future IARPA program, so that feedback from potential offerors may be considered prior to the issuance of a BAA. Respondents are invited to provide comments on the content of this RFI to include suggestions for improving the scope of a possible solicitation to ensure that every effort is made to adequately address the scientific and technical challenges described below. Additionally, responses to this request may be used to i) inform a one and one-half day workshop (explained below), and/or ii) support development of, and subsequently be incorporated within, a future IARPA Program BAA. Therefore, responses must be available for unrestricted public distribution and hence proprietary material that responders would not want disseminated should not be included in responses. The following sections of this announcement contain details of the scope of technical efforts of interest, along with instructions for the submission of responses. Background & Scope The need to trust is everywhere, yet trust is often misplaced, misunderstood, or betrayed. As some of the most complex tiers of human social behavior, different kinds of trust play important roles in most human interactions, whether it is trust between two people, trust among people in a group or across groups, trust in machines and human-machine interfaces, or trust in national or global systems like exchange markets, the Internet, and international law. Indeed, as measured by self-report, levels of - generalized trust among people and nations are considered a key predictor of social, financial, technological, and even personal wellbeing. This makes the understanding of whom or what can be trusted paramount. However, while the importance of trust in many conditions is increasingly well understood, current models of different kinds of trust - and ways that people assess trustworthiness - are incomplete, often failing to take into account new research on trust that is independently emerging from the social, behavioral, psychological, economic, and neurosciences. For example, some recent research indicates that assessing another person as - trustworthy, while often thought of as a conscious choice, in fact occurs as a result of largely preconscious processes. Yet the neurobiological bases of different kinds of trust, and what preconscious signals humans use to assess and maintain such trust, are still poorly understood. Consequently, current approaches to understanding how and why people assess others as being trustworthy are often limited by na've definitions of trust or trustworthiness, an over-reliance on deception detection-based paradigms in which trust is thought of as merely the absence of deception, overly-simplistic and unrealistic protocols, poorly-validated or unreliable signals of trust, lack of appropriate sensor and neurophysiological signal processing, and theoretical and functional shortcomings in terms of understanding which - and to what degree - one or more human neurobiological systems support specific kinds of trust. IARPA is soliciting submissions on the following areas aimed at addressing the challenges of defining, understanding, and ultimately detecting valid, reliable signatures of trust in humans: 1.) Different kinds of trust and what, if any, kinds of neurophysiological signals might be associated with them. IARPA seeks to understand the different manifestations that trust may take (i.e. swift trust, conditional trust, unconditional trust, etc.) as well as the different neurophysiological processes associated with one or more of these kinds of trust. 2.) New models of neural systems and patterns of neural activation related to different kinds of trust and associated neurophysiological signatures of those activation patterns. IARPA seeks to understand the degree to which the neural-bases of trust(s) may assist in detecting peripheral signals of trust and trustworthiness under different conditions. 3.) Potentially novel preconscious signals or combinations of signals - neural, endocrine, physiological, behavioral, etc. - that may be indicative of trust or trustworthiness among people in different contexts. IARPA seeks to elucidate signals and neurobiological processes that humans may use for assessing trust, but which are not yet - or are currently poorly - understood. 4.) New sensor technologies or combinations of technologies that can assist in detecting subtle but valid and reliable changes in neurophysiological states that may be indicative of trust among humans. IARPA seeks to explore the feasibility of using technology to amplify systems that humans have evolved to preconsciously assess trust in others. 5.) Novel, ecologically-valid, but ethical - trust-based protocols designed to assess the validity and reliability of potential trust signals among two or more humans. IARPA seeks to develop new, more sophisticated processes for understanding near real-time human preconscious assessment of trust in near real-world circumstances. Respondents may submit responses to one or more areas of interest. If submitting to more than one area, however, respondents should i) prepare separate submissions for each area, and ii) clearly indicate which area the submission addresses at the beginning of each submission. Each submission must adhere to the formatting guidelines described below, including page limitations. The responses to this RFI will be used to help in the planning of a one and a half day workshop on techniques for recognizing unconscious or preconscious signatures of trust and trustworthiness among humans. The results of this workshop may justify a multi-year competitive program. The selection of topics, participants, and setting of the agenda of this workshop will in part be informed by the responses, with responders being potentially invited to participate and present at this workshop. It is anticipated that this workshop will be held in September 2009. Preparation Instructions to Respondents IARPA solicits respondents to submit ideas related to this topic for use by the Government in formulating a potential program. IARPA requests that submittals briefly and clearly describe the potential approach or concept, outline critical technical issues, and comment on the expected performance, robustness, and estimated cost of the proposed approach. This announcement contains all of the information required to submit a response. No additional forms, kits, or other materials are needed. IARPA appreciates responses from all capable and qualified sources from within and outside of the US. Because IARPA is interested in an integrated approach, responses from teams with complementary areas of expertise are encouraged. Responses have the following formatting requirements: 1. A one page cover sheet that identifies the title, organization(s), respondent's technical and administrative points of contact - including names, addresses, phone and fax numbers, and email addresses of all co-authors, and clearly indicating its association with IARPA-RFI-09-03 2. A substantive, focused, one-half page executive summary; 3. A description (limited to 5 pages in minimum 12 point Times New Roman font, appropriate for single-sided, single-spaced 8.5 by 11 inch paper, with 1-inch margins) of the technical challenges and suggested approach(es); 4. A list of citations (any significant claims or reports of success must be accompanied by citations, and reference material MUST be attached); 5. Optionally, a single overview briefing chart graphically depicting the key ideas. Submission Instructions to Respondents Responses to this RFI are due no later than 4:00pm, Eastern Standard Time on August 21, 2009. All submissions must be electronically submitted to dni-iarpa-rfi-09-03@ugov.gov as a PDF document. Inquiries regarding this RFI must be submitted to dni-iarpa-rfi-09-03@ugov.gov. Do not send questions with proprietary content. No telephonic inquiries will be accepted. DISCLAIMERS AND IMPORTANT NOTES This is an RFI issued solely for information and new program planning purposes and does not constitute a solicitation. Respondents are advised that IARPA is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received, or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted under this RFI. Responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Respondents are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this RFI. It is the respondents' responsibility to ensure that the submitted material has been approved for public release by the organization that funded whatever research is referred to in their response. The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this RFI or to otherwise pay for the information solicited, nor is the Government obligated to issue a solicitation based on responses received. Neither proprietary nor classified concepts or information should be included in the submittal. Input on technical aspects of the responses may be solicited by IARPA from non-Government consultants/experts who are bound by appropriate non-disclosure requirements.