Office of Naval Research, 800 North Quincy Street, Arlington, VA 22217-5660

A -- APPLIED RESEARCH ON REMOTELY QUERIED EMBEDDED MICROSENSORS POC Dr. Lewis Sloter, ONR 332 (703) 696-1453. 96-009. Applied research for the development of embedded silicon-based microdevices as sensors in composite material structures and development of the circuits and techniques needed to remotely address and query multiple sensor arrays. The Navy has been investigating the use of microdevices as sensors embedded in composite materials and structures with technical focus placed on devices and remote querying techniques that eliminate the need for physical connection via wires or optical fibers between embedded sensors and data acquisition instrumentation. Remote query methods and embedded sensor systems must be able to function in graphite-fiber composites utilizing thermoset or thermoplastic matrices. The embedded sensors may need to operate during the composite manufacturing cycle and must have a post-manufacture lifetime commensurate to the estimated service life. The overall objective is to optimize the sensor and remote query system and determine specific application areas that can provide the largest payoff for the Navy and the Department of Defense. Application areas can include (but are not limited to) mechanical load and material health monitoring systems for composite material structures in vehicles, ships, aircraft, spacecraft, and bridges. Particular areas of interest are: (1) sensor development; (2) transponder development; (3) sensor networking, including interrogation of individual sensors in large arrays and amount of device-resident data preparation and processing required; (4) characterization/calibration of embedded sensors and sensor arrays; (5) miniaturization/integration of sensor and transponder circuits to reduce device size and impact on host structure; and (6) transfer of the technology into specific applications. Teaming arrangements are strongly encouraged. Interested offerors are requested to submit a preproposal, the purpose of which is to preclude unwarranted effort by an offeror in preparing a full technical and cost proposal not considered to be responsive or competitive. Invitation to submit a full proposal based on preproposal screening does not assure award of a grant or contract. The cost of preparing preproposals and proposals in response to this announcement is not considered an allowable direct cost under any resulting grant or contract. Potential offerors must submit an original plus four copies of the preproposal. No more than three pages should be used to describe: (1) the objective; (2) the approach; and (3) how results will help advance the state of the art and meet naval requirements. On additional pages as necessary, provide a budget estimate by cost and time (total and broken down by year for multi-year efforts, up to three years) as well as cirriculum vitae of the principal investigator(s). The period of performance shall be no more than thirty six (36) months. On a separate, single cover page list in order: BAA, PI name (s), address(es) and telephone number(s); preproposal title; requested funds; and duration of effort. Preproposals must be received by 1700, 26 April 1996, at the Office of Naval Research, Code 332, Room 502, Ballston Tower One, 800 North Quincy Street, Arlington, VA 22217-5660. Technical questions should be addressed in writing to Program Manager at the preceding address or faxed to (703) 696-0934. We anticipate inviting full proposals by 15 May 1996, due by 30 June 1996 with recommendations for awards to be in place after 30 July 1996. Details regarding the format requirements for full proposals will be sent with submission invitations. Evaluation of pre- and full proposals are based on the following criteria, in descending order of importance: (1) overall scientific/technical merits of the proposal; (2) potential contributions of the effort to provide accurate, reliable, cost effective remotely queried embedded microsensor networks for structural load and material health monitoring and demonstration of usefulness in naval application(s); (3) qualifications, capabilities, and experience of the proposed principal investigator, team leader, or key persennel who are critical in achieving the proposal objectives; (4) the offerors capabilities, related experience, past performance, facilities, techniques, or unique combinations of these which are integral factors for achieving the proposal objectives; (5) collaborative efforts; and (6) reasonableness and realism of cost. Any awards are contingent on the availability of funds specifically allocated for this announcement. Three million dollars have been appropriated for this effort, but are not currently available for procurement. Final proposal submission will not be requested until funds availability is reasonably assured, but this will not delay notification of offerors that full proposals will be invited. This announcement constitutes a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) as contemplated in FAR 6.102(d)(2). No request for proposal (RFP), solicitation or other announcement of this opportunity will be made. This announcement will be open for one year from the date of publication. Awards may be made at any time throughout the year and may take the form of contracts or grants. Submission of a proposal is not restricted in any way to any particular entity. Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Minority Institutions, and Small Disadvantaged Businesses are encouraged to participate. The Government reserves the right to select for all awards, some or none of the proposals (either in their entirety or part thereof) received in response to this announcement. Offerors may submit separate preproposals on any, or all of the specified areas of interest. Any negotiations that may be necessary will be conducted between the offeror and the Government Contracting Officer or representative. Questions concerning technical issues relating to this BAA should be directed to Dr. Lewis Sloter (Code 332), phone (703) 696-1453, e-mail SLOTERL@ONRHQ.ONR.NAVY.MIL. Questions regarding business issues and legal matters relating to this BAA should be directed to th Office of Naval Research, Attn: Mr. Terry Young, ONR 254, Ballston Tower One, 800 North Quincy Street, Arlington, VA 22217-5660, phone: (703) 696-5389. For awards made as contracts the socio-economic merits will include the extent of commitment in providing meaningful subcontracting opportunities for small business, small disadvantaged business, woman-owned small business concerns, and historically black colleges and universities. Information regarding areas of interest and points of contact are available without fee through an on-line database service, the Federal Information Exchange (FEDIX). This is to notify potential proposers that each grant or cooperative agreement that is awarded under this announcement or solicitation to an institution of higher education must include the following clause: ''As a condition for receipt of funds available to the Department of Defense (DoD) under this award, the recipient agrees that it is not an institution that has a policy of denying, and that it is not an institution that effectively prevents, the Secretary of Defense from obtaining for military recruiting purposes: (A) entry to campuses or access to students on campuses, or (B) access to directory information pertaining to students. If the recipient is determined, using procedures established by the Secretary of Defense to implement section 558 of Public Law 103-337 (1994), to be such an institution during the period of performance of this agreement, and therefore to be in breach of this clause, the Government will cease all payments of DoD funds under this agreement and all other DoD grants and cooperative agreements, and it may suspend or terminate such grants and agreements unilaterally for material failure to comply with the terms and conditions of award''. If your institution has been identified under the procedures established by the Secretary of Defense to implement section 558, then: (1) no funds avaliable to DoD may be provided to your institution through any grant, including any existing grant; (2) as a matter of policy, this restriction also applies to any cooperative agreement; and (3) your institution is not eligible to receive a grant or cooperative agreement in response to this solicitation (0081)

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