A -- A -- DEFENSE SCIENCES RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY

Notice Date

November 29, 2001

Contracting Office

Other Defense Agencies, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Contracts Management Office, 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA, 22203-1714

ZIP Code

22203-1714

Solicitation Number

BAA01-42

Response Due

August 29, 2002

Point of Contact

Kurt Henry, DARPA Program Manager, Phone 703-696-0122, Fax 703-696-3999, Email none

Description

BAA 01-42, ADDENDUM 6, SPECIAL FOCUS AREA: PERSISTENCE IN COMBAT (PIC). PROGRAM GOALS AND OBJECTIVES: The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) seeks proposals for innovative research and development of technologies that will enable the warfighter to administer Self-Aid for minor to moderate injuries without relying on outside support. The vision of this program is to maintain Persistence in Combat (PIC) by allowing a warfighter to overcome injuries that make up a majority of casualties in the battlefield, thereby significantly reducing the requirements for medic support and/or evacuation. The specific objectives include: 1) a ten fold increase in the number of warfighters using self aid techniques in the battlefield, 2) a five fold increase in the rate of tissue repair, 3) a major reduction of the number of minor injury evacuations from the battlefield, 4) a physically functional warfighter 96 hours post-injury, resulting in a decrease in convalescent leave, 5) control of pain and initiating treatment within 5 minutes of injury for more rapid stabilization. In order to accomplish this goal, researchers will need to exploit the human body's innate capabilities to accelerate the healing process in the following areas: 1) acute incapacitating minor tissue injury, 2) acute non compressible hemorrhage, and 3) acute intractable pain. For acute incapacitating minor tissue injury DARPA is seeking to initiate the development of a new generation of novel non-invasive therapeutic technologies such as low level energy therapy (including electromagnetic, near-IR, visible, thermal, acoustic, and vibratory fields) to accelerate in vivo tissue repair and the regeneration of tissue, including retinal, corneal, epidermal, dermal, musculoskeletal, neuronal, cartilage, ligaments and tendons. Technologies that address scarring, regeneration of healthy, viable tissue and organs are of interest. In the area of acute non-compressible hemorrhage DARPA is interested in investigating solutions to non-compressible hemorrhage such as nervous system control of bleeding, new classes of fluids that explore numerous non-invasive delivery routes (oral, transdermal, mucous membrane, etc.) for resuscitation purposes, and the acceleration of the coagulation cascade to arrest hemorrhage. For acute intractable pain DARPA is interested in methods for managing acute traumatic pain in the battlefield that are free of side effects that could hinder the warfighter's performance. These include, but are not limited to non-allopathic approaches such as acupuncture, acupressure employing electromagnetic stimulation to release pain-relieving biomolecules, biofeedback, training, and meditation. East Asian techniques for combat medicine and pathways/mediators of pain meridian points are of particular interest. PROGRAM SCOPE: These three areas of research -- acute incapacitating minor tissue injuries, acute non-compressible hemorrhage, and acute intractable pain -- will be studied separately but overlaps within each of these three areas are encouraged. However, the principle investigator needs to ensure a major focus on only one thrust area. TEAMING: Because the focus of PIC is on systematic methodology, proposals involving teams of investigators having expertise that spans all key areas of the program are appropriate. Proposals involving individual investigators or investigator teams of narrower expertise will be selected only if they show clear applicability to the overall goal of PIC. To assist in the teaming process, a website has been established at the URL: http://www.davincinetbook.com/pic. Specific information content, communications, networking, and team formation are the sole responsibilities of the participants. DARPA will not participate in these activities other than to provide the website forum to enable others to initiate communications. PROPOSALS: Each proposal should describe a 24 month program with the following technical content: 1) A description of the demonstration expected at the end of 24 months and how that demonstration forwards the objectives of the PIC program, 2) A description of the innovation and concepts addressing the issues and demonstrating the key features; 3) Major technical challenges and how they will be approached; 4) Projected impact of these developments on DoD applications; 5) Management plan with details of program coordination; 6) Program plan with quantitative technical milestones. There must be at least one such milestone within the first 12 months of the program; and 7) Descriptions of experience and expertise of prime contractor and sub-contractors. Proposers may submit an optional Phase II of 24-36 months with the goal of demonstrating successful technologies in a tactical battlefield environment. However, selections will be made on the basis of the Phase I (first 24 months) effort only. Please note, DARPA is not requesting the submission of White Papers for this addendum. Proposals should be received by DARPA before 4:00 pm, ET, February 4, 2002, Attn: Persistence in Combat BAA 01-42, 3701 North Fairfax Dr., Arlington VA 22203. Submittals after that date will be considered on a case-by-case basis. DARPA will acknowledge receipt of each proposal within ten days and assign a control number that should be used in all further correspondence regarding the proposal. Note that the closing date for the first selections is also the closing date of the teaming website. For general administrative questions and proposal formatting, cost proposal, etc please refer to the original CBD Announcement, BAA 01-42.

Web Link

Visit this URL for the latest information about this (http://www.eps.gov/spg/ODA/DARPA/CMO/BAA01-42/listing.html)

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20011203/ASOL002.HTM (D-333 SN514050)