AFRL is soliciting white papers on emerging computing architectures and applications

On February 27, the Air Force Research Laboratory issued a broad agency announcement ( BAA-RIK-14-05):

The Information Directorate, High Performance Systems Branch, of the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Rome Research Site, is soliciting white papers under this announcement for innovative technologies to explore and develop computational capabilities with greater sophistication, autonomy, intelligence, and assurance for addressing dynamic mission requirements imposed by Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) applications and Size Weight and Power (SWAP) constrained Air Force platforms.

Of particular interest are emerging technologies that can provide revolutionary computational capabilities which enable greater system adaptability, autonomy and intelligence while improving information availability throughout the C4ISR enterprise. This includes quantum algorithms, computing architectures that improve energy efficiency, architectures that support computational intelligence and neuromorphic computing, architectures for embedded processing, architectures for high-performance computing which improve performance & enable increased system functionality, tools to increase the productivity of developing applications, methods and architectures that can provide dramatic improvements in the performance/cost of systems. Also of interest are technologies that can reduce warfighter decision latencies/response time, decrease system costs and system development times.

The overall objective of this BAA is to research, develop, and demonstrate emerging computing technologies and applications. This involves performing research and development in the following technical areas:

(1) Quantum Computing

(2) Nanocomputing

(3) Computational Intelligence and Neuromorphic Computing

(4) Resource Analysis of Cognitive Process Flow Used to Achieve Autonomy

(5) High Performance Computing

(6) Modular Embedded Computing Architectures

FUNDING: Total funding for this BAA is approximately $24.9M. The anticipated funding to be obligated under this BAA is broken out by fiscal year as follows: FY 14 – $1.4M; FY 15 – $4.5M; FY 16 – $5M; FY 17 – $4.9M; and FY18 – $5M: FY 19 – $4.1M. Individual awards will not normally exceed 36 months with dollar amounts normally ranging between $100K to $1M per year. There is also the potential to make awards up to any dollar value. The Government reserves the right to select all, part, or none of the proposals received, subject to the availability of funds. All potential Offerors should be aware that due to unanticipated budget fluctuations, funding in any or all areas may change with little or no notice.

FORM: Awards of efforts as a result of this announcement will be in the form of contracts, grants, or cooperative agreements depending upon the nature of the work proposed.

BAA TYPE: This is a two-step open broad agency announcement. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation. AS STEP ONE – We are only soliciting white papers at this time. DO NOT SUBMIT A FORMAL PROPOSAL. Those white papers found to be consistent with the intent of this BAA may be invited to submit a technical and cost proposal.

CRITERIA: The following criteria, which are listed in descending order of importance, will be used to determine whether white papers and proposals submitted are consistent with the intent of this BAA and of interest to the Government:

(1) Overall Scientific and Technical Merit — The soundness of approach for the development and/or enhancement of the proposed technology,

(2) Related Experience – The extent to which the offeror demonstrates relevant technology and domain knowledge,

(3) Openness, Maturity and Assurance of Solution – The extent to which existing capabilities and standards are leveraged and the relative maturity of the proposed technology, and

(4) Reasonableness and realism of proposed costs and fees (if any).

Full information can be found here.

Source: FedBizOpps