E-mail: BAA95-10@arpa.mil.
The Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) is soliciting proposals for research in and development of advanced education and training technologies in support of the goals of the ARPA Computer Aided Education and Training Initiative (CAETI). Proposed research should investigate innovative approaches and techniques that lead to or enable revolutionary advances in the state-of-the-art. Specifically excluded is research which primarily results in evolutionary improvement to the existing state of practice or focuses on a specific system or hardware solution. The purpose of this program is to dramatically improve the learning performance of students and increase the teaching productivity and effectiveness of instructors by the developments and evaluation of advanced computer based technology. The focus of this program's applications will be the Department of Defense Dependent Schools (DODDS) which serves children of military personnel serving overseas.
The CAETI program will provide enhanced educational capabilities by (1) expanding and customizing intelligent access and integration of digital educational resources, (2) supporting individualized learning through the use of intelligent tutors, mentors, and associates, (3) supporting learning that is learner-centered, collaborative, authentic, and interactive regardless of a student's location, and (4) providing to DODDS, capabilities and software architectures that are affordable, in a scalable and easily maintainable system where both performance and technical evaluation are a key part of the development process. From the earliest phases of the program, DODDS students and personnel will participate in the assessment of the products. In later phases, the technology will be transitioned to meet the needs for adult education and training of the active forces, the reserves and the National Guard.
The specific details of the CAETI program plan including descriptions of selection criteria and instructions for proposal submission are described in the Proposal Information Packet (PIP). Proposers should consult the PIP for guidance before responding to the BAA. Note: The PIP will not be published in the Commerce Business Daily (CBD). To obtain a copy of the PIP see instruction listed under section ''PROPOSAL PREPARATION AND SUBMISSION'' of this announcement. This announcement and the PIP constitute the BAA as defined in FAR 6.102(d)(2), and is the only information ARPA provides. Requests for additional information, other than purely administrative questions or correspondence, will be disregarded. No other solicitation regarding this announcement will be issued. Requests for same will be disregarded.
TECHNICAL INFORMATION: The CAETI will develop and demonstrate affordable and effective learning technologies that will significantly improve learning productivity in the DODDS system. CAETI will follow a systems development approach that begins with DODDS requirements and systematically develops technology, integrates it with educational goals and continually evaluates the results to ensure the products support DODDS educational objectives. To achieve these goals, CAETI will (1) adapt and advance technology that will alter the current educational paradigm. This includes advances in simulation and synthetic environments, data visualization, intelligent associates and agents, and affordable simulation networks, (2) provide information navigation, customization and integration tools to students and teachers that will increase their effective use of networked digital resources, and (3) apply advances in software engineering, languages, and architectures to reduce the costs of technology use and support. The objectives of these advances in educational technology are to improve student performance and enhance their readiness for future education or employment by at least 1 sigma and significantly decrease the amount of time teachers spend performing administrative tasks and lesson preparation.
Proposals submitted under this BAA can be directed towards any combination of the three technology themes or to the advanced system engineering and evaluation technologies that will be used to create a CAETI open systems architecture and evaluation framework. The three CAETI themes, EAGIL, CAPER, and SNAIR, are explained in the PIP. The system engineering process to be used in CAETI must allow the rapid and iterative development of a scalable and open architecture that will support both near term and long term inclusion of components developed under CAETI. Also, the system engineering and evaluation technology considered for this project must support the creation of an affordable and maintainable system, one that minimizes the requirements on maintenance personnel at DODDS sites. All selected proposals will be expected to cooperate with the selected system engineering, architecture, and evaluation efforts.
PROPOSAL PREPARATION AND SUBMISSION: Prospective proposers are encouraged to submit an initial proposal abstract in advance of actual proposals. Proposal abstracts are due under this solicitation by 4:00 PM, December 12, 1994. ARPA will attempt to respond to all proposal abstracts by December 19, 1994. Proposals are due NLT 4:00 PM, January 9, 1995. Proposers must follow the guidance provided by Proposal Information Packet (PIP), "BAA 95-10 Proposal Information Packet." The PIP describes the process of proposal submission and evaluation, the format for submission, and contains other pertinent guidelines. The packet may be obtained by electronic mail, fax, or mail using the contact addresses included in this announcement. Additional information concerning DODDS may be obtained by sending an E-mail request to CAETI@arpa.mil. Copies of relevant materials will be sent to you by mail so you must include your postal address with your request for DODDS information.
SELECTION PROCESS: Sources for research will be selected by a scientific review process using criteria set forth below. Individual proposal evaluations will be based on acceptability or unacceptability without regard to other proposals submitted under the announcement, however, all selected proposals may not be funded due to budgetary or programmatic constraints. The Government reserves the right to select for award all, some, or none of the proposals received in response to this announcement. All responsible sources capable of satisfying the Government's needs may submit a proposal which shall be considered by ARPA. Full proposals may be reviewed and acted on as they arrive.
Evaluation of proposals will be performed using the following criteria. The first PRIORITY is equal in importance to the other two combined. The second and third PRIORITIES are of equal importance. The criteria within each PRIORITY are listed in descending order of relative importance. 1. FIRST PRIORITY: - Quality. Overall scientific, technical and socioeconomic merit of the proposal. - Relevance. Potential contributions of the effort to the agency's specific mission, including military relevance and contribution to the national technology base. This includes the offerors' plans and capability to appropriately transition the technology to the research and industrial communities, in such a way that U.S. defense and industrial capabilities are enhanced. - Personnel. The qualifications, capabilities, and experience of the proposed principal investigator, team leader, and key personnel who are critical in achieving the proposal objective. 2. SECOND PRIORITY: - Related Experience. The offerors' qualifications, capabilities, and experience in related technical areas. - Capability. The offeror's facilities and demonstrated ability for achieving the proposal objectives. For proposal involving prototype development this will include availability (either in-house, through subcontract, or through industrial affiliates) of design and manufacturing tools appropriate to the proposed prototype. 3. THIRD PRIORITY: - Cost. Realism and amount of the proposed cost, and cost sharing. Note: (1) cost realism will only be significant in proposals which have significantly under or over estimated the cost to complete their effort, and (2) proposals deemed non-competitive will not be reviewed further.
ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUES: Proposals may range from small-scale efforts that are primarily theoretical in nature, to medium-scale experimental and prototyping efforts of hardware and/or software, to larger-scale integrated systems efforts. Proposed efforts may involve single organizations, multiple research groups, collaboration with ongoing projects, and/or industrial cooperation and cost sharing. While collaborative efforts and teaming to increase the strength of research or to fill technical or manpower gaps are strongly encouraged, teaming per se does not increase the selectability of a proposed effort. No portion of this BAA will be set aside for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) and Minority Institution (MI) participation due to the impracticality of reserving discrete or severable areas of research. However, such institutions are encouraged to submit proposals or to join others in submitting proposals. Subject to technical acceptability, it is anticipated that the approximate number of contracts to be awarded could be 15-20. ARPA expects some additional team formation once proposals are selected and team synergies become apparent. Total funding for the CAETI is not available at this time. Restrictive notices notwithstanding, proposals will be handled for administrative purposes by a support contractor, and FFRDC employees may participate in the review process.
CONTACT ADDRESSES: Electronic mail: BAA95-10@arpa.mil. FAX: (703) 522-6367 (Addressed to: BAA 95-10)Mail: ATTN: BAA 95-10, ARPA/SISTO, 3701 N. Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714. For additional DODDS Information: CAETI@arpa.mil (Notes: Electronic mail and fax are preferred for administrative questions and correspondence. PROPOSALS SENT BY FAX or ELECTRONIC MAIL WILL be DISREGARDED. ARPA will use electronic mail and fax preferentially for correspondence regarding BAA 95-10.) (0326)
SPONSOR: Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA), Contracts Management Office (CMO), 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714
SUBFILE: PSE (U.S. GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENTS, SERVICES)
SECTION HEADING: A Research and Development
PUBLICATION DATE: NOVEMBER 25, 1994
ISSUE: PSA-1229