BAA04-35 - Advanced Speech Encoding (ASE) Phase 2

The summary for the BAA04-35 - Advanced Speech Encoding (ASE) Phase 2 grant is detailed below. This summary states who is eligible for the grant, how much grant money will be awarded, current and past deadlines, Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) numbers, and a sampling of similar government grants. Verify the accuracy of the data FederalGrants.com provides by visiting the webpage noted in the Link to Full Announcement section or by contacting the appropriate person listed as the Grant Announcement Contact. If any section is incomplete, please visit the website for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, which is the U.S. government agency offering this grant.

BAA04-35 - Advanced Speech Encoding (ASE) Phase 2: BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT (BAA) 04-35 ADVANCED SPEECH ENCODING PROGRAM, CLOSING DATE: 05 JUL 2005, FIRST SELECTIONS: 4:00PM Arlington, VA Local Time, 01 SEP 2004, POC: Dr. Lisa Porter DARPA/ATO, E-MAIL: [email protected], WEB: http://www.darpa.mil/ato/solicit/ASE/index.htm. PROGRAM OBJECTIVES AND DESCRIPTION: The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Advanced Technology Office (ATO) is soliciting proposals under this BAA for Phase 2 of its Advanced Speech Encoding (ASE) Program. The objective of the ASE Program Phase 2 is to achieve ultra-low bit rate (ULBR) voice encoding (300 bps) with acceptable intelligibility, quality, and aural speaker recognizability in acoustically harsh environments. It is believed that novel noise-immune sensors will enable this capability. The ASE Program Phase 2 will also explore and characterize the nature of subauditory (nonacoustic) speech and its potential utility as an alternative means of communication in acoustically harsh environments. SCOPE AND FUNDING: The government anticipates multiple awards. Total program funding for this BAA is currently estimated at the following amounts: $0.8M for FY04, $7.5M for FY05, $7.0M for FY06, $3.25M for FY07 and $1.25M for FY08. NOTE: Although this BAA will be open for one (1) year from the date of its publication in FedBizOpps and FedGrants, the Government anticipates the majority of funding for this program will be committed during First Selections. To be considered for funding during First Selections, proposals must be received no later than 4:00PM Arlington, VA Local Time on 01 SEP 2004. EVALUATION CRITERIA: Proposers choosing to respond to this BAA will be evaluated against the following six (6) criteria: 1) Proposer's Understanding of the Problem and Scope of Technical Effort, 2) Relevance to DARPA Mission, 3) Soundness of Proposer's Technical and Management Approach, Including Teaming, 4) Relevant Experience, 5) Schedule, and 6) Cost Realism. Agency evaluators will consider criteria 1, 2, and 3 (Proposer's Understanding of the Problem and Scope of the Technical Effort, Relevance to DARPA Mission, and Soundness of Proposer's Technical and Management Approach, Including Teaming) as more important than the remaining criteria, 4, 5, and 6 (Relevant Experience, Schedule, and Cost Realism). Criteria 1, 2, and 3 are weighted in descending order of importance. Criteria 4, 5, and 6 are equally weighted. ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE: Proposers choosing to respond to this BAA must read the attached Proposer Information Pamphlet (PIP) which provides specific information about this BAA, including instructions on how to respond.