Cognition and Neuroergonomics (CAN) Collaborative Technology Alliance (CTA)

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The U.S. Army RDECOM Acquisition Center, RTP Contracting Division, on behalf of the U.S. Army Research Laboratory, is issuing a FINAL Program Announcement (PA), W911NF-08-R-0014, for the Cognition and Neuroergonomics Collaborative Technology Alliance (CAN CTA). The purpose of the United States Army Research Laboratory (ARL) Cognition and Neuroergonomics Collaborative Technology Alliance (CAN CTA) Program Announcement (PA) is to solicit offers to establish a new Collaborative Technology Alliance (CTA) in the area of Cognition and Neuroergonomics. The FINAL CAN CTA PA can be found at www.grants.gov and the CAN CTA website: http://www.arl.army.mil/cogn-neuroerg. The Army envisions that the Alliance will bring together government, industrial and academic institutions to address research and development to enable optimal Soldier-system performance during tactical operations. The objective of the Alliance is the development and demonstration of fundamental translational principles, that is, principles governing the application of neuroscience-based research and theory to complex operational settings. The Alliance is expected to perform enabling research and to transition technology to enhance Soldier-system performance in complex operational settings by optimizing information transfer between the system and the Soldier, identifying mental processes and individual differences that impact mission-relevant decision making, and developing technologies for individualized analyses of neurally-based processing in operational environments. To achieve this objective the Alliance is expected to implement computational modeling and to execute and link neuroscience-based research from multiple levels to produce advances in fundamental science and technology, demonstrate and transition technology, and develop research demonstrators for Warfighter experimentation. This PA will result in the award of two instruments: (1) a cooperative agreement as defined at 31 U.S.C. 6305 for the execution of the Fundamental Research Component; and (2) a procurement contract as defined in 31 U.S.C. 6303 for the execution of the Technology Transition Component. The cooperative agreement for the Fundamental Research Component will be awarded to a Consortium consisting of a Lead of the Consortium and other Members as necessary and appropriate to fulfill the goals of the CAN CTA Program. At least 70% of Fundamental Research Component funds go to academic institutions and at least 10% of the total funding provided for academic institutions must be provided to HBCU/MI Member(s). The Lead of the Consortium may be an academic or industrial concern. The procurement contract will be awarded to the Lead of the Consortium. Individual tasks will be issued under the procurement contract as transition opportunities are identified from the research results under the cooperative agreement. Under this PA, proposals are sought to select the consortium for the CAN CTA. Planned funding levels for the cooperative agreement are set forth in the CAN CTA PA. Contingent upon available funding, the Army expects to support the Cognition and Neuroergonomics consortium for five years with an option for an additional five years.

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