Alert WARfighter Enablement (AWARE) Phase 0

Background
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is soliciting innovative approaches to address challenges with maintaining warfighter alertness following sleep deprivation. The AWARE program aims to develop a combination drug and device to non-invasively increase alertness following sleep loss in humans, without negative side effects such as anxiety, irritability, or euphoria, and with reduced addictive potential. The AWARE program goals include developing candidate photoswitchable dextroamphetamine (“PhotoDex”) molecules that are biologically inert in dark conditions but are reversibly activated in the presence of near infrared (NIR) light (750-900 nm), and wearable device elements that emit NIR light at 850 nm to a depth of 1.5 cm, adaptable to any wavelength between 750 and 900 nm to accommodate the final optimal PhotoDex wavelength.

Work Details
The Performer is required to conduct a research and development program for the development of a prototype. The Performer shall be responsible for the overall technical and program management, technical planning and execution of the Program. The Performer shall submit or otherwise provide documentation describing the extent of accomplishment of milestones as required by Article IV, Paragraph B. The Performer shall also submit an electronic copy of their Data Management Plan (DMP) no later than 30 calendar days after award of this Agreement.