Advanced Structural Fiber | Apply Online

Opportunity Summary:

The Advanced Structural Fiber opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number: DARPA BAA 09-70) is a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Defense Sciences Office (DSO) solicitation focused on science and technology research and development aimed at producing next-generation fibers intended for structural applications. In practical terms, the government is looking for new ideas and workable approaches to create high-performance fibers that can serve as load-bearing or reinforcement elements in structures, which typically implies fibers with improved strength-to-weight ratios, stiffness, toughness, durability, and performance consistency compared to conventional structural fibers. Because this is issued as a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA), it is generally oriented toward innovative R&D concepts and technical merit rather than procurement of an off-the-shelf product, and it often encourages novel methods, materials, and scalable manufacturing concepts that could translate into future defense capabilities.

The opportunity falls under the Science and Technology and other Research and Development funding activity category and is associated with CFDA number 12.910 (Research and Technology Development). DARPA indicates an expectation of making around 30 awards, which suggests the agency anticipates supporting multiple teams or approaches rather than a single winner-take-all effort. The solicitation lists multiple possible award instruments, including cooperative agreements, grants, other procurement contracts, and standard procurement contracts. That mix is common for DARPA and signals flexibility in how projects may be structured: some efforts may be more collaborative and hands-on with government involvement (often reflected in cooperative agreements), while others may be more traditionally contracted R&D. The posting date and creation date are both August 17, 2009, with an original and current closing date of August 16, 2010, and an archive date of September 15, 2010, meaning the solicitation was open for nearly a year and is now closed and archived.

Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning it is open to a wide range of applicants (for example, companies, universities, nonprofits, research institutes, or other organizations), subject to any additional clarifications that may have been included in the full announcement text. The funding opportunity is categorized as discretionary and explicitly states that there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement, which can reduce barriers for teams that might otherwise struggle to provide non-federal matching funds. In general, an unrestricted eligibility posture combined with no mandatory cost share and an expected multiple-award strategy is a signal that DARPA wanted to attract a broad pool of ideas, including high-risk, high-reward concepts from both traditional defense contractors and nontraditional performers.

From a technical perspective, the phrase "advanced fibers for structural applications" typically points toward fiber technologies that enable lighter, stronger, and more resilient structures, often through improved materials chemistry, microstructure control, processing innovations, or new manufacturing routes. While the short description provided here does not list specific technical requirements, DARPA BAAs in this area usually care about measurable improvements in mechanical properties, reliability, manufacturability, and repeatability, as well as the ability to integrate the fibers into structural forms (for example, composites or other reinforcement architectures). Structural fibers also tend to be judged not only on peak strength but on real-world performance factors such as fatigue resistance, fracture toughness, environmental stability (temperature, moisture, UV, chemicals), and the consistency of properties across large production volumes, since structural use demands predictable behavior rather than one-off lab demonstrations.

Administrative details include the sponsoring agency (DARPA, Defense Sciences Office) and a contact point for access issues: Brian Holloway, Program Manager/DSO BAA Coordinator. The announcement also references an additional information link labeled "DARPA BAA 09 70," implying that the full BAA document contains the detailed technical areas, proposal instructions, evaluation criteria, submission mechanics, and any special terms or conditions that would govern awards. As summarized from the provided source data, this opportunity was a year-long DARPA solicitation intended to seed and advance multiple innovative R&D efforts aimed at improving how high-performance structural fibers are produced for demanding applications, with flexibility in award type and broad eligibility to encourage diverse participation.

Browse more opportunities from the same agency: DARPA Defense Sciences Office

Browse more opportunities from the same category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development

Next opportunity: Exploratory Innovations in Biomedical Computational Science and Technology (R21)

Previous opportunity: Impact Aid Program American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 Impact Aid Discretionary Construction Program CFDA 84.401

USGrants.org Applicant Portal:

Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.

Apply for DARPA BAA 09 70

 

[Watch] how do funding administrators access proposals?

Applicants also applied for:

Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (DARPA BAA 09 70) also looked into and applied for these:

 

Grant application guides and resources

It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!

Apply for Grants

 

 

Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers

Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.

If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.

Subscribe to Leads

 

Request more information:

Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "DARPA BAA 09 70", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:

Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.