Opportunity Information: Apply for DARPA BAA 15 12
Apply for DARPA BAA 15 12
- The DARPA Defense Sciences Office in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Agnostic Compact Demilitarization of Chemical Agents (ACDC)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 12.910 Research and Technology Development.
- This funding opportunity was created on Feb 3, 2015 and posted on Dec 10, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 2, 2015. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Opportunity Summary:
The Agnostic Compact Demilitarization of Chemical Agents (ACDC) opportunity was a DARPA Defense Sciences Office solicitation (Funding Opportunity Number DARPA BAA 15-12) focused on creating prototype systems that can neutralize chemical warfare agents by converting them into inert, non-hazardous material. The core idea behind "agnostic" demilitarization is that the system should be able to handle a range of chemical agents without being narrowly tailored to only one specific compound or requiring extensive, agent-specific setup. DARPA was looking for approaches that move beyond incremental upgrades to traditional demilitarization methods, aiming instead for fundamentally new science, devices, or end-to-end system concepts that could change how chemical agent neutralization is done in the field or in constrained settings.
This was a discretionary research and development funding opportunity categorized under Science and Technology and other R and D, with CFDA 12.910 (Research and Technology Development). DARPA indicated it could make awards using multiple instrument types, including cooperative agreements as well as contracting mechanisms (noted as "Other Procurement Contract"), which is typical of DARPA broad agency announcements where the agency chooses the most appropriate award structure based on the nature of the work and performer. There was no cost sharing or matching requirement stated, which generally lowers the barrier for participation and makes it easier for research organizations to propose ambitious prototype work without needing to secure substantial third-party funding.
Eligibility was described as unrestricted, meaning the call was broadly open to any type of entity, subject to any clarifications that might have been included in the full text of the announcement. In practice, that kind of language typically encompasses universities, small and large businesses, nonprofit research institutes, and other qualified organizations, including teams and collaborations, so long as they can meet the technical, safety, compliance, and contracting requirements associated with chemical agent related research. Because the technical topic involves chemical warfare agent destruction and neutralization, prospective performers would normally need to demonstrate credible plans for safe handling, containment, regulatory compliance, and appropriate facilities or partnerships, even if those details were spelled out more fully in the complete FedBizOpps posting.
DARPA emphasized that it wanted innovative research leading to prototype systems, not just theoretical studies. The solicitation explicitly excluded proposals whose main output would be evolutionary improvements to existing practice, signaling that the program was intended to pursue high-risk, high-payoff concepts rather than refine standard incineration, bulk neutralization, or other established demilitarization pathways. In other words, the thrust of the opportunity was to explore compact, potentially deployable, or otherwise transformative solutions that could rapidly render agents harmless across different agent types, with a level of generality implied by the term "agnostic."
Key administrative dates show the opportunity was posted on December 10, 2014, with an original and final closing date of March 2, 2015, and an archive date of April 1, 2015. The listing also notes a creation date of February 3, 2015, which typically reflects when the record was entered or updated in a grants database rather than the first public release of the BAA itself. For applicants who could not access the announcement electronically, DARPA provided a BAA Coordinator contact for assistance, and it pointed to the full announcement under "DARPA BAA 15-12" on FedBizOpps (the federal procurement posting site used at the time).
In summary, ACDC was a DARPA program solicitation seeking bold, prototype-oriented R and D for compact systems capable of broadly applicable chemical agent demilitarization by converting warfare agents into inert materials. It was open to a wide range of applicants, offered flexible award mechanisms, did not require cost sharing, and was structured to favor revolutionary technical advances over incremental improvements.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Agnostic Compact Demilitarization of Chemical Agents (ACDC)
What is the ACDC grant opportunity?
The Agnostic Compact Demilitarization of Chemical Agents (ACDC) was a DARPA Defense Sciences Office solicitation (Funding Opportunity Number DARPA BAA 15-12) focused on creating prototype systems that can neutralize chemical warfare agents by converting them into inert, non-hazardous material.
What does "agnostic" demilitarization mean in this solicitation?
"Agnostic" demilitarization refers to a system design goal where the prototype can handle a range of chemical agents without being narrowly tailored to a single specific compound and without requiring extensive agent-specific setup.
What was DARPA trying to achieve through ACDC?
DARPA was seeking approaches that move beyond incremental upgrades to traditional demilitarization methods, aiming for fundamentally new science, devices, or end-to-end system concepts that could change how chemical agent neutralization is performed, including in the field or in constrained settings.
What kind of work products was DARPA looking for?
DARPA emphasized innovative research leading to prototype systems, not just theoretical studies. The solicitation was oriented toward prototype-oriented research and development that demonstrates credible system concepts for neutralization into inert material.
Were incremental improvements to existing demilitarization methods allowed?
The solicitation explicitly excluded proposals whose main output would be evolutionary improvements to existing practice. The program intent was high-risk, high-payoff concepts rather than refinements to established pathways such as standard incineration or bulk neutralization.
What topic area and program category did ACDC fall under?
This was a discretionary research and development funding opportunity categorized under Science and Technology and other R and D.
What CFDA number was associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity was associated with CFDA 12.910 (Research and Technology Development).
What award instrument types could DARPA use?
DARPA indicated it could make awards using multiple instrument types, including cooperative agreements as well as contracting mechanisms (noted as "Other Procurement Contract"). This is typical of DARPA broad agency announcements where the agency selects the most appropriate award structure based on the work and the performer.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
No cost sharing or matching requirement was stated for this opportunity.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was described as unrestricted, meaning the call was broadly open to any type of entity, subject to clarifications that may have been included in the full text of the announcement.
What types of organizations would "unrestricted eligibility" typically include?
Based on the unrestricted description, this typically encompasses universities, small and large businesses, nonprofit research institutes, and other qualified organizations, including teams and collaborations, as long as they can meet the technical, safety, compliance, and contracting requirements associated with chemical-agent-related research.
Were there expected safety and compliance considerations?
Because the technical topic involves chemical warfare agent destruction and neutralization, prospective performers would normally need to demonstrate credible plans for safe handling, containment, regulatory compliance, and appropriate facilities or partnerships. Additional specifics may have been detailed in the complete FedBizOpps posting.
What was the emphasis on system form factor or deployment context?
The thrust of the opportunity was to explore compact, potentially deployable, or otherwise transformative solutions that could rapidly render agents harmless across different agent types, consistent with the "agnostic" concept.
When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on December 10, 2014.
What was the closing date for submissions?
The original and final closing date was March 2, 2015.
When was the opportunity archived?
The archive date listed was April 1, 2015.
What does the "creation date" of February 3, 2015 mean?
The listing notes a creation date of February 3, 2015, which typically reflects when the record was entered or updated in a grants database rather than the first public release date of the broad agency announcement itself.
Where was the full announcement available?
The full announcement was referenced under "DARPA BAA 15-12" on FedBizOpps, the federal procurement posting site used at the time.
Was there a contact for help accessing the announcement?
For applicants who could not access the announcement electronically, DARPA provided a BAA Coordinator contact for assistance.
What is the funding opportunity number for ACDC?
The Funding Opportunity Number was DARPA BAA 15-12.
What part of DARPA sponsored this solicitation?
The solicitation was issued by DARPA's Defense Sciences Office.
What is the core neutralization outcome expected from proposed systems?
The core neutralization outcome was the conversion of chemical warfare agents into inert, non-hazardous material.
Was this designed as a traditional grant program or a DARPA-style R&D solicitation?
ACDC was a DARPA broad agency announcement-style solicitation with flexible award mechanisms (including cooperative agreements and contracting). It was framed as discretionary R&D focused on bold technical advances and prototype demonstrations.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development
Next opportunity: Building on High Impact Basic Neurobiology Through Assay Development Advancing Tools for Therapeutic Discovery (R01)
Previous opportunity: Use of 3 D Printers for the Production of Medical Devices (R41/R42)
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 15 12
[Watch] how do funding administrators access proposals?
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (DARPA BAA 15 12) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| International Technology Alliance Apply for W911NF 15 R 0003 Funding Number: W911NF 15 R 0003 Agency: Dept of the Army Materiel Command Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $100,000,000 |
| ROSES 2014 Small, Innovative Missions for Planetary Exploration Apply for NNH14ZDA001N SIMPLEX Funding Number: NNH14ZDA001N SIMPLEX Agency: NASA Headquarters Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| ROSES 2014 Terrestrial Ecology Apply for NNH14ZDA001N TE Funding Number: NNH14ZDA001N TE Agency: NASA Headquarters Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Program Apply for 2015 NIST SURF 01 Funding Number: 2015 NIST SURF 01 Agency: National Institute of Standards and Technology Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Electrical Prescriptions (ElectRx) Apply for DARPA BAA 15 06 Funding Number: DARPA BAA 15 06 Agency: DARPA Biological Technologies Office Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Cultivating Cultures for Ethical STEM Apply for 15 528 Funding Number: 15 528 Agency: National Science Foundation Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| ROSES 2014 Strategic Astrophysics Technology Apply for NNH14ZDA001N SAT Funding Number: NNH14ZDA001N SAT Agency: NASA Headquarters Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Californian CESU Apply for G15AS00023 Funding Number: G15AS00023 Agency: Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Gulf Coast CESU Apply for G15AS00020 Funding Number: G15AS00020 Agency: Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Great Rivers CESU Apply for G15AS00021 Funding Number: G15AS00021 Agency: Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| NIST Summer Institute for Middle School Science Teachers (NIST Summer Institute) Program Apply for 2015 NIST SUMMER INSTITUTE 01 Funding Number: 2015 NIST SUMMER INSTITUTE 01 Agency: National Institute of Standards and Technology Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Antarctic Research Apply for 15 529 Funding Number: 15 529 Agency: National Science Foundation Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program Apply for 15 530 Funding Number: 15 530 Agency: National Science Foundation Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $3,250,000 |
| Research Interests of the United States Air Force Academy Apply for USAFA BAA 2015 Funding Number: USAFA BAA 2015 Agency: Air Force Academy Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $99,000,000 |
| ROSES 2014 K2 Guest Observer Cycle 2 Apply for NNH14ZDA001N K2GO2 Funding Number: NNH14ZDA001N K2GO2 Agency: NASA Headquarters Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Enabling Quantification of Uncertainty in Physical Systems (EQUiPS) Apply for DARPA BAA 15 13 Funding Number: DARPA BAA 15 13 Agency: DARPA Defense Sciences Office Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| ROSES 2014 Astrophysics Research and Analysis Program Apply for NNH14ZDA001N APRA Funding Number: NNH14ZDA001N APRA Agency: NASA Headquarters Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| JFSP Wildland Fire Safety Summit and Human Dimensions Conference Apply for L15AS00008 Funding Number: L15AS00008 Agency: Bureau of Land Management Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $10,000 |
| Fast Lightweight Autonomy (FLA) Apply for DARPA BAA 15 16 Funding Number: DARPA BAA 15 16 Agency: DARPA Defense Sciences Office Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| NIST Research Experience for Teachers (NIST RET) Program Apply for 2015 NIST RET 01 Funding Number: 2015 NIST RET 01 Agency: National Institute of Standards and Technology Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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 15 12", 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.