Opportunity Information: Apply for DARPA BAA 09 69
Apply for DARPA BAA 09 69
- The DARPA Defense Sciences Office in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Antibody Technology Program" 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 Oct 15, 2009 and posted on Aug 31, 2009.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 30, 2010. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 30 candidate(s).
- 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.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Antibody Technology Program (Funding Opportunity Number: DARPA BAA 09-69) is a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Defense Sciences Office research solicitation focused on advancing antibody engineering for demanding operational biosensing needs. The core technical interest is in proposals that can demonstrate new, innovative ways to do two things at the same time: (1) improve antibody stability and (2) precisely control antibody affinity. In practical terms, DARPA is looking for approaches that make antibodies last longer and remain functional under stressful conditions, while also tuning how strongly and selectively they bind to their targets. This combination is important because many existing antibody-based systems struggle with tradeoffs, where improving stability can reduce binding performance, or optimizing affinity can produce molecules that are less rugged outside controlled lab settings.
The program goal is strongly application-driven: to enable multiplexed, antibody-based biosensors that can detect multiple targets at once, have a long shelf life, and still operate in harsh environments relevant to Department of Defense missions. "Multiplexed" implies a strong preference for technologies that support panels of antibodies or multi-analyte detection rather than single-target demonstrations. The emphasis on long shelf life and harsh environments indicates that DARPA is concerned with real-world storage, transport, and field use conditions, where temperature swings, mechanical stress, variable humidity, contaminants, or other non-ideal factors can degrade typical biological reagents. Proposals are expected to move beyond incremental improvements and instead offer credible, research-backed pathways to robust antibody performance suitable for rugged biosensing platforms.
From an administrative standpoint, this opportunity was posted on August 31, 2009, with an original and current closing date of August 30, 2010, and an archive date of September 30, 2010. DARPA anticipated making around 30 awards. The opportunity falls under the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity category and is associated with CFDA 12.910 (Research and Technology Development). The solicitation allowed multiple possible funding instruments, including cooperative agreements, grants, other procurement contracts, and similar mechanisms, giving DARPA flexibility in how it structures awards and manages performer engagement depending on the nature and maturity of the proposed work.
Eligibility was listed as unrestricted, meaning it was open to a wide range of applicants (for example, universities, companies, nonprofits, federally funded research and development centers, or other qualified organizations), subject to any specific eligibility clarifications in the full announcement. There was no cost-sharing or matching requirement indicated. For applicants needing help accessing the full solicitation, the listed point of contact was Mildred Donlon, BAA Coordinator, and the announcement referenced an additional information link labeled "DARPA BAA 09-69" for complete details.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Antibody Technology Program (DARPA BAA 09-69)?
The Antibody Technology Program is a DARPA Defense Sciences Office research solicitation (Funding Opportunity Number: DARPA BAA 09-69) focused on advancing antibody engineering for demanding operational biosensing needs, especially where biosensors must work outside controlled laboratory conditions.
What is DARPA trying to achieve with this program?
The program is aimed at enabling multiplexed, antibody-based biosensors that can detect multiple targets at once, maintain a long shelf life, and still operate in harsh environments relevant to Department of Defense missions.
What are the two core technical objectives DARPA wants addressed at the same time?
DARPA is looking for innovative approaches that can simultaneously: (1) improve antibody stability and (2) precisely control antibody affinity. The intent is to avoid common tradeoffs where gains in stability can reduce binding performance, or affinity optimization can lead to less rugged molecules.
What does "improve antibody stability" mean in the context of this opportunity?
In this solicitation, stability refers to making antibodies last longer and remain functional under stressful conditions. The emphasis on long shelf life and harsh environments suggests DARPA is concerned with real-world storage, transport, and field-use conditions rather than ideal lab settings.
What does "precisely control antibody affinity" mean here?
Affinity control refers to tuning how strongly and selectively antibodies bind to their targets. DARPA is interested in approaches that can deliberately adjust binding behavior while still maintaining rugged performance for operational biosensing.
Why is DARPA emphasizing both stability and affinity together?
Many antibody-based systems face a tradeoff: improving stability can reduce binding performance, and optimizing affinity can produce antibodies that are less rugged outside controlled lab settings. DARPA is specifically interested in credible ways to overcome that tension rather than optimizing one at the expense of the other.
What does "multiplexed" mean for proposed biosensors?
"Multiplexed" implies a preference for biosensing technologies that support panels of antibodies or multi-analyte detection (detecting multiple targets at once), rather than demonstrations limited to a single target.
What kinds of environments or stressors are implied by "harsh environments"?
The description points to non-ideal operational conditions that can degrade biological reagents, including temperature swings, mechanical stress, variable humidity, contaminants, and other field-relevant factors tied to Department of Defense missions.
Is DARPA looking for incremental improvements or more disruptive advances?
The solicitation indicates proposals are expected to move beyond incremental improvements and instead present credible, research-backed pathways to robust antibody performance suitable for rugged biosensing platforms.
How many awards did DARPA anticipate making?
DARPA anticipated making around 30 awards under this opportunity.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is DARPA BAA 09-69.
When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on August 31, 2009.
What were the closing date and archive date?
The original and current closing date was August 30, 2010, and the archive date was September 30, 2010.
What is the activity category for this opportunity?
The opportunity falls under the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity category.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The solicitation is associated with CFDA 12.910 (Research and Technology Development).
What types of funding instruments could DARPA use?
The solicitation allowed multiple possible funding instruments, including cooperative agreements, grants, other procurement contracts, and similar mechanisms. This gives DARPA flexibility in structuring awards and managing performer engagement based on the proposed work.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was listed as unrestricted, meaning it was open to a wide range of applicants (for example, universities, companies, nonprofits, federally funded research and development centers, or other qualified organizations), subject to any specific eligibility clarifications in the full announcement.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
No cost-sharing or matching requirement was indicated in the provided opportunity information.
Where can applicants find the full solicitation details?
The announcement referenced an additional information link labeled "DARPA BAA 09-69" for complete details.
Who is the point of contact for questions about accessing the solicitation?
The listed point of contact was Mildred Donlon, BAA Coordinator.
What should proposals emphasize based on the stated program goals?
Based on the description provided, proposals should emphasize research-backed approaches that enable multiplexed antibody-based biosensing, extend shelf life, maintain function in harsh conditions, and simultaneously improve stability while precisely controlling affinity.
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