Autonomous Diagnostics to Enable Prevention and Therapeutics Diagnostics on Demand Point of Care (ADEPT DxOD PoC) | Apply Online

FAQs: DARPA BAA 11-38 (ADEPT DxOD - PoC)

What is the title of this DARPA opportunity?

The opportunity is DARPA Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) 11-38 titled "Autonomous Diagnostics to Enable Prevention and Therapeutics Diagnostics on Demand - Point of Care (ADEPT DxOD - PoC)."

Which DARPA office is sponsoring this BAA?

It is a Defense Sciences Office research opportunity.

What is the main goal of ADEPT DxOD - PoC?

The core aim is to develop next-generation diagnostic technologies that can operate close to the patient in clinical or near-clinical environments, pushing beyond conventional single-target tests toward advanced assays integrated into automated, highly multiplexed diagnostic platforms.

What does "point of care" mean in the context of this program?

Point of care means the diagnostic system is designed to function where care is delivered (clinical or near-clinical settings) rather than relying on centralized laboratory infrastructure, and to provide actionable results in that environment.

What kinds of assays does DARPA emphasize in this solicitation?

The solicitation emphasizes advanced nucleic acid and protein assays that can be integrated into an automated, highly multiplexed diagnostic platform.

Is the program focused on single-target tests or multiplexed testing?

The program explicitly aims to go beyond conventional single-target tests and instead develop highly multiplexed capabilities, meaning the system should be able to test for many biological targets at once.

What does "highly multiplexed" imply for proposed diagnostic platforms?

Highly multiplexed implies the platform should support many assays simultaneously, enabling broad surveillance, differential diagnosis, or comprehensive biomarker panels without requiring multiple separate instruments or sequential tests.

What level of automation is DARPA looking for?

A major emphasis is autonomy and automation, with proposers expected to address end-to-end diagnostic workflow, including sample processing and analysis with minimal human intervention.

What workflow scope is DARPA expecting proposals to cover?

The solicitation highlights the end-to-end workflow involved in diagnostic testing, including processing and analysis of fresh and/or stored biospecimens, and delivering sample-to-answer operations reliably and quickly.

Are fresh samples, stored samples, or both relevant to this opportunity?

Both are relevant. The summary indicates proposers are expected to address processing and analysis of fresh and/or stored samples.

What does "sample-to-answer" mean here?

In this context, it refers to an integrated system that can take a biospecimen through processing, analysis, and reporting of results within one platform, with minimal human intervention, reliably and quickly.

Why is rapid reconfigurability important in this program?

Rapid reconfigurability is highlighted as important for responding to outbreaks, novel biological threats, and newly recognized clinical biomarkers, where waiting months or years for a conventional diagnostic product is not acceptable.

What does DARPA mean by reconfigurable or reprogrammable diagnostics?

It means the diagnostic platform is not locked into a fixed set of assays and can be updated to detect new pathogens, biomarkers, or other targets as emerging needs appear.

What kinds of targets are mentioned as examples for detection?

The summary references pathogens, biomarkers, and other biological targets relevant to emerging threats or evolving medical needs.

Is the focus only on assay development, or also on platform engineering?

It is both. The opportunity calls for integrated diagnostic technologies combining advanced assay development (nucleic acid and protein detection), automated specimen processing and analysis, and platform-level engineering.

What type of funding opportunity is this categorized as?

The opportunity is categorized as discretionary.

What award instruments may DARPA use under this BAA?

The summary states DARPA may use multiple award instruments, including cooperative agreements, grants, other procurement contracts, and other mechanisms.

What does the availability of multiple award instruments suggest?

It suggests DARPA intended to maintain flexibility in structuring relationships with performers depending on the nature and maturity of the proposed work.

What is the activity category for this opportunity?

The activity category is science and technology and other research and development.

What is the CFDA number associated with this program?

The CFDA number is 12.910 (Research and Technology Development).

Is cost sharing or matching required?

No cost sharing or matching requirement is stated in the summary information provided.

Who is eligible to apply based on the information provided?

Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning proposals could be submitted by a wide range of entity types, subject to any additional details that may have been included in the full announcement.

When was the announcement posted and when did it close?

The announcement was posted March 14, 2011. The original and current closing date listed is May 17, 2011.

When was the record created and when was it archived?

The record was created May 11, 2011, and it was archived on July 18, 2011.

Is this opportunity still open?

Based on the provided dates, the closing date was May 17, 2011 and the listing was archived July 18, 2011.

Who is the point of contact for issues accessing the full announcement?

The point of contact listed is the BAA Coordinator for DARPA BAA 11-38.

What is DARPA ultimately trying to enable with ADEPT DxOD - PoC?

DARPA is essentially calling for integrated, automated, highly multiplexed point-of-care diagnostics that combine nucleic acid and protein detection with automated specimen processing and rapid adaptability to new clinical and biodefense challenges.