Bioinspired Photonics | Apply Online

Opportunity Summary:

The DARPA Defense Sciences Office (DSO) funding opportunity titled "Bioinspired Photonics" (Funding Opportunity Number: DARPA BAA 09 71) is a research and development program focused on creating advanced optical materials inspired by biological photonic structures. The central aim is to design and fabricate structured materials that can operate in the visible and near-infrared (NIR) spectral ranges while demonstrating one of two key capabilities: either dynamically tunable optical response (materials whose color, reflectance, transmission, or other optical properties can be actively changed) or the ability to sense organic volatile compounds (detecting airborne chemicals through measurable changes in optical behavior). In practical terms, DARPA is looking for proposals that translate mechanisms found in nature (for example, structurally colored surfaces, multilayer reflectors, photonic crystals, or other micro- and nanoscale architectures observed in insects, plants, and marine organisms) into engineered materials and devices with measurable, demonstrable performance.

This opportunity falls under the broad category of Science and Technology and other Research and Development and is listed under CFDA 12.910 (Research and Technology Development). The government indicates multiple potential award instruments, including cooperative agreements, grants, other procurement contracts, and "other" mechanisms, meaning DARPA may choose the contracting approach that best matches the type of work proposed and the level of technical interaction anticipated. A cooperative agreement, in particular, typically implies substantial government involvement during execution (such as iterative technical exchange, milestone review, and coordination), which is common for DARPA programs pursuing high-impact, milestone-driven R&D.

Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning the competition is open to any type of applicant entity, subject to any clarifications that may appear in the full Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) text under the "Additional Information on Eligibility" section. This generally suggests that traditional defense contractors, universities, nonprofit research organizations, small businesses, and other capable entities could potentially apply, provided they meet any stated requirements in the full announcement. The opportunity explicitly states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement, so applicants are not required to contribute non-federal funds as a condition of award, although proposers sometimes voluntarily contribute resources or demonstrate leverage in support of program goals.

The timeline included in the listing shows the opportunity was posted on August 17, 2009, with a creation date of August 20, 2009. The original and current closing dates are both listed as August 16, 2010, with an archive date of September 17, 2010, indicating this was an open solicitation for roughly one year and is now archived. The full technical requirements, proposal instructions, and evaluation criteria are referenced as being contained in the attached DARPA BAA 09 71 document, which is also provided via the additional information link.

From a technical perspective, the program emphasizes engineered "structured materials" rather than purely chemical dyes or conventional optical coatings. The phrase "bioinspired photonic structures" points to architectures where optical function is created by geometry and refractive index contrast at micro- and nanoscale dimensions, the same underlying principle behind structural coloration in nature. For the dynamic tunability track, proposals would typically need to show a pathway to actively control optical response, which could involve stimuli such as electrical fields, mechanical strain, humidity, temperature, light, or chemical environment, depending on the concept. For the sensing track, the target is organic volatiles, implying interest in detecting compounds that evaporate readily and are present in air, with the detection mechanism tied to an optical signature change in the photonic structure. In either case, DARPA is signaling interest in demonstrable, fabricated materials that can function in the visible and/or NIR, rather than purely theoretical models.

Administrative and contact details are minimal in the summary listing, but it notes that anyone who has difficulty accessing the full announcement electronically should contact the BAA Coordinator at the Defense Sciences Office. In practice, the full BAA would be expected to define the specific technical objectives, deliverables, phases or milestones, submission format, and how DARPA will evaluate proposals (for example, the relative importance of technical merit, feasibility, potential impact, and proposer capability).

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