Opportunity Information: Apply for DARPA BAA 16 46
Apply for DARPA BAA 16 46
- The DOD-DARPA-DSO in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Defense Sciences Office Office-wide" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 12.910.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 03, 2016 and posted on Jun 03, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 22, 2017. (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.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Defense Sciences Office (DSO) Office-wide Broad Agency Announcement (BAA), DARPA BAA 16-46, is a discretionary Department of Defense research and development funding opportunity run by DARPA's Defense Sciences Office. It invites the submission of executive summaries, abstracts, and full proposals for scientific and technical work that aligns with DSO priorities. In practical terms, it functions as an open solicitation for innovative, high-risk/high-payoff R&D concepts rather than a single narrowly defined project. The announcement is tied to CFDA 12.910, which is commonly used for DARPA defense research programs.
The solicitation is organized around four broad technical areas: Mathematics; Modeling and Design; Physical Systems; and Human-Machine Systems and Social Systems. While the short description does not provide detailed subtopics, these headings generally signal that DARPA is seeking foundational advances (for example, new mathematical frameworks, algorithms, or analysis methods), improved modeling and design approaches (such as computational design tools, optimization, verification/validation methods, or novel engineering design paradigms), experimental and engineered physical systems (new materials, devices, platforms, sensing/actuation concepts, or other hardware-centric innovations), and research at the intersection of people and technology (human-machine teaming, interfaces, autonomy and control in human contexts, and social/system-level behavior relevant to defense needs). Because it is an office-wide BAA, it is intended to capture a wide range of ideas that could seed or align with multiple DSO programs.
DARPA indicates that it may support efforts through several different funding instruments, including cooperative agreements, grants, procurement contracts, or other mechanisms. This matters because the instrument selected can affect the relationship between the performer and the government (for instance, the degree of government involvement typical of cooperative agreements, or the acquisition-style structure of contracts). The opportunity category is listed as discretionary, and the activity category is science and technology and other research and development, reinforcing that the work is R&D-focused rather than service delivery or deployment.
Eligibility is described as "unrestricted," meaning the call is open to any type of entity, subject to any additional clarifications in the full announcement text. In similar DARPA BAAs, that typically includes universities, nonprofits, for-profit companies (including small businesses), federally funded research and development centers, and other qualified organizations, and often allows teaming arrangements or subcontracting when appropriate. Since the summary explicitly notes that eligibility may be further clarified in the attachment, applicants would need to rely on the full DARPA-BAA-16-46 document for any specific constraints.
The key timeline information provided is that the opportunity was posted on June 3, 2016, with a closing date of June 22, 2017 (no later updated deadline is shown, since the original and current closing dates match). No award ceiling, number of expected awards, or similar sizing information is specified in the excerpt, which is common for office-wide BAAs where DARPA may fund a variable number of efforts at different scales depending on the quality of submissions, available funding, and alignment with priorities.
Overall, this opportunity is best understood as a standing, office-wide DARPA DSO solicitation for novel R&D ideas spanning mathematical foundations, modeling and design methods, advanced physical system concepts, and human-machine/social system research. Interested applicants are expected to begin with an executive summary or abstract (as requested) and then develop a full proposal in accordance with the detailed requirements and evaluation criteria contained in the attached DARPA-BAA-16-46 document.
FAQs: DARPA Defense Sciences Office (DSO) Office-wide Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) - DARPA BAA 16-46 (CFDA 12.910)
What is this funding opportunity?
This is DARPA's Defense Sciences Office (DSO) Office-wide Broad Agency Announcement (BAA), identified as DARPA BAA 16-46. It is a discretionary Department of Defense research and development (R&D) funding opportunity intended to solicit novel scientific and technical ideas aligned with DSO priorities.
Is this BAA focused on a single project or topic?
No. As an office-wide BAA, it functions as an open solicitation for innovative, high-risk/high-payoff R&D concepts rather than a single narrowly defined project. It is designed to capture a wide range of ideas that could seed or align with multiple DSO programs.
What kinds of submissions does DARPA invite under this BAA?
The announcement invites the submission of executive summaries, abstracts, and full proposals for scientific and technical work that aligns with DSO priorities.
What are the main technical areas covered by the solicitation?
The solicitation is organized around four broad technical areas:
- Mathematics
- Modeling and Design
- Physical Systems
- Human-Machine Systems and Social Systems
What does the "Mathematics" area generally imply?
Based on the headings provided, this area generally signals interest in foundational advances such as new mathematical frameworks, algorithms, or analysis methods that could enable new defense-relevant capabilities.
What does the "Modeling and Design" area generally imply?
This area generally points to improved modeling and design approaches such as computational design tools, optimization methods, verification and validation techniques, or novel engineering design paradigms.
What does the "Physical Systems" area generally imply?
This area generally indicates hardware-centric innovations, including experimental and engineered physical systems such as new materials, devices, platforms, sensing or actuation concepts, and related physical technologies.
What does the "Human-Machine Systems and Social Systems" area generally imply?
This area generally covers research at the intersection of people and technology, such as human-machine teaming, interfaces, autonomy and control in human contexts, and defense-relevant social or system-level behavior.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The announcement is tied to CFDA 12.910, which is commonly used for DARPA defense research programs.
What types of funding instruments might DARPA use?
DARPA indicates it may support efforts using several different funding instruments, including cooperative agreements, grants, procurement contracts, or other mechanisms.
Why does the funding instrument matter?
The instrument selected can affect the relationship between the performer and the government, such as the degree of government involvement typical of cooperative agreements, or the acquisition-style structure of procurement contracts.
What is the opportunity category and activity category?
The opportunity category is listed as discretionary. The activity category is science and technology and other research and development, indicating an R&D-focused effort rather than service delivery or deployment.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is described as "unrestricted," meaning it is open to any type of entity, subject to any additional clarifications contained in the full announcement text (DARPA-BAA-16-46).
Does "unrestricted" eligibility mean any organization can apply?
It indicates the call is broadly open, but the summary notes eligibility may be further clarified in the attachment. Applicants should rely on the full DARPA-BAA-16-46 document for any specific constraints.
Are teaming arrangements or subcontracting allowed?
The excerpt notes unrestricted eligibility and references typical DARPA BAA patterns, which often allow teaming arrangements or subcontracting when appropriate. Any definitive requirements or limits would be in the full DARPA-BAA-16-46 document.
When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on June 3, 2016.
What is the closing date for submissions?
The closing date listed is June 22, 2017 (and the original and current closing dates are shown as the same in the excerpt).
Is there an updated deadline beyond the closing date shown?
No later updated deadline is shown in the provided information; the original and current closing dates match.
Does the excerpt specify award size, award ceiling, or number of expected awards?
No. The excerpt does not specify an award ceiling, number of expected awards, or similar sizing information. This is common for office-wide BAAs where funding levels and the number of awards can vary.
How does DARPA decide what to fund under an office-wide BAA?
Based on the excerpt, DARPA may fund a variable number of efforts at different scales depending on the quality of submissions, available funding, and alignment with DSO priorities.
What is the practical purpose of submitting an executive summary or abstract?
The opportunity description indicates applicants are expected to begin with an executive summary or abstract (as requested) and then develop a full proposal in accordance with the detailed requirements in the attached DARPA-BAA-16-46 document.
Where are the detailed requirements and evaluation criteria found?
The detailed requirements and evaluation criteria are contained in the attached DARPA-BAA-16-46 document referenced in the opportunity description.
What kind of research is this opportunity best suited for?
It is best understood as a standing, office-wide DARPA DSO solicitation for novel, high-risk/high-payoff R&D ideas spanning mathematical foundations, modeling and design methods, advanced physical system concepts, and human-machine/social system research.
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| Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Piedmont South Atlantic Coast CESU Apply for G16AS00086 Funding Number: G16AS00086 Agency: DOI-USGS1 Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $270,000 |
| Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Great Lakes Northern Forests CESU Apply for G16AS00084 Funding Number: G16AS00084 Agency: DOI-USGS1 Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $225,000 |
| Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Great Plains CESU Apply for G16AS00083 Funding Number: G16AS00083 Agency: DOI-USGS1 Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $68,250 |
| Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Rocky Mountain CESU Apply for G16AS00085 Funding Number: G16AS00085 Agency: DOI-USGS1 Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $130,000 |
| ENERGY-EFFICIENT LIGHT-WAVE INTEGRATED TECHNOLOGY ENABLING NETWORKS THAT ENHANCE DATACENTERS (ENLITENED) Apply for DE FOA 0001566 Funding Number: DE FOA 0001566 Agency: DOE-ARPAE Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $10,000,000 |
| Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Chesapeake Watershed CESU Apply for G16AS00087 Funding Number: G16AS00087 Agency: DOI-USGS1 Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $47,000 |
| Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Great Rivers CESU Apply for G16AS00091 Funding Number: G16AS00091 Agency: DOI-USGS1 Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $61,700 |
| Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Gulf Coast CESU Apply for G16AS00089 Funding Number: G16AS00089 Agency: DOI-USGS1 Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $45,000 |
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| Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Pacific Northwest CESU Apply for G16AS00092 Funding Number: G16AS00092 Agency: DOI-USGS1 Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $43,168 |
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