Defense Sciences Research and Technology | Apply Online

Opportunity Summary:

The Defense Sciences Research and Technology opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number: DARPA BAA 10-55) is a discretionary government funding announcement issued by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), specifically through its Defense Sciences Office (DSO). The core purpose of the program is to support advanced research and development that advances fundamental science and high-impact innovation in ways that can strengthen U.S. national defense. In practical terms, this means DARPA DSO is looking for forward-leaning ideas that could create new capabilities, open up entirely new technical directions, or significantly improve existing defense-relevant technologies, rather than incremental upgrades to established approaches.

This solicitation invites both proposal abstracts and full proposals across a broad set of enabling technical areas. While the brief summary does not list the specific topic areas in-line, it points applicants to the official Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) document titled DARPA BAA 10-55, which is where the detailed technical scope, focus areas, submission instructions, and evaluation criteria would be defined. The use of a BAA format generally signals interest in innovative R&D concepts and allows for a range of technical approaches, including exploratory research that might be high risk but potentially high payoff.

Multiple funding instruments are available under this opportunity, including cooperative agreements, grants, other procurement contracts, and other mechanisms. This mix indicates DARPA can structure awards differently depending on the nature of the work, the level of expected government involvement, and the type of organization proposing. For example, cooperative agreements are often used when the agency expects to have substantial involvement during performance (such as technical interchange meetings, iterative milestone refinement, or close collaboration), whereas contracts may be used for more defined deliverables and acquisition-driven requirements. The announcement also specifies there is no cost sharing or matching requirement, which lowers the barrier for applicants that may not have internal funds available to contribute.

Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning the opportunity is open to any type of entity, subject to any clarifications that may appear in the announcement’s eligibility section. In typical DARPA BAAs, this can include universities, nonprofit research institutions, small businesses, large businesses, and other organizations capable of performing advanced R&D, including teams or consortia. Applicants would still need to follow any constraints described in the full text, such as security considerations, export control compliance, or limitations tied to specific research areas.

From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity is categorized under Science and Technology and other Research and Development, and it is associated with CFDA number 12.910 (Research and Technology Development). The posting date is listed as May 7, 2010, with a creation date of May 11, 2011. The original closing date was May 5, 2011, and the current closing date is August 9, 2011, with an archive date of August 31, 2011. These dates indicate the solicitation was open for submissions through that 2011 deadline window (with the later close date reflecting an extension or update). Anyone seeking to apply would need to confirm the submission schedule and any rolling or phased deadlines stated in the BAA itself, since DARPA BAAs sometimes accept proposals over defined periods or in multiple rounds.

The sponsoring agency is DARPA’s Defense Sciences Office, and the opportunity description emphasizes DSO’s mission: pursuing and exploiting fundamental science and innovation for national defense. That framing is important because it implies proposals should clearly connect their technical ideas to defense-relevant impact, even if the work is basic or early-stage. Strong submissions would typically articulate the underlying scientific or technical novelty, explain why the approach could outperform the state of the art, identify key technical risks and how they will be addressed, and outline measurable milestones that demonstrate progress toward a transformative capability.

For applicants who cannot access the announcement electronically, the notice provides a practical next step: contact the BAA Coordinator for DARPA BAA 10-55 via the referenced email address. The Additional Information link also points to the full DARPA BAA 10-55 announcement, which would be the authoritative source for required proposal format, page limits, submission portals, compliance requirements, and the specific technical thrust areas DARPA is seeking to fund.

Browse more business programs for Technology Service Providers

Browse more opportunities from the same agency: DARPA Defense Sciences Office

Browse more opportunities from the same category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development

Next opportunity: Recovery Act FY 2010 SBIR/STTR Phase II Funding Opportunity Announcement

Previous opportunity: Turkish, Armenian and American Journalist Exchange Program New Media New Challenges Reporting Best Practices for a New Age

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 10 55

 

[Watch] how do funding administrators access proposals?

Applicants also applied for:

Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (DARPA BAA 10 55) also looked into and applied for these:

 

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 10 55", 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.