Direct Digital to High Power Analog Conversion Technology (PowerDAC) | Apply Online

PowerDAC (Direct Digital to High Power Analog Conversion Technology) - FAQs

What is the PowerDAC opportunity?

PowerDAC is a DARPA Microsystems Technology Office (MTO) Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) that seeks research proposals for a new kind of RF/microwave transmitter technology. The focus is on approaches that could fundamentally change how transmitters are built, rather than incremental upgrades to existing designs.

What problem is DARPA trying to solve with PowerDAC?

Most RF systems use two separate stages: a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) that generates a low-power analog waveform, followed by a power amplifier (PA) that boosts it to high output power. PowerDAC is aimed at collapsing those two functions into a single component technology that converts digital signals directly into a high-power analog RF/microwave output.

What is DARPA looking for technically?

The program aims to advance the state of the art by achieving four challenging attributes at RF and microwave frequencies at the same time: high output power, large bandwidth, high efficiency, and high linearity. PowerDAC is positioned as an attempt to overcome the common tradeoffs where improving one of these attributes typically degrades another.

How is PowerDAC different from a conventional transmitter architecture?

Conventional transmitters generally generate a low-power analog signal with a DAC and then amplify it with a PA. PowerDAC seeks a digitally driven device or component technology that produces high-power analog RF/microwave output directly from digital inputs, merging conversion and amplification into one integrated function.

Does DARPA want incremental improvements to existing DACs, power amplifiers, or transmitter blocks?

No. The solicitation explicitly emphasizes interest in innovative, non-traditional solutions and specifically excludes approaches that mainly provide evolutionary improvements. Proposals focused on minor optimizations of existing DACs, PAs, or standard transmitter blocks are not aligned unless the result is genuinely disruptive.

What type of solicitation is this?

This opportunity is a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) issued by DARPA MTO. The listing describes it as discretionary and intended for research proposals.

What award instruments may be used?

The listing indicates DARPA may use multiple award instruments, including cooperative agreements, grants, other transactions, and procurement contracts. This gives DARPA flexibility to choose the most appropriate instrument based on the proposed work and the performer.

Is cost-sharing or matching required?

No cost-sharing or matching requirement is stated in the listing.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning it is open to any entity type (for example, small businesses, large businesses, universities, nonprofits, and research institutions), subject to any clarifications or conditions in the full BAA text.

Which CFDA program is associated with this opportunity?

The catalog listing references CFDA 12.910 (Research and Technology Development), which aligns with defense research and development funding.

When was the opportunity posted and what were the due dates?

The listing indicates it was posted on January 13, 2011. The original closing date was February 28, 2011, and it was later revised to a current closing date of March 8, 2011.

Is this opportunity still open?

No. The archive date is September 12, 2011, which indicates the solicitation is no longer active.

Why are there multiple amendments and which version controls?

The posting reflects several amendments: Amendment 01 added administrative updates and clarified teaming information; Amendment 02 changed the full proposal due date; Amendment 03 made additional changes in response to questions raised through the FAQ process, with edits highlighted in a revised attachment (DARPA BAA 11 12). The final requirements and instructions are those in the updated BAA document, not just the original synopsis text.

Where should applicants look for the authoritative requirements and instructions?

Applicants should treat the revised DARPA BAA 11 12 attachment as the authoritative source for technical focus areas, proposal structure, evaluation criteria, teaming rules, and submission instructions, especially since multiple amendments were issued and changes were highlighted in the revised document.

What did Amendment 01 change?

Amendment 01 added administrative updates and clarified teaming information, which is relevant for groups forming collaborations between universities, companies, and laboratories.

What did Amendment 02 change?

Amendment 02 changed the full proposal due date.

What did Amendment 03 change?

Amendment 03 made additional changes in response to questions raised through the FAQ process, with all edits highlighted in the revised attachment (DARPA BAA 11 12).

Are standard award minimums or maximums listed?

The award floor and ceiling are shown as 0. This typically indicates the posting did not specify standard minimum or maximum award sizes in the synopsis, and that funding details would be addressed in the full BAA or negotiated based on proposals.

Who is the point of contact for this opportunity?

The listed point of contact is Dr. Daniel Purdy (Program Manager, MTO). The listing indicates contact via the BAA coordinator channel for access issues and solicitation questions.

What should teams know if they are forming a collaboration?

Teaming information was clarified in Amendment 01. For collaboration and teaming rules, the revised BAA document (DARPA BAA 11 12) is the controlling reference because it incorporates amendments and highlights changes.