Opportunity Information: Apply for DARPA BAA 09 36
Apply for DARPA BAA 09 36
- The DARPA Microsystems Technology Office in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Efficient Linearized All Silicon Transmitters ICs (ELASTx)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 12.910 Research and Technology Development.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 12, 2010 and posted on Apr 20, 2009.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 12, 2010 Dates Posting Date April 20, 2009 Proposal Abstract Due Date 4 PM EST, June 9, 2009 First Round Proposal Due Date 4 PM EST, September 24, 2009 Close Date 12 March 2010. (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:
Efficient Linearized All Silicon Transmitters ICs (ELASTx) was a DARPA Microsystems Technology Office Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) seeking research and development proposals to push silicon-based transmitter integrated circuits into performance territory typically associated with more specialized compound semiconductors. The central technical aim was to enable monolithic (single-chip), millimeter-wave transmitter ICs that deliver both ultra-high power efficiency and ultra-high linearity, specifically to support next-generation military microsystems. The opportunity framed these advances as directly relevant to demanding defense applications such as radar and advanced communications, where transmitters must generate high-frequency signals cleanly (low distortion, high fidelity) while wasting as little power as possible.
The program emphasis was not simply on incremental RF circuit improvements, but on developing and validating complex, silicon-enabled RF, analog, and mixed-signal circuit design techniques that could make highly efficient and highly linear transmitters practical in standard silicon technologies. In other words, the solicitation signaled interest in creative architectures and design methodologies that tackle the core tradeoffs that usually limit silicon at mm-wave: achieving strong output performance and linear behavior without sacrificing efficiency, and doing so in a fully integrated form suitable for compact microsystems. While the public synopsis does not list specific technical metrics, it clearly points to transmitter IC concepts that combine linearization strategies and high-efficiency power amplification approaches in silicon, integrated tightly with supporting analog/mixed-signal functions.
From an administrative standpoint, this was posted under Funding Opportunity Number DARPA BAA 09 36, with eligible applicants listed as unrestricted (open to any entity type, subject to any clarifications in the full BAA). The funding instruments identified include cooperative agreements, grants, other transactions, and procurement contracts, reflecting DARPA's flexibility in structuring awards based on the nature of proposed work and the performer relationship. No cost sharing or matching was required. The activity category was science and technology / research and development, and the CFDA number provided was 12.910 (Research and Technology Development). The notice lists award ceiling and floor as 0, which typically indicates that specific award sizes were not encoded in the synopsis and would instead be governed by the full BAA, proposal content, and DARPA negotiations.
Key dates captured in the listing show an initial posting date of April 20, 2009, with a proposal abstract due at 4 PM Eastern on June 9, 2009. A first-round proposal deadline was originally indicated as September 15, 2009, and later reflected as September 24, 2009 in the current closing-date section, suggesting the schedule was adjusted during the open period. The BAA ultimately closed on March 12, 2010, with an archive date of March 14, 2010.
The specific update in the text, labeled Amendment 02, states that the purpose of the modification was to close the BAA. That means the opportunity is no longer accepting abstracts or proposals, and the amendment served as an official administrative action to end the solicitation period rather than introduce new technical content. For questions and administrative correspondence during the open period, the synopsis directs inquiries to the email address DARPA_BAA_09_36@darpa.mil. The contact information also notes that if there were issues accessing the full announcement electronically, potential offerors could contact Dr. Sanjay Raman at DARPA/MTO at the Arlington, Virginia address provided, with a BAA coordinator email referenced in the listing.
In practical terms, ELASTx was a DARPA call aimed at performers capable of advanced silicon mm-wave transmitter IC innovation, especially work that blends RF power amplifier efficiency techniques with linearization and mixed-signal control or compensation methods, resulting in compact, monolithic transmitter solutions suitable for radar and communications microsystems. The final status, per Amendment 02, is closed.
ELASTx (DARPA BAA 09-36) FAQ
What is ELASTx?
Efficient Linearized All Silicon Transmitters ICs (ELASTx) was a DARPA Microsystems Technology Office Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) that sought research and development proposals to advance silicon-based transmitter integrated circuits (ICs), especially at millimeter-wave frequencies.
Who sponsored and managed this opportunity?
The opportunity was sponsored by DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) and managed through DARPA's Microsystems Technology Office (MTO).
What was the main technical goal of the program?
The central technical aim was to enable monolithic (single-chip), millimeter-wave transmitter ICs in silicon that achieve both ultra-high power efficiency and ultra-high linearity, targeting performance levels often associated with compound semiconductor technologies.
Why was DARPA interested in silicon-based millimeter-wave transmitters?
The BAA framed these advances as important for next-generation military microsystems, where compact, fully integrated transmitters can support demanding defense needs while minimizing power waste and signal distortion.
What defense applications were highlighted as relevant?
The synopsis specifically referenced radar and advanced communications as examples of defense applications where transmitters must generate high-frequency signals cleanly (low distortion, high fidelity) while maintaining high efficiency.
What does "monolithic (single-chip)" mean in this context?
In this context, "monolithic" refers to transmitter capabilities being integrated on a single silicon chip, rather than relying on multiple chips or separate technologies for key transmitter functions.
What does "ultra-high linearity" mean for transmitters?
Linearity refers to how faithfully a transmitter produces the intended signal without distortion. The ELASTx synopsis emphasized achieving very clean, low-distortion transmission suitable for high-fidelity radar and communications.
What does "ultra-high power efficiency" mean for transmitters?
Power efficiency refers to converting DC power into RF output power with minimal waste. The ELASTx synopsis emphasized reducing wasted power while still meeting demanding millimeter-wave transmitter performance needs.
Was DARPA looking for incremental RF circuit improvements?
No. The synopsis explicitly emphasized interest beyond incremental RF improvements, focusing instead on developing and validating complex silicon-enabled RF, analog, and mixed-signal circuit techniques that address core tradeoffs limiting silicon at millimeter-wave frequencies.
What kinds of technical approaches did the opportunity signal interest in?
Based on the synopsis, the opportunity signaled interest in creative transmitter architectures and design methodologies, including concepts that combine linearization strategies and high-efficiency power amplification approaches in silicon, tightly integrated with supporting analog/mixed-signal functions.
Did the public synopsis list specific technical performance metrics?
No. The synopsis states the technical direction clearly, but it does not provide specific quantitative metrics in the public summary.
What type of work or activity category did this program fall under?
The activity category was Science and Technology / Research and Development.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this BAA?
The Funding Opportunity Number listed was DARPA BAA 09-36.
What CFDA number was associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number provided in the listing was 12.910 (Research and Technology Development).
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants were listed as unrestricted, meaning the listing presented it as open to any entity type, subject to any clarifications contained in the full BAA.
What award instruments could DARPA use for ELASTx?
The listing identified multiple possible funding instruments: cooperative agreements, grants, other transactions, and procurement contracts. This reflects DARPA's flexibility to structure awards based on the proposed work and performer relationship.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
No. The synopsis states that no cost sharing or matching was required.
What were the award ceiling and award floor amounts?
The notice listed an award ceiling of 0 and an award floor of 0, which typically indicates that specific award sizes were not encoded in the synopsis and would instead depend on the full BAA, proposal content, and negotiations.
When was the opportunity posted?
The initial posting date in the listing was April 20, 2009.
Was an abstract required, and when was it due?
Yes. The proposal abstract due date was listed as 4:00 PM Eastern on June 9, 2009.
What were the proposal due dates mentioned in the listing?
The listing showed an initial first-round proposal deadline of September 15, 2009, and later reflected September 24, 2009 in the closing-date section, indicating the schedule was adjusted during the open period.
When did the BAA close?
The BAA ultimately closed on March 12, 2010.
When was the opportunity archived?
The archive date listed was March 14, 2010.
What did Amendment 02 do?
Amendment 02 stated that the purpose of the modification was to close the BAA. It served as an administrative action to end the solicitation period rather than introduce new technical content.
Is ELASTx currently accepting abstracts or proposals?
No. The opportunity is closed, and Amendment 02 was issued specifically to close the BAA.
What email address was provided for questions during the open period?
The synopsis directed inquiries to DARPA_BAA_09_36@darpa.mil.
What contact was provided for issues accessing the full announcement electronically?
The listing noted that potential offerors with issues accessing the full announcement electronically could contact Dr. Sanjay Raman at DARPA/MTO at the Arlington, Virginia address provided in the synopsis, with a BAA coordinator email also referenced in the listing.
What is the practical takeaway of the ELASTx focus area?
In practical terms, the ELASTx call targeted performers capable of advanced silicon millimeter-wave transmitter IC innovation, particularly approaches that blend high-efficiency power amplification with linearization and mixed-signal control or compensation methods to produce compact, monolithic transmitter solutions for radar and communications microsystems.
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