Opportunity Information: Apply for DARPA BAA08 70
Apply for DARPA BAA08 70
- The DARPA Defense Sciences Office in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Heterostructural Uncooled Magnetic Sensors (HUMS)" 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 Nov 24, 2008 and posted on Sep 26, 2008.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 25, 2009. (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 DARPA Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) titled Heterostructural Uncooled Magnetic Sensors (HUMS), Funding Opportunity Number DARPA BAA08-70, is a Defense Sciences Office research solicitation focused on pushing magnetic sensing well beyond what typical room-temperature technologies can do today. The core technical aim is to develop multiferroic magnetic sensors, meaning devices that exploit coupled ferroic properties (most commonly magnetoelectric coupling between magnetic and electric/piezoelectric materials) so they can detect very weak magnetic fields without needing cryogenic cooling. DARPA is specifically targeting low-frequency magnetic sensing at room temperature with performance approaching that of SQUIDs (Superconducting Quantum Interference Devices), which are among the most sensitive magnetometers but usually require superconducting temperatures. In practical terms, the program is looking for breakthroughs that deliver SQUID-like sensitivity and usefulness in environments where cryogenic systems are too large, power-hungry, or operationally inconvenient.
From an application standpoint, HUMS is framed around defense-relevant capabilities that become possible when you can deploy sensitive magnetometers in small, rugged, fieldable packages. Examples called out include through-wall imaging (using magnetic signatures to detect or characterize objects and activity behind barriers), security fence and perimeter monitoring (persistent sensing of disturbances or objects with magnetic signatures), tagging and reading (detecting magnetic tags or signatures for identification and tracking), and generally small, deployable sensors that could be distributed in the field. The emphasis on low-frequency operation matters because many real-world magnetic signatures of interest and many challenging noise sources occur in the low-frequency regime, and achieving high sensitivity there at room temperature is technically difficult. DARPA is signaling that they want proposals that directly tackle those limitations, not incremental improvements to existing room-temperature magnetometers.
Administratively, this opportunity is listed as a discretionary funding opportunity under CFDA 12.910 (Research and Technology Development) and falls under the broad category of science and technology and other research and development. The solicitation is open to an unrestricted pool of applicants, meaning it is generally available to any type of entity (for example, companies, universities, nonprofits, and other organizations), subject to any specific eligibility clarifications that may appear in the full announcement. The listed funding instruments include cooperative agreements, grants, other procurement contracts, indicating DARPA may choose different award mechanisms depending on the nature of the proposed work and the level of anticipated government involvement during execution. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement stated in the listing.
Key dates in the public notice show that the opportunity was posted on September 26, 2008, with a creation date of November 24, 2008. The original and current closing date are both shown as September 25, 2009, with an archive date of October 25, 2009, which suggests the solicitation remained open for submissions or related administrative actions during that window. The notice also includes a specific update labeled MODIFICATION 1, which changes the initial full proposal due date from December 18, 2008 to January 8, 2009. That modification is important for prospective applicants because it affects the first major submission deadline without changing the overall program intent. For access issues with the full announcement, the point of contact is the BAA Coordinator listed in the notice.
Overall, HUMS is a DARPA research call aimed at enabling a new class of uncooled, room-temperature magnetic sensors that can operate at low frequencies with extremely high sensitivity. The program is positioned as a materials and device-physics-driven effort (centered on multiferroic/heterostructural approaches) with a clear pull toward compact, deployable defense systems that can sense magnetic signatures in ways that previously required bulky, cryogenic SQUID setups.
FAQs: DARPA BAA08-70 Heterostructural Uncooled Magnetic Sensors (HUMS)
What is the HUMS opportunity?
HUMS is a DARPA Defense Sciences Office Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) titled "Heterostructural Uncooled Magnetic Sensors (HUMS)," Funding Opportunity Number DARPA BAA08-70. It is a research solicitation focused on advancing magnetic sensing far beyond typical room-temperature technologies.
What is DARPA trying to achieve technically?
The core technical goal is to develop multiferroic magnetic sensors that can detect very weak magnetic fields at room temperature without cryogenic cooling. The program specifically targets low-frequency magnetic sensing performance approaching that of SQUIDs (Superconducting Quantum Interference Devices), which are extremely sensitive but usually require superconducting (cryogenic) temperatures.
What does "multiferroic magnetic sensors" mean in this context?
In this solicitation, multiferroic sensors refer to devices that exploit coupled ferroic properties, most commonly magnetoelectric coupling between magnetic materials and electric/piezoelectric materials. The intent is to convert magnetic signals into electrical signals with very high sensitivity, while remaining uncooled and room-temperature operable.
Why is DARPA emphasizing "uncooled" and "room temperature" operation?
DARPA is aiming for magnetometer performance that can be deployed in environments where cryogenic systems are too large, power-hungry, or operationally inconvenient. Uncooled, room-temperature sensors are positioned as enabling smaller, rugged, fieldable packages compared to cryogenic SQUID setups.
How sensitive does DARPA want these sensors to be?
DARPA is explicitly targeting sensitivity approaching that of SQUIDs. The solicitation frames this as achieving SQUID-like sensitivity and practical utility at room temperature, especially in the challenging low-frequency regime.
What frequency range is a priority for HUMS?
The BAA highlights low-frequency magnetic sensing at room temperature. It also notes that achieving high sensitivity at low frequencies is technically difficult, and that many real-world magnetic signatures of interest and challenging noise sources occur in this regime.
What kinds of solutions is DARPA looking for?
The program is positioned as a materials- and device-physics-driven effort centered on multiferroic/heterostructural approaches. DARPA is signaling interest in proposals that directly tackle key limitations in low-frequency, room-temperature magnetic sensing rather than incremental improvements to existing room-temperature magnetometers.
What are example applications mentioned for HUMS?
The notice describes several defense-relevant capabilities enabled by compact, deployable high-sensitivity magnetometers, including:
- Through-wall imaging (using magnetic signatures to detect or characterize objects and activity behind barriers)
- Security fence and perimeter monitoring (persistent sensing of disturbances or objects with magnetic signatures)
- Tagging and reading (detecting magnetic tags or signatures for identification and tracking)
- Small, rugged, distributed sensors deployable in the field
Is HUMS focused more on basic science or fieldable systems?
Based on the description provided, HUMS is framed as a research call with strong materials/device physics emphasis (multiferroic and heterostructural concepts) and a clear pull toward compact, deployable defense systems. The applications listed point toward fieldable utility, but the technical thrust is centered on enabling breakthroughs in sensor physics and materials integration.
What office at DARPA is running this solicitation?
The opportunity is described as a Defense Sciences Office research solicitation.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is DARPA BAA08-70.
What is the CFDA number and program area listed?
The listing identifies CFDA 12.910 (Research and Technology Development). The broad category is science and technology and other research and development.
Who is eligible to apply?
The notice states the solicitation is open to an unrestricted pool of applicants, meaning it is generally available to any type of entity (for example, companies, universities, nonprofits, and other organizations), subject to any specific eligibility clarifications that may appear in the full announcement.
What types of funding instruments might DARPA use?
The listing indicates DARPA may use cooperative agreements, grants, and other procurement contracts. This suggests DARPA may select different award mechanisms depending on the nature of the proposed work and the level of anticipated government involvement during execution.
Is there a cost-sharing or matching requirement?
No cost sharing or matching requirement is stated in the listing.
When was the opportunity posted?
The public notice shows a posted date of September 26, 2008.
What does the "creation date" mean here, and what is it for this opportunity?
The notice lists a creation date of November 24, 2008. The description does not define what "creation date" means administratively, but it is provided as part of the opportunity metadata.
What is the closing date?
The original and current closing date are both shown as September 25, 2009.
When was the opportunity archived?
The archive date is listed as October 25, 2009.
Was there a modification to the proposal due date?
Yes. The notice includes an update labeled MODIFICATION 1 that changes the initial full proposal due date from December 18, 2008 to January 8, 2009. The modification is described as affecting the first major submission deadline without changing overall program intent.
Does MODIFICATION 1 change the technical scope of HUMS?
Based on the information provided, MODIFICATION 1 changes the initial full proposal due date but does not change the overall program intent.
Where do applicants go if they cannot access the full announcement?
The notice states that for access issues with the full announcement, applicants should contact the BAA Coordinator listed in the notice.
Why is low-frequency performance specifically called out as challenging?
The description notes that many magnetic signatures of interest and many challenging noise sources occur at low frequencies, and achieving high sensitivity in that regime at room temperature is technically difficult. HUMS seeks proposals that directly address those limitations.
What distinguishes HUMS from typical room-temperature magnetometer development?
HUMS is presented as aiming well beyond typical room-temperature technologies by pursuing multiferroic/heterostructural sensors with SQUID-like sensitivity at room temperature, especially at low frequencies. The solicitation emphasizes breakthroughs rather than incremental improvements.
What is the overall intent of HUMS in practical deployment terms?
In practical terms, the program is looking to enable SQUID-like sensitivity and usefulness in compact, rugged, fieldable packages that avoid the size, power, and operational burdens of cryogenic systems.
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