In Vivo Nanosensors for Therapeutics (IVNTx) | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): In Vivo Nanosensors for Therapeutics (IVNTx) - DARPA BAA 12-34

What is the In Vivo Nanosensors for Therapeutics (IVNTx) opportunity?

IVNTx was a DARPA Microsystems Technology Office (MTO) research solicitation focused on advancing next-generation in-body sensing capabilities with clear relevance to therapeutic use. The program title reflects the central aim: developing nanoscale or micro/nano-enabled sensors that can operate inside living systems and produce information that can guide, enable, or improve medical treatment.

Which agency and office issued this solicitation?

The solicitation was issued by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), specifically through its Microsystems Technology Office (MTO).

What is the Funding Opportunity Number for IVNTx?

The Funding Opportunity Number listed for this opportunity is DARPA BAA 12-34.

When was the IVNTx opportunity posted?

The opportunity was posted on June 8, 2012.

What were the closing and archive dates?

The closing date was September 18, 2012. The archive date was October 18, 2012.

How much time was available to prepare and submit a proposal?

Based on the posted date (June 8, 2012) and closing date (September 18, 2012), proposers had a little over three months to form teams, review the detailed requirements in the attachments, develop a research plan, and submit by the deadline.

What type of funding opportunity was this?

IVNTx was described as a discretionary funding opportunity in the “Science and Technology and other Research and Development” category.

What CFDA number was associated with this program?

The CFDA number listed was 12.910 (Research and Technology Development).

What technical theme or problem area did IVNTx focus on?

The opportunity focused on in vivo sensing technologies, especially nanoscale or micro/nano-enabled sensors that function inside living systems and provide information relevant to therapeutic use. The framing emphasized pushing beyond conventional diagnostics toward continuous, real-time sensing in vivo, with potential integration into therapeutic decision-making or intervention.

Was IVNTx positioned as high-risk, high-reward research?

Yes. The synopsis aligns with DARPA’s typical focus on high-risk, high-reward approaches intended to advance science and technology beyond conventional state of the art.

Where were the full technical scope and proposal instructions provided?

The public synopsis indicated that the full technical scope and details were provided in attached documents. Additionally, an “additional information” link pointed to a FedBizOpps posting, which is where the full BAA package, instructions, and amendments would typically have been hosted at the time.

What kinds of award instruments could DARPA use for IVNTx?

DARPA indicated it could make awards using multiple instrument types, including cooperative agreements, grants, “other” transactions/arrangements, and procurement contracts. This provided DARPA flexibility to support different performers and technical risk profiles.

Was cost sharing or matching required?

No. The opportunity stated there was no cost-sharing or matching requirement, meaning proposers were not required to commit non-federal cost share as a condition of award.

Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility was listed as unrestricted, meaning essentially any type of entity could apply (for example, universities, nonprofits, small and large businesses, and other research organizations), subject to any clarifications that would have been included in the full announcement text.

Why does the solicitation say eligibility is “unrestricted”?

Unrestricted eligibility reflects DARPA’s practice of seeking the strongest technical ideas regardless of performer type, while still applying standard federal requirements and any program-specific constraints that would have been described in the detailed BAA materials.

What is a BAA in this context?

IVNTx was issued as a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA), which is a common DARPA mechanism for soliciting research ideas in specific technical areas. The opportunity was described as time-bounded, with key dates for posting, closing, and archiving.

Who was the point of contact for the IVNTx opportunity?

The point of contact listed was Dr. Timothy Broderick, Program Manager at DARPA/MTO.

How were applicants instructed to seek help if they could not access the full announcement electronically?

DARPA instructed applicants to reach out via the BAA email if there were difficulties obtaining the complete announcement electronically, referencing Dr. Timothy Broderick as the contact.

What distribution channel was referenced for accessing the solicitation materials?

The synopsis referenced FedBizOpps as the channel where the posting and associated documents/instructions would have been hosted (reflecting the standard federal distribution approach used during that period).

Does the synopsis include all technical requirements for IVNTx?

No. The synopsis notes that the full technical scope was provided in attached documents, indicating the synopsis itself was a high-level summary rather than a complete set of technical and administrative requirements.

What is the main takeaway about IVNTx based on the public synopsis?

IVNTx was a 2012 DARPA MTO funding call aimed at accelerating R&D on implantable or in-body nanosensing technologies tied to therapeutic needs. It was open to a broad range of applicants, allowed flexible award mechanisms, did not require cost share, and relied on attached documents (hosted via FedBizOpps) for the full program scope and instructions.