Opportunity Information: Apply for DARPA BAA 11 13
Apply for DARPA BAA 11 13
- The DARPA Tactical Technology Office in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Innovative Systems for Military Missions Tactical Technology Office" 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 2, 2011 and posted on Mar 1, 2011.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 17, 2012. (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 Innovative Systems for Military Missions opportunity is a DARPA Tactical Technology Office (TTO) Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) aimed at funding advanced research and development that can produce major, step-change improvements in US military capability. Rather than focusing on incremental upgrades, the solicitation is built around high risk, high payoff ideas that integrate emerging technologies into new system concepts or critical components, with a clear emphasis on demonstrating and evaluating those innovations in ways that plausibly translate into real operational advantage. In practical terms, DARPA is looking for work that goes beyond laboratory novelty and makes a credible case for revolutionary mission impact, improved efficiency, or substantially higher effectiveness in military operations.
The BAA invites submissions in multiple stages and formats, including executive summaries, white papers, and full proposals. It is structured to allow responses at any time during the open period, which is typical of DARPA BAAs that remain open for a set window and accept rolling submissions. The solicitation was posted in early March 2011, with an open period running through February 17, 2012, and it was later archived in March 2012. The announcement notes that the BAA first appears on FedBizOpps (now beta.SAM.gov in modern federal procurement practice, though the notice itself references the older site) and is also available through Grants.gov, reflecting the dual nature of DARPA funding mechanisms and posting requirements.
Technically, TTO is asking for concepts aligned to three mission thrust areas: Advanced Weapons Systems, Advanced Platforms, and Advanced Space Systems. These thrusts frame the kinds of military systems DARPA wants to push forward, spanning next-generation weapons concepts, novel air/ground/sea platforms or enabling subsystems, and space-related systems that can transform how the military senses, communicates, navigates, or operates in contested environments. While the text does not list specific subtopics, it strongly signals that proposals should connect to emerging technical opportunities, new system-level architectures, evolving threats, or technology-enabled concepts of operation, meaning the office expects proposers to articulate not only the technology but also how it would be used and why it matters in realistic mission scenarios.
A recurring theme in the announcement is integration and systems thinking. DARPA is not just funding isolated components; it is explicitly interested in integrated systems or critical components that fit within a broader capability, and it encourages a complete systems engineering approach. That implies attention to interfaces, performance budgets, test and evaluation plans, risk reduction strategy, and a credible path from prototype to demonstration. The focus on demonstration and evaluation also suggests that deliverables and milestones should be framed around measurable capability gains, not only research outputs such as papers or models.
From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity is categorized as discretionary and falls under the science and technology and other research and development activity category, with CFDA number 12.910 (Research and Technology Development). The listed funding instrument types include cooperative agreements, grants, other procurement contracts, indicating DARPA may choose the most appropriate instrument depending on the effort, the level of government involvement anticipated, and acquisition strategy. The notice states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement. The award ceiling and floor are listed as 0, which typically means amounts are not specified in the synopsis and are instead determined by the technical scope, negotiated budgets, and DARPA priorities for particular selections.
Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning the solicitation is open to a wide range of entity types (for example, companies, universities, nonprofits, federally funded research and development centers, or other organizations), subject to any clarifications in the full text. For applicants, the key takeaway is that DARPA is looking for ambitious, defensible system concepts that can plausibly deliver revolutionary military utility, are grounded in emerging technology, and are presented with rigorous systems engineering and a credible plan to integrate, demonstrate, and evaluate results. For full details, including submission instructions and any topic-specific requirements or evaluation criteria, the announcement directs readers to the full BAA posted on FedBizOpps/FBO and provides an email contact (DARPA BAA 11 13@darpa.mil) for access issues.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Innovative Systems for Military Missions (DARPA TTO BAA)
1) What is the Innovative Systems for Military Missions opportunity?
This opportunity is a DARPA Tactical Technology Office (TTO) Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) focused on funding advanced research and development intended to produce major, step-change improvements in U.S. military capability. It emphasizes high-risk, high-payoff efforts that move beyond incremental upgrades and credibly point toward revolutionary mission impact.
2) What is DARPA primarily looking for in proposed work?
DARPA is looking for ambitious, defensible ideas that integrate emerging technologies into new system concepts or critical components, with a strong emphasis on demonstrating and evaluating the innovation in ways that plausibly translate into real operational advantage. The solicitation highlights mission impact, improved efficiency, or substantially higher effectiveness in military operations.
3) Is this solicitation aimed at incremental technology improvements?
No. The solicitation is explicitly oriented toward step-change capability improvements rather than incremental upgrades. The framing centers on high-risk, high-payoff concepts and credible paths to operationally meaningful demonstrations.
4) What mission thrust areas does the BAA cover?
The BAA describes three mission thrust areas:
- Advanced Weapons Systems
- Advanced Platforms
- Advanced Space Systems
These thrusts broadly span next-generation weapons concepts, novel air/ground/sea platforms or enabling subsystems, and space-related systems that can transform sensing, communications, navigation, or operations in contested environments.
5) Does the announcement list specific technical subtopics?
No specific subtopics are listed in the provided synopsis. Instead, it signals that proposals should connect to emerging technical opportunities, new system-level architectures, evolving threats, and technology-enabled concepts of operation. In practice, that means proposers should explain not only the technology, but how it would be used and why it matters in realistic mission scenarios.
6) What does DARPA mean by “systems thinking” and “integration” in this BAA?
The announcement repeatedly emphasizes integration and systems engineering. DARPA is not only funding isolated components; it is interested in integrated systems or critical components that fit into a broader operational capability. That implies attention to interfaces, performance budgets, test and evaluation plans, risk reduction strategy, and a credible path from prototype to demonstration.
7) Are demonstrations and evaluations expected, or is basic research enough?
The emphasis is on demonstrating and evaluating innovations in ways that plausibly translate into operational advantage. The synopsis suggests that deliverables and milestones should be framed around measurable capability gains, not only research outputs like papers or models.
8) What submission formats are accepted?
The BAA invites multiple stages and formats of submission, including:
- Executive summaries
- White papers
- Full proposals
9) Are submissions accepted on a rolling basis?
Yes. The BAA is structured to allow responses at any time during the open period, which is typical for DARPA BAAs that remain open for a defined window and accept rolling submissions.
10) When was the BAA posted and what was the open period?
The solicitation was posted in early March 2011. The open period ran through February 17, 2012. The opportunity was later archived in March 2012.
11) Where was the BAA posted?
The announcement indicates the BAA first appears on FedBizOpps (FBO). It is also available through Grants.gov. (The synopsis notes that modern federal practice has transitioned from FBO to beta.SAM.gov, though the notice references the older site.)
12) What types of funding instruments may DARPA use for awards under this BAA?
The synopsis lists multiple possible instrument types, including:
- Cooperative agreements
- Grants
- Other procurement contracts
This suggests DARPA may choose the instrument that best fits the effort, anticipated level of government involvement, and acquisition strategy.
13) Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The notice states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
14) Are the award amounts defined in the synopsis?
No. The award ceiling and floor are listed as 0, which typically indicates that the synopsis does not specify award sizes. Amounts are generally determined by the technical scope, negotiated budgets, and DARPA priorities for selections.
15) What is the CFDA number and category for this opportunity?
The opportunity is categorized as discretionary and falls under the science and technology and other research and development activity category. The CFDA number is 12.910 (Research and Technology Development).
16) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning it is open to a wide range of entity types (for example, companies, universities, nonprofits, federally funded research and development centers, or other organizations), subject to any clarifications in the full BAA text.
17) What is the key message to applicants based on the synopsis?
The key takeaway is that DARPA is seeking ambitious, defensible system concepts grounded in emerging technology, with rigorous systems engineering and a credible plan to integrate, demonstrate, and evaluate results in ways that plausibly deliver revolutionary military utility.
18) Where should applicants look for full details, instructions, and any evaluation criteria?
The announcement directs readers to the full BAA posted on FedBizOpps/FBO and indicates it is also available through Grants.gov. Full details (including submission instructions, any topic-specific requirements, and evaluation criteria) are expected to be in the complete BAA document.
19) Who should be contacted for access issues related to the full BAA?
For access issues, the synopsis provides the email contact: DARPA BAA 11 13@darpa.mil.
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