Opportunity Information: Apply for BAA08 31
Apply for BAA08 31
- 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" 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 Apr 11, 2008 and posted on Apr 11, 2008.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 13, 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:
DARPA's Tactical Technology Office (TTO) issued the "Innovative Systems for Military Missions" Broad Agency Announcement (BAA08-31) to fund advanced research and development aimed at major, system-level leaps in U.S. military capability. The core focus is on new system and subsystem technologies that could dramatically improve both efficiency (doing more with less time, cost, logistics burden, or manpower) and effectiveness (better performance, survivability, precision, reach, or operational flexibility). Rather than incremental upgrades, the solicitation is looking for genuinely novel concepts that can change how missions are executed.
The opportunity is organized around five broad mission "thrust areas" where proposers can target their ideas: Space Operations; Land, Air, Sea, and Space Platforms; Unmanned Systems; Directed Energy; and Precision Strike. In practical terms, this means DARPA is open to proposals spanning everything from new ways to operate in or through space, to next-generation platform technologies across domains, to autonomy and robotics, to advanced energy-based effects, and to improvements that enable more accurate, timely, and reliable strike capabilities. The solicitation emphasizes system and subsystem innovations, so proposals can be about complete integrated systems or enabling components that unlock new system performance when integrated.
A key feature of this BAA is its rolling nature while open: abstracts (white papers) and full proposals for any of the thrust areas may be submitted at any time during the open period. DARPA also notes that it may release "Special Topics" as modifications to the BAA throughout the year, which is a way of steering attention toward particular problem sets or capability gaps as priorities evolve. In effect, applicants are expected to track updates and be prepared to tailor submissions to newly published topic groupings.
From an award and administration standpoint, the announcement lists multiple possible funding instruments, including cooperative agreements, grants, procurement contracts, and other transaction-type arrangements typical of DARPA R&D efforts (the listing includes cooperative agreement, grant, and procurement contract). The activity category is science and technology and other research and development, and the associated CFDA number is 12.910 (Research and Technology Development). There is no stated cost-sharing or matching requirement, which generally means proposers are not required to provide non-federal funds as a condition of eligibility, though program-specific negotiations can still shape final terms.
Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning the opportunity is broadly open to qualified applicants of many types (such as companies, universities, nonprofits, research institutions, and potentially individuals), subject to any additional eligibility language contained in the full announcement. The public synopsis does not specify an award floor or ceiling (both are listed as 0), which usually indicates that award size will depend on the scope, maturity, and ambition of the proposed work and on DARPA's assessment of programmatic fit and available funding.
Administrative details in the listing show the opportunity was posted April 11, 2008, with an original and current closing date of April 13, 2009, and an archive date of April 14, 2009. The full announcement was available via FedBizOpps under BAA08-31, and the provided contact for access issues is BAA08-31@darpa.mil.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is the name of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is DARPA Tactical Technology Office (TTO) Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) "Innovative Systems for Military Missions," BAA08-31.
2) What is DARPA trying to fund through BAA08-31?
DARPA is seeking advanced research and development intended to produce major, system-level leaps in U.S. military capability. The emphasis is on new system and subsystem technologies that can significantly improve efficiency (for example, doing more with less time, cost, logistics burden, or manpower) and effectiveness (for example, improved performance, survivability, precision, reach, or operational flexibility).
3) Is DARPA looking for incremental improvements or novel concepts?
The solicitation emphasizes genuinely novel concepts rather than incremental upgrades. The goal is to support ideas that can change how missions are executed.
4) What kinds of technologies or deliverables are in scope?
The BAA focuses on system and subsystem innovations. Proposals may cover complete integrated systems or enabling components (subsystems) that unlock new system performance when integrated.
5) What are the thrust areas under this BAA?
The opportunity is organized around five broad mission thrust areas: Space Operations; Land, Air, Sea, and Space Platforms; Unmanned Systems; Directed Energy; and Precision Strike.
6) Does the BAA allow proposals related to space?
Yes. One of the five thrust areas is Space Operations, and the BAA also includes space within the "Land, Air, Sea, and Space Platforms" thrust area.
7) Are unmanned systems and autonomy within scope?
Yes. Unmanned Systems is explicitly listed as one of the thrust areas, which includes concepts related to autonomy and robotics as described in the synopsis.
8) Are directed energy concepts eligible?
Yes. Directed Energy is one of the five thrust areas.
9) What does DARPA mean by improving "efficiency" and "effectiveness"?
In this BAA, "efficiency" refers to doing more with less time, cost, logistics burden, or manpower. "Effectiveness" refers to improvements such as better performance, survivability, precision, reach, or operational flexibility.
10) Can I submit an abstract/white paper?
Yes. The synopsis states that abstracts (white papers) may be submitted at any time during the open period of the BAA.
11) Can I submit a full proposal?
Yes. Full proposals for any thrust area may be submitted at any time during the open period, according to the synopsis.
12) Is this a rolling submission opportunity?
Yes. A key feature described in the synopsis is rolling submission while the BAA is open: abstracts (white papers) and full proposals may be submitted at any time during the open period.
13) What are "Special Topics" and should applicants watch for them?
DARPA indicates it may release "Special Topics" as modifications to the BAA throughout the year. These updates can steer attention toward particular problem sets or capability gaps, so applicants are expected to track updates and be prepared to tailor submissions to newly published topic groupings.
14) What types of funding instruments might DARPA use?
The announcement lists multiple possible award instruments, including cooperative agreements, grants, procurement contracts, and other transaction-type arrangements typical of DARPA R&D efforts (the listing includes cooperative agreement, grant, and procurement contract).
15) What is the activity category for this opportunity?
The activity category is listed as science and technology and other research and development.
16) What is the CFDA number associated with this program?
The associated CFDA number is 12.910 (Research and Technology Development).
17) Is cost sharing or matching required?
The synopsis states there is no stated cost-sharing or matching requirement. This generally means proposers are not required to provide non-federal funds as a condition of eligibility, though final terms can still be shaped through program-specific negotiations.
18) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning it is broadly open to qualified applicants of many types (such as companies, universities, nonprofits, research institutions, and potentially individuals), subject to any additional eligibility language contained in the full announcement.
19) Is there a minimum or maximum award size?
The public listing does not specify an award floor or ceiling (both are listed as 0). This typically indicates award size may depend on the scope, maturity, ambition, DARPA programmatic fit, and available funding.
20) When was this opportunity posted?
The listing shows it was posted on April 11, 2008.
21) What is the closing date for submissions?
The listing shows an original and current closing date of April 13, 2009.
22) When was the opportunity archived?
The listing shows an archive date of April 14, 2009.
23) Where was the full announcement available?
The synopsis states the full announcement was available via FedBizOpps under BAA08-31.
24) Who should be contacted if there are access issues with the announcement?
The provided contact for access issues is BAA08-31@darpa.mil.
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