Integrated Photonic Delay (iPhoD) | Apply Online

Integrated Photonic Delay (iPhoD) (DARPA BAA 08-33) - FAQs

1. What is the Integrated Photonic Delay (iPhoD) opportunity?

The Integrated Photonic Delay (iPhoD) opportunity is a DARPA Microsystems Technology Office Broad Agency Announcement (BAA 08-33) solicitation for research and development in integrated photonics. It focuses on creating a chip-scale optical delay technology that behaves more like optical fiber than typical on-chip photonic structures.

2. What is DARPA trying to achieve through iPhoD?

The stated program goal is to develop an integrated, chip-scale photonic delay platform with "fiber-like losses" for optical delay applications. The intent is not just to demonstrate a delay element on a chip, but to achieve losses low enough that the delay is practically usable at the system level.

3. What does "fiber-like losses" mean in the context of this program?

In this opportunity, "fiber-like losses" points to extremely low optical propagation loss comparable to the very low losses commonly associated with optical fiber. The emphasis suggests DARPA is looking for approaches where long or useful delays can be achieved without severe signal degradation or reliance on excessive amplification and complex compensation.

4. Why is optical delay important for DARPA and defense-related systems?

The opportunity describes optical delay as a foundational capability for systems that benefit from delaying light without converting it to electronics. Examples mentioned at a high level include timing, buffering, synchronization, signal processing, and phased-array style functions.

5. What makes chip-scale optical delay challenging?

The synopsis highlights historical limitations of on-chip delay approaches, including propagation loss, device size, and integration constraints. The core challenge is achieving useful delay on a compact integrated platform while keeping optical loss exceptionally low.

6. Is DARPA looking for a single device demonstration or something broader?

The language emphasizes a "platform," which signals interest in scalable and integrable approaches rather than one-off laboratory demonstrations. The goal framing suggests DARPA values solutions that can serve as a basis for broader optical delay applications.

7. What technical approaches might be relevant to iPhoD?

While the provided synopsis does not list required architectures or specific metrics, the wording suggests DARPA may be interested in innovative integrated photonics methods such as new materials, waveguide designs, resonator-based delays, photonic crystal approaches, or other methods that can produce long effective delay (or equivalent group delay) in a compact footprint with very low loss.

8. Who is running and managing this opportunity within DARPA?

The awarding office is DARPA, specifically the Microsystems Technology Office (MTO). The technical theme aligns with MTO's micro- and nano-technology and integrated photonics portfolio.

9. What kind of funding instruments could be used for awards?

DARPA indicates multiple possible instruments under this BAA, including cooperative agreements, grants, other procurement contracts, and potentially other instruments. The instrument type may vary depending on the work scope and the level of government involvement anticipated.

10. What is the activity category for this solicitation?

The opportunity is categorized under science and technology / research and development and is listed as discretionary.

11. What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?

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

12. Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The listing specifies there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.

13. Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning it is open to any type of entity, subject to any additional eligibility details that may be stated in the full BAA document.

14. Does "unrestricted eligibility" mean any organization can apply?

Based on the posting, eligibility is unrestricted, but the synopsis also notes that additional clarifications may exist in the full BAA text. Applicants generally need to rely on the attached conforming BAA document for any constraints, teaming rules, or other conditions not captured in the brief synopsis.

15. What are the key deadlines mentioned for this opportunity?

The notice mentions an earlier proposal abstract deadline of 20 May 2008 by 4:00 pm Eastern Time. It also states (via Amendment 5) that the full proposal due date was revised to 8 January 2009.

16. What changed in Amendment 5?

Amendment 5 primarily changes the proposal due date. It revises the full proposal due date to 8 January 2009 and instructs proposers to consult the revised conforming BAA document attached to the original posting.

17. Why are there multiple closing dates shown in the listing history?

The source data shows the opportunity was originally posted on April 21, 2008, with earlier closing information indicating a proposal closing date of July 15, 2008, and later updates moving the final proposal deadline to January 8, 2009. The listing also shows a "CurrentClosingDate" of July 15, 2009 and an archive date of July 31, 2009, which the synopsis describes as reflecting the grants system posting lifecycle rather than the actual submission deadline stated in the amendment.

18. Which deadline should applicants rely on for proposal submission?

Based on the amendment text described, the revised full proposal due date is 8 January 2009. The synopsis also instructs proposers to consult the revised conforming BAA document attached to the original posting for authoritative submission requirements.

19. Where are the detailed submission requirements and evaluation details?

This is a BAA, so the detailed requirements (technical areas of interest, deliverables, evaluation criteria, formatting, and any other submission rules) are expected to be contained in the attached conforming BAA document referenced in the amendment.

20. What should applicants do if they cannot access the full announcement electronically?

The posting provides a point of contact identified as the DARPA BAA 08-33 Coordinator and notes that applicants having difficulty accessing the full announcement electronically should contact that coordinator.

21. Does the synopsis mention specific performance metrics or required architectures?

No. The synopsis explicitly notes that it does not list specific technical metrics or architectures. It instead frames the goal in performance terms (a chip-scale delay platform with fiber-like losses).

22. What is the main technical emphasis in the way DARPA describes the goal?

The emphasis is on achieving system-useful optical delay on a chip with very low loss. The wording suggests DARPA is prioritizing loss performance and practical usability, not just compactness or proof-of-concept demonstrations.