Intense and Compact Neutron Sources (ICONS) | Apply Online

ICONS (Intense and Compact Neutron Sources) Grant Opportunity FAQs

What is the ICONS opportunity?

ICONS (Intense and Compact Neutron Sources) is a DARPA Defense Sciences Office (DSO) research and development program aimed at creating neutron sources that are dramatically more powerful while also being much smaller, lighter, and less power-hungry. The program is positioned as a breakthrough effort to move neutron radiography and related neutron-based analytical techniques from large, fixed facilities into fieldable or expeditionary packages.

Which agency is offering this opportunity?

The opportunity is offered by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), specifically through DARPA's Defense Sciences Office (DSO).

What is the main technical goal of ICONS?

The core technical goal is to achieve orders-of-magnitude improvements in portable neutron source intensity while simultaneously reducing system size, weight, and power (SWaP). DARPA is seeking approaches that can deliver neutron output typically associated with major infrastructure, but in a form factor that can realistically be deployed and operated in the field.

Why is DARPA focusing on neutron source intensity?

DARPA describes portable, high-output neutron generation as the bottleneck for broader field use of neutron radiography and neutron interrogation methods. While complete neutron analysis capabilities also depend on detectors, shielding, data processing, and integration, ICONS prioritizes the neutron source itself because it is critical to making deployable neutron imaging and sensing feasible outside specialized facilities.

What problem is ICONS trying to solve?

Existing neutron sources can produce intensities suitable for rapid, high-resolution neutron imaging, but they often require large installations and extensive support systems. This infrastructure burden limits neutron radiography and other neutron-based techniques to specialized facilities. ICONS is intended to break that dependency by enabling high-intensity neutron sources in compact, low-SWaP configurations suitable for field deployment.

What kinds of capabilities would ICONS enable?

By reducing SWaP constraints and increasing portable neutron intensity, ICONS aims to enable new concepts of operations (CONOPS) that are currently impractical. The stated vision is mobile neutron radiography and specialized neutron sensing missions that cannot be supported today due to the size, weight, and power requirements of current systems.

Is DARPA looking for incremental improvements or major breakthroughs?

The opportunity is framed as seeking a "revolutionary" improvement, which indicates interest in novel architectures and non-incremental approaches rather than small optimizations of existing neutron source systems.

What program type is ICONS administratively?

ICONS is described as a discretionary science and technology research and development funding opportunity under DARPA BAA 14-62, titled "Intense and Compact Neutron Sources (ICONS)."

What is the BAA number associated with ICONS?

The Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) number referenced is DARPA BAA 14-62.

What funding instrument types are mentioned for this opportunity?

The listed funding instrument types include cooperative agreements and "other." The announcement also references procurement contract mechanisms, which is common for DARPA BAAs that may support multiple award types depending on the nature and maturity of proposed work.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

No cost sharing or matching requirement is stated in the provided opportunity summary.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning it is broadly open to a wide range of applicant types. Any additional eligibility clarifications would be found in the full solicitation text.

What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?

The CFDA number associated with the opportunity is 12.910, Research and Technology Development.

What are the key dates for the ICONS posting?

The opportunity was posted on September 24, 2014. The original closing date and the current closing date are both listed as November 20, 2014. The archive date is January 20, 2015.

Where were applicants directed to find the full announcement?

Applicants were directed to the DARPA DSO solicitation website for the full announcement and detailed requirements.

Is there a contact for questions or access issues?

A BAA coordinator contact email was provided for access issues related to the solicitation materials.

Does ICONS cover complete neutron imaging systems or only neutron sources?

The summary emphasizes that neutron source intensity is only one part of a complete neutron analysis capability, which also depends on detectors, shielding, data processing, and system integration. However, ICONS makes clear that portable, high-output neutron generation is the primary focus because it is the critical bottleneck to fielding these capabilities.

What is meant by "fieldable" or "expeditionary" packages in this context?

In the ICONS context, "fieldable" or "expeditionary" refers to neutron source systems that can be realistically deployed and operated outside large fixed facilities, enabled by substantial reductions in size, weight, and power demands while maintaining very high neutron output.

What is the overarching outcome DARPA is trying to achieve with ICONS?

The overarching outcome is to make neutron radiography and related neutron-based sensing techniques practical in real-world, deployable scenarios by delivering breakthrough neutron-source approaches that combine high intensity with compact, low-SWaP system characteristics.