Intense and Compact Neutron Sources Phase Two (ICONS2) | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - Intense and Compact Neutron Sources Phase Two (ICONS2)

What is the ICONS2 opportunity?

Intense and Compact Neutron Sources Phase Two (ICONS2) is a DARPA Defense Sciences Office (DSO) research and development solicitation focused on dramatically improving neutron source technology for field use.

Who is sponsoring and issuing this solicitation?

The opportunity was issued by the U.S. Department of Defense, specifically the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Defense Sciences Office (DSO).

What is the main goal of ICONS2?

The core goal is to achieve "revolutionary" gains in neutron output (intensity) while simultaneously reducing system size, weight, and power requirements (SWaP), so neutron-based imaging and analysis can be deployed outside laboratory settings.

What problem is ICONS2 trying to solve?

Existing neutron sources can be too large, power-hungry, or insufficiently intense to support real operational needs in the field. ICONS2 targets improvements that reduce logistical burdens and enable practical, deployable systems.

What kinds of capabilities does ICONS2 aim to enable in the field?

The intended payoff is enabling practical, deployable neutron radiography and neutron-based analytical methods outside controlled laboratory environments.

What is neutron radiography, and why is it useful?

Neutron radiography is an imaging method that uses neutrons instead of X-rays. It is valuable because neutrons interact with matter differently than X-rays, which can make neutrons better suited for seeing through certain dense materials, distinguishing specific light elements, or revealing features that may be hard to detect with other imaging modalities.

What are neutron-based analytical methods in the context of this program?

Neutron analytical techniques rely on neutron interactions with materials to infer composition or structure. ICONS2 is interested in hardware advances that make these techniques workable in field conditions.

What technical improvements is DARPA seeking?

DARPA is seeking approaches that increase neutron flux or brightness while reducing overall SWaP and associated operational burdens.

What does SWaP mean, and why is it important here?

SWaP refers to size, weight, and power. It matters because fieldable neutron sources must be small and light enough to deploy and must operate with realistic power and thermal constraints.

Beyond SWaP, what practical burdens does ICONS2 aim to reduce?

The solicitation highlights reducing burdens such as generator footprint, shielding complexity, thermal management requirements, and electrical power draw.

Is ICONS2 looking for incremental improvements to existing neutron generators?

No. The program emphasizes novel approaches intended to break current tradeoffs between neutron intensity and SWaP, rather than simply optimizing existing neutron generator designs.

What types of approaches might be relevant to ICONS2?

The program indicates interest in nontraditional architectures, new enabling components, or unconventional physical methods that can achieve step-change improvements in intensity while shrinking SWaP. (The public listing does not provide additional technical constraints beyond this high-level direction.)

What is the Funding Opportunity Number for ICONS2?

The Funding Opportunity Number is DARPA BAA 16-37.

What is the CFDA number listed for this opportunity?

The CFDA number is 12.910.

What activity category does this opportunity fall under?

It is listed under Science and Technology / Research and Development.

What type of funding is this?

The solicitation is categorized as discretionary funding.

What award instruments are possible under this solicitation?

The listing indicates multiple possible award instruments, including cooperative agreements, procurement contracts, and other mechanisms.

Why does the solicitation allow multiple award instrument types?

This flexibility usually indicates DARPA may structure awards differently depending on the maturity of the proposed concept, the nature of performer involvement, and how closely DARPA plans to collaborate during execution.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning it is broadly open to a wide range of applicants such as companies (including non-traditional defense contractors), universities, nonprofits, federally funded research and development centers (FFRDCs), and other organizations, subject to any additional constraints that may be included in the full solicitation.

Are there any stated restrictions on eligibility in the public listing?

The public listing states eligibility is unrestricted. It also notes that additional constraints could exist in the full solicitation text, but those constraints are not specified in the information provided here.

When was ICONS2 posted?

The posting date (and creation date) is April 28, 2016.

What was the submission deadline?

The closing date for submissions was June 23, 2016.

Does the public listing state the award ceiling or expected number of awards?

No. The public listing does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards.

Why might award amounts or the number of awards be omitted?

According to the description, this can happen when an agency wants to preserve flexibility on portfolio size, funding distribution, or the number of selected performers based on proposal quality and technical fit.

What is the overall theme or takeaway of ICONS2?

ICONS2 is a DARPA effort to expand the practical envelope of neutron source performance by delivering more intense neutron generation in smaller, lighter, lower-power systems that can realistically be deployed for on-site imaging and analysis.