Opportunity Information: Apply for DARPA BAA 08 34 PDF
Apply for DARPA BAA 08 34 PDF
- The DARPA Information Processing Technology Office in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "IPTO 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 Oct 13, 2009 and posted on Jan 21, 2009.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 1, 2010. (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 IPTO Office opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number DARPA BAA 08-34) is a Broad Agency Announcement from DARPA's Information Processing Techniques Office (IPTO) meant to serve as an open, standing entry point for research ideas that fit IPTO's general technical interests but do not neatly match the requirements of any specific, separately posted DARPA/IPTO program solicitation. In practice, it functions as a continuously available channel for proposing new science and technology concepts in information processing and related R and D areas, giving researchers a way to submit innovative work even when there is not a targeted program call that exactly fits their idea.
The solicitation is categorized as discretionary funding and uses the grant instrument type, with the activity area listed as Science and Technology and other Research and Development (CFDA 12.910, Research and Technology Development). Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning the opportunity is broadly open to many kinds of organizations or entities, subject to any clarifications that may appear in the full announcement text. Cost sharing or matching is not required, which generally lowers the barrier to participation compared to opportunities that require the proposer to bring non-federal funds to the table.
DARPA emphasizes that selection decisions will be driven primarily by technical merit, relevance and importance to DARPA programs, and the availability of funds. That framing is important because it signals that even strong technical proposals may not be funded if they do not align with current agency priorities or if funding is constrained. The announcement also highlights that multiple awards are anticipated, but it explicitly warns that no funding has been specifically set aside for this BAA. In other words, it is a real pathway to awards, but it is not backed by a guaranteed pot of money dedicated solely to this solicitation, so funding is inherently competitive and dependent on broader DARPA budgeting and program needs.
A key process point is that DARPA strongly encourages potential offerors to submit an abstract before sending a full proposal. The practical value of the abstract step is that it can provide early feedback on whether the concept looks relevant and acceptable under the BAA, helping teams avoid spending significant effort on a full submission that is unlikely to fit IPTO's interests. Alongside that, offerors are encouraged to regularly monitor the IPTO solicitation web page because program-specific solicitations may appear that are a better fit for certain research topics, and DARPA may amend this BAA with special focus areas over time. This means the opportunity is not static; it can evolve as DARPA updates its emphasis areas.
Key dates in the posted record show a posted date of January 21, 2009, an original closing date of May 22, 2009, and a current closing date of March 1, 2010, with an archive date of March 31, 2010. Those dates indicate the period during which submissions were accepted under this specific posting, and they also reflect the BAA's intent to support ongoing submissions within the active window rather than a single, one-time deadline typical of many grant opportunities.
For additional access issues or coordination, the listing provides points of contact: Dr. Mark E. Davis and Dr. Charles J. Holland, identified as DARPA/IPTO BAA Coordinators, with the full announcement referenced via an external link (noted as an announcement on FedBizOpps).
FAQs: DARPA IPTO Office Broad Agency Announcement (Funding Opportunity Number DARPA BAA 08-34)
What is this funding opportunity?
This opportunity is a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) from DARPA's Information Processing Techniques Office (IPTO). It is designed as an open, standing entry point for research ideas that align with IPTO's general technical interests but do not fit the specific requirements of any separately posted DARPA/IPTO program solicitation.
What is the purpose of using a BAA for IPTO?
The BAA functions as a continuously available channel (within the active dates of the posting) for proposing new science and technology concepts in information processing and related research and development areas. It allows researchers to submit innovative concepts even when there is no targeted program call that precisely matches their idea.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this BAA?
The Funding Opportunity Number is DARPA BAA 08-34.
Which DARPA office is issuing the announcement?
The announcement is issued by DARPA's Information Processing Techniques Office (IPTO).
What type of funding is this categorized as?
The solicitation is categorized as discretionary funding.
What instrument type does this opportunity use?
The instrument type listed for this opportunity is a grant.
What is the activity area for this opportunity?
The activity area is listed as Science and Technology and other Research and Development.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA 12.910, Research and Technology Development.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning the opportunity is broadly open to many kinds of organizations or entities, subject to any clarifications that may appear in the full announcement text.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. Cost sharing or matching is not required for this opportunity.
How does DARPA decide which proposals to fund?
DARPA indicates that selection decisions are driven primarily by technical merit, relevance and importance to DARPA programs, and the availability of funds.
Does strong technical merit guarantee funding?
No. The announcement notes that even strong technical proposals may not be funded if they do not align with current agency priorities or if funding is constrained.
Are multiple awards expected?
Yes. The announcement states that multiple awards are anticipated.
Is there a guaranteed pool of money dedicated to this BAA?
No. The BAA explicitly warns that no funding has been specifically set aside for this solicitation. Funding is therefore competitive and dependent on broader DARPA budgeting and program needs.
Is submitting an abstract required before a full proposal?
The announcement strongly encourages potential offerors to submit an abstract before sending a full proposal.
Why does DARPA encourage submitting an abstract first?
The abstract step can provide early feedback on whether a concept appears relevant and acceptable under the BAA, helping teams avoid investing significant effort in a full submission that is unlikely to fit IPTO's interests.
Should applicants monitor any specific webpage during the open period?
Yes. Offerors are encouraged to regularly monitor the IPTO solicitation web page because program-specific solicitations may appear that are a better fit for certain research topics, and DARPA may amend this BAA with special focus areas over time.
Can the BAA change over time?
Yes. The opportunity is described as not static: DARPA may amend the BAA with special focus areas over time, and new program-specific solicitations may be posted that better match certain topics.
What are the key dates listed for this posting?
The posted date is January 21, 2009. The original closing date is May 22, 2009. The current closing date is March 1, 2010. The archive date is March 31, 2010.
What do the listed dates imply about submission timing?
The dates indicate a window during which submissions were accepted under this specific posting, reflecting the BAA's intent to support ongoing submissions within the active period rather than relying on a single one-time deadline typical of many grant opportunities.
Where is the full announcement referenced?
The full announcement is referenced via an external link noted as an announcement on FedBizOpps.
Who are the points of contact for this opportunity?
The listing provides two points of contact: Dr. Mark E. Davis and Dr. Charles J. Holland, identified as DARPA/IPTO BAA Coordinators.
What should an applicant do if they need help with access or coordination?
The listing notes that Dr. Mark E. Davis and Dr. Charles J. Holland are the points of contact for additional access issues or coordination.
When should someone use this BAA instead of a program-specific solicitation?
This BAA is intended for research ideas that fit IPTO's general technical interests but do not neatly match the requirements of any specific, separately posted DARPA/IPTO program solicitation. The announcement also encourages monitoring for program-specific solicitations that may be a better fit when available.
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