Opportunity Information: Apply for DARPA BAA 14 42
Apply for DARPA BAA 14 42
- The DARPA Microsystems Technology Office in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Microsystems Technology Office (MTO) Office Wide BAA" 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 Jun 29, 2015 and posted on Sep 10, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 9, 2016. (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 Microsystems Technology Office (MTO) Office Wide BAA (DARPA BAA 14-42) is a broad agency announcement from DARPA intended to capture high-risk, high-payoff research ideas in microsystems and related technologies that are not already being pursued under existing MTO programs or other active DARPA solicitations. In other words, it functions as an open door for novel concepts and disruptive approaches that fall within MTOs mission space but do not neatly fit into a currently advertised program topic. The funding activity is categorized under science and technology and other research and development, with CFDA 12.910 (Research and Technology Development). The opportunity was originally posted on September 10, 2014, and remained open through a closing date of September 9, 2016, with an archive date of February 28, 2017. It is listed as open to unrestricted eligible applicants (meaning any organization type may apply), subject to any additional eligibility clarifications contained in the full BAA text.
A key feature of this announcement is that it can result in multiple types of award instruments depending on the nature of the work and the governments intent, including grants, cooperative agreements, other transaction style arrangements where applicable, and procurement contracts. The listing also indicates there is no cost sharing or matching requirement. Notably, the published award floor and ceiling are shown as zero, which typically signals that the government is not pre-committing to a specific funding range in the synopsis and that actual award sizes can vary widely based on the proposed effort, technical scope, and availability of funds.
Two amendments are highlighted in the synopsis, and they are central to understanding what changed over time. Amendment 02 adds a specific research study opportunity under the office-wide umbrella titled "Common Heterogeneous Integration and IP reuse Strategies (CHIPS) for RF Electronics Research Study." This is essentially a focused call within the broader BAA, pointing proposers toward a defined study area involving RF electronics, heterogeneous integration, and strategies for reusing intellectual property (IP). While the synopsis does not provide the technical details of CHIPS, it clearly signals that DARPA wanted to encourage targeted submissions aligned to that study topic, and it directs applicants to the attached Amendment 2 document for the full scope, objectives, and submission expectations.
Amendment 01 is more administrative and process-oriented, aimed at making it easier to submit smaller, shorter-duration study proposals and clarifying compliance requirements across different award instruments. First, it introduces streamlined proposal preparation instructions for studies that are 12 months or less, cost $500,000 or less, and seek an assistance instrument (specifically a grant or cooperative agreement). This is important because it lowers the paperwork burden and speeds up the pathway for concise, exploratory efforts, which are common in early-stage DARPA-style investigations. Second, the amendment adds an award instrument type applicability matrix so proposers can quickly determine which administrative rules and national policy requirements apply to their proposal and any eventual award, depending on whether the mechanism is a grant, cooperative agreement, contract, or other type. Third, it removes the prior Appendix A Proposal Summary Charts and replaces them with a single Proposal Summary Chart, simplifying formatting and standardizing the summary information DARPA expects. Fourth, it updates export control language in Section VI(B)(4), which matters for proposers handling controlled technical data, foreign national participation, international collaborations, or any work that could implicate ITAR or EAR restrictions. The synopsis notes that changes were highlighted in yellow in the conformed DARPA BAA 14-42 document, making it easier for applicants to locate what was modified.
Overall, this opportunity is best understood as an always-on DARPA MTO intake mechanism for revolutionary microsystems research, periodically updated to (1) incorporate new targeted study topics such as the CHIPS for RF Electronics research study and (2) improve submission clarity and compliance navigation, especially for smaller study proposals. Applicants were directed to the MTO solicitations page for the full announcement materials, and the listed point of contact for access issues or coordination was Dr. William Chappell, Director and DARPA/MTO BAA Coordinator.
FAQs: DARPA Microsystems Technology Office (MTO) Office Wide BAA (DARPA BAA 14-42)
1) What is DARPA BAA 14-42 (MTO Office Wide BAA)?
DARPA BAA 14-42 is an office-wide Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) from DARPA's Microsystems Technology Office (MTO). It is intended to capture high-risk, high-payoff research ideas in microsystems and related technologies that are not already being pursued under existing MTO programs or other active DARPA solicitations.
2) What is the main purpose of an "office-wide" BAA like this?
This BAA functions as an open door for novel concepts and disruptive approaches that fall within MTO's mission space but do not neatly fit into a currently advertised program topic. It provides a way to propose new ideas even when there is not a specific, active topic call that matches the concept.
3) What research area does this opportunity fall under?
The funding activity is categorized under science and technology and other research and development. The opportunity is associated with CFDA 12.910 (Research and Technology Development).
4) Who is eligible to apply?
The synopsis lists the opportunity as open to unrestricted eligible applicants, meaning any organization type may apply, subject to any additional eligibility clarifications contained in the full BAA text.
5) What types of award instruments can result from this BAA?
This announcement can result in multiple types of award instruments depending on the nature of the work and the government's intent. The synopsis indicates possible mechanisms include grants, cooperative agreements, other transaction style arrangements where applicable, and procurement contracts.
6) Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The listing indicates there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
7) What are the minimum and maximum award amounts?
The published award floor and ceiling are shown as zero. This typically indicates the government is not pre-committing to a specific funding range in the synopsis, and actual award sizes can vary widely depending on the proposed effort, technical scope, and availability of funds.
8) When was the opportunity posted, and what were the open and archive dates?
The opportunity was originally posted on September 10, 2014. It remained open through a closing date of September 9, 2016, and has an archive date of February 28, 2017.
9) What is Amendment 01 and what did it change?
Amendment 01 is primarily administrative and process-oriented. It was aimed at making it easier to submit smaller, shorter-duration study proposals and clarifying compliance requirements across different award instruments. It also simplified summary chart requirements and updated export control language.
10) What streamlined proposal instructions were introduced by Amendment 01?
Amendment 01 introduces streamlined proposal preparation instructions for studies that meet all of the following conditions: (1) 12 months or less in duration, (2) $500,000 or less in cost, and (3) seeking an assistance instrument, specifically a grant or cooperative agreement.
11) What is the "award instrument type applicability matrix" mentioned in Amendment 01?
Amendment 01 adds an award instrument type applicability matrix intended to help proposers determine which administrative rules and national policy requirements apply depending on whether the mechanism is a grant, cooperative agreement, contract, or other type.
12) What happened to the Appendix A Proposal Summary Charts?
Amendment 01 removes the prior Appendix A Proposal Summary Charts and replaces them with a single Proposal Summary Chart, which simplifies formatting and standardizes the summary information DARPA expects.
13) What export control-related changes were made?
Amendment 01 updates export control language in Section VI(B)(4). This is relevant for proposers handling controlled technical data, foreign national participation, international collaborations, or work that could implicate ITAR or EAR restrictions.
14) How were changes indicated in the updated (conformed) BAA document?
The synopsis notes that changes were highlighted in yellow in the conformed DARPA BAA 14-42 document to make it easier for applicants to locate what was modified.
15) What is Amendment 02 and what did it add?
Amendment 02 adds a specific research study opportunity under the office-wide umbrella titled "Common Heterogeneous Integration and IP reuse Strategies (CHIPS) for RF Electronics Research Study." This is a focused call within the broader BAA.
16) What is the CHIPS for RF Electronics Research Study, at a high level?
Based on the synopsis, the CHIPS study points proposers toward a defined study area involving RF electronics, heterogeneous integration, and strategies for reusing intellectual property (IP). The synopsis indicates that full technical details, scope, objectives, and submission expectations are provided in the attached Amendment 2 document.
17) Where should applicants look for the full announcement materials?
Applicants were directed to the MTO solicitations page for the full announcement materials, including amendment documents and the conformed BAA.
18) Who is the listed point of contact?
The listed point of contact for access issues or coordination is Dr. William Chappell, Director and DARPA/MTO BAA Coordinator.
19) How should this BAA be understood in practical terms?
It is best understood as an always-on DARPA MTO intake mechanism for revolutionary microsystems research. It was periodically updated to incorporate targeted study topics (such as CHIPS for RF Electronics) and to improve submission clarity and compliance navigation, especially for smaller study proposals.
20) Does the synopsis indicate whether the BAA is focused only on studies or also on larger efforts?
The synopsis describes streamlined instructions specifically for smaller study proposals (12 months or less and $500,000 or less) when using assistance instruments. It also notes that awards can vary widely in size and that multiple award instrument types may be used, which implies the BAA can support a range of effort types depending on scope and government intent.
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