Opportunity Information: Apply for DARPA BAA 10 18
Apply for DARPA BAA 10 18
- The DARPA Defense Sciences Office in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Nimbus" 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 Dec 16, 2009 and posted on Dec 16, 2009.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 26, 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:
Nimbus (DARPA BAA 10-18) was a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) funding opportunity issued by the Defense Sciences Office focused on basic and exploratory research into the underlying physics of lightning. The goal of the program was to attract innovative research and development proposals that could produce genuinely fundamental advances in how lightning works, with an emphasis on breakthroughs that improve scientific understanding of atmospheric and ionospheric processes connected to lightning. In practical terms, DARPA was looking for unconventional or high-payoff ideas that go beyond incremental measurement or modeling, aiming instead at new physical insight, new experimental approaches, or new theoretical frameworks that could reshape the broader field of lightning-related atmospheric and ionospheric science.
The opportunity was categorized as discretionary funding under a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA), indicating it was intended for research concepts and technical approaches rather than the purchase of a specific product or service. Multiple award instruments were contemplated, including cooperative agreements, grants, other transactions, and procurement contracts, giving DARPA flexibility in structuring awards depending on the nature of the proposed work and the level of collaboration and oversight anticipated. The funding activity category was Science and Technology and other Research and Development, and the associated CFDA number was 12.910 (Research and Technology Development). There was no cost sharing or matching requirement specified, which typically lowers barriers for participation by universities, small businesses, nonprofits, and other research performers.
Eligibility was described as unrestricted, meaning the competition was broadly open to any type of entity, subject to any additional clarifications that would have appeared in the full announcement. The solicitation was posted on December 16, 2009, and closed on February 26, 2010, with an archive date of March 25, 2010. In other words, this was a time-limited, archived opportunity that is no longer accepting submissions, but it documents DARPA interest at that time in foundational lightning research and the atmospheric and ionospheric physics surrounding it.
For applicants who needed assistance obtaining the full announcement, the listed point of contact was the BAA Coordinator. The solicitation also referenced an additional information link labeled "DARPA BAA 10-18," which would have contained the detailed technical scope, proposal instructions, evaluation criteria, and any specific topic areas or desired research outcomes.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - Nimbus (DARPA BAA 10-18)
What is Nimbus (DARPA BAA 10-18)?
Nimbus (DARPA BAA 10-18) was a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) funding opportunity issued by the Defense Sciences Office. It focused on basic and exploratory research into the underlying physics of lightning, with the intent of producing fundamental advances in how lightning works.
Which DARPA office released this opportunity?
The opportunity was issued by DARPA's Defense Sciences Office.
What research area did Nimbus focus on?
The program centered on the underlying physics of lightning, including scientific understanding of atmospheric and ionospheric processes connected to lightning.
What was the main goal of the Nimbus program?
The goal was to attract innovative research and development proposals that could deliver genuinely fundamental advances in lightning science, especially breakthroughs that improve understanding of lightning-related atmospheric and ionospheric physics.
What kinds of ideas was DARPA looking for under this BAA?
DARPA was seeking unconventional or high-payoff concepts that go beyond incremental measurement or modeling. The emphasis was on new physical insight, novel experimental approaches, or new theoretical frameworks that could reshape the broader field of lightning-related atmospheric and ionospheric science.
Was this a procurement for a specific product or service?
No. Nimbus was categorized as discretionary funding under a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA), which is generally used to solicit research concepts and technical approaches rather than to purchase a specific product or service.
What type of solicitation was Nimbus?
It was issued as a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA), identified as DARPA BAA 10-18.
What award instruments were anticipated?
DARPA contemplated multiple award instruments, including cooperative agreements, grants, other transactions, and procurement contracts. This provided flexibility in how awards could be structured depending on the proposed work and the expected level of DARPA collaboration and oversight.
What funding activity category did this opportunity fall under?
The funding activity category was Science and Technology and other Research and Development.
What CFDA number was associated with Nimbus?
The associated CFDA number was 12.910, labeled Research and Technology Development.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
No cost sharing or matching requirement was specified in the information provided.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was described as unrestricted, meaning the competition was broadly open to any type of entity (subject to any additional clarifications that would have been included in the full announcement).
Is this funding opportunity still open?
No. This was a time-limited opportunity and is archived. It is no longer accepting submissions.
When was the solicitation posted?
The solicitation was posted on December 16, 2009.
What was the submission deadline?
The solicitation closed on February 26, 2010.
When was the opportunity archived?
The archive date listed for this opportunity was March 25, 2010.
Where would applicants have found the detailed technical scope and proposal instructions?
The solicitation referenced an additional information link labeled "DARPA BAA 10-18," which would have contained the detailed technical scope, proposal instructions, evaluation criteria, and any specific topic areas or desired research outcomes.
Who was the point of contact for help obtaining the full announcement?
The listed point of contact was the BAA Coordinator.
What was DARPA hoping to change or improve through Nimbus-funded research?
The program aimed to enable breakthroughs that improve scientific understanding of lightning and its connections to atmospheric and ionospheric processes, potentially introducing new ways to think about, observe, or explain lightning-related phenomena.
Does the information provided include specific topic areas, evaluation criteria, or submission steps?
No. The information provided indicates those details would have been available in the full announcement via the "DARPA BAA 10-18" reference, but they are not included here.
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