N/MEMS ST Fundamentals | Apply Online

Opportunity Summary:

DARPA's Microsystems Technology Office released the N/MEMS ST Fundamentals opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number DARPA-RA-09-42) to support bold, fundamental research in nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS) and microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). The core idea is to push beyond incremental, "better-than-before" device improvements and instead tackle cross-cutting scientific and engineering problems that could unlock genuinely new capabilities in micro and nano devices, arrays, and systems. The solicitation emphasizes research enabled by emerging and maturing nano/micro technologies, with an explicit goal of building the foundational knowledge and tools needed to move NEMS and MEMS into future Department of Defense-relevant applications. In other words, it is structured to fund work that can change what is possible in the field, not just optimize what already exists.

A defining feature of the program is its center-based model. Rather than single-investigator projects, DARPA is looking for highly interactive, multi-performer "scientific focus centers" that combine teams from universities, nonprofits, industry, and potentially government laboratories (as long as those government entities can demonstrate eligibility). The expectation is that these performers are not loosely affiliated, but tightly integrated, with research plans that require active collaboration across disciplines and organizations. Awards are intended to support research efforts for up to three years, reflecting DARPA's interest in sustained foundational advances rather than short exploratory studies.

Eligibility is open in a broad sense, but with an important structural requirement: only teams led by an academic institution or a nonprofit organization may receive awards. Industry participation is not just encouraged, it is built into the funding model through mandatory cost sharing. DARPA states that a significant level of cost sharing by industry partners will be required, and that DARPA intends to fund the centers at a DARPA-to-industry funding ratio of 1:1 in each program year. The rules also draw a clear line between allowable and countable contributions. While in-kind cost sharing can be proposed as part of the effort, only actual cash commitments count toward the required matching. Universities may also contribute cost share and have it matched at the same 1:1 ratio, but university cost sharing is capped at no more than 25 percent of the total cost sharing for any funded center. In addition, universities cannot count faculty salary support as part of their cost share, which prevents substituting normal academic compensation for true matching resources.

The amendment noted in the announcement (Amendment 01) is narrowly focused but important: it revises the cost sharing information in the Broad Agency Announcement (BAA), with changes highlighted in the updated attached document. That means applicants should not rely on earlier interpretations of the matching requirements and should use the conformed, amended BAA as the controlling guidance, especially when structuring industry cash commitments and any allowable academic contributions.

From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding and may use several instrument types including cooperative agreements, grants, or other mechanisms, under the Science and Technology / R&D activity category (CFDA 12.910 Research and Technology Development). The posting date is May 4, 2009, with an original and current closing date listed as May 4, 2010, and a stated first-round close date of July 1, 2009. Award ceiling and floor are listed as 0 in the synopsis, which typically indicates that precise funding amounts are not specified in that summary view and instead are governed by the full BAA and DARPA's selection decisions.

For questions and submission-related guidance, the solicitation directs administrative correspondence to DARPA-RA-09-42@darpa.mil. A point of contact is also provided for access issues: Dr. Dennis Polla, DARPA/MTO, 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714, phone (571) 218-4656, via the MTO RA Coordinator. The main takeaway for prospective applicants is that DARPA is seeking center-scale, collaborative, high-impact fundamental research in NEMS/MEMS, led by academia or nonprofits, with required industry cash cost sharing and careful compliance with the revised cost share terms introduced in Amendment 01.

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