Opportunity Information: Apply for DARPA BAA 11 37
Apply for DARPA BAA 11 37
- The DARPA Microsystems Technology Office in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Reliable Central Nervous System Interfaces (RCI)" 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 Apr 21, 2011 and posted on Mar 30, 2011.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 16, 2011 Important Dates Posting Date March 30, 2011 Proposers Day April 8, 2011 Proposal Due Date May 16, 2011 (1159 a.m., Eastern Time). (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 Reliable Central Nervous System Interfaces (RCI) opportunity (DARPA BAA 11-37) is a DARPA Microsystems Technology Office research solicitation focused on creating much more reliable brain and central nervous system (CNS) interfaces that can both record motor signals and stimulate sensory signals in vivo. The core technical aim is to move beyond short-lived or unstable neural interface performance by developing new materials, device designs, fabrication methods, and supporting technologies that substantially improve long-term reliability while also increasing the amount and quality of usable motor-control information that can be extracted from the CNS. In practical terms, DARPA is looking for interfaces that can record richer motor intent signals for controlling advanced prosthetic limbs and also provide sensory feedback through stimulation, with the long-term goal of producing approaches that can realistically translate into clinically viable systems for wounded service members.
This posting includes Amendment 01, which indicates revisions were made to the original Broad Agency Announcement and that the changes are highlighted in yellow in the revised DARPA BAA 11-37 document. The amendment does not change the overarching intent of the program as described in the public synopsis; it signals that applicants should rely on the updated BAA language and requirements contained in the attached revised document when preparing proposals. Because DARPA BAAs often refine evaluation criteria, submission instructions, or technical scope through amendments, prospective performers would be expected to read the amended document closely to ensure compliance and alignment with the latest objectives and deliverables.
From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity is categorized as a discretionary funding action under science and technology and other research and development. DARPA indicates multiple possible award instruments may be used, including cooperative agreements, grants, other transactions/arrangements, and procurement contracts, which typically gives the agency flexibility to match the award type to the nature of the work and the performer relationship. The CFDA number associated with the program is 12.910 (Research and Technology Development). There is no stated cost sharing or matching requirement in the synopsis. The listed award ceiling and floor are shown as 0, which commonly means specific funding ranges are not provided in the summary and are instead addressed in the full BAA or negotiated based on proposed scope.
Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning the solicitation is open to a broad range of applicant types, subject to any additional constraints that may be specified in the full text of the BAA. This generally implies that universities, nonprofits, small businesses, large businesses, and other research organizations could be eligible, assuming they meet any detailed requirements in the announcement. The technical emphasis on materials, microfabrication, device engineering, in vivo testing, and analysis suggests that strong proposals would likely come from multidisciplinary teams combining neuroscience, biomedical engineering, microelectronics/microsystems, materials science, and clinical translation expertise.
Key dates included a posting date of March 30, 2011, a Proposers Day on April 8, 2011 (often used by DARPA to brief the community and enable teaming discussions), and a proposal due date of May 16, 2011, with the submission time specified as 11:59 a.m. Eastern Time. The opportunity was later archived on November 16, 2011. For access issues related to the full announcement, the listed point of contact is Dr. Jack Judy, Program Manager and MTO BAA Coordinator, and an additional information link points to the MTO solicitations page where the full documentation would have been hosted.
Overall, RCI is best understood as a DARPA effort to solve the long-standing bottlenecks in implanted CNS interface reliability and signal quality, pushing toward neural interface technologies that can survive and function robustly in the body while delivering enough stable information bandwidth to enable intuitive, high-performance prosthetic limb control, ideally with bidirectional capability that includes sensory feedback.
Reliable Central Nervous System Interfaces (RCI) (DARPA BAA 11-37) FAQs
What is the Reliable Central Nervous System Interfaces (RCI) opportunity?
RCI (DARPA BAA 11-37) is a DARPA Microsystems Technology Office (MTO) research solicitation focused on creating much more reliable brain and central nervous system (CNS) interfaces that can both record motor signals and stimulate sensory signals in vivo.
What problem is DARPA trying to solve with RCI?
The program targets the long-standing challenge that many implanted neural interfaces have short-lived or unstable performance. RCI seeks approaches that substantially improve long-term reliability while also increasing the amount and quality of usable motor-control information that can be extracted from the CNS.
What are the core technical goals of RCI?
The core goals are to move beyond unstable neural interface performance by developing improved materials, device designs, fabrication methods, and supporting technologies, while enabling richer motor intent recording and sensory feedback through stimulation.
Is this a bidirectional neural interface program (recording and stimulation)?
Yes. The opportunity emphasizes interfaces that can record motor signals and also stimulate sensory signals in vivo, supporting bidirectional capability.
What kinds of end uses does DARPA highlight for these interfaces?
DARPA describes practical aims such as recording richer motor intent signals to control advanced prosthetic limbs and providing sensory feedback via stimulation, with a long-term goal of clinical viability for wounded service members.
What does "in vivo" mean in this solicitation?
In this context, "in vivo" indicates that the recording and stimulation capabilities are intended to operate within a living body, consistent with implanted CNS interface development and testing.
Which DARPA office is running this effort?
The solicitation is issued by DARPA's Microsystems Technology Office (MTO).
What is the solicitation number and title?
The opportunity is identified as "Reliable Central Nervous System Interfaces (RCI)" under DARPA BAA 11-37.
What is Amendment 01 and how does it affect applicants?
This posting includes Amendment 01, which revises the original Broad Agency Announcement. The changes are highlighted in yellow in the revised DARPA BAA 11-37 document. Applicants are expected to rely on the updated BAA language and requirements in the revised document when preparing proposals.
Does Amendment 01 change the overall purpose of the program?
No. The amendment does not change the overarching intent of the program as described in the public synopsis, but it indicates that updated language and requirements in the revised BAA should be followed.
Why is it important to read the amended BAA closely?
DARPA BAAs often refine evaluation criteria, submission instructions, or technical scope through amendments. The amended document is the controlling reference for compliance, alignment with objectives, and deliverables.
What type of funding action is this categorized as?
The opportunity is categorized as a discretionary funding action under science and technology and other research and development.
What award instruments might DARPA use for RCI?
DARPA indicates multiple possible award instruments, including cooperative agreements, grants, other transactions/arrangements, and procurement contracts. This provides flexibility to match the instrument to the work and the performer relationship.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The CFDA number associated with the program is 12.910 (Research and Technology Development).
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No cost sharing or matching requirement is stated in the synopsis.
Are award funding ranges provided in the synopsis?
No. The listed award ceiling and floor are shown as 0, which commonly indicates that specific funding ranges are not provided in the summary and may be addressed in the full BAA or negotiated based on proposed scope.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning the solicitation is open to a broad range of applicant types, subject to any additional constraints in the full BAA.
What types of organizations are typically included under "unrestricted" eligibility?
Based on the unrestricted description, potential applicants could include universities, nonprofits, small businesses, large businesses, and other research organizations, assuming they meet any detailed requirements in the full announcement.
What technical areas or disciplines are most relevant to strong proposals?
The solicitation highlights materials, microfabrication, device engineering, in vivo testing, and analysis. It suggests multidisciplinary efforts spanning neuroscience, biomedical engineering, microelectronics/microsystems, materials science, and clinical translation expertise.
What are the key dates for this opportunity?
The posting date is March 30, 2011. A Proposers Day is listed for April 8, 2011. The proposal due date is May 16, 2011, with the submission time specified as 11:59 a.m. Eastern Time. The opportunity was archived on November 16, 2011.
What is a DARPA Proposers Day and why does it matter?
A Proposers Day is typically used by DARPA to brief the community on the opportunity and to enable teaming discussions. For RCI, the Proposers Day date is April 8, 2011.
When were proposals due, and what time zone applies?
Proposals were due May 16, 2011 at 11:59 a.m. Eastern Time.
What does it mean that the opportunity is archived?
The listing indicates it was archived on November 16, 2011, which generally means it is no longer active for new submissions under that posting.
Where would applicants have found the full solicitation documents?
An additional information link points to the MTO solicitations page where full documentation would have been hosted, and the revised BAA 11-37 document is referenced as the controlling text for proposal preparation.
Who is the point of contact for access issues related to the full announcement?
The listed point of contact is Dr. Jack Judy, Program Manager and MTO BAA Coordinator.
What is the long-term vision described for RCI?
The program is framed as a push toward neural interface technologies that can survive and function robustly in the body while delivering stable, high-quality information bandwidth for intuitive, high-performance prosthetic limb control, ideally including sensory feedback through stimulation.
Is the opportunity focused on clinical translation?
Yes, the synopsis explicitly mentions the long-term goal of producing approaches that can realistically translate into clinically viable systems for wounded service members.
What types of technology improvements does DARPA explicitly call out?
The synopsis calls out developing new materials, device designs, fabrication methods, and supporting technologies to improve long-term reliability and improve the richness and quality of extracted motor-control information.
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