Signal Processing at RF (SPAR) | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Signal Processing at RF (SPAR) - DARPA BAA 16-20

What is the SPAR opportunity?

Signal Processing at RF (SPAR) is a DARPA Broad Agency Announcement (BAA 16-20) managed by the Microsystems Technology Office (MTO) within the U.S. Department of Defense. It funds science and technology research and development aimed at fundamentally improving how radio frequency (RF) systems handle interference.

Which organization is running this program?

The program is run by DARPA, specifically through its Microsystems Technology Office (MTO), under the Department of Defense.

What problem is SPAR trying to solve?

SPAR targets situations where interference overlaps the desired signal in the same frequency band (in-band interference). In these cases, the unwanted signal cannot be removed by simple bandpass filtering because it sits in the same spectral region as the signal of interest.

What does "in-band interference suppression" mean in this solicitation?

It refers to suppressing unwanted RF signals that occupy the same frequency band as the desired signal. Because the interferer is not out-of-band, conventional filtering alone is not sufficient, so the program seeks new approaches that can separate or reduce interferers despite spectral overlap.

What technical approaches does SPAR emphasize?

The opportunity emphasizes two main thrusts: (1) RF analog signal processing that mitigates interference directly in the RF domain (before or alongside digitization), and (2) nonreciprocal components, including novel chip-scale circulator approaches, to improve isolation and interference resilience.

Why is DARPA focusing on analog signal processing at RF instead of only digital methods?

Based on the summary, the intent is to move beyond digital-only or post-reception mitigation and instead suppress interference earlier in the signal chain. RF analog processing can potentially reduce the burden on analog-to-digital converters (ADCs), help prevent receiver saturation, and preserve dynamic range in challenging environments.

What types of interference are of interest: self-interference, external interference, or both?

Both are explicitly highlighted. The solicitation references self-generated interference (such as transmitter leakage into a receiver path, duplexing problems, or front-end desensitization) and interference from external sources (such as competing emitters, jammers, or dense spectrum environments).

Does SPAR address unknown or rapidly changing interferers?

Yes. The summary notes interest in both known and unknown interferers, implying a focus on methods that can handle predictable patterns as well as adaptive or quickly changing interference conditions without requiring prior knowledge of the interferer.

What are nonreciprocal technologies in the context of SPAR?

Nonreciprocal technologies are devices or components that route signals differently depending on direction (for example, allowing energy to flow one way but not the other). In RF systems, they are commonly used for routing and isolation between transmit and receive paths.

Why does the solicitation mention chip-scale circulators?

Circulators are a common nonreciprocal device used to route signals and isolate transmit and receive paths. The summary notes traditional circulators can be bulky or rely on materials/designs that do not scale well. By calling out chip-scale approaches, SPAR signals interest in integrated, compact, and potentially more practical nonreciprocal components.

What is the intended outcome or impact of the SPAR research?

The stated direction is to redesign RF front ends and signal paths so interference suppression happens earlier, faster, and more effectively. The goal is robust RF performance in real-world, spectrum-congested conditions where current architectures struggle.

What funding instrument types may be used for awards under this opportunity?

The summary lists multiple possible instruments: cooperative agreements, grants, other transaction-like instruments, and procurement contracts. This suggests DARPA may choose different award structures depending on factors such as performer type, technical maturity, and transition path.

How is the funding categorized?

The opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding.

What is the activity category for SPAR?

The activity category is listed as science and technology and other research and development.

What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The CFDA number provided is 12.910, which is commonly associated with DARPA research and development opportunities.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning a wide range of entities could apply, subject to any additional constraints that may be described in the full BAA text.

When was this opportunity posted?

The listing indicates the opportunity was created and posted on February 19, 2016.

What was the closing date for submissions?

The original and current closing date shown is May 12, 2016.

Does the provided summary specify an award ceiling?

No. The provided fields do not specify an award ceiling.

Does the provided summary state how many awards are expected?

No. The summary metadata does not provide a clear expected number of awards in the fields shown, suggesting that details such as budget ranges and number of selections would be in the full announcement.

Where would applicants find definitive details like budgets, selection counts, and full program structure?

The summary indicates that key specifics (such as budget ranges, number of selections, and structure) are likely contained in the full BAA rather than in the listing metadata.

Is SPAR mainly about filtering out-of-band signals?

No. SPAR is explicitly focused on in-band interference where standard bandpass filtering cannot simply remove the interferer because it overlaps the desired signal in frequency.

Does the opportunity focus only on mitigating interference after reception?

No. The summary emphasizes moving beyond post-reception mitigation and developing approaches that suppress interference directly in the RF domain, before or alongside digitization.