Funder: DARPA - Microsystems Technology Office
Due Dates: August 9, 2025 (Abstracts) | September 25, 2025 (Questions) | October 9, 2025 (Full Proposals)
Funding Amounts: No set minimum or maximum; typical awards vary. Multiple awards anticipated. Accelerated award option available for proposals ≤$2M.
Summary: Supports revolutionary research in microsystems technology not addressed by ongoing MTO programs or other published solicitations.
Key Information: Open to a wide range of topics; proposals must be distinct from current MTO programs. Multiple award types (contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, OTAs) available.
Description
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Microsystems Technology Office (MTO) Office-wide Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) seeks innovative, high-risk/high-reward research proposals in microsystems technology. This opportunity is designed for research ideas that are not currently addressed by ongoing MTO programs or other published solicitations. The BAA is intentionally broad, encouraging proposals that could lead to revolutionary advances in science, devices, or systems relevant to national security and defense.
MTO’s mission is to create and prevent strategic surprise through investments in compact microelectronic components, including microprocessors, MEMS, photonic devices, and related technologies. The office is particularly interested in disruptive research that could establish new technological paradigms, as opposed to incremental improvements.
Key thrust areas include:
- Scientific Disruption (e.g., next-generation transistors, photonic, quantum, and bio/organic circuits)
- Microsystems Manufacturing Ecosystem (e.g., sustainable, scalable, and secure manufacturing)
- Dual Use by Design (e.g., technologies with both defense and commercial applications)
A non-exhaustive list of current interest areas includes quantum circuits, biological circuits, photonic circuits, advanced manufacturing, and dual-use microsystem technologies. See the BAA for detailed topic examples.
Due Dates
- Abstracts: Rolling submission until August 9, 2025, 1:00 p.m. ET
- Questions: Submit by September 25, 2025, 1:00 p.m. ET
- Full Proposals: Rolling submission until October 9, 2025, 1:00 p.m. ET
DARPA strongly encourages submission of an abstract prior to a full proposal for rapid feedback, but this is not required.
Funding Amount
- Award Size: No specified minimum or maximum. Proposals of all sizes are welcome; typical awards vary based on scope and complexity.
- Number of Awards: Multiple awards are anticipated.
- Award Types: Procurement contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, and other transactions (OTAs) are available.
- Accelerated Award Option: Proposals requesting ≤$2,000,000 may opt for an accelerated award process (award within 30 days of selection) if they agree to specific terms and conditions.
Eligibility
- Open to all responsible sources capable of satisfying the Government’s needs, including:
- Universities and research institutions
- For-profit and non-profit organizations
- Small businesses and large businesses
- Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs), University Affiliated Research Centers, and Government entities (must contact the BAA POC before submitting)
- Non-U.S. organizations/individuals (must comply with export control and other applicable regulations)
- There are no restrictions on the number of submissions or awards per entity.
Application Process
1. Abstract Submission (Optional but Encouraged)
- Use the mandatory abstract template (see BAA Attachment A).
- Submit via the Broad Agency Announcement Tool (BAAT) as instructed in the BAA.
- Abstracts are reviewed for fit and feedback is provided, but all conforming full proposals will be evaluated regardless of abstract feedback.
2. Full Proposal Submission
- Use the required templates for technical/management and cost volumes (Attachments C, D, E).
- Proposals must be submitted via BAAT or Grants.gov, as specified in the BAA.
- Proposals must include all required volumes and documentation.
- For grants/cooperative agreements, the DARPA cost proposal spreadsheet is recommended but not required (Grants.gov budget forms are acceptable).
3. Accelerated Award Option (Optional)
- For proposals ≤$2M, you may elect the accelerated award option by submitting the attestation form (Attachment I) and agreeing to the prescribed terms (see Attachments F–K).
- This option requires unclassified work, specific data rights, and use of the DARPA cost spreadsheet.
4. Review and Evaluation
- Proposals are evaluated on:
- Overall scientific and technical merit
- Potential contribution and relevance to the DARPA mission
- Cost realism
5. Award Types
- Procurement contract, grant, cooperative agreement, or OTA, as appropriate to the proposed work and organization.
Additional Information
- Topic Fit: Proposals must be distinct from ongoing MTO programs and other published solicitations. Review current MTO programs and contact program managers if in doubt.
- Human/Animal Subjects: If your research involves human or animal subjects, you must comply with relevant DoD and federal regulations and provide required documentation.
- Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI): All participants must comply with CUI protection requirements as outlined in the MTO CUI Guide.
- Intellectual Property: Proposers must clearly identify any IP restrictions in their proposal. The government will assume unlimited rights to all IP not explicitly identified as restricted.
- AI Use Disclosure: Proposers must indicate if AI tools were used in proposal preparation (for information only, not for evaluation).
- Reporting: Awardees must provide regular technical and financial reports, as specified in the award instrument.
External Links
Contact Information
For eligibility questions (FFRDCs, UARCs, government entities), contact the BAA Coordinator before submitting.