Process Intensification for Energetics (PIE)

Background
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is soliciting innovative proposals to develop a novel chemical reactor system that enables the production of multiple energetics, both explosives and propellant, under the Process Intensified Energetics (PIE) program. The program encourages solutions from all responsible sources capable of satisfying DARPA's needs, including large and small businesses, nontraditional defense contractors, and research institutions.

Work Details
The goal of the contract is to develop a flexible, robust, and agile manufacturing platform for the production of energetics from locally available material (industrial chemicals to crude oil). Performers will leverage innovative chemical processing and manufacturing controls to dramatically drive down the timeframes and scale needed for production from days to hours and from full-scale factories to containers. The contract also involves developing an adaptive process intensified chemical reactor system, optimization planning software for chemical reactions, and automated process control. The effort being solicited by this Program Solicitation is Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), and proposers are required to submit a formal request for the CUI addendum by a specified deadline.

Period of Performance
The PIE program is a 36-month program organized into a Phase 1 (Base) and Phase 2 (Option) with a 6-month Phase 2 Demo. DARPA anticipates selecting multiple performers, with only the most promising approach(es) moving on to the Phase 2 Demonstration Option.