Biological Technologies

Background
The Biological Technologies Office (BTO) of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is issuing this Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) to solicit revolutionary research ideas that address topics not currently being explored by ongoing BTO programs or other published solicitations.

The mission of BTO is to develop capabilities leveraging the unique properties of biology—adaptation, replication, resilience, and complexity—to enhance national security and support warfighter readiness.

Grant Details
BTO is interested in submissions related to various topic areas including:

1. General Topics: Biological technology topics fitting the national security scope of BTO’s mission; research into market opportunities affecting financing and commercialization of bioindustrial and biomedical technologies.

2. Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI): Advancing biological data generation and assessment, developing non-experimental models for biological foundation model assessment, improving decision-making technologies for warfighters, and creating virtual testbeds for human performance modeling.

3. Human Performance: Enhancing treatment of neurological health, cognitive performance, and physiological resilience in extreme conditions.

4. Materials, Sensors, Processing: Designing novel materials inspired by biological systems, developing predictive tools for biomolecular properties, and creating hybrid biological/engineered systems.

5. Ecosystem and Environmental: Addressing threats to food/water supplies, leveraging non-human biology insights, and developing technologies for ecosystem restoration.

6. Biosecurity and Biosafety: Ensuring biosafety of biological hardware/data and developing technologies to combat emerging pathogens.

7. Biomedical and Biodefense: Understanding disease states to support warfighter health and developing rapid manufacturing technologies for therapeutics.

Eligibility Requirements
All responsible sources capable of satisfying the Government's needs may submit proposals. Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Small Businesses, Small Disadvantaged Businesses, and Minority Institutions are encouraged to participate but no portion will be set aside exclusively for these entities due to impracticality.

Period of Performance
Proposals may be submitted on a rolling basis until September 10, 2025.

Grant Value
Multiple awards are anticipated under this announcement; specific total values are not disclosed.