The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is soliciting innovative research proposals of interest to the Biological Technologies Office (BTO).  Of particular interest are those proposals from entities (both small and large business) that have never received Government funding, or who do not normally propose to Government solicitations. 

 The mission of BTO is to leverage biology as a technology to solve intractable problems.  BTO seeks to leverage advances in engineering and computer science to drive and reshape biotechnology for national security.  To achieve this vision, BTO is interested in a range of emerging technical areas, including but not limited to human-machine interfaces, human performance, infectious disease, and synthetic biology.  The overarching goal is to develop, demonstrate, and transition biologically-based technologies as part of the national security toolkit.

Proposed research must enable revolutionary advances in science, technologies, or systems. Specifically excluded is research that primarily results in evolutionary improvements to the existing state of the art.  BTO seeks unconventional approaches that are outside the mainstream, challenge assumptions, and have the potential to radically change established practice.  Efforts should be creative and agile both in terms of the technologies proposed and in the structure of the approach.

Additional information on BTO can be found at http://www.darpa.mil/about-us/offices/bto.

The purpose of modification 1 to DARPA-BAA-16-08, the Biological Technologies EZ Broad Agency Announcement, is to clarify the target audience and provide updated award information.

Sections 1, Funding Opportunity Description, and 2, Award Information, are updated as follows:

1. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is soliciting innovative research proposals of interest to the Biological Technologies Office (BTO).  This funding opportunity is seeking proposals from nontraditional defense contractors. The definition of a nontraditional defense contractor can be found within the Defense Procurement Acquisition Policy (DPAP): http://www.acq.osd.mil/dpap/dars/dfars/html/current/252212.htm. All other entities are instructed to respond to BTO's Office-Wide Biological Technologies solicitation which can be found at http://www.darpa.mil/work-with-us/opportunities.

The mission of BTO is to leverage biology as a technology to solve intractable problems.  BTO seeks to leverage advances in engineering and computer science to drive and reshape biotechnology for national security.  To achieve this vision, BTO is interested in a range of emerging technical areas, including but not limited to human-machine interfaces, human performance, infectious disease, and synthetic biology.  The overarching goal is to develop, demonstrate, and transition biologically-based technologies as part of the national security toolkit.

Proposed research must enable revolutionary advances in science, technologies, or systems. Specifically excluded is research that primarily results in evolutionary improvements to the existing state of the art.  BTO seeks unconventional approaches that are outside the mainstream, challenge assumptions, and have the potential to radically change established practice.  Efforts should be creative and agile both in terms of the technologies proposed and in the structure of the approach.

Additional information on BTO can be found at http://www.darpa.mil/about-us/offices/bto.

2. AWARD INFORMATION

Multiple awards are possible. The amount of resources made available under this BAA will depend on the quality of the proposals received and the availability of funds.

The Government reserves the right to select for negotiation all, some, one, or none of the proposals received in response to this solicitation, and to select only portions of proposals for award. 

Awards under this BAA will be made to proposers on the basis of the evaluation criteria listed below in Section 5, and program balance, to provide overall value to the Government.  The Government reserves the right to remove proposers from award consideration should the parties fail to reach agreement on award terms, conditions and cost/price within a reasonable time or the proposer fails to timely provide requested additional information. 

Proposers looking for innovative, commercial-like contractual arrangements are encouraged to consider requesting Other Transactions.  To understand the flexibility and options associated with Other Transactions, consult Section 4.3.2.3.

The intent of this solicitation is to encourage proposals from nontraditional defense contractors seeking fixed price contracts or Other Transactions as award instruments.  The Government contracting officer shall determine which of these award instruments is appropriate and negotiate terms and conditions with selectees as applicable. Applicants seeking alternate funding vehicles (e.g., cost-reimbursable procurement contracts, cooperative agreements, and grants) should respond to BTO's Office-Wide Biological Technologies solicitation which can be found at http://www.darpa.mil/work-with-us/opportunities.  DARPA will apply publication or other restrictions, as necessary, if it determines that the research resulting from the proposed effort will present a high likelihood of disclosing performance characteristics of military systems or manufacturing technologies that are unique and critical to defense.  Any award resulting from such a determination will include a requirement for DARPA permission before publishing any information or results on the program.  For more information on publication restrictions, see the section below on Fundamental Research.

BAA Package Amendment 1 with these changes is attached.

Award announcement only under the Open BAA.  The period for submission of proposals remains open through November 22, 2016.