DARPA-SN-25-24.pdf

DARPA-SN-25-24

Special Notice Microsystem Induced CAtalysis (MICA) Proposers Day

DARPA-SN-25-24

December 20, 2024

Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency Microsystems Technology Office 675 North Randolph Street Arlington, VA 22203-2114

Proposers Day Special Notice DARPA-SN-25-24

Microsystem Induced CAtalysis (MICA) Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)

Microsystems Technology Office (MTO)

Posting Date: December 20, 2024 Event Date: January 23, 2025, at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time (ET) Registration Deadline: January 15, 2024, at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) Registration Website: https://cvent.me/X5my8e Technical POC: Dr. Todd Bauer, MTO Program Manager E-mail: DARPA-SN-25-24@darpa.mil

PROPOSERS DAY DESCRIPTION:

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) will host an in-person Proposers Day in support of the Microsystem Induced CAtalysis (MICA) program on January 23, 2025, at Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH), 8283 Greensboro Drive, Hamilton Building Auditorium, McLean, VA 22102 from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. ET.

The purpose of this meeting is to provide information on the MICA program, promote additional discussion on this topic, address questions from potential proposers, and provide an opportunity for potential proposers to share their capabilities and ideas for teaming arrangements.

DARPA anticipates releasing the MICA Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) prior to Proposers Day. If released, the MICA BAA will be made available at https://sam.gov/.

The goals of the Proposers Day are:

(1) To introduce the science and technology community (industry, academia, and government) to the

MICA program vision and goals;

(2) To facilitate interaction between researchers with capabilities and interests relevant to the MICA program goals;

(3) To collect questions during the event that DARPA may answer and make available in a Frequently

Asked Questions (FAQ) document maintained at https://www.darpa.mil/work-with-us/opportunities; and

(4) To encourage and promote teaming arrangements among organizations that have the relevant expertise, research facilities, and capabilities for executing research and development responsive to the MICA program goals.

The Proposers Day will include overview presentations by government personnel and opportunities for team building among the participants. It is anticipated that recording of the Proposers Day and materials will be posted online at https://www.darpa.mil/work-with-us/opportunities.

PROGRAM OBJECTIVE AND DESCRIPTION:

The MICA program will develop advanced concepts for using microsystems to modulate the activity of molecular catalysts. The program will seek hardware demonstrations of molecular catalysts immobilized to microsystem surfaces and controlled by physical forces generated by the microsystem. Additionally, the program will seek high-accuracy modeling and simulation of such integrated molecular microsystems.

While open to a broad range of molecular catalysts, an emphasis is placed on biomolecular catalysts.

Through these demonstrations, MICA aims to answer three critical questions: (i) how can microsystems https://cvent.me/X5my8e file:///C:/Users/bkeeler/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/Content.Outlook/GFYQZT6D/DARPA-SN-25-24@darpa.mil https://sam.gov/ https://www.darpa.mil/work-with-us/opportunities https://www.darpa.mil/work-with-us/opportunities https://www.darpa.mil/work-with-us/opportunities be used to actively control molecules? (ii) what are the different microsystem physics that can be used to drive catalyst function? and (iii) what co-design approaches can be used to integrate the different physics of microsystems and molecules?

The metrics of the program target accurate design, simulation, and fabrication of integrated molecules and microsystems. For design and simulation, the program scope includes physics-based methods that accurately predict dynamic performance of molecules integrated with microsystems. Static predictions of system structure or models that fail to capture relevant time and length scales are excluded from the program scope. For fabrication, the program scope includes methods for accurate placement and immobilization of molecules at microsystem interfaces to facilitate active control of catalyst activity by the microsystem. Control of molecules not attached to the microsystem interface are excluded from the program scope.

A major thrust of the program will be accurate placement and robust attachment of catalytic molecules to microsystems to enable reaction cascades that require multiple catalysts working together to achieve outcomes as diverse as synthesizing new materials or providing therapeutic inventions. The program will seek robust-by-design or adaptive interface solutions capable of achieving predictable catalytic performance, with an emphasis on compatibility with standard microelectronics manufacturing and assembly flows.

Catalytic molecules will be unspecified; however, approaches should include molecules whose structure and function can be predicted with high accuracy. The microsystem platform and control physics will also be unspecified; however, approaches should include coupling to a digital logic platform (e.g., FPGA, CMOS). Integrated systems are expected to meet program performance and accuracy metrics while actively controlling a biological system/pathway of the performer’s choosing.

The Proposers Day meeting will start with presentations by DARPA that include a program technical briefing to further describe the planned BAA objectives and content. These will be followed by lightning round sessions and poster sessions to facilitate teaming.

This meeting will be held at the UNCLASSIFIED level. Attendance is by registration only. All attendees are required to present government-issued photo identification upon entry to the event.

REGISTRATION INFORMATION:

In-person registration is limited by the venue capacity (maximum of 147 attendees); early registration is strongly recommended. Organizations are limited to a maximum of 3 attendees. The DARPA Program Manager will determine what constitutes an organization. Registrations will be cut off at the registration deadline listed above or once attendance capacity is met, whichever comes first. Any change to the registration deadline will be captured via an amendment to this notice and an update to the registration website. There will be no on-site registration.

The Proposers Day is open only to registered potential proposers. The event is closed to the general public and media. An online registration form, preliminary agenda, citizenship verification form, foreign national visit request form and meeting details for the Proposers Day can be found at the registration website.

Additionally, all meeting registrants who are not U.S. Citizens must complete and submit one of the following:

All U.S. Permanent Residents and Foreign Nationals not representing a foreign government must submit a DARPA Form 60 “U.S. Permanent Resident and Foreign National Visit Request”, which can be submitted via the following link: https://dtsn.darpa.mil/eform60/.

Foreign government personnel who are representing a foreign government in an official capacity must submit an official Foreign Visit Request (FVR) via their respective Embassy based in Washington, DC.

All forms must be submitted no later than January 15, 2024, at 4:00 p.m. ET. Failure to complete and submit the required forms prior to the date and time noted above may result in the cancellation of existing registration.

TEAMING:

While not required, DARPA is open to teaming amongst the community as appropriate and when strategic to achieve program outcomes. To facilitate the building of teams, Proposers Day registrants may choose to participate in the options below:

1. Attendee List: Participant contact information (name, organization, email address) will be included on a MICA Proposers Day attendee list distributed to other prospective proposers.

Registrants may indicate during registration whether they approve publication of their contact information.

2. Proposer Profile List: Interested parties should submit a one-page profile consisting of their contact information (name, organization, email, telephone number, mailing address, and, if applicable, organization website), a brief unclassified description of their technical competencies, and, if applicable, the expertise desired from other teams/organizations. All profiles must be emailed to DARPA-SN-25-24@darpa.mil no later than January 21, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. ET. Following this deadline, the consolidated teaming profiles will be sent via email to the proposers who submitted a profile. Specific content, communications, networking, and team formation are the sole responsibility of the participants. Neither DARPA nor the DoD endorses the information and organizations contained in the consolidated teaming profile document, nor does DARPA or the DoD exercise any responsibility for improper dissemination of the teaming profiles.

3. Requests Through Email: Prospective proposers can also request the attendee list and/or the prospective proposer profile list through email at DARPA-SN-25-24@darpa.mil. All email requests must be received by January 21, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. ET and follow the same security requirements as Proposers Day attendees (e.g., government photo ID and DARPA Form 60 or FVR requirements). It is incumbent on email requesters to ensure all provided information is accurate.

DARPA will not provide access to secure data transfer capabilities (e.g., DoD SAFE), and DARPA reserves the right to deny requests stemming from its vetting of requesters’ security documentation.

POSTERS:

A poster session will be held to facilitate interaction among attendees and to give an opportunity to showcase capabilities and build strong teams to solve the challenge presented in MICA. No template for the poster will be provided; however, posters should highlight proposer capabilities and teaming requirements and must include presenter’s contact information. Posters should not contain any https://dtsn.darpa.mil/eform60/ mailto:DARPA-SN-25-24@darpa.mil file:///C:/Users/bkeeler/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/Content.Outlook/GFYQZT6D/DARPA-SN-25-24@darpa.mil

Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) or classified information and must be suitable for unlimited public release. There is a limit of one poster per organization, and posters should be no larger than 24” x 36”. Registrants must indicate their intent to participate in the poster session during registration. Any other questions should be directed to the email address listed above.

LIGHTNING ROUND:

A lightning round will be held to facilitate interaction among attendees and to give an opportunity to showcase capabilities and build strong teams to solve the challenge presented in MICA. No template for the presentation will be provided; however, presentations should highlight proposer capabilities and teaming goals and must include presenter’s contact information. There is a limit of one presentation per organization with one slide per presentation, and presentations will be limited to five minutes each. There will be no time allocation for Q&A. Registrants must indicate their intent to participate in the lightning round session during registration. Due to time constraints lightning round presentations will be limited to the first 12 requests. However, for prospective proposers who convey interest in a lightning round presentation after the limit has been reached and who submit presentation slides by the deadline below, that prospective proposer’s presentation (along with those of the presenters) will be distributed to all other confirmed Proposers Day attendees.

All presentations must be in Microsoft PowerPoint format. Unclassified presentations should be emailed to DARPA-SN-25-24@darpa.mil no later than January 17, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. ET. Presentations should not contain any Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) or classified information and must be suitable for unlimited public release. NO CLASSIFIED INFORMATION SHOULD BE SENT TO DARPA-SN-25- 24@darpa.mil.

DARPACONNECT:

Entities who have not worked with DARPA before are encouraged to learn more about DARPAConnect, an initiative established to facilitate collaboration between DARPA and potential performers. The DARPAConnect team offers customized support, resources, and guidance on how to prepare ideas for high-impact conversations with DARPA program managers. Please visit DARPAConnect.us to access a digital hub of online resources, including a curriculum for self-paced learning, personalized support, and in-person and virtual events. To prepare for the Proposers Day, attendees can leverage the learning module on “Making the Most of a DARPA Proposers Day.” In addition to the self-paced online materials, the DARPAConnect team is able to schedule one-on-one conversations to discuss specific ideas, questions, and paths to DARPA. Use the contact form at DARPAConnect.us or email the DARPAConnect team directly at darpaconnect@darpa.mil to request assistance.

ADMINISTRATIVE:

All administrative and technical questions should be directed to DARPA-SN-25-24@darpa.mil. Please refer to the Special Notice number (DARPA-SN-25-24) in all correspondence.

This Special Notice is issued solely for information and program planning purposes and does not constitute a formal solicitation for proposals or proposal abstracts; any so sent will be disregarded. In accordance with FAR 15.201(e), responses to this Special Notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Attendance is strictly voluntary and is not required to propose to subsequent Announcements (if any) or Solicitations (if any) on this topic. DARPA will not provide reimbursement for costs incurred in responding to this Special Notice. Respondents are advised that DARPA is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of any information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted under this Special Notice.

mailto:DARPA%E2%80%90SN%E2%80%9024%E2%80%9044@darpa.mil https://www.darpaconnect.us/ https://learning.theari.us/products/making-the-most-of-a-darpa-proposers-day mailto:darpaconnect@darpa.mil