IARPA-RFI-23-01 042023 final C.pdf

Request for Information: MIST II

RFI Number: IARPA-RFI-23-01

Agency: Office of the Director of National Intelligence

Office: Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity

IARPA-RFI-23-01

Synopsis:

Request for Information (RFI): Molecular Information Storage II (MIST II)

The Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA) seeks information regarding molecular-scale data storage and archiving. Tremendous progress has been achieved in this field over the last several years. For example, the writing of 8.4 million unique oligonucleotide sequences (up to 170 bases) in parallel was demonstrated in 2022.1 Similarly, the DNA Storage

Alliance was established to “create and promote an interoperable storage ecosystem based on DNA as a data storage medium” in which they aim to recommend standards for the field.2 Significant investments have been made by the commercial sector into DNA-base archiving with hundreds of millions of dollars raised by a single company3 and service plans.4 It is likely that the global market for DNA data storage is projected to reach $1.5 billion by 2027.5

Yet, many issues remain. For example, DNA-storing tera / zetta bytes of data in 24 hours requires writing hundreds of billions of unique oligonucleotides of sufficient length to enable high information density. These requirements are yet to be delivered with current technologies.

Sequencing (i.e., reading) hundreds of billions of unique oligonucleotides is equally challenging and current sequencers are ill-equipped for such throughputs. In addition, the subsequent data analysis of such sequencing runs is also arduous and time-intensive.

As the technology to synthesize and sequence DNA-based archives matures, processes for archiving need to be put in place (e.g., random access of stored documents is a necessity). Archive protection, both from physical degradation and from non-authorized third-party access, also needs to be implemented. Last, but not least, the overall synthesizing-archiving-retrieving-sequencing process needs to enable retrieval of 100% of the desired documents with 100% accuracy.

1 High-density CMOS IC chip enabling scalable DNA synthesis for Data Storage, Cedric Wu, Built With Biology, 2022 conference

2 https://dnastoragealliance.org/dev/about-us/faq/

3 DNA Scripts, Jan 4 2022, Press announcement, https://www.dnascript.com/press-releases/dna-script-closes-200-million-series-c-financing-with-completion-of-second-tranche/

4 Twist Bioscience, Emily Leproust, Writing the Future, JP Morgan 41st Annual Health Conference 2023, San

Francisco

5 DNA Data Storage: Global Markets and Technologies, bbc Publishing, March 2023 https://dnastoragealliance.org/dev/about-us/faq/ https://www.dnascript.com/press-releases/dna-script-closes-200-million-series-c-financing-with-completion-of-second-tranche/ https://www.dnascript.com/press-releases/dna-script-closes-200-million-series-c-financing-with-completion-of-second-tranche/

As a result, IARPA is investigating faster, better, cheaper ways to store data. In particular, IARPA seeks to understand the current technological landscape for writing and reading data using DNA as the storage media. IARPA also wants to explore the processes that need to be implemented to successfully use DNA-based tera- / exa-byte archives with error rates similar to or better than current storage technologies.

Background & Scope:

The need for data storage is increasing exponentially, along with its cost in energy and money.

This RFI aims at surveying the state-of-the-art technologies in terms of synthesizing and sequencing oligonucleotides. IARPA is particularly interested in technologies with the potential ability to synthesizing/sequencing hundreds of billions of oligonucleotides in parallel, with a minimal length of 150 nucleotides. IARPA is also interested in setting up the right archival environment for DNA storage and information retrieval.

For IARPA to evaluate the promise of potential new approaches, IARPA requests your organization’s thoughts on the following two topics:

1. Synthesizing and sequencing of oligonucleotides: The same questions apply to both synthesizing and sequencing technologies:

Describe your state-of-the art technology. In particular, how many oligonucleotides can you synthesize in parallel, of what length, at what error rate, and at what speed?

What is the current rate of data loss? What are the top 3 modes of data loss and/or data corruption?

What error correction processes do you implement during synthesizing / sequencing?

Quantify to the best of your ability the trade-off between error rate and synthesizing / sequencing process speed?

Would your current technology be scalable to synthesizing or sequencing hundreds of billions of oligonucleotides in parallel? What would be the timeline to enable such technology? What would be the order of magnitude of the cost for such a project?

What is the current cost per base to synthesize or sequence oligonucleotides with your current system?

How do you handle the environmental impact and the waste generated to synthesize or sequence billions of oligonucleotides in parallel?

Are there any considerations to consider using your process? (e.g., geographical, environmental, safety, legal, power, space cooling, or other)

2. Data archiving with DNA:

How do you propose to store the DNA-coded information?

How do you currently archive information?

How do you retrieve information? Can this be done randomly? How rapid is the process?

What are the anticipated sources of error during the retrieval process? Quantify each source of error and provide modes of corrections for each type of error to the best of your ability.

Are there limits to the number of times the archive is accessed / copied before it is corrupted? Determine and quantify the anticipated modes of corruption to the best of your ability.

How long is the DNA-coded archive stable and retrievable at room temperature under

50% relative humidity?

How much energy savings do you anticipate compared to traditional storage methods?

How would you protect the DNA-coded archive against adverse physical conditions

(fire, ionizing radiation, chemicals)?

How do you protect the DNA-coded archive against a third party reading it? Standard cryptographic methods are not of interest.

Responses can address any one or multiple of these considerations. White papers should also provide a rough estimate of achievable performance and indicate specific issues to be addressed, such as those listed earlier.

An IARPA invitation-only workshop is planned for Summer of 2023 with the purpose of reviewing and discussing current and future research relevant to this RFI.

Information discussed at this workshop may assist in the formulation of possible future areas of

USG research with the objective of DNA storage, archiving, and processing. Capacity for the workshop is limited, and attendance will be by invitation only.

Preparation Instructions to Respondents:

IARPA requests that respondents submit ideas related to this topic for use by the Government in formulating a potential program. IARPA requests that submittals briefly and clearly describe the potential approach or concept, outline critical technical issues/obstacles, describe how the approach may address those issues/obstacles, and comment on the expected performance and robustness of the proposed approach. If appropriate, respondents may also choose to provide a non-proprietary rough order of magnitude (ROM) estimate regarding what such approaches might require in terms of funding and other resources for one or more years. This announcement contains all of the information required to submit a response. No additional forms, kits, or other materials are needed.

IARPA welcomes responses from all capable and qualified sources from within and outside of the

U.S.

Because IARPA is interested in an integrated approach, responses from teams with complementary areas of expertise are encouraged.

Responses must meet the following formatting requirements:

a one-page cover sheet that identifies the title, organization(s), respondent's technical and administrative points of contact - including names, addresses, phone and fax numbers, and email addresses of all co-authors, and clearly indicating its association with RFI-23-

01;

a substantive, focused, one-half page executive summary;

a description (limited to 5 pages per topic in minimum 12-point Times New Roman font, appropriate for single-sided, single-spaced 8.5 by 11-inch paper, with 1-inch margins) of the technical challenges and suggested approach(es);

a list of citations (any significant claims or reports of success must be accompanied by citations) – citations will not count against the 5-page limit; and a single quad-chart (per topic) depicting the (a) approach, (b) supportive illustrations, (c) key ideas, and (d) potential impact.

Although reading and writing DNA are both parts of the State-of-the-art topic, they can be addressed separately (5 pages maximum) or together (10 pages maximum, with equal allocation for both technologies).

Submission Instructions to Respondents:

Responses to this RFI are due no later than May 26, 2023, 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time. All submissions must be electronically submitted to dni-iarpa-rfi-23-01@iarpa.gov as a PDF document.

Inquiries to this RFI must be submitted to dni-iarpa-rfi-23-01@iarpa.gov no later than April 28, 2023, 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time. Do not send questions with proprietary content. No telephone inquiries will be accepted.

Disclaimers and Important Notes:

This is an RFI issued solely for information and planning purposes and does not constitute a solicitation. Respondents are advised that IARPA is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted under this RFI.

Responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Respondents are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this

RFI. IARPA will not provide reimbursement for costs incurred in responding to this RFI. It is the respondent's responsibility to ensure that the submitted material has been approved for public release by the information owner. The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this RFI or to otherwise pay for the information solicited, nor is the Government obligated to issue a solicitation based on responses received. No proprietary and/or classified concepts/information shall be included in the submittal. However, should a respondent wish to submit classified concepts/information, prior coordination must be made with IARPA Security.

Email your request for coordination with IARPA Security. Input on technical aspects of the responses may be solicited by IARPA from non-Government consultants/experts who are bound by appropriate non-disclosure requirements.

Contracting Office Address:

Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity

Washington, District of Columbia 20511, United States mailto:dni-iarpa-rfi-23-01@iarpa.gov mailto:dni-iarpa-rfi-23-01@iarpa.gov

Primary Point of Contact:

Dr. Sherrie Pilkington, Program Manager

Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity