Notice of Intent to Award Using Other than Full and Open Competition -Ice Control for Cold Environments (ICE)

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Contracts Management Office issued a Notice of Intent to Award Using Other than Full and Open Competition on August 11, 2026, for Phase III modifications under the Ice Control for Cold Environments (ICE) program, with a deadline of August 26, 2026 for interested parties to submit objections. The awards are restricted to three existing performers—Michigan Technological University, University of Michigan, and Ginkgo Bioworks, Inc.—based on their sole possession of proprietary data, trade secrets, filed patents, and irreplaceable expertise developed during Phases I and II of the original competitive awards under Broad Agency Announcement No. HR001122S0047.

Phase III efforts focus on application-specific testing and advanced development to transition ice-modulating molecules to Department of War stakeholders, requiring continued research and development services for formulation, testing, and scale-up work. The awards consist of one Cooperative Agreement, one Cost-No Fee contract, and one Cost-Plus-Fixed Fee contract. DARPA justifies non-competitive award on the basis that re-competing would result in substantial cost duplication and unacceptable delays given the performers' specialized knowledge in anti-icing technologies, bioinspired polymer synthesis, cryopreservation, microbial isolation, and large-scale protein production.

Interested parties may submit written evidence within 15 days demonstrating qualifications and explaining why non-award would not result in cost duplication or delay. Submissions must be directed to DARPA-SN-26-117@darpa.mil and include business name, point of contact, address, email, and telephone number. Contracting officer is Lydia Richards.