Rads to Watts Program Solicitation
Closed Solicitation Posted
- Solicitation number
- DARPA-PS-25-27
- Agency
- Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency Department of Defense
- Responses due
- Set-aside
- No set-aside
Opportunity facts
- NAICS code
- 541715 Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)
- Points of contact
-
- BAA Coordinator radstowatts@darpa.mil
Notice details come from SAM.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is soliciting innovative proposals through the Rads to Watts Program to develop radiovoltaic technologies that can directly convert radiation energy into electricity at kilowatt-scale power levels. The program specifically seeks revolutionary advances in radiation-hardened, charge-carrying materials and techniques that can scale unit cells from milliwatt-level devices to broad-area collection volumes producing kilowatt-level power over relevant timescales. Proposers must demonstrate innovative approaches that enable high fluence-resilient materials with technical metrics including a figure of merit greater than 8E+4Ws/cm2, minimal performance degradation under high radiation fluence, and specific power exceeding 10 W/kg. The evaluation will focus on technical merit, team capabilities, and schedule realism, with particular emphasis on breakthrough approaches rather than incremental improvements to existing radiovoltaic practices. Key deadlines include abstract submissions due July 10, 2025, and full proposals due August 20, 2025.
This solicitation operates under no set-aside designation and does not identify any incumbent contractors or potential award values in the provided documentation. The program is structured as a 30-month competitive research initiative divided into three performance periods: a 15-month base period, a 9-month Option Period 1, and a 6-month bonus period focused on scalability. DARPA anticipates making multiple awards through Other Transaction Agreements for Prototype, with down-select points at months 15 and 24. The program includes nine specific milestones spanning from Month 2 to Month 20, requiring progressive technical reporting on unit cell radiation performance and testing at standardized fluence levels of 1E+14/cm2 and 1E+17/cm2 using a linear accelerator. While non-U.S. organizations may participate subject to applicable regulations, the place of performance is not specifically designated in the solicitation materials.
Notice text
2 versions
Update #2 · Latest ·
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is soliciting innovative proposals for directly converting radiation energy into electricity, focusing on radiation voltaics (also known as radiovoltaics). Typical radiovoltaic unit cell configured devices can produce power at the milliwatt-level. Rads to Watts seeks approaches that can scale unit cells to broad-area collection volumes to produce power at kilowatt-levels over relevant timescales. Proposed work should include innovative approaches that enable revolutionary advances in high fluence-resilient, radiation-hardened, charge-carrying materials and techniques that specifically apply to radiovoltaics. Specifically excluded from Rads to Watts is research that primarily results in incremental improvements to the existing state of practice and research that applies to direct conversion methods other than radiovoltaics.
Update #1 ·
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is soliciting innovative proposals for directly converting radiation energy into electricity, focusing on radiation voltaics (also known as radiovoltaics). Typical radiovoltaic unit cell configured devices can produce power at the milliwatt-level. Rads to Watts seeks approaches that can scale unit cells to broad-area collection volumes to produce power at kilowatt-levels over relevant timescales. Proposed work should include innovative approaches that enable revolutionary advances in high fluence-resilient, radiation-hardened, charge-carrying materials and techniques that specifically apply to radiovoltaics. Specifically excluded from Rads to Watts is research that primarily results in incremental improvements to the existing state of practice and research that applies to direct conversion methods other than radiovoltaics.
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