Bid document

Notice of Intent to Review Marketplace Solutions

SHOPPING NOTICE: DARPA-SN-26-89

MARKETPLACE: Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Expedited Research Innovation System (ERIS)
REQUIRING ACTIVITY: DARPA, Biological Technologies Office (BTO) NOTICE DATES: June 8, 2026 – December 8, 2026
TOPIC AREA: Advanced technologies for the improved resilience of US operations throughout the prepare, deployment, execute, and return cycle. This topic supports technologies for human health and performance optimization. This topic supports biotechnologies for production of supplies, in situ resource utilization, and creation of operational advantages, including in austere locations. This topic supports technologies in the convergence of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML) with chemistry and biology, including foundation models and data factories.

1.0 PURPOSE

Between the dates listed above, DARPA BTO will be actively “shopping” the ERIS Marketplace for innovative, post-competitive, awardable solutions that address the need for a new class of rapidly switchable, non-optogenetic protein domains for real-time cellular control. This effort seeks to develop a robust and versatile molecular tool for massless information transfer across a cell membrane, intended to supplement existing synthetic biology platforms. This is an active and immediate search for solutions. Submissions will be reviewed on a rolling basis as they are received, and the Government reserves the right to make one or more awards prior to the closing date of this notice.

2.0 PROBLEM & SCOPE

The development of advanced synthetic biology systems, such as the nucleic acid compiler (NAC) envisioned in the Generative Optogenetics (GO) program, requires precise spatiotemporal control over protein function. While optogenetics provides a powerful method for cellular control, it is limited by potential spectral crosstalk between photosensitive domains. New orthogonal signaling modalities are required to expand the complexity and capability of these systems.
DARPA is exploring the development of bio-compatible, modular protein domains, specifically engineered for in vivo expression within a host cell, that can be regulated by a massless, non-optical external signal (e.g., magnetic fields, focused ultrasound, etc.) with kinetics and reliability sufficient for integration into complex enzymatic machinery.
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Current Obstacles: Existing non-optogenetic cellular control systems lack the combination of speed,