Special Notice (SN)
DARPA-SN-17-70
Young Faculty Award (YFA) Proposers Day
August 29, 2017
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Defense Sciences Office (DSO) is sponsoring a Proposers Day webcast to provide information to potential proposers on the objectives of an anticipated Research Announcement (RA) for the Young Faculty Award (YFA) program. The Proposers Day will be held on August 29, 2017 from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM. The event will be held via webcast only. Advance registration is required for viewing the webcast. Note, all times listed in this announcement and on the registration website are Eastern Time.
The goals of the YFA Proposers Day are to: (a) introduce the research community to the YFA program vision and goals; (b) explain the mechanics of a DARPA program, and (c) encourage submission by eligible proposers that have the relevant expertise, facilities, and capabilities for executing a research and development program responsive to the YFA program goals.
DARPA anticipates releasing the YFA RA by the beginning of September 2017. If released, the RA will be available on the Federal Business Opportunities website at https://www.fbo.gov and on http://www.grants.gov/. Following the event, presented materials may be posted to http://www.darpa.mil/work-with-us/opportunities.
PROGRAM OBJECTIVE AND DESCRIPTION
The DARPA Young Faculty Award (YFA) program aims to identify and engage rising stars in junior faculty positions in academia and equivalent positions at non-profit research institutions and expose them to Department of Defense (DoD) and National Security challenges and needs. In particular, YFA will provide high-impact funding to elite researchers early in their careers to develop innovative new research directions in the context of enabling transformative DoD capabilities. The long-term goal of the program is to develop the next generation of scientists and engineers in the research community who will focus a significant portion of their future careers on DoD and National Security issues.
DARPA anticipates soliciting innovative research proposals in the areas of physical sciences, engineering, materials, mathematics, biology, computing, informatics, social science, robotics, neuroscience and manufacturing of interest to DARPA’s Technology Offices. Eligibility requirements are outlined below.
TEAMING
The anticipated RA solicits single investigator proposals; however, investigators will be given the opportunity to propose teaming if required due to the nature of the proposal. Teaming and/or subcontract awards will be limited to no more than 30% of the total grant value. It is preferred that potential team members be university professors fitting the proposer eligibility requirements outlined below. Specific content, communications, networking, and team formation will be the sole responsibility of the participants.
REGISTRATION INFORMATION
The YFA Proposers Day will be held on August 29, 2017 from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM via webcast. Note, all times listed in this announcement and on the registration website are Eastern Time. There is no registration fee for the Proposers Day webcast.
Registration opens: As of publication of this announcement.
Registration closes: August 24, 2017 at 12:00 PM or when capacity is reached, whichever comes first.
Advance registration via this website is required in order to receive access to the webcast and is mandatory for every individual intending to view the webcast either alone or as part of a group.
Registrants in excess of the maximum capacity limitations will be added to the waitlist. Individuals who are unable to register because the deadline has occurred or capacity has been reached will have the option to be added to the waitlist. If slots remain open after registration closes or become available due to cancellations, the slots will be filled on a first come, first served basis from the waitlist.
ELIGIBILITY
DARPA hosts Proposers Days to (1) promote teaming arrangements between researchers; (2) provide potential proposers with information on whether and how they might respond to the Government’s research and development solicitations; and to (3) increase efficiency in proposal preparation and evaluation. Therefore, Proposers Days are only open to registered potential proposers, i.e., the events are closed to the general public and media. For this particular program, Proposers Day registration is open to potential proposers who are U.S. Citizens, U.S. Permanent Residents, and Foreign Nationals who meet the eligibility criteria listed below:
- Proposers must be one of the following (excluding any personal leaves of absence):
- current Tenure-Track Assistant/Associate Professors;
- current Tenured faculty within 3 years of their Tenure date; or
- an equivalent at a non-profit research institution within 12 years of the receipt of their Ph.D.
- All proposers must be employed at a U.S. Institution.
- Previous YFA Award recipients are not eligible for this or any future YFA program.
- Former DARPA Program Managers are not eligible to apply for funding under this program.
- Researchers working at the Federally Funded Research and Development Centers and DoD and other Government Laboratories are not eligible to apply for funding under this program.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Please refer to the YFA Proposers Day in all correspondence.
Point of Contact: Kristen Fuller, Assistant Director, Program Management, YFA2018@darpa.mil
DISCLAIMERS AND IMPORTANT NOTES
Participation in the YFA Proposers Day webcast is voluntary and is not required to propose to the anticipated YFA RA. Interested parties to this notice are cautioned that nothing herein obligates the Government to issue a solicitation. The Proposers Day does not constitute a formal solicitation for proposals or abstracts. This announcement is issued solely for information and program planning purposes and is not a Request for Information (RFI). Since this is not an RFI, no submissions against this notice will be accepted by the Government. No classified, ITAR controlled, or proprietary information shall be included in submitted materials or shall be presented or discussed at the Proposers Day. DARPA will not provide reimbursement for costs incurred to participate in this Proposers Day. Recording the Proposers Day is not permitted.
