The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency has launched a new proposal process under the Biological Technologies Office to help scientists and researchers have better access to federal funding for research and development in biotechnology.DARPA said Thursday the EZ BAA process requires potential partners to submit a two-page white paper and a cost proposal on their biology and technology ideas for an opportunity to receive grants worth up to $700,000.
“Some of the most exciting work in biotech is happening at the edges and intersections of disciplines, by people who in many cases have never worked with the government before and don’t know how to navigate traditional funding channels,” said Alicia Jackson, DARPA BTO deputy director.
“[These] are often precisely the people with whom we want to be in business.”
The agency said it will look at the proposals’ scientific and technical merit, feasibility of cost, and potential impact and relevance to its mission.
Compared with EZ BAA, DARPA said traditional broad agency announcements seek information on specified capabilities and require a full, highly structured proposal as the initial response.
DARPA said the development of this new proposal process is based on similar efforts by other agencies to streamline federal procurement under the RFP-EZ program.
