Switch

Background
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is soliciting innovative proposals to develop biomanufacturing platforms for run-time reprogramming of chemical synthesis operations, which will enable new Concepts of Operations (CONOPS) that provide novel capabilities for national security. Switch is focused on bringing programmability and long-term stability to biomanufacturing processes, with the goal of enabling more flexible chemical manufacturing operations that can toggle between different feedstocks or products over continuous production runs.

Work Details
The technical activities of this 36-month program are structured into two phases. Phase 0, lasting 6 months, involves generating a technoeconomic analysis (TEA) of the Phase 1 approach and refining the proposed Phase 1 design of benchtop switchable biomanufacturing platform. Selected proposers will be invited to provide an Oral Proposal Package and participate in an oral presentation.
Phase 1, lasting 30 months, involves developing prototype, benchtop systems for switchable biomanufacturing platforms, iteratively refining and updating the TEA based on Phase 1 platform development, and developing and refining notional business strategies for commercial development of switchable biomanufacturing prototypes.

Period of Performance
The contract will have a period of performance of 36 months, with Phase 0 lasting 6 months and Phase 1 lasting 30 months.