Ceres

Background
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Biological Technologies Office (BTO) is soliciting proposals for the Ceres project. The project aims to develop innovative technologies and approaches to build synthetic plant-microbe communities for autonomous bioremediation of fuel, JP-8, and explosive TNT from soil while overtly reporting the status of this remediation. The project seeks to reduce the cost of remediation by leveraging natural behaviors and processes performed by plant-microbe communities.

Grant Details
The project will be divided into two 24-month phases and one 6-month phase comprised of a final demonstration performed by an independent verification and validation (IV&V) team. The Cleaner Track will focus on developing synthetic plant-rhizosphere microbial communities that would degrade the targeted contaminant down to EPA-approved levels without dangerous byproducts. The Beacon Track will develop a complementary plant-microbe synthetic community that would provide an overt signal that the target contamination has been reduced to EPA-approved levels. Proposers may choose a Combined Track to address both Cleaner and Beacon for TNT or JP-8.

Eligibility Requirements
The BAA is open to eligible applicants, and proposers must address all four technical areas: Engineer Root Communities, Engineer Plants, Engineer Ecological Containment, and Develop Testbeds. Proposals must also propose additional quantitative and qualitative success criteria as needed.

Period of Performance
The project spans 4.5 years, with Phase I lasting 24 months, an optional Phase II lasting 24 months, and a final IV&V 6-month demonstration in Phase III. Progress towards the program goal will be determined through regular milestones, metrics, and deliverables.

Grant Value
The total value of the grant is not specified in the provided document.