Atomically Precise Molecules (APM) — R&D- Defense System: Aircraft (Applied Research/Exploratory Development)

DEPT OF DEFENSE · DEFENSE ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGENCY (DARPA) · DEF ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGCY is soliciting Atomically Precise Molecules (APM) — R&D- Defense System: Aircraft (Applied Research/Exploratory Development). Solicitation number DARPA-PS-26-141. Classified under NAICS 541715 — Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology). Product/service code AC12 — R&D- DEFENSE SYSTEM: AIRCRAFT (APPLIED RESEARCH/EXPLORATORY DEVELOPMENT). Responses are due by 18 December 2026 13:00 UTC. Posted on SAM.gov, the US federal contract opportunities system; registration is required to bid.

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is soliciting innovative proposals in the areas of new synthesis techniques for polymeric materials and nonlinear optical (NLO) materials. Proposed research should investigate innovative approaches that enable revolutionary advances in material synthesis with the ability to scale to quantities relevant for application integration, culminating in the development of a prototype demonstration of a revolutionary NLO material integrated into a functional government-provided electro-optic modulator. Specifically excluded is research that primarily results in evolutionary improvements to the existing state of practice, or research that pivots on exceptional claims that cannot be technically justified in the proposal. This includes:

• Proposals aiming to employ solely inorganic materials without a polymeric component
• Proposals aiming to modify/repurpose existing NLO materials resulting in incremental improvements to the state-of-the-art (SoA)