The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is soliciting innovative research proposals to investigate the physical properties of ice crystals for the development of new solutions to protect warfighters and infrastructure and enhance operational capabilities in extreme cold weather (ECW) environments. The Ice Control for Cold Environments (ICE) program aims to leverage biological adaptations to cold environments for novel biologically sourced and inspired materials to facilitate Department of Defense (DoD) operations in ECW. The ICE program structure is organized into two phases with a potential third phase. Phases I and II are the focus of this BAA, and Phase III may be solicited under a separate BAA.
The goal of the ICE program is to deliver novel biologically sourced or inspired molecules that can control or exploit ice crystallization. In Phases I and II, the program seeks to discover and/or improve known molecules with enhanced activity corresponding to three broad functional classes of ice control: inhibition of crystallization/re-crystallization, ice nucleation, and molecular adhesion to ice. In support of these objectives, ICE performers will design robust assays to identify and test candidates for ice control activity that should be specific to each of the three activity classes; execute iterative design, build, and test cycles to improve activity; optimize candidate molecule performance; and explore methods and approaches to functionalize these molecules to enable incorporation into different materials and form factors for future prototyping efforts in a Phase III effort, which may be solicited under a separate BAA.
Deadlines:
o Proposal Abstract Due Date and Time: September 22, 2022, 4:00 PM ET
o Full Proposal Due Date and Time: November 8, 2022, 4:00 PM ET