Multi Modal Materials Analysis (MMoMA)

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), through its Defense Sciences Office (DSO), has issued a Broad Agency Announcement for the Multi Modal Materials Analysis program. DARPA is a federal agency within the U.S. Department of Defense that focuses on advancing breakthrough technologies for national security. This funding opportunity is structured as a research and development initiative intended to drive innovative approaches in materials analysis, particularly those that significantly exceed current state-of-the-art capabilities. The program emphasizes transformative, rather than incremental, advancements and is aligned with DARPA’s mission to create technological surprise. The purpose of the Multi Modal Materials Analysis program is to develop novel methods that integrate a single configurable excitation source with multiple detection systems and real-time data fusion. The goal is to enable comprehensive material characterization under ambient conditions without requiring sample preparation. This includes determining molecular structure, elemental composition, isotope ratios, and trace elements from a wide variety of materials. The program is designed to support critical defense applications such as supply chain verification, forensic analysis, counterfeit detection, and potentially remote material identification in environments such as space. Funding under this opportunity will support a 36-month effort divided into two phases. Phase 1 focuses on proof-of-concept development and demonstrating the advantages of multimodal analysis over traditional sequential methods. Phase 2 expands these capabilities into mission-driven use cases and explores the feasibility of a future field-deployable system. Funding may be awarded through procurement contracts, cooperative agreements, or Other Transaction Agreements. While specific funding amounts are not disclosed, multiple awards are anticipated, and proposers must include cost estimates aligned with their technical approach. An optional supplementary funding component is available for university applicants through the Fundamental Defense Research Talent Award, which may provide additional annual support for graduate students or postdoctoral researchers. Eligibility for this opportunity is broad and inclusive. DARPA allows participation from U.S. and non-U.S. organizations, including academic institutions, private companies, nonprofits, government entities, and research laboratories. Special provisions apply to federally funded research centers and similar organizations, which must comply with additional requirements. The program encourages collaboration across disciplines and institutions to meet the technical complexity of the program’s objectives. There are no geographic restrictions within the United States, and international participation is permitted subject to compliance with applicable regulations. The application process follows a strict two-step submission model. The first step requires submission of a mandatory abstract, which must outline the proposed technical approach, use cases, and supporting rationale. Only applicants whose abstracts are deemed selectable by DARPA will be invited to submit a full proposal. Abstracts must be submitted through DARPA’s Broad Agency Announcement Tool by the specified deadline. Evaluation criteria for abstracts include technical merit, feasibility, alignment with DARPA’s mission, and cost realism. Full proposals, if invited, will undergo further evaluation based on scientific merit, contribution to mission objectives, and proposer capabilities. Key dates for the program include a posting date of June 17, 2026, a Proposers Day on June 23, 2026, and a deadline for abstract submission on July 8, 2026 at 4:00 PM Eastern Time. Questions were accepted until July 1, 2026. The program anticipates multiple awards, and selected performers will engage in a structured schedule of milestones, including quarterly reviews, technical demonstrations, and final reporting over the 36-month period. Contact for the program is available via the designated email address, and all communications must be directed through official channels as specified in the announcement.

Focus on highly innovative, non-incremental approaches; clearly justify technical feasibility; align strongly with DARPA mission and metrics