ERIS Shopping Notice: New Growth Controls for Achieving Single-Crystal Complex Inorganic Materials
Overview
Buyer
Place of Performance
NAICS
PSC
Set Aside
Original Source
Timeline
Qualification Details
Fit reasons
- NAICS alignment with historical contract wins in similar service areas.
- Scope strongly matches core technical capabilities and delivery model.
Risks
- Past performance thresholds may require one additional teaming partner.
- Potential clarification needed on staffing minimums before bid/no-bid.
Next steps
Validate eligibility requirements, assign capture owner, and schedule partner outreach to confirm teaming strategy before submission planning.
Quick Summary
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), specifically its Microsystems Technology Office (MTO), has issued a Special Notice (ERIS Shopping Notice) seeking innovative, post-competitive solutions for new growth controls to achieve single-crystal complex inorganic materials. This initiative aims to develop advanced technologies for improved resilience, efficiency, and effectiveness of strategic systems, including critical infrastructure and military command-and-control systems. This is an active and immediate search, with submissions reviewed on a rolling basis. The Government reserves the right to make awards prior to the closing date of June 30, 2026.
Scope of Work & Requirements
DARPA is looking for solutions that enable new capabilities to grow large-scale complex inorganic materials at single-crystal quality. Key requirements include:
- Added controls in material growth, localized for precise compositional and structural control.
- Preferred approaches involve energy modalities (e.g., plasma, electric fields, electron beams, acoustic waves) or phase selectivity using specific organic precursor chemistries.
- Specifically excluded are approaches utilizing light or optical controls, including laser-based control and substrate engineering.
- Proposed solutions must be demonstrated on a novel complex material not previously grown as a single crystal on a ≥ 2-inch scale.
- The material must have a clear target application and be stable at room temperature.
- Material complexity must be justified by elemental (≥ 2 elements) or structural (≥ 4 polymorphs) complexity.
Contract & Timeline
- Type: Special Notice (ERIS Shopping Notice)
- Set-Aside: None specified (targets existing and new ERIS Solution providers)
- Response Due: June 30, 2026 (submissions reviewed on a rolling basis)
- Published: May 21, 2026
- Agency: DEPT OF DEFENSE / DEFENSE ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGENCY (DARPA)
Evaluation
Submissions will be evaluated on a rolling basis against standard ERIS Master Solicitation criteria, with particular interest in:
- Deep understanding of the problem space and technical challenge.
- Significant technical innovation to overcome existing limitations.
- Strong team capability and demonstrated expertise in inorganic thin film growth.
- A clear path to enabling materials with breakthrough properties for defense and commercial use.
Additional Notes
This is an active and immediate search. New solutions require a video submission through the ERIS portal. Existing awardable solutions can be flagged by emailing ERIS@darpa.mil with specific subject line and body details. Proposers should reference the ERIS Master Solicitation for detailed criteria.