Crystal Palace Program Announcement

The DARPA solicitation DARPA-PA-26-03, titled "Crystal Palace," issued on December 4, 2025, invites proposals for pioneering research aimed at revolutionizing single crystal inorganic material growth specifically tailored for microsystems applications. The program targets transformative advances rather than incremental improvements, encouraging novel approaches that significantly advance the science and enabling technologies for next-generation microsystem devices. The research emphasizes the development of precise, locally controlled growth tools for complex inorganic materials at scales relevant to defense applications, supporting Department of the Workforce (DoW) priorities such as radar systems, autonomous platforms, and guided munitions. The program spans approximately 36 months, structured in two phases: an initial Phase 1 focused on feasibility demonstrations and a Phase 2 comprising generalizability of the developed technologies. The contract utilizes an Other Transaction Agreement for Research format, allowing a flexible, milestone-driven funding mechanism intended to encourage collaborative innovation. Payments are tied to clear, quantifiable technical milestones including material quality metrics (e.g., single crystal full-width half-maximum ≤0.3°, uniformity within ±5%), reproducibility across multiple runs, and verified material properties measured via advanced characterization techniques. Proposers must submit detailed technical, management, and price volumes adhering to strict formatting and content requirements, with pricing linked to labor, materials, subcontractor services, and other costs broken down comprehensively. An Independent Verification & Validation (IV&V) team is charged with assessing milestone deliverables at destination locations, while DARPA’s Agreements Officer’s Representative oversees acceptance, ensuring technical compliance before milestone payments. The program incorporates rigorous Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) handling, export control compliance, and cyber incident reporting obligations, with mandatory flowdown of these requirements to subcontractors. Organizational conflict-of-interest disclosures and key personnel commitments are contractually binding. The solicitation emphasizes robust risk management, resource sharing, and commercialization planning, with all submissions evaluated on technical merit, personnel capability, and performance risk within a trade-off award approach that is not lowest-price-based. Notably, no traditional FAR clauses or standardized merchandise packaging and shipping provisions apply, reflecting the research- and development-focused nature of the agreement.