IARPA is seeking information on the current state of the art (SOTA) and future direction of analytical instruments capable of detecting, identifying, and characterizing the multitude of biomolecules that constitute or are associated with biological systems and materials. Such molecules include but are not limited to the macromolecules of carbohydrates (saccharides or sugars), nucleic acids (DNA and RNA, canonical and non-canonical), proteins (amino acids, peptides, and fully functional protein or proteins), and lipids (fatty acids) as well as metabolites, other small molecules, and inorganic metals. This RFI is issued for planning purposes only and does not constitute a formal solicitation for proposals or suggest the procurement of any material, data sets, etc.

IARPA recognizes and encourages the investments other entities are pursuing for improving single ‘omic’ or analyte characterization, especially focused on enabling improved single molecule sequencing of distinct analytes. IARPA’s mission is distinct from these entities with the mission to pursue even higher risk, higher impact activities and this RFI reflects IARPA’s interest in understanding what possible future capabilities may be achieved within a challenging concept space.

IARPA seeks to understand potential future concepts and multi-analyte extensible instruments/analytical platforms able to detect, identify, and/or characterize the range of biomolecules and other elements associated with biological systems and materials. IARPA’s interests align with single modality, analyte extensible, platforms or instruments which can conceivably be integrated into a single workflow matching or exceeding current SOTA capabilities. Critically, IARPA seeks to understand what advances can be achieved with (i) incremental improvements to current capabilities and (ii) with investments towards higher-risk, further afield research which have not been proven.

Responses to this RFI are due no later than 5:00 p.m. 12 January 2024, Eastern Time. All submissions must be electronically submitted as a PDF document. Inquiries and submissions to this RFI must be submitted to DNI-IARPA-RFI-24-01@iarpa.gov. Do not send questions with proprietary content. No telephone inquiries will be accepted.