Sources sought

Solid-State Energy Conversion from Heat to Electricity Request for Information (RFI)

Notice type	Sources Sought: Market research. The agency wants to know who can do this work. Answering is free and can get the job set aside for small businesses.
Who's buying	Def Advanced Research Projects Agcy, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (darpa)
Where	Work location not listed. The buying office is in Arlington, Virginia.
Deadline	Mon, Nov 23, 2026 at 4:00 PM (local time) (30 days left)
Who can bid	Open to any business (no set-aside listed)
Industry	NAICS 541715 (Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology))
Solicitation #	DARPA-SS-27-01
Posted	Fri, Oct 23, 2026
Contact	BAA Coordinator, [email protected]

Open the official posting

From the notice

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Defense Sciences Office (DSO) is requesting information on the current state of the art and technological limitations of solid-state direct thermal-to-electric energy conversion technologies. We define solid state energy conversion as systems that convert a temperature differential directly into electrical energy without utilizing mechanical moving parts (e.g., pistons, turbines, or rotary alternators). This RFI seeks to identify the best possible solid state heat engine performance across a wide operating temperature range, factors that limit performance, and the most attractive use cases if these highly efficient solid state heat engines could be made today. This survey of limits, challenges and use cases will identify opportunities for research and development to inform potential program(s) in this area.

We may have shortened this. The official posting is the record. We are not affiliated with the agency that published it.