Funder: DARPA - Defense Sciences Office
Due Dates: September 5, 2025 (Questions) | September 26, 2025 (Executive Summary, Abstract, Full Proposal – rolling until 4:00 PM ET)
Funding Amounts: No specified ceiling; multiple awards anticipated; award size and duration vary by project scope and instrument type.
Summary: Supports revolutionary research in science, devices, or systems for national security, seeking high-risk, high-reward ideas not addressed by ongoing DSO programs.
Key Information: Proposals must be for revolutionary, not incremental, advances; all responsible sources (including non-U.S.) may apply; executive summaries and abstracts are strongly encouraged but not required.
Description
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Defense Sciences Office (DSO) is soliciting innovative research proposals that enable revolutionary advances in science, devices, or systems for national security applications. This office-wide Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) is intended for research ideas not currently addressed by ongoing DSO programs or other published solicitations. The DSO seeks high-risk, high-reward research that could create new scientific paradigms or capabilities, rather than incremental improvements to existing technologies.
Research should address one or more of the following technical thrust areas:
- Novel Materials & Structures (e.g., quantum devices, atomic-scale systems, functional/structural materials)
- Sensing & Measurement (e.g., quantum sensing, metrology, novel light sources)
- Computation & Processing (e.g., quantum computing, cryptography, complex systems modeling)
- Enabling Operations (e.g., space-based operations, remote environments, resource assurance)
- Collective Intelligence (e.g., complex sociotechnical systems, adaptable AI, AI-accelerated learning)
- Emerging Threats (e.g., raw material availability, environmental catastrophes, digital societies)
Proposals must be revolutionary, not evolutionary, and should not focus on manufacturing scale-up.
Due Dates
- Question Submittal Deadline: September 5, 2025, 4:00 PM ET
- Executive Summaries: Rolling submission until September 26, 2025, 4:00 PM ET (strongly encouraged, not required)
- Abstracts: Rolling submission until September 26, 2025, 4:00 PM ET (strongly encouraged, not required)
- Full Proposals: Rolling submission until September 26, 2025, 4:00 PM ET
DARPA recommends submitting an executive summary or abstract before a full proposal to gauge program fit, but this is not mandatory.
Funding Amount
- Award Size: Not specified; varies by project scope and proposed approach.
- Award Duration: Varies; typically based on the proposed research plan.
- Number of Awards: Multiple awards anticipated.
- Funding Instruments: Cooperative Agreements, Procurement Contracts, Other Transactions for Research or Prototype.
No cost-sharing or matching is required unless specified by the chosen award instrument.
Eligibility
- Eligible Applicants: All responsible sources, including U.S. and non-U.S. organizations and individuals, are eligible to apply.
- Types of Organizations: Universities, nonprofit organizations, for-profit companies, small businesses, minority institutions, HBCUs, FFRDCs, UARCs, and government entities (with restrictions and prior approval).
- Special Considerations: Non-U.S. participants must comply with applicable export control laws and security regulations. FFRDCs, UARCs, and government entities must contact the BAA coordinator before submission to discuss eligibility.
Application Process
1. Executive Summary (Optional, Strongly Encouraged)
- Use the Executive Summary Template.
- Submit via the Broad Agency Announcement Tool (BAAT).
- DARPA will respond with a brief statement of interest or non-interest.
2. Abstract (Optional, Strongly Encouraged)
- Use the Abstract Instructions & Template and [Abstract Summary Slide Template].
- Submit via BAAT (not Grants.gov).
- DARPA will provide feedback and indicate whether a full proposal is recommended.
3. Full Proposal (Required)
- Use the Proposal Instructions & Template and Cost Proposal Instructions & Template.
- All proposers must use the DARPA Standard Cost Proposal Spreadsheet (Excel).
- Submission portal depends on award instrument:
- Procurement Contracts/Other Transaction for Prototype: Submit via BAAT.
- Cooperative Agreements/Other Transaction for Research: Submit via Grants.gov.
- Proposals must follow strict formatting and content guidelines (see templates).
4. Review and Evaluation
- Proposals are evaluated on:
- Overall scientific and technical merit
- Potential contribution and relevance to the DARPA mission
- Cost and schedule realism
Additional Information
- Research Scope: Both basic and applied research are eligible. Proposals should clearly state whether the work is fundamental research.
- Classified Work: All submissions are anticipated to be unclassified.
- Human/Animal Subjects: If applicable, follow DARPA’s procedures for research involving human or animal subjects.
- Intellectual Property: Clearly identify any IP restrictions in the proposal.
- Pitch Days: DARPA may announce special “Pitch Day” opportunities under this BAA via separate notices.
External Links
Contact Information
| Contact Type | Details |
|---|
| BAA Coordinator | HR001124S0039@darpa.mil |
| Mailing Address | DARPA/DSO ATTN: HR001124S0039, 675 North Randolph Street, Arlington, VA 22203-2114 |
| DSO General Contact | Contact Form |
| Phone | (571)-218-4565 |
For eligibility questions (especially for FFRDCs, UARCs, or government entities), contact the BAA Coordinator before submission.