DARPA - Defense Sciences Office AI policy

For applicants

• In DSO solicitations that include it (e.g. DSO Pitch Day, DARPA-PA-26-01), you must answer on the cover sheet whether you used AI tools to help prepare the proposal and, if so, which tools.[1]
• Any content that used an AI tool to generate information, aid technical understanding, or guide the technical work should be cited, with a bibliography entry naming the tool, the content, and the purpose.[1]
• DARPA says the AI-use answer will not be used for evaluation. Proposals are scored on the stated criteria whether or not AI tools were used.[1]

Sources

1. [1]

   Program Announcement for DSO Pitch Day Solicitation (DARPA-PA-26-01)

   DARPA Defense Sciences Office, October 7, 2025

   “DARPA is interested in whether, and to what extent, proposers are using artificial intelligence (AI) tools to contribute to the Abstract and PDP submitted in response to this solicitation.”

   “Did you use AI tools to assist in preparing this proposal?”

   “Any content in the Abstract and PDP that utilized an AI tool to generate information, assist in technical understanding, or guide the technical work should have a citation and a corresponding reference in the Bibliography section of the Abstract or PDP.”

   “Proposals will be evaluated in accordance with the Evaluation Criteria outlined in this solicitation and the invitation to submit a final PDP regardless of whether AI tools were employed.”