Solicitation
DARPA Research Solutions Opening
Dept of Defense · Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) · Sol. DARPA-PA-26-08
Due in 234 days
Track this notice by email. We'll email you if it's amended or awarded, and a week and two days before responses are due.
AI summary Beta
DARPA, the Defense Department's advanced research agency, is accepting research ideas (short abstracts) from U.S. colleges and universities across its technical offices, on a rolling basis until June 1, 2027. Selected teams may get an Other Transaction (OT) for Research award, and each team must nominate a U.S.-citizen co-investigator as a possible temporary DARPA program manager. This is aimed at universities, so a typical small business cannot bid as the prime or as a subawardee.
Watch out for
- Not open to ordinary businesses. Only accredited U.S. colleges and universities can propose, and even subawards must go to universities, so a small business cannot participate.
Performance under this RSO is limited to U.S. colleges and universities.
- IPA program manager nominee required. Each team must name a U.S.-citizen co-PI who could leave the project to work at DARPA for two years or more, and that person cannot lead the funded project.
Phase 1 abstracts must identify at least two (2) co-Principal Investigators (PIs) for the
- No funding range and limited money. DARPA gave no per-award ceiling and said funding is limited, so even selectable proposals may not be funded.
No funding range has been established.
- Statutory cost sharing. Research OT awards carry cost-sharing requirements, which can add cost to the performer.
award of an OT for Research, which includes statutorily driven cost-sharing requirements.
- Abstract and proposal costs are unreimbursed. Teams spend their own money on abstracts and, if invited, full proposals with no guarantee of award.
NOTE: DARPA will not reimburse any costs associated with the preparation or submission of
Read from the notice and 5 attachments.
- DARPA-PA-26-08.pdf
- DARPA RSO FAQs 3 Sep 2026.pdf
- SAMPLE_OT_R__-_Streamlined-fixed_-_2025.02.28.docx
- Attachment_2_Oral_Abstract_Instructions_and_Template_20260602.docx
- Attachment_1_Written_Abstract_Instructions_and_Template_20260602.docx
Full brief
What they want
- Innovative basic research concepts that fit DARPA thrust areas (biology, sciences, AI/cyber, materials, tactical technology)
- A short written or oral abstract first (Phase 1)
- A full proposal only if DARPA invites one in writing (Phase 2)
- At least two co-Principal Investigators, with at least one nominated as a possible DARPA program manager under the Intergovernmental Personnel Act (IPA) program
- Revolutionary advances, not small improvements to current practice
- Contract type
- Other Transaction (OT) for Research under 10 U.S.C. 4021, not a standard FAR contract
- Place of performance
- U.S. colleges and universities; IPA program managers are based at DARPA headquarters in Arlington, Virginia
- Contract vehicle
- DARPA Research Solutions Opening DARPA-PA-26-08 (long-term open call); multiple awards anticipated
- How they'll choose
- Scientific review in two phases (abstract, then invited full proposal), not lowest price; award is not guaranteed even if selectable
- Offers due
- Abstracts accepted on a rolling basis until 11:59 PM ET on the closing date, June 1, 2027. Full proposals are due only when DARPA requests them.
- How to submit
- DARPA's Broad Agency Announcement Tool (BAAT) at https://baa.darpa.mil; submissions by any other channel are not considered
- Page limits
- Written abstract: 4 pages max (12-point Times New Roman, 1-inch margins), not counting cover sheet, attestations, table of contents, bibliography and optional technical papers. Oral abstract: 15 minutes plus 10 minutes of questions.
What they'll judge offers on
- Abstracts: (a) Overall Scientific and Technical Merit, (b) Potential Contribution and Relevance to the DARPA Mission
- Full proposals: (a) Overall Scientific and Technical Merit, (b) Potential Contribution and Relevance to DARPA Mission, (c) Price, Value, and Cost Analysis
What to include when you submit
- Use the Attachment 1 template for a written abstract, or submit the Attachment 2 materials (cover sheet, certification statements, one summary slide) to request an oral abstract
- Submit PDF or Word files; recommended file name 'Organization Name_DARPA RSO Abstract'
- Include attestations on a separate page (no SETA/A&AS work for DARPA, U.S.-citizen IPA nominee(s), U.S. institutions, applicable thrust area, innovative, not already funded)
- Name one technical office and thrust area; identify at least two co-PIs
- Mark proprietary information with 'Proprietary' (do not use 'Confidential')
- If invited to Phase 2, add a resume, cover letter and a separate Heilmeier Catechism concept proposal for each IPA nominee
- Register in Wide Area Workflow (WAWF) before award
You must have
- Only accredited U.S. colleges and universities (and their IPA candidates) may propose; performance is limited to them
This RSO is limited to Intergovernmental Personnel Act (IPA) candidates and proposals from accredited U.S. colleges and universities.
- Prime and subawardee must both be U.S. colleges or universities; commercial subawardees are not allowed
Prime and subawardee performance on this RSO is limited to U. S. colleges and
- At least two co-PIs in the abstract; at least one must be nominated for a temporary DARPA program manager role and must be a U.S. citizen able to get a security clearance
Any co-PI nominated as an IPA must be a U. S. citizen
- Must be determined responsible and not suspended or debarred, and must register in Wide Area Workflow before award
Proposers must register in the prescribed Government invoicing system, Wide Area
- SETA/advisory contractors, university-affiliated research centers (UARCs) and federally funded research centers (FFRDCs) are not eligible
Not in the notice text
- Award size and length of performance (no range or period is given)
- Full proposal due date and format (set later in DARPA's written request)
- How many awards will be made and total available funding
- Final OT terms such as data rights, cost share amount and milestones (negotiated by the Agreements Officer)
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Key facts
- Response due
- Jun 2, 2027, 3:59 AM UTC
- Posted
- Sep 3, 2026
- Notice type
- Solicitation
- Solicitation
- DARPA-PA-26-08
- Agency
- Dept of Defense · Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)
- Office
- Def Advanced Research Projects Agcy
- NAICS
- 541715
- Product/service code
- AC11
- Business type
- Engineering, architecture & research
- Contracting contact
- BAA CoordinatorDARPARSO@darpa.mil
- Versions
- 2 (amended since first posted)
What similar contracts paid
185 contracts at this agency for the same NAICS and product/service codes had activity in the last 5 years, according to USAspending.gov. Small businesses won 15% of the dollars in this market over the last 3 fiscal years.
Typical contract$2.1MMiddle half: $872K to $4.3M
Typical per year$981KValue divided by years of performance
Before you respond
Full notice text from SAM.gov
This Research Solutions Opening (RSO) aims to strengthen the DARPA Program Manager (PM) community by engaging academic researchers capable of addressing DARPA's hard problems. PMs that are passionate about tackling the most complex technical challenges, pushing the boundaries of science and technology, and shaping the future of defense and innovation. Together, through this effort, we will pioneer revolutionary solutions, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, and empower the brightest minds to make the impossible possible. This RSO also seeks to fund the independent research ideas of these passionate researchers. This RSO is limited to Intergovernmental Personnel Act (IPA) candidates and proposals from accredited U.S. colleges and universities.
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