The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has released a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) under the Defense Sciences Office (DSO), titled "Office-wide BAA" (HR001124S0039). This BAA invites innovative research proposals that aim to revolutionize scientific advancements, focusing on national security applications. The solicitation seeks high-risk, high-reward research ideas that go beyond incremental improvements and push the boundaries of current science and technology.

DARPA's Defense Sciences Office (DSO) is particularly interested in proposals that align with one or more of its technical thrust areas, which include Novel Materials & Structures, Sensing & Measurement, Computation & Processing, Enabling Operations, Collective Intelligence, and Emerging Threats. These areas span various topics such as quantum computing, artificial intelligence, space-based technologies, and global security challenges like resource availability and environmental risks. The agency is not seeking proposals that focus on manufacturing scale-up or are limited to minor advancements in current technologies.

The funding mechanism under this BAA includes Cooperative Agreements, Procurement Contracts, and Other Transaction Agreements for research and prototypes. Proposals can be submitted continuously until September 26, 2025, with DARPA reviewing submissions on a rolling basis. While submission of an executive summary or abstract is not mandatory, it is strongly encouraged to help proposers gauge interest before submitting a full proposal.

The evaluation criteria will focus primarily on Scientific and Technical Merit, Relevance to the DARPA Mission, and Cost and Schedule Realism. Proposals must provide a detailed technical approach and show potential to contribute to national security. DARPA anticipates making multiple awards through this announcement.

Entities eligible to apply include U.S. and non-U.S. organizations, universities, small businesses, and other research institutions. Special considerations are provided for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), small disadvantaged businesses, and minority institutions, though no set-asides are included. The program may also require participants to navigate intellectual property and security considerations, particularly in research that may involve sensitive or classified information.

Prospective applicants are encouraged to review current DSO programs and engage with program managers to avoid duplicating ongoing research. DARPA also offers resources like DARPAConnect and APEX Accelerators to assist organizations with proposal preparation and cybersecurity compliance, particularly for small businesses and new entrants.