The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Information Innovation Office (I2O) has announced a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) for its office-wide research solicitation. This announcement invites revolutionary research proposals that address novel and innovative areas in information and computational sciences. DARPA seeks proposals that fall outside the scope of its existing programs and solicitations. The goal is to support groundbreaking projects in areas such as proficient artificial intelligence (AI), resilient and secure systems, cyber operations, and information domain confidence, all of which are geared toward advancing U.S. national security. Researchers are encouraged to propose ideas that could radically alter the state of the art in computational science and technology, avoiding incremental improvements.

I2O aims to develop capabilities in four key areas: advancing the state of AI to ensure safe and trustworthy systems, improving the resilience and security of software systems, creating enduring cyber capabilities that surpass human capacities, and protecting the information domain from various attacks. Proposals may also go beyond these areas if they promise transformative advancements that provide the U.S. and its allies with a significant information advantage. DARPA especially welcomes unconventional approaches that challenge mainstream assumptions and propose innovative solutions.

DARPA anticipates multiple awards under this solicitation, which may be funded through procurement contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, or Other Transaction (OT) mechanisms. OTs allow flexibility in contracting, especially for non-traditional entities that have not recently received substantial defense funding. DARPA encourages participation from non-traditional sources and offers flexibility in negotiating terms for these entities. Proposers using OTs are required to have at least one non-traditional participant or contribute to one-third of the project’s costs through cost-sharing.

The submission process includes an optional abstract phase to gauge DARPA’s interest in the proposal. If encouraged, proposers may submit a full proposal by the specified deadline. Proposals will undergo a scientific review based on relevance to DARPA’s mission, innovation, and technical merit. The deadline for abstract submission is October 29, 2024, at 12:00 PM ET, and full proposals are due on the same date.

Eligibility is open to various entities, including U.S. and non-U.S. organizations, higher education institutions, and non-profit research institutions. Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) and government entities must demonstrate that their proposed work is not otherwise available from the private sector and provide specific documentation to establish eligibility.

This BAA provides significant flexibility for proposers to innovate and contribute to DARPA’s efforts in maintaining national security advantages through advanced information and computational technologies. The solicitation encourages creative approaches, shorter project timelines, and unconventional methods, with the possibility of negotiating contracts or grants in phases to support continued work.