Information Processing Techniques Office Office-Wide

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), through its Information Processing Techniques Office (IPTO), has issued a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) titled Information Processing Techniques Office Office-Wide. DARPA operates under the U.S. Department of Defense and is known for funding high-risk, high-reward research that aims to create technological breakthroughs for national security. IPTO specifically focuses on advancing information science and computational technologies that can provide decisive advantages to the United States and its allies. This BAA reflects DARPA’s mission to pursue innovative, unconventional research approaches that challenge existing paradigms and produce transformative outcomes rather than incremental improvements. The primary purpose of this funding opportunity is to support revolutionary research across several core thrust areas, including artificial intelligence innovation, inherent security and privacy, and resilient megasystems. These areas emphasize the development of energy-efficient and trustworthy AI, next-generation secure and privacy-preserving systems, and advanced models for complex interconnected systems such as supply chains and power grids. DARPA explicitly encourages proposals that introduce novel capabilities with the potential to create significant computational or informational advantages, even if they fall outside the stated focus areas, provided they align with the broader mission. Funding under this announcement may be provided through multiple award mechanisms, including procurement contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, and other transaction agreements. Multiple awards are anticipated, though specific funding amounts are not defined in the announcement. Cost sharing may be required depending on the award type, particularly for other transaction agreements. The program emphasizes flexibility in funding structures and encourages proposers to align project scope, scale, and cost with DARPA’s priorities and available resources. Research that has already been completed or previously funded by the government is explicitly excluded. Eligibility for this opportunity is broad and inclusive, allowing participation from a wide range of entities, including U.S. and non-U.S. organizations, academic institutions, private companies, nonprofit organizations, and government-affiliated research centers. Special considerations apply to federally funded research and development centers, university-affiliated research centers, and government entities, which must demonstrate eligibility and address potential conflicts of interest. All participants must comply with applicable security, export control, and cybersecurity requirements, including adherence to Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification standards where applicable. The application process follows a structured, multi-step submission pathway. Prospective applicants are required to first submit an abstract through the DARPA Broad Agency Announcement Tool (BAAT). Based on the evaluation of the abstract, selected proposers may be invited to submit a full proposal. Abstracts must conform to strict formatting and content requirements and are evaluated based on technical originality, feasibility, and alignment with mission objectives. Full proposals, which are by invitation only, must include detailed technical, management, and cost volumes, along with required disclosure forms for key personnel. The timeline for this opportunity begins with a posting date of June 22, 2026. Abstract submissions are due by June 22, 2027, and questions must also be submitted by that same deadline. Full proposal deadlines are not fixed and will be provided only to those invited to proceed. DARPA anticipates ongoing engagement with proposers, including potential pitch events and iterative feedback processes. The agency will notify applicants of abstract outcomes, including whether they are invited to proceed, not selected, or deemed non-conforming. Evaluation of submissions is conducted in two stages: a mandatory technical conformance review followed by a comprehensive evaluation of technical merit, relevance to DARPA’s mission, implementation feasibility, and cost realism. DARPA prioritizes proposals that demonstrate groundbreaking innovation, strong technical teams, and the ability to deliver resilient and secure software capabilities. The overall process reflects DARPA’s commitment to advancing cutting-edge research while maintaining rigorous standards for scientific excellence and operational impact.

Focus on revolutionary innovation over incremental improvements; align clearly with DARPA mission priorities; demonstrate technical originality and feasibility; ensure compliance with formatting and submission requirements