DAPRA Information Innovation Office (I2O) Office-Wide Program

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), through its Information Innovation Office (I2O), has issued an office-wide Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) soliciting innovative research proposals. This open solicitation is designed to attract unconventional and transformative ideas in information and computational science, with the goal of advancing national security capabilities. This BAA is not tied to any specific program but invites proposals that align with one or more of I2O’s thrust areas or propose revolutionary approaches outside the mainstream. The solicitation number is HR001125S0002, and as of Amendment 02 dated October 29, 2025, the final proposal deadline has been extended to November 28, 2025. I2O’s mission is to develop breakthrough technologies that offer enduring advantages in the informational and computational domains. Proposals are expected to address one or more of the following focus areas: proficient artificial intelligence (AI), secure and resilient systems, superiority in cyber operations, and confidence in the information domain. While submissions outside these areas are permitted, they must promise significant advancements beyond the state of the art. Proposals should not replicate existing DARPA programs and are subject to a compliance and relevance screening before undergoing technical evaluation. The agency encourages participation from a wide range of U.S. and international entities, including universities, nonprofit institutions, for-profit organizations, small businesses, and consortia. Federally Funded Research and Development Centers and Government organizations may also be eligible but must first coordinate with DARPA. Submissions involving fundamental and non-fundamental research are both considered. Proposers should specify the research type, and DARPA retains sole discretion in making this determination. Collaborative proposals involving subawardees with mixed research types must provide a breakdown. Applicants are encouraged to submit abstracts before preparing full proposals. Abstracts are reviewed on a rolling basis until October 1, 2025, with feedback offered on relevance. Regardless of the feedback, all conforming full proposals submitted by November 28, 2025, will be evaluated. Multiple award instruments are available, including procurement contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, and other transaction authorities. Abstracts and proposals must be submitted through DARPA’s Broad Agency Announcement Tool (BAAT), and proposers must follow detailed submission guidelines, including formatting and proposal templates provided in various attachments. Proposals will be evaluated based on overall scientific and technical merit, relevance to DARPA’s mission, and cost realism. Awards are anticipated to be multiple and will vary in type depending on the nature of the proposed effort and performer. Cost-sharing is not strictly required but may be viewed favorably in cases with potential commercial applications. Proposers must include a public abstract if applying for grants, and research involving human or animal subjects must comply with applicable federal protocols. DARPA encourages new and non-traditional performers to engage with the agency, and resources such as DARPAConnect and APEX Accelerators are available to support potential applicants. These platforms offer training, networking opportunities, and technical assistance for navigating DARPA’s complex funding environment.

Emphasize revolutionary over incremental change; align with I2O thrust areas; demonstrate technical feasibility; justify cost realism; identify technical risks and mitigation; clarify research type (fundamental vs non-fundamental).