Information Innovation Office (I2O) Office-Wide

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Information Innovation Office (I2O) invites proposals under its **Office-Wide Broad Agency Announcement (BAA)** to develop groundbreaking technologies in the **informational and computational sciences**. The initiative aims to bolster national security through innovative approaches across four key thrust areas: **proficient artificial intelligence (AI), resilient and secure systems, advantages in cyber operations, and confidence in the information domain**. Proposals outside these areas may also be considered if they offer revolutionary advances in software science, technology, or systems that challenge accepted assumptions and offer significant potential to provide a decisive information advantage. This funding opportunity accepts proposals on a rolling basis, with a **final proposal deadline of October 29, 2025, at 5:00 PM ET**. Abstracts are encouraged and can be submitted until **October 1, 2025**, allowing proposers to receive preliminary feedback from DARPA. The solicitation supports multiple award instruments, including **contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, and Other Transactions** for research or prototypes. DARPA seeks proposals that are highly innovative, feasible, and achieve significant advances over the current state of the art. Projects primarily offering incremental improvements will not be considered. The four main thrust areas include advancing **trustworthy AI systems** resistant to adversarial attacks, enhancing **cyber resilience and system security**, creating **trustworthy cyber tools for operations beyond human speed and scale**, and protecting the **integrity and health of the information domain** across multiple layers. Proposals must clearly define goals, technical approaches, deliverables, and measurable outcomes. DARPA encourages unconventional ideas that challenge norms, as well as shorter, agile performance periods where applicable. Proposals will be evaluated on **Overall Scientific and Technical Merit**, **Potential Contribution and Relevance to DARPA’s Mission**, and **Cost Realism and Schedule**. Successful proposals must demonstrate technical innovation, feasibility, and a clear pathway to deliver transformative capabilities for national security. While cost realism is critical, DARPA discourages cost-cutting approaches that rely on low-risk ideas or junior personnel. Proposers must also highlight technical risks and propose mitigation strategies to ensure project success. DARPA welcomes participation from **non-traditional performers, small businesses, and minority institutions**, encouraging collaboration with diverse stakeholders. Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs), Government entities, and international participants may apply but must meet specific eligibility and security requirements. Proposals involving **Human Subjects Research** or **Animal Use** must comply with DARPA approval procedures. To streamline submissions, proposers are encouraged to submit abstracts for feedback before preparing full proposals. Abstracts and proposals must be submitted through DARPA’s **Broad Agency Announcement Tool (BAAT)**, following detailed instructions in the provided templates. Full proposals must include a **technical and management volume, cost volume, and supporting documents**, such as a risk analysis and project timeline. Templates and submission details are provided on DARPA’s Proposer Instructions website. This BAA is unclassified, but proposals involving sensitive or classified information must comply with export control laws, security regulations, and DARPA’s Fundamental Research Risk-Based Security Review Process (FRRBS). DARPA may also organize **“Pitch Days”** for targeted aspects of the thrust areas, allowing proposers to present oral pitches for consideration. Additional resources, such as **DARPAConnect** and **APEX Accelerators**, are available to assist applicants in navigating the submission process, cybersecurity compliance, and other challenges. For more information, proposers are encouraged to review the full solicitation, attachments, and additional resources listed in the BAA. Queries may be directed to the **BAA Coordinator** at **HR001125S0002@darpa.mil**.