Cyber Physical Systems Executing in Real Time (CyPhER Forge)

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This solicitation, DARPA-PS-26-04, titled "Cyber Physical Systems Executing in Real Time (CyPhER) Forge," aims to revolutionize defense Test & Evaluation (T&E) by reducing the link between physical system complexity and test duration. DARPA seeks to achieve this through a phased acquisition approach over 30 months, focusing on two core innovations to reduce required test points by an order of magnitude. The program will use flight testing as a primary demonstration and validation environment.

The program is structured into three phases:

• Phase 0 Backbone (6 months): DARPA will build the Integration, Validation, and Verification (IV&V) infrastructure.
• Phase 1 Base (12 months): Proposers will develop prototype CyPhERs (Cyber Physical Systems Executing in Real Time) and demonstrate performance gains using flight test data. This phase focuses on developing real-time, physics-informed, uncertainty-aware Digital Twins (DTs) and AI Test Agents.
• Phase 2 Option (18 months): Proposers will mature the CyPhERs for live flight testing and demonstrate further performance gains. This phase focuses on developing flight-ready CyPhERs and conducting a full-scale demonstration.

The program has two Focus Areas (FAs):

• FA1: Build Real-Time Learning Models: Focuses on developing a Government-owned DT using three technical pillars: Physics-Informed Surrogate Models, Uncertainty Quantification, and Continuous Data Assimilation.

• FA2: Safely Maximize Learning: Focuses on developing the AI Test Agent using three technical pillars: Statistical Safety Assurances, Information-Maximizing Maneuvers, and Machine Precision Autonomy.

• Contract Type: Other Transaction (OT) for Prototype Project Agreement.

• Period of Performance: Approximately 30 months, phased.

• Estimated Value: Not explicitly stated, but multiple awards are anticipated.

• Cost Share: DARPA strongly encourages cost share.

• Abstract Submission: Required for initial consideration (due April 1, 2026).

• Oral Proposal Package (OPP) & Oral Presentation: Invited Proposers will submit an OPP and present on-site at DARPA (tentatively scheduled for April 2026).

• Evaluation Criteria: Technical Approach, Capabilities and Relevant Qualifications, Proposed Costs, and Intellectual Property (IP)/Data Rights.

• Eligibility: Restricted to U.S. Citizens and U.S. Permanent Residents (Green Card holders) representing U.S. companies only.

• Set-Aside: Not specified; encourages solutions from all responsible sources, including large and small businesses, and nontraditional defense contractors.

• Key Dates: Release Date: February 25, 2026; Industry Day: January 22, 2026; Abstracts Due: April 1, 2026.

• Resources: DARPA will furnish High Performance Compute (HPC), a CUI data lake, IV&V environment, and Government-furnished High-Fidelity Models (HFMs).

• Security: Access to HPC resources requires a favorably adjudicated Tier 1 background investigation.

• Attachments: Numerous attachments are provided, including templates for abstracts, oral proposals, cost spreadsheets, and IP/data rights assertions.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a cost proposal spreadsheet template designed to guide bidders in preparing their cost proposals for the CyPhER Forge opportunity. It provides a structured format for detailing costs across different phases and categories. Bidders must use this template to submit their cost information.

• INSTRUCTIONS Tab: Provides guidance on completing the spreadsheet, emphasizing the need to complete the 'TOTAL' and 'Budget by Milestone' tabs, and to add/edit/remove milestones as needed. It also details other supporting tabs for specific cost categories (Materials, Equipment, Consultants, Travel, ODC Details) and advises on maintaining formula integrity.
• TOTAL Tab: A comprehensive overview of the total cost proposal, broken down by Direct Labor (DL), Fringe, Overhead, Subcontracts, Consultants, Other Direct Costs (ODCs), General and Administrative (G&A), and Facilities Cost of Money (COM). It includes fields for Phase 1 and Phase 2 costs, as well as a total, and allows for profit/fixed fee.
• Budget by Milestone Tab: Requires costs to be allocated across up to 21 defined milestones, detailing Direct Labor, Fringe Benefits, Labor Overhead, Subcontractors & Consultants, Other Direct Costs (ODCs), G&A, Facilities Cost of Money, and Profit/Fee for each milestone.
• Specific Cost Tabs (Material & Supplies, Equipment, Consultants-SMEs, Travel, ODC Details): These tabs require detailed breakdowns of costs within their respective categories, including quantities, unit prices, total prices, basis of estimate, and supporting documentation information.

This template is critical for bidders to accurately and completely formulate their cost proposals. It dictates the required format for cost breakdowns, milestone-based pricing, and detailed expense reporting. Failure to adhere to the structure and instructions within this template may result in delays or an incomplete proposal submission. Bidders must ensure all required fields are populated and that costs are presented in accordance with the specified phases (Phase 1: CyPhER Prototype, Phase 2: Flight-Ready CyPhER & Test Campaign) and milestone structure.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document provides instructions and templates for the Oral Proposal Package (OPP) submission and the On-Site Oral Presentation for the CyPhER Forge Program Solicitation. It details the required content, formatting, and submission procedures for potential bidders.

Oral Proposal Package (OPP) Submission:

• Must be a single combined PDF file.
• Formatting: 8-1/2 x 11-inch paper, 1-inch margins, no less than single-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman font (figures/tables may use 8- or 10-point).
• Content includes:
  • Cover Sheet (2 pages max)
  • Official Transmittal Letter (1 page max, optional)
  • Table of Contents (no page max)
  • Oral Proposal Package (20 pages max): Executive Summary, Proposed Approach, Alternate Metrics, Pipeline Automation, Compute/CI/CD, Experts, Capabilities, Management Approach, Cost/Schedule/Milestones, Resumes (2 pages/expert, not in page count), Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) (not in page count), References (optional).
• Seven (7) individual files required in addition to the combined PDF, including:
  • Attachment D: Task Description Document Instructions and Template (Word, no page max)
  • Attachment E: Schedule of Milestones and Payments (Excel, no page max)
  • Attachment F: Cost Spreadsheet (Excel, no page max)
  • Attachment H: Intellectual Property/Data Rights Assertions (Word, no page max)
  • Attachment I: Model OTs for Prototype Agreement (Word, no page max)
  • Attachment J: Oral Presentation Slide Deck (PowerPoint, 60 slides max)
  • Attachment K: Reps & Certs (Word, template provided)

On-Site Oral Presentation:

• Content forms the basis for evaluation, along with Section 5 of the PS.
• DARPA intends to record presentations for internal use.
• Presentation duration: Max 40 minutes, followed by 15-30 minute discussion and 25-minute Q&A.
• Slide Deck: Limited to 60 slides (40 for presentation, 20 for backup). Font size no smaller than 10-point Tahoma. Must be submitted in PowerPoint format.
• Emphasis on innovative claims, technical approach, risks/mitigation, and achievement of program metrics.

This document is critical for bidders to understand the specific requirements for submitting their proposals and presenting their solutions. It outlines the structure, content, page limits, and file formats for both the written Oral Proposal Package and the Oral Presentation, directly impacting proposal preparation and submission strategy.

Forms / Attachments / Pricing Sheets

This document, "Attachment I: Model OTs for Prototype Project Agreement," provides five sample "Other Transaction" (OT) agreements for prototype projects under DARPA's CyPhER Forge program. Proposers are required to select and submit one of these model OTs with their proposal, potentially with suggested edits. The purpose of these templates is to expedite the negotiation and award process for prototype project agreements.

• Five Model OT Templates:
  1. Cost-Share – Expenditure Based
  2. Expenditure Based
  3. Fixed Support Nontraditional
  4. Cost Share – Fixed Support Traditional
  5. Fixed Support – Streamlined
• Agreement Structure: Each template outlines standard articles including Scope, Term, Management, Obligation and Payment, Disputes, Patent Rights, Data Rights, Foreign Access to Technology, Safeguarding Covered Defense Information, Follow-On Production Contracts, Title to Property, Civil Rights Act, Security, Public Release, Order of Precedence, Execution, and Prohibition on Contracting for Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment.
• Attachments: References to various attachments such as Task Description Document (TDD), Report Requirements, Schedule of Milestones and Payments, Funding Schedule, Agreements Officer’s Representative Appointment Memo, Certifications, and Property/Equipment.

Potential bidders must carefully review these model OT agreements to understand the contractual terms and conditions that will govern a potential award. They need to select the most appropriate model based on their business type and position, and prepare to submit it with their proposal, including any proposed modifications. Understanding these terms is crucial for evaluating the feasibility and requirements of participating in the CyPhER Forge program.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document, Attachment H, provides a template and instructions for Proposers to submit their Intellectual Property (IP)/Data Rights Assertions as part of the Oral Proposal Package (OPP) for the CyPhER Forge program. These assertions are required for consideration of an award.

• IP/Data Rights Strategy: Proposers must align their assertions with Section 6.4 of the Program Solicitation (PS) and clearly justify all claims.
• Phase Coverage: Submissions must address both Phase 1 Base and Phase 2 Option.
• Content Requirements: The template guides the description of proposed IP and data assertion rights for Digital Twins (DTs), AI Test Agents, CyPhERs, related artifacts, and automated pipelines. It also requires a transition plan for these items at the end of the program.
• Assertion Details: For any IP with less than Unlimited Rights, Proposers must identify specific tasks, specify the data/software, and provide development timelines and supporting documentation if developed at private expense. A certification that government funds were not used for development/modification is also required.
• Tables:
  • Table 1: For non-commercial technical data and computer software to be delivered with restrictions.
  • Table 2: For commercial software (including open-source) or data used during performance or incorporated into deliverables, with restrictions.
  • Table 3: For patented inventions owned by or assigned to the Proposer, subcontractor, or individuals, including documentation of ownership or licensing rights.
• Representations: Proposers must represent ownership or licensing rights and acknowledge that DARPA assumes unlimited rights to IP not explicitly identified as restricted. They also acknowledge that no patent search or freedom-to-operate opinion is provided by the government.

This attachment is critical for bidders to understand the specific requirements for asserting IP and data rights. Failure to submit these assertions correctly, in accordance with the PS and this template, may impact proposal eligibility. Bidders must carefully document and justify any restrictions on IP they intend to assert, providing necessary supporting evidence.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document, "Attachment G: Description of Program Metrics," provides informational details regarding the metrics that will be used within the CyPhER Forge program. It outlines the definitions, focus areas, and specific metrics for evaluating performance related to surrogate models, uncertainty quantification, data assimilation, information maximization, statistical safety assurance, and machine precision planning and execution.

• Definitions: Explains core concepts such as "basket of maneuvers," "quantities of interest (QoIs)," and "Computational Dilation of Prediction (CDP)."
• Focus Areas & Metrics: Details specific metrics within several focus areas:
  • Surrogate Models: Metrics like Normalized RMSE and CDP to assess model accuracy and speed.
  • Uncertainty Quantification: Metrics such as Normalized Averaged CRPS and Fidelity Validation Metrics (f_a, f_v, f_D) to evaluate probabilistic model predictions.
  • Data Assimilation: Metrics assessing the improvement in predictive capability after assimilating live test data.
  • Information Maximization: Metrics for maneuver and sortie planning to enhance predictivity.
  • Statistical Safety Assurance: Metrics like Safety False Alarm Rate (SFAR) and Safety Missed Alarm Rate (SMAR) for AI agent safety predictions.
  • Machine Precision Planning & Execution: Metrics like Human interventions per maneuver and Envelope Exploration Efficiency Factor (E3F).
• Phase-Based Targets: For many metrics, specific Threshold (Th) and Objective (Ob) targets are provided for Phase 1 and Phase 2 development.

This attachment is informational and provides potential bidders with insight into how program performance, particularly related to AI/ML model development and validation, will be measured. Understanding these metrics can help bidders tailor their proposals to align with the government's performance expectations and technical objectives for the CyPhER Forge program.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is an Excel spreadsheet containing a schedule of milestones and payments for the CyPhER Forge opportunity. Bidders are instructed to complete this schedule, detailing proposed milestones, their due dates, associated deliverables or exit criteria, and payment amounts. It also requires mapping each milestone to specific tasks from the Task Description Document (TDD).

• Milestones: Includes a list of required (red) and optional milestones.
• Deliverables/Exit Criteria: Specifies the expected output or completion criteria for each milestone.
• Due Dates: Outlines the timeline for each milestone, generally specified as 'Month X ACA' (After Contract Award).
• Task Mapping: Requires bidders to link milestones to tasks from the TDD.
• Proposer-Completed Sections: Bidders must fill in details for proposed milestones and associated information. Highlighted sections are not to be completed by proposers.

This attachment is critical for bidders to understand the phased approach of the CyPhER Forge effort, the specific deliverables and performance expectations at each stage, and the payment schedule tied to milestone completion. It directly informs proposal development by outlining the required structure for presenting project timelines, technical achievements, and financial planning. Bidders must carefully review the required milestones and their associated deadlines and deliverables to ensure their proposed approach aligns with the government's expectations.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document provides instructions and templates for Proposers to submit a Task Description Document (TDD) as part of the Oral Proposal Package (OPP) for the Cyber Physical Systems Executing in Real Time (CyPhER) Forge Program Solicitation (PS).

• TDD Submission Requirements: Must be submitted as a separate attachment to the OPP using the file name convention: “Attachment D – Company Name – CyPhER Forge”.
• Content: Must address both Phase 1 Base and Phase 2 Option. Proprietary information must be clearly marked line-by-line.
• Formatting: Microsoft Word format, 8-1/2 by 11-inch paper, 1-inch margins, single line spacing, 12-point Times New Roman font (smaller for figures/tables).
• Template Guidance: Use the included template for content requirements, deleting template text before submission.
• Required Sections:
  • Program Background: Brief overview.
  • Project Overview: What the project is about, why it matters, goals, objectives, and metrics.
  • Technical Tasks & Deliverables: Detailed breakdown by FY, organized by Phase 1 Base and Phase 2 Option. Must include task objective, description, milestones/deliverables, primary organization responsible, and classification (Fundamental Research, Unclassified, or CUI). Avoid charts/images; use text only. Define deliverable formats and content.
  • Meeting and Travel Requirements: Describe requirements by phase.
  • Government Furnished Information/Property (GFI/GFP): Capture assumptions.

This attachment is critical for bidders to understand the specific content, formatting, and submission requirements for the Task Description Document, which is a mandatory component of the Oral Proposal Package. Adherence to these instructions is essential for proposal consideration.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document provides instructions and a template for submitting an abstract for the Cyber Physical Systems Executing in Real Time (CyPhER) Forge program. It details the requirements for both an Abstract Summary Slide and a written Abstract, which are mandatory for receiving an invitation to submit a full proposal.

• Abstract Submission: Requires both an Abstract Summary Slide (Attachment A) and a written Abstract (Attachment B).
• File Naming Convention: "Attachment A – Company Name – CyPhER Forge" and "Attachment B – Company Name – CyPhER Forge".
• Content: Submissions must address both Phase 1 Base and Phase 2 Option.
• Abstract Summary Slide (Attachment A): Mandatory template, submitted in PowerPoint and PDF. Minimum 10-point Tahoma font (8-point for figures/tables/charts). Content requirements from the template must be deleted before submission.
• Written Abstract (Attachment B): Mandatory template, submitted in Word or PDF. Formatted for 8-1/2 x 11-inch paper with 1-inch margins. Minimum 12-point Times New Roman font (8- or 10-point for figures/tables/charts).
• Page Limits: Specific maximum page limits are defined for each section: Cover Sheet (1 page), Executive Summary/Technical Understanding/Approach/Ability (10 pages), Compute Approach (1 page), Management Approach (1 page), Estimated Cost (2 pages), Resumes (2 pages per expert), References (4 pages).
• Content Guidance: The template provides guidance for sections including Executive Summary, Technical Understanding and Approach (addressing six technical pillars), Compute Approach, Management Approach, Estimated Cost, Resumes, and References. Proposers must delete template content before submission.

This attachment is critical for bidders intending to participate in the CyPhER Forge program. It outlines the mandatory format, content, and submission requirements for the initial abstract, which is a prerequisite for further consideration. Bidders must carefully adhere to all instructions regarding file naming, formatting, page limits, and content to ensure their abstract is compliant and effectively communicates their proposed approach.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document provides guidance for creating the Abstract Summary Slide, a required component of the abstract submission for the CyPhER Forge opportunity. It outlines the content, format, and submission requirements for this single quad chart.

• Content: Must summarize the proposed solution, team, and budget, addressing both Phase 1 Base and Phase 2 Option. It should include the Abstract Title, Proposer and Subcontractor/Teaming Partner Names, Technical POC Names, Subcontractor/Teaming Partner Overviews & Capabilities, Digital Twin Development Approach, Artificial Intelligence Test Agent Development Approach, and Proposed Budget (including estimated costs for Phase 1 and Phase 2, and compute requirements).
• Format: Must fit on one slide using the provided template, be in landscape orientation, and use a minimum 10-point Tahoma font (8-point for figures/tables/charts). Only Unclassified information is permitted; no proprietary information, videos, or animations.
• Submission: Must be submitted as both a PowerPoint and a PDF file, along with the written Abstract (detailed in Attachment B). Both the Abstract Summary Slide and written Abstract are required for consideration for an invitation to submit an OPP.
• File Naming Convention: "Attachment A - Company Name - CyPhER Forge".

This attachment is critical for bidders to understand how to structure and present their abstract submission. Adherence to these guidelines is essential for successful evaluation and to be considered for the next stage of the opportunity. It details the specific information required regarding technical approach, team capabilities, and budget, directly impacting proposal preparation.