Decentralized Artificial Intelligence through Controlled Emergence (DICE) Proposers Day
Overview
Buyer
Place of Performance
NAICS
PSC
Set Aside
Original Source
Timeline
Qualification Details
Fit reasons
- NAICS alignment with historical contract wins in similar service areas.
- Scope strongly matches core technical capabilities and delivery model.
Risks
- Past performance thresholds may require one additional teaming partner.
- Potential clarification needed on staffing minimums before bid/no-bid.
Next steps
Validate eligibility requirements, assign capture owner, and schedule partner outreach to confirm teaming strategy before submission planning.
Quick Summary
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), specifically its Information Innovation Office, has issued a Special Notice announcing a Proposers Day for the anticipated "Decentralized Artificial Intelligence through Controlled Emergence (DICE)" program. This event aims to inform potential proposers about the program's technical goals and challenges, answer questions, and facilitate discussions. Registration for the Proposers Day is due by May 19, 2026.
Scope of Program
The DICE program seeks to develop the theory and algorithms for decentralized coordination and local inference control. The objective is to enable a scalable, adaptive, and resilient collective of heterogeneous AI agents capable of autonomously executing sustained long-time-horizon missions in contested environments, while remaining under human control. This approach contrasts with rigid centralized orchestration or unpredictable ad hoc AI compositions, aiming to harness self-organizing systems' scalability and adaptability while minimizing risks and ensuring predictable, aligned collective behavior.
Event Details & Timeline
- Opportunity Type: Special Notice (Proposers Day)
- Agency: DEPT OF DEFENSE / DEFENSE ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGENCY (DARPA)
- Product/Service Code: AC11 (National Defense R&D Services; Department Of Defense Military; Basic Research)
- Set-Aside: None specified (informational event)
- Proposers Day Registration Due: May 19, 2026, 5:00 PM ET
- Published Date: April 28, 2026
Purpose of Proposers Day
This Proposers Day will include presentations on the DICE program's purpose and background, technical goals, and challenges. It will also feature Q&A sessions and opportunities for individual discussions with the DARPA Program Manager. This notice is not a solicitation and does not obligate DARPA to issue one, but it serves as a crucial informational resource for interested parties to understand the program's direction and prepare for potential future solicitations. Resources like DARPAConnect are highlighted for navigating DARPA processes.
Contact Information
- Primary Contact: Solicitation Coordinator
- Email: DICE@darpa.mil