Expedited Research Implementation Series (ERIS)
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), in conjunction with The Applied Research Institute (ARI), has issued an Expedited Research Innovation System (ERIS) solicitation. This is a long-term, open call for new and novel technology solutions to support DARPA's mission in advancing disruptive research, development, prototyping, experimentation, and adoption. ERIS functions as a digital marketplace for post-competition video solutions, enabling rapid acquisition via Other Transaction Authority (OTA).
Purpose & Scope
ERIS seeks breakthrough technological advancements or new applications of existing technologies relevant to U.S. national security. The initiative aims to solicit, collect, assess, and curate revolutionary solutions, making them available through rapid acquisition pathways. Government organizations can search, view, review, compare, contact, negotiate, and procure these technologies. For industry, academia, and individual developers, ERIS provides a venue to promote revolutionary technologies to DARPA.
Key Requirements & Deliverables
Submitters must provide a video solution pitch, a submission form, and supplemental slides.
- Video Specifications: Unclassified, under 7 minutes, HD 1280x720 resolution, .mp4 format, under 1 GB, and Rec709 or sRGB color space. Submissions must be free of proprietary or export-controlled information.
- Video Content: Must address defining the problem/current state of the art, how the solution advances the state of the art, team capability, and defense/commercial market use case/impact.
- Supplemental Slides: Required slides include ERIS Submission Information, Company Introduction, ERIS Submission Criteria Quad Chart, and Solution Overview & DARPA White Space Chart (as detailed in Appendix B).
- Technology Readiness Level (TRL): Bidders should understand and report the TRL of their proposed technologies, using the DoD's standardized framework (Appendix A).
Contract Details
ERIS utilizes Other Transaction Authority (OTA) pathways, allowing for rapid acquisition. Solutions deemed "awardable" are considered "post-competitive" and eligible for award of research, prototyping, test and evaluation, and procurement for experimental purposes without further competition. Award terms are fully negotiable, including payment, intellectual property, data rights, schedule, milestones, and pricing. There is potential for multiple awards with no price ceilings or duration limits.
Submission & Evaluation
- Submission: Accepted continuously through a long-term open call, with monthly collection periods. The submission cutoff is 12:00 PM ET on the final day of each monthly collection period. The overall program response date is May 31, 2027.
- Assessment: Results are typically available within 30 days of the end of the collection period. Submissions are assessed by a peer panel of government, industry, and academic Subject Matter Experts (SMEs). Solutions are rated as "awardable" or "non-awardable." "Non-awardable" solutions can be resubmitted.
- Evaluation Criteria (Appendix C):
- Advancing the State of the Art (40%)
- Team Capability (30%)
- Defining the Problem & Current State of the Art (20%)
- Defense and/or Commercial Market Use Case/Impact (10%)
- Marketplace: "Awardable" videos are placed in the ERIS Marketplace for 12 months (enduring topic areas) or 6 months (special topic areas). Assessment as "awardable" does not guarantee an award.
Eligibility
All U.S.-based companies (traditional and nontraditional, large and small businesses), universities, non-profit companies, and individuals are welcome. Foreign universities, research institutions, and entities may submit, provided they comply with international law. Submissions must be unclassified and not include proprietary or export-controlled information.
Additional Notes
Costs for preparing and submitting are the responsibility of the entity. Questions can be directed to ERIS@darpa.mil. More information is available at www.darpaconnect.us/ERIS.