Expedited Research Innovation System (ERIS)

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This solicitation announces the DARPA Expedited Research Innovation System (ERIS), an open call for novel technology solutions to support DARPA's mission of creating strategic surprise. ERIS aims to identify, assess, and acquire disruptive technologies, processes, research, or methods relevant to U.S. national security through rapid acquisition pathways. It serves as a digital marketplace for post-competition video solutions.

• Submitters must provide video pitches detailing solutions.

• Solutions must address one or more of the identified topic areas, which evolve based on DARPA's program office interests.

• Key topic areas include: detecting/tracking elusive objects, overcoming sensing system limitations, developing resilient strategic systems, advanced defense against threats (chemical, biological, human-made, natural), improving resilience of U.S. operations (including AI/ML convergence with chemistry/biology), and developing groundbreaking methods for complex/emergent/adaptive systems.

• AI-only, data-driven approaches are out of scope for the latter topic area.

• ERIS utilizes Other Transaction Authority (OTA) pathways.

• Solutions deemed "awardable" are eligible for award without further competition.

• Contract pathways can cover research, development, prototyping, test and evaluation, and procurement.

• Award terms are fully negotiable, including payment, intellectual property, data rights, schedule, milestones, and pricing.

• Potential for multiple awards with a single or multiple customers.

• Submissions are accepted on a continuous, long-term open call basis, with monthly collection periods (e.g., December 1-31).

• Submission cutoff is 12:00 PM ET on the last day of each monthly collection period.

• Assessments are conducted monthly, with results typically available within 30 days of the collection period's end.

• Solutions must be unclassified and free of proprietary or export-controlled information.

• Video submissions must be no longer than seven minutes, HD 1280x720 resolution, .mp4 format, under 1 GB, and Rec709 or sRGB color space.

• Required video content includes: defining the problem/state of the art, advancing the state of the art, team capability, and defense/commercial market use case/impact.

• Supplemental slides (four slides) are required and must adhere to a specific format.

• Submissions are assessed by a peer panel of government, industry, and academic Subject Matter Experts (SMEs).

• Final decisions on awardability are made by the Government Selecting Official (GSO).

• "Awardable" videos are placed in the ERIS Marketplace for 12 months (enduring topics) or 6 months (special topics).

• All U.S.-based companies (large and small businesses), universities, non-profit companies, and individuals are welcome.

• Foreign entities may submit if compliant with international law.

• "Nontraditional defense contractors" are explicitly welcomed.

• Costs for preparing and submitting are the responsibility of the entity.

• Assessment as "awardable" does not guarantee an award.

• Questions can be directed to ERIS@darpa.mil.

• More information is available at www.darpaconnect.us/ERIS.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document outlines the evaluation criteria for the DARPA ERIS (Exploration of Remote Sensing) opportunity, dated September 2025. It details the factors that will be used to assess proposals and the corresponding rating definitions.

• Factors for Evaluation:
  • Advancing the State of the Art (Weight: 40%)
  • Team Capability (Key Personnel Vision, Expertise, and Experience) (Weight: 30%)
  • Defining the Problem & Current State of the Art (Weight: 20%)
  • Defense and/or Commercial Market Use Case/Impact (Weight: 10%)
• Rating Definitions: For each factor, specific definitions are provided for "Unsatisfactory," "Marginal," "Satisfactory," "Highly Satisfactory," and "Superior" ratings.
• Points Possible: The maximum points for each factor are clearly indicated.

This document is critical for bidders as it directly informs how their proposals will be evaluated. Understanding these criteria allows vendors to tailor their submissions to align with the government's expectations and maximize their chances of a favorable rating. Bidders should pay close attention to the definitions of each rating level within each factor to understand what constitutes a superior proposal.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document appears to be a presentation template or guide for bidders responding to the ERIS opportunity. It outlines the expected content and structure for a bidder's submission, specifically focusing on a quad chart and a solution overview.

• Company Introduction: Requires a brief company overview chart.
• ERIS Submission Criteria Quad Chart: Details four key areas bidders must address:
  • Defining the Problem & Current State of the Art
  • Advancing the State of the Art
  • Team Capability (Key Personnel Vision, Expertise, and Experience)
  • Defense and/or Commercial Market Use Case/Impact
• Solution Overview & DARPA White Space Chart: Requires a description of the proposed solution and its alignment with DARPA's "White Space" concept, including a notional example and comments on comparison to the state of the art.

This document is critical for bidders as it directly dictates the format and content requirements for their proposal submission. It provides a clear framework for how to present their company, proposed solution, and team capabilities in a manner that aligns with the government's expectations for the ERIS opportunity.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document, Appendix A, defines the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) scale used by the DoD. It provides a standardized framework for assessing the maturity of technologies.

• Levels 1-9: Each level describes a distinct stage of technological development, from basic principles to proven application in operational conditions.
• Definitions: Each level includes a clear definition of what constitutes that stage of readiness.
• DoD DAG Description: Provides specific examples and context for each TRL level, aligning with the Department of Defense Acquisition Guidebook.

Bidders may need to understand and report the TRL of their proposed technologies or solutions. This document provides the criteria against which their technology's readiness will be assessed. Familiarity with these TRL definitions is crucial for accurately representing the maturity of a proposed technology and for understanding government expectations regarding technology development.