Fast and Curious

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This Disruption Opportunity (DO) from DARPA's Defense Sciences Office (DSO) seeks innovative basic or applied research concepts in microsystems for computing. The goal is to develop and demonstrate next-generation advanced computing technology that achieves 100-1,000x greater energy efficiency than current Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (CMOS) technology, addressing the increasing energy demands of AI, data-intensive workloads, and edge computing.

• Develop novel logic devices and architectures that surpass CMOS in energy efficiency and speed.

• Fabricate and engineer non-traditional transistor-like heterostructures.

• Design and develop logic and computational circuits using these heterostructures.

• Perform theoretical analysis and modeling to guide device design.

• Demonstrate logic gates with picosecond switching speeds and one attojoule switching energy, with sufficient output voltage swing to drive at least three subsequent gates.

• Develop XOR gates and 4-bit adders in Phase 1.

• Develop a GPS signal acquisition code (correlator) in Phase 2.

• Demonstrate integrability and scalability at the systems level.

• Test devices for operational reliability in high radiation environments.

• Awards will be made as Other Transactions (OT) for Prototype projects.

• Period of Performance: 18 months for Phase 1 base, 18 months for Phase 2 option, not to exceed 36 months total.

• Estimated start date: June 1, 2026.

• Proposals must be unclassified.

• Abstract phase is encouraged but not required.

• Full proposals must comply with content and format instructions in Section 5 of DARPA-PA-25-07.

• Evaluation will be based on published criteria, not on abstract feedback.

• Key deadlines:

  • Abstract submission: February 19, 2026
  • Proposal submission: March 31, 2026

• Open to Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs), University Affiliated Research Centers (UARCs), and Government Entities, with specific caveats and requirements for each.

• DARPA will not establish new contractual agreements with FFRDCs or Government entities.

• DARPA may establish new awards with UARCs, subject to OCI mitigation.

• Proposals including UARCs, FFRDCs, or Government entities as subcontractors/subawardees must clearly define their role and provide a rough order of magnitude cost.

• Proposers must review the model OT for Prototype agreement provided as an attachment.

• Edits to the model OT may be suggested but are not guaranteed to be accepted.

• DARPA aims for award within 120 days of the posting date (January 30, 2026).

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a cost buildup workbook, likely used for developing and submitting cost proposals. It provides a structured template for bidders to detail their proposed costs, including labor, subcontracts, other direct costs, indirect costs, and fee.

• Change Notes: Tracks revisions to the workbook, detailing specific changes made to formulas, calculations, and data entry fields across different versions.
• Constants: Defines various parameters used in cost calculations, including offeror business types, labor categories (differentiated by business type), indirect rate categories (Fringe, Overhead, G&A, F&A, etc.), SBIR/STTR phase choices, and small business size choices.
• Summary Cost Table: A central table for aggregating costs across different fiscal years and contract phases (Base, Options). It includes line items for Total Direct Labor Hours/Costs, Fringe Benefits, Labor Overhead, Subcontract Costs, Consultant Costs, Other Direct Costs, Material Handling, G&A Costs, Cost of Money, and Fixed Fee.
• Total Amount: Provides a detailed breakdown for direct labor, subcontracts, consultants, other direct costs (equipment, travel, ODCs), material handling, G&A, cost of money, and fee. It includes instructions for filling out specific fields, defining labor categories, and indicating periods of performance.
• Equipment: A section for detailing proposed equipment, including description, justification, type, quantity, unit price, total price, vendor, and basis of estimate. It outlines specific requirements for justification and supporting documentation.
• Travel: A detailed breakdown for travel costs, including purpose, origin/destination, number of people/days/trips, per diem rates, airfare, car rental, mileage, and other expenses. It provides instructions on using GSA per diem rates and required backup documentation.
• Schedule of Milestones and Payments: Outlines specific project milestones, their associated exit criteria/deliverables, due dates, and payment information, keyed to a separate Task Description Document.

This workbook is critical for bidders to accurately and comprehensively develop their cost proposals. It dictates the format for presenting cost data, defines the categories of costs to be included, and provides specific instructions for completing each section. Understanding the structure and requirements of this workbook is essential for a compliant and competitive cost proposal submission.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a mandatory abstract template for submissions to the DARPA-PA-25-07-01 Disruption Opportunity. It outlines the required format and content for abstract submissions.

• Format: Must be submitted in PDF or Microsoft Word.
• Language: Must be written in English.
• Page Setup: 8-1/2 by 11-inch paper with 1-inch margins and a minimum 12-point font size (8 or 10-point allowed for figures, tables, charts).
• Page Limit: Maximum of 2 pages (1 cover sheet + 1 technical description).
• Cover Sheet Content: Includes fields for Prime Organization Logo, Abstract Summary Title, Proposer Organization, Technical Point of Contact (Name, Address, Phone, Email), and Administrative Point of Contact (Name, Address, Phone, Email).
• Technical Description Content: Requires concise answers to questions based on the Heilmeier Catechism, covering:
  • What the proposed work attempts to accomplish.
  • The current state of the art and its limitations.
  • The novelty of the proposed approach and its technical basis for success.

This template is critical for any organization intending to submit an abstract for this opportunity. Bidders must adhere strictly to the formatting, content, and page limitations specified to ensure their submission is compliant and considered.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a mandatory template for proposals submitted to the DARPA-PA-25-07-01 Fast and Curious Disruption Opportunity (DO). It outlines the required structure and content for Volume 1: Technical and Management Volume.

• Formatting Requirements: Proposals must be in .pdf, .odx, .doc, or .docx formats, written in English, and formatted for 8-1/2 by 11-inch paper with 1-inch margins and a minimum 12-point font size (8 or 10 point for figures, tables, charts).
• Page Limits: The Technical and Management Volume shall not exceed 15 pages. This limit includes technical figures, tables, charts, and Sections 1-4. It does NOT include the Cover Sheet, Table of Contents, Bibliography (optional), or Task Description Document.
• Content Sections: The template requires specific sections including:
  • Executive Summary (max 1 page)
  • Goals and Impact
  • Technical Plan
  • Capabilities/Management Plan
  • Task Description Document (TDD)
  • Bibliography (optional)
• Cover Sheet Information: Requires details such as Proposal Title, Proposer Organization, Type of Organization, Technical and Administrative Points of Contact, Award Instrument Requested, Total Proposed Price, Place(s) of Performance, Other Team Members, UEI number, TIN, CAGE code, Date Prepared, and Proposal Validity Period.

This template is critical for bidders as it dictates the mandatory format, content, and structure of their technical and management proposal. Adherence to these guidelines, including page limits and required sections, is essential for a compliant and evaluable submission. Bidders must carefully follow the instructions for each section, particularly the Executive Summary and Task Description Document, to effectively communicate their proposed approach and capabilities.