Generative Optogenetics (GO) Working Group

SOL #: DARPA-SN-26-27Special Notice

Overview

Buyer

DEPT OF DEFENSE
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (Darpa)
DEF ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGCY
ARLINGTON, VA, 222032114, United States

Place of Performance

Place of performance not available

NAICS

Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)

PSC

National Defense R&D Services; Department Of Defense Military; Applied Research (AC12)

Set Aside

No set aside specified

Timeline

1
Posted
Jan 5, 2026
2
Action Date
Jan 26, 2026, 11:59 PM

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.

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Generative Optogenetics (GO) program is seeking facilitators to establish and manage working groups dedicated to each of the following topic areas: (1) Biosecurity, (2) Regulatory Policy, and (3) Commercialization. GO represents a groundbreaking advancement in bioengineering, with the potential to revolutionize fields such as defense, agriculture, biomanufacturing, and space exploration. For the technologies emerging from GO to have maximal beneficial impact, there must be clear pathways to commercialization, which necessitates both capital investments and clear regulatory policy. However, the unprecedented capabilities of GO technology raise critical concerns of misuse, complex regulatory questions, and risks of adversarial capital. To address these challenges, DARPA plans to establish dedicated working groups that will inform responsible development, deployment, governance, and financing of technologies developed under the GO program.

People

Points of Contact

Dr. Matthew J. Pava, DARPA/BTOPRIMARY

Files

Files

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Versions

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Special Notice
Posted: Jan 5, 2026
Generative Optogenetics (GO) Working Group | GovScope