Microsystems Technology Office (MTO) Office-wide
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 Microsystems Technology Office (MTO), has issued a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) seeking revolutionary research ideas for topics not currently addressed by ongoing MTO programs or other published solicitations. The goal is to develop high-risk, high-reward technologies that enhance U.S. national security. This BAA is open to all responsible sources, with no specific set-aside. Proposals are due March 2, 2026.
Purpose & Scope
This BAA (HR001124S0028) aims to solicit innovative research proposals to create or prevent strategic surprise and address complex threats through advanced microsystems technology. The announcement focuses on three nascent thrusts:
- Scientific Disruption: Developing new ways to design and employ integrated circuits, including photonic, quantum, and bio/organic circuits.
- Microsystems manufacturing ecosystem: Establishing infrastructure for sustainable advanced microsystems, covering additive, subtractive, and hybrid fabrication tools, and material reuse/recycling.
- Dual use by design: Leveraging commercial scaling for defense microsystems, focusing on design, integration, and hardware security for impactful commercialization. Specific areas of interest include quantum computing, quantum sensors, bio-based processors, nanopore sensing, chip-scale hyperspectral sensors, and advanced photonic interconnects.
Contract Details
DARPA anticipates multiple awards, which may include Procurement Contracts, Grants, Cooperative Agreements, and Other Transactions (OTs). Funding types are 6.1, 6.2, and/or 6.3. An Accelerated Award Option is available for unclassified efforts not exceeding $2,000,000, allowing for awards within 30 days of selection notification, provided specific terms (e.g., data rights, cost proposal format, DCAA-reviewed accounting system for contracts, or Attachment K agreement for OTs) are met.
Submission & Evaluation
Abstracts are accepted on a rolling basis until a date prior to the proposal due date. Full proposals are due March 2, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. ET. Questions were accepted until November 17, 2025. Proposals will be evaluated based on: 1) Overall Scientific and Technical Merit, 2) Potential Contribution and Relevance to the DARPA Mission, and 3) Cost Realism. Proposers must disclose the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools on the cover sheet of Volume 1 of their proposals, though AI use will not be an evaluation factor. Updated cybersecurity guidance, including CMMC Level 2 for procurement contract awards, is effective November 10, 2025.
Eligibility & Set-Aside
All responsible sources, including U.S. and non-U.S. entities, are eligible. Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Small Businesses, Small Disadvantaged Businesses, and Minority Institutions are encouraged to submit, but no portion of this BAA is set aside for them. FFRDCs, University Affiliated Research Centers, and Government entities must contact the Agency POC before submitting an abstract to discuss eligibility.
Key Amendments & Attachments
This BAA has undergone several amendments. Amendment 07 extended due dates and updated CMMC cybersecurity guidance. Amendment 06 extended previous due dates and introduced DARPA FRRBS guidance. Amendment 03 added the requirement for AI tool disclosure. Amendment 02 expanded the Accelerated Award Option to include Other Transaction for Prototypes Agreements. Numerous attachments provide detailed instructions and templates for abstracts (Attachment A), technical proposals (Attachment C), cost proposals (Attachment D, E), accelerated award election (Attachment I), and model contracts/agreements (Attachments F, G, H, K, L, M).