Organoid Cytomorphic Intelligence Resulting from Convergent Understanding and Information Transfer (O-Circuit) Proposers Workshop

SOL #: DARPA-SN-26-58Special 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 the Physical (541715)

PSC

National Defense R&D Services; Department Of Defense Military; Basic Research (AC11)

Set Aside

No set aside specified

Timeline

1
Posted
Mar 23, 2026
2
Action Date
Apr 3, 2026, 4:00 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.

Quick Summary

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), specifically its Biological Technologies Office (BTO), is hosting a Proposers Workshop for the Organoid Cytomorphic Intelligence Resulting from Convergent Understanding and Information Transfer (O-Circuit) program. This workshop supports an anticipated Program Solicitation (PS) focused on developing biological processing units (BPUs) for energy-efficient AI/ML applications at the edge. The event is scheduled for Friday, April 10, 2026, in Arlington, VA, with a virtual attendance option. Advance registration is required by April 3, 2026.

Program Overview

The O-Circuit program aims to address the power inefficiencies of semiconductor-based computation, a significant limitation for the Department of War (DoW) in austere environments, especially for advanced AI/ML. It seeks to explore synthetic biological intelligence to improve the learning, inference, and computational memory of neural tissue systems, ultimately developing an integrated BPU for novel sense-compute-act paradigms. The anticipated acquisition strategy is through Other Transaction (OT) for Prototype awards.

Workshop Details & Opportunities

The workshop is designed to foster ideation, enhance proposal efficiency, and encourage teaming among potential bidders. Attendees will have several opportunities:

  • Lightning Talks: Present 3-minute overviews of capabilities and interests using a single slide. These are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis upon registration.
  • Teaming Profiles: Submit 1-2 page profiles detailing contact information, technical competencies, and desired partner capabilities. A template is provided, and these profiles will be shared with all registrants to facilitate collaboration.
  • Networking Session: Engage with other attendees to identify potential collaborators with shared or complementary expertise.

Key Dates & Information

  • Opportunity Type: Special Notice (Proposers Workshop)
  • Workshop Date: Friday, April 10, 2026 (Eastern Time)
  • Workshop Location: Executive Conference Center, Arlington, VA (virtual option available)
  • Registration Deadline: Friday, April 3, 2026, 4:00 PM EST, or when capacity is reached.
  • Published Date: March 23, 2026
  • Contact: Dr. Jeffrey Zaleski, Program Manager, DARPA/BTO, via email at O-Circuit@darpa.mil.

Important Notes

This Special Notice is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation for proposals or abstracts. Attendance is not mandatory but offers valuable insights into the program's objectives and facilitates teaming. The official Program Solicitation, expected in early April 2026, will supersede any information provided in this notice. Eligibility extends to FFRDCs, Government Entities, and other applicants, with provisions for non-U.S. participants. Proposers must disclose any potential Organizational Conflicts of Interest (OCI).

People

Points of Contact

Dr. Jeffrey Zaleski, Program Manager, DARPA/BTOPRIMARY

Files

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Versions

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Special Notice
Posted: Mar 23, 2026
Organoid Cytomorphic Intelligence Resulting from Convergent Understanding and Information Transfer (O-Circuit) Proposers Workshop | GovScope