Photonic Integrated Circuit Architectures for Scalable System Objectives (PICASSO)

SOL #: DARPA-PS-26-13Solicitation

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; Applied Research (AC12)

Set Aside

No set aside specified

Timeline

1
Posted
Jan 14, 2026
2
Last Updated
Mar 6, 2026
3
Submission Deadline
Mar 17, 2026, 1:00 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) is soliciting innovative proposals for Photonic Integrated Circuit Architectures for Scalable System Objectives (PICASSO). This Solicitation seeks revolutionary advances in very large-scale photonic circuits, focusing on circuit-level innovation to achieve significant gains in latency, efficiency, and bandwidth. The program anticipates $35M in funding. Proposals are due March 17, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. ET.

Purpose and Scope

DARPA's Microsystems Technology Office (MTO) aims to develop scalable photonic circuits with predictable performance, enabling revolutionary advances in science, devices, or systems. The focus is on circuit-level strategies to preserve optical signal integrity, minimize excess noise, and control modes for predictable behavior, rather than incremental improvements to existing components. Proposals must address Technical Area 1 (Fundamentals) in its entirety, which includes two phases: Signal Integrity and Generalizable Functions.

Contract Details

  • Type: Other Transaction for Prototype (OT-P) agreements under 10 U.S.C. § 4022.
  • Anticipated Funding: $35,000,000.
  • Period of Performance Start: July 1, 2026.
  • Set-Aside: None specified.
  • Eligibility: Non-U.S. organizations/individuals cannot participate as lead proposers. Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Small Businesses, Small Disadvantaged Businesses, and Minority Institutions are encouraged. FFRDCs, UARCs, and Government Entities are not eligible to propose. A 1/3 cost share is not required if a non-traditional defense contractor or nonprofit research institution participates significantly.

Submission Requirements & Evaluation

Proposers were required to submit an abstract by February 9, 2026. Full proposals must include a Volume I (Technical and Management Proposal), limited to 10 pages, and a Volume II (Price Proposal), utilizing Attachments D and E. An oral presentation (20 slides, 40 minutes) is also a key component of Volume I. Proposers must disclose the use of AI tools in proposal preparation. Evaluation criteria, in descending order of importance, are: Overall Scientific and Technical Merit, Potential Contribution and Relevance to the DARPA Mission, and Budget and Price. Return on Investment (ROI) is not an evaluation factor.

Key Dates

  • Proposal Due Date: March 17, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. ET.
  • Proposers Day: January 16, 2026 (Past).
  • Proposal Abstract Due Date: February 9, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. ET (Past).
  • Requests for CUI Materials Closed: February 9, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. ET (Past).
  • Question Submittal Closed: February 27, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. ET (Past).
  • Deadline to Notify of Intent to Submit Proposal: March 9, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. ET (Past).

Important Notes

A Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) Addendum contains key technical details and is available upon request via Attachment K. Proposals must address the goals of TA1 in their entirety; partial solutions will not be considered.

People

Points of Contact

PICASSO PS CoordinatorPRIMARY

Files

Files

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Versions

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Solicitation
Posted: Mar 6, 2026
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Version 3
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Posted: Jan 27, 2026
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Version 2
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Posted: Jan 26, 2026
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Version 1
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Posted: Jan 14, 2026
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Photonic Integrated Circuit Architectures for Scalable System Objectives (PICASSO) | GovScope