RFI: Best Practices in Distributed General-Purpose Radio Frequency (RF) Signal Processing
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) Multi X Office (MXO) has issued a Request for Information (RFI) seeking best practices and innovative approaches for distributed general-purpose radio frequency (RF) signal processing. The RFI aims to gather insights to standardize control, scheduling, and processing of advanced RF systems, enhancing performance, efficiency, and interoperability, while reducing costs and deployment time for prototype systems. Responses may inform future DARPA program development. Responses are due July 10, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. ET.
Purpose & Scope
DARPA is exploring methods to standardize the control, scheduling, and processing of advanced RF systems to enhance performance, efficiency, and interoperability in complex operational environments. This initiative also seeks to reduce the cost of laboratory-scale prototype systems and the time required to port them to tactical platforms. The RFI specifically targets insights into:
- Standardization of RF Hardware Control: Methods for interoperability, leveraging existing standards (e.g., ACPI), and novel API designs.
- Aperture Scheduling: Advanced techniques for multi-purpose and multi-element apertures, including algorithms, dynamic arbitration, performance metrics, and graceful degradation.
- Distributed Computing in RF Apertures: Architectures for distributing computational workloads across general-purpose compute resources and FPGAs, focusing on data flow, latency, and programming models.
- Heterogeneous Acceleration of RF Processing: Specialized solutions using mixed processors (CPUs, GPUs, FPGAs, ASICs) for high performance and deployability within SWaP-C constraints.
Submission & Evaluation
- Response Due Date: July 10, 2026, 5:00 p.m. ET.
- Submission Format: Unprotected Word, PowerPoint, or PDF document. Technical responses are limited to 2 pages per area (maximum 8 pages total for all four areas), including a Cover Page, Technical Response, References, and a Summary Slide.
- Submission Email: DARPA-SN-26-90@darpa.mil (for unclassified responses).
- Eligibility: Responses are welcome from private/public companies, individuals, universities, research institutions, FFRDCs, and National Laboratories.
- Evaluation: Responses will be reviewed for relevance to DARPA's mission and may lead to invitations for a follow-up workshop in August/September 2026.
Additional Notes
This RFI is for information and planning purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation. Submission is voluntary, and DARPA will not reimburse costs. DARPA is not obligated to acknowledge receipt or provide feedback but may conduct individual discussions with respondents.