DARPA knows that the ideas leading to breakthrough technologies for national security often start small. To maximize the pool of innovative proposal concepts it receives, DARPA strongly encourages participation by all capable sources: industry, academia, and individuals.
Preparing for Success
Do Your Homework
Become familiar with DARPA’s mission and philosophy to make pivotal investments in breakthrough technologies that will ensure ongoing U.S. military superiority and security. Review Breakthrough Technologies for National Security, which provide an overview of the Agency.
The DARPA Culture
DARPA maintains and encourages a culture of innovation and the ability to execute rapidly and effectively. To do this, the agency recruits individuals, who are at the top of their fields - from industry, academia, and government agencies - to tackle difficult challenges and to take big risks that push the limits of their disciplines. Program Managers (PMs) are the key to working with DARPA. PMs are generally with the agency for 3-5 years, and a program typically ends when the PM leaves.
Look for Opportunities
DARPA funding opportunities are advertised through Broad Agency Announcements (BAA), Research Announcements (RA), or other government-initiated announcement or program posted on the official SAM.gov website (https://sam.gov/) and the Federal Grants Opportunities website (www.grants.gov).
DARPA SBIR/STTR topics are included in the DoD SBIR and STTR Program Announcements at https://www.dodsbirsttr.mil/submissions/login.
DARPA purchases products and supplies through GSA Advantage: www.gsaadvantage.gov
Attend Proposers Day Conference
Proposers Day conferences may allow for registration of one-on-one meetings with the relevant DARPA Program Manager. Proposers Day details will be included in the BAA or a Special Notice (SN) posted to SAM.gov and grants.gov.
Submit an Executive Summary, White Paper or Proposal
Prior to submitting an executive summary, white paper or proposal, visit http://www.darpa.mil/about-us/people to find a PM who may be interested in your idea. Email the PM to initiate a discussion. In your message, use the Heilmeier Catechism as a guide when approaching a DARPA PM with ideas. Important questions to consider:
What are you trying to do and how does it align with the PM's program(s)?
Avoid using jargon.
How does this get done today?
What is new about your approach?
If you succeed, what difference do you think it will make?
How long do you think it will take?
Can your work transition - to DoD (the warfighter), other government agencies, and the commercial market?
How much will it cost?
Ideas should be compelling with potential for eliciting revolutionary change. Low-risk/low-impact ideas that will result in incremental improvement are typically not pursued.
Contract Management
DARPA’s Contracts Management Office (CMO) has the authority to enter into and administer contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, and Other Transactions in pursuit of DARPA’s research and development mission. CMO’s role is to serve as DARPA’s acquisition advisor and make awards in select, critical technology areas. The bulk of DARPA awards are entered into on behalf of the agency by the military services, who assist DARPA with technology transition to the warfighter.
For more information visit Contracts Management.
Unsolicited Proposals
The preferred method for submitting ideas and concepts to DARPA is to respond to one of the following funding opportunities: program or open BAA, SBIR or STTR topic, RA, or RFP.
For more information visit Unsolicited Proposals.
Take Advantage of Resources
Learn more about developing your business, science and technology policy, networking opportunities, and other opportunities for your business. These are just some of many available federal resources:
- Association of Procurement Technical Assistance Centers: Provides a network that allows any PTAC counselor almost instant access to the expertise and experience of over 500 colleagues, as well as real-time information from government agencies regarding new requirements and initiatives.
- Boots to Business: Boots to Business (B2B) is an entrepreneurial education and training program offered by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) as part of the Department of Defense Transition Assistance Program (TAP).
- USA.gov: Small Business: Creates and organizes useful government information and services and make them accessible to the public anytime, anywhere, via their channel of choice.
- Defense Innovation Marketplace: Connects industry and the Department of Defense.
- Federal and State Technology Partnership Program (FAST): Provides one-year funding to organizations to execute state/regional programs that increase the number of SBIR/STTR proposals leading to an increase in the number of SBIR/STTR awards.
- Growth Accelerator Fund Competition (GAFC): Is a competition for the nation's most innovative and promising small business accelerators and incubators to compete for monetary prizes of $50,000 each.
- GSA: GSA's acquisition solutions offer private sector professional services, equipment, supplies, and IT to government organizations and the military.
- GSA: Assistance for Small Business: Learn to research the government market, understand how it purchases products, what training is required, and how to register your business.
- Interagency Task Force on Veterans Business Development: Their mission is to maximize the availability, applicability and usability of small business programs for Veterans, Service-Disabled Veterans, Reserve Component Members, and their dependents or survivors.
- The Advisory Committee on Veterans Business Affairs: serve as an independent source of advice and policy recommendations to the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA), the Associate Administrator for the SBA's Office of Veterans Business Development, the Congress, the President and other U.S. policy makers.