Opportunity Information: Apply for DARPA BAA 13 11
Apply for DARPA BAA 13 11
- The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "DARPA BAA 13 11 Vetting Commodity IT Software and Firmware" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 12.910 Research and Technology Development.
- This funding opportunity was created on Feb 5, 2013 and posted on Dec 19, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 12, 2013. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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Opportunity Summary:
DARPA BAA 13-11, titled "Vetting Commodity IT Software and Firmware," is a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency research solicitation focused on improving confidence in the trustworthiness of the software and firmware that come preinstalled on widely used, commercially available information technology devices. The core problem the announcement targets is the difficulty of proving that commodity device software and low-level firmware do not contain backdoors or other intentionally hidden malicious functions. DARPA is looking for innovative techniques and practical tools that can help demonstrate the absence of such hidden functionality, rather than only detecting known malware signatures or responding after compromise. In other words, the opportunity is aimed at advancing methods that can provide stronger assurance that systems are clean, not simply that no obvious indicators have been found.
This posting includes Amendment 01, which is explicitly described as making administrative updates to the original BAA document, with the changes highlighted in yellow in a revised attachment. The amendment does not, based on the synopsis provided, change the fundamental technical purpose of the program; it is presented as an administrative revision to the solicitation documentation. Applicants are directed to the full DARPA BAA 13-11 PDF for the authoritative details on requirements, proposal instructions, technical areas of interest, and any revised administrative language introduced by the amendment.
From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary federal funding opportunity under the agency name Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. The solicitation supports science and technology and other research and development activities, and it is associated with CFDA number 12.910 (Research and Technology Development). DARPA indicates multiple possible award instruments, including cooperative agreements, other transactions, and procurement contracts, which signals flexibility in how DARPA may structure awards depending on the nature of the proposed work and the intended relationship between the performers and the government during execution.
Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning the opportunity is open to essentially any type of applicant organization, subject to any additional eligibility clarifications that may appear in the full text of the BAA. No cost sharing or matching requirement is indicated in the source data. The listing does not specify an award floor or ceiling (both are shown as 0), which typically means the funding range is not stated in the synopsis and would need to be confirmed in the full solicitation or discussed with the program office.
Key dates in the record show the opportunity was posted on December 19, 2012, with a creation date of February 5, 2013. The original and current closing dates are both February 12, 2013, and the archive date is March 14, 2013, indicating this was a time-bound solicitation that has since closed and been archived. The additional information link points to FedBizOpps (the federal procurement posting site used at the time), which is where the full announcement and attachments were historically accessed.
For access issues related to the complete announcement, the contact listed is Mr. Timothy Fraser, identified as a Program Manager and DARPA/I2O BAA Coordinator. The synopsis emphasizes that anyone preparing a response should rely on the attached/referenced DARPA BAA document for full details, since the short description primarily communicates the program intent (vetting commodity IT software/firmware for hidden malicious behavior) and flags that Amendment 01 contains administrative changes to the official text.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - DARPA BAA 13-11: Vetting Commodity IT Software and Firmware
What is DARPA BAA 13-11 about?
DARPA BAA 13-11, titled "Vetting Commodity IT Software and Firmware," is a research solicitation focused on improving confidence in the trustworthiness of software and firmware that come preinstalled on widely used, commercially available information technology devices. The central challenge is demonstrating that commodity device software and low-level firmware do not contain backdoors or other intentionally hidden malicious functions.
What problem is DARPA trying to solve with this solicitation?
The solicitation targets the difficulty of proving that commodity software and firmware are free from intentionally hidden malicious functionality. It emphasizes that simply detecting known malware signatures or responding after a compromise is not enough. DARPA is seeking approaches that provide stronger assurance that systems are clean, including methods aimed at demonstrating the absence of hidden functionality.
What kinds of solutions is DARPA interested in?
DARPA is looking for innovative techniques and practical tools that can help demonstrate the absence of backdoors or other intentionally hidden malicious functions in commodity IT software and firmware. The opportunity is aimed at advancing methods that strengthen assurance, rather than approaches limited to identifying known indicators or signatures.
Is this solicitation focused on malware detection?
Not primarily. The synopsis highlights that the goal is not only to detect known malware signatures or respond after compromise, but to develop methods that can provide stronger assurance and help demonstrate that hidden malicious functions are not present.
Does the posting include any amendments?
Yes. The posting includes Amendment 01.
What does Amendment 01 change?
Based on the provided synopsis, Amendment 01 is explicitly described as making administrative updates to the original BAA document, with changes highlighted in yellow in a revised attachment. The synopsis indicates it does not change the fundamental technical purpose of the program, but applicants are directed to the full DARPA BAA 13-11 PDF for authoritative details.
Where should applicants look for the official requirements and proposal instructions?
Applicants are directed to the full DARPA BAA 13-11 PDF for the authoritative details on requirements, proposal instructions, technical areas of interest, and any revised administrative language introduced by Amendment 01.
Which agency is offering this opportunity?
The agency is the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).
What type of funding opportunity is this?
This is described as a discretionary federal funding opportunity supporting science and technology and other research and development activities.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA number 12.910 (Research and Technology Development).
What award instruments might DARPA use for this solicitation?
DARPA indicates multiple possible award instruments, including cooperative agreements, other transactions, and procurement contracts. This suggests DARPA may structure awards in different ways depending on the proposed work and the intended relationship between performers and the government during execution.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning the opportunity is open to essentially any type of applicant organization, subject to any additional eligibility clarifications that may appear in the full text of the BAA.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No cost sharing or matching requirement is indicated in the source data provided.
Is there a stated minimum or maximum award amount?
The listing does not specify an award floor or ceiling (both are shown as 0). This typically means the funding range is not stated in the synopsis and would need to be confirmed in the full solicitation or discussed with the program office.
When was the opportunity posted?
Key dates show the opportunity was posted on December 19, 2012.
What is the creation date shown in the record?
The creation date is February 5, 2013.
What was the closing date for submissions?
The original and current closing dates are both listed as February 12, 2013.
Is this opportunity still open?
No. The archive date is March 14, 2013, and the record indicates it was a time-bound solicitation that has since closed and been archived.
Where was the full announcement historically accessed?
The additional information link points to FedBizOpps, which was the federal procurement posting site used at the time. That is where the full announcement and attachments were historically accessed.
Who is the contact person for access issues related to the complete announcement?
The contact listed is Mr. Timothy Fraser, identified as a Program Manager and DARPA/I2O BAA Coordinator.
What should applicants rely on when preparing a response?
The synopsis emphasizes that anyone preparing a response should rely on the attached/referenced DARPA BAA document for full details, because the short description mainly communicates program intent and flags that Amendment 01 contains administrative changes to the official text.
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