Opportunity Information: Apply for DARPA BAA 16 53
Apply for DARPA BAA 16 53
- The Department of Defense, DARPA - Information Innovation Office in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 12.910.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 03, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 05, 2016. (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:
The Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) opportunity, listed as DARPA BAA 16-53, is a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Information Innovation Office (I2O) announcement centered on a Proposers Day event. In practical terms, this notice is not describing a traditional grant competition with a defined pot of money and a set number of awards; instead, it is a time-sensitive invitation for interested organizations and researchers to attend a DARPA-hosted briefing meant to explain the goals and direction of an anticipated Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) on Explainable AI. The main purpose is to help potential proposers understand what DARPA intends to seek in the forthcoming solicitation, ask questions, and better align future technical approaches and teaming plans with DARPA's objectives.
The sponsoring agency is the U.S. Department of Defense, specifically DARPA's Information Innovation Office, under a science and technology research and development activity category. The listing identifies the opportunity as discretionary and uses an "Other" funding instrument type, which is consistent with DARPA's BAA-based research model where awards are often made through a mix of contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, or other transactions depending on the program and the performer. The CFDA number associated with the notice is 12.910, which is commonly used for DARPA research and development funding.
Eligibility is described as "Unrestricted," meaning it is broadly open to any type of entity, with the caveat that additional eligibility details could be clarified in the full text of the announcement. This typically signals that businesses (including small and large), universities, nonprofit organizations, federally funded research and development centers, and other qualified entities may participate, subject to standard federal and DARPA-specific requirements that may appear in the full solicitation materials.
The dates indicate this was a short-window announcement created on August 3, 2016, with an original closing date of August 5, 2016, which strongly suggests the closing date related to Proposers Day registration or participation deadlines rather than a deadline for full technical proposals. The award ceiling and expected number of awards are both listed as zero, reinforcing that this particular posting is informational and preparatory rather than an immediate funding action. In other words, the core deliverable here is awareness and engagement: attending the Proposers Day to understand the forthcoming XAI BAA and positioning oneself to respond effectively once the actual solicitation is released.
At a high level, the topic area, Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI), reflects an R&D focus on AI systems whose decisions and predictions can be understood, interpreted, or meaningfully explained to human users. While this notice does not lay out technical metrics or research thrusts, the framing implies DARPA anticipated a competitive program seeking advances in AI that improve transparency and user trust, especially in contexts where explanations affect operational decisions, oversight, and adoption. The Proposers Day is meant to communicate those expectations directly, provide a shared understanding of desired outcomes, and reduce misunderstandings before proposers invest significant effort in full proposal development.
Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) - DARPA BAA 16-53 FAQs
What is the Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) opportunity (DARPA BAA 16-53)?
This notice is a DARPA Information Innovation Office (I2O) announcement focused on a Proposers Day event related to Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI). It functions as a time-sensitive invitation to a DARPA-hosted briefing intended to explain the goals and direction of an anticipated Broad Agency Announcement (BAA), rather than a standalone, traditional grant competition.
Is this a traditional grant competition with a defined funding amount and number of awards?
No. The posting does not describe a conventional grant competition with a defined pot of money or a set number of awards. The award ceiling and expected number of awards are both listed as zero, indicating the posting is informational and preparatory.
What is the primary purpose of this notice?
The main purpose is to help potential proposers understand what DARPA intends to seek in a forthcoming XAI solicitation, ask questions, and better align technical approaches and teaming plans with DARPA's objectives.
What is a Proposers Day in the context of DARPA announcements?
In this context, Proposers Day is a DARPA-hosted briefing designed to communicate program goals and expectations, provide a shared understanding of desired outcomes, and allow participants to ask questions before investing significant effort in preparing full proposals for the anticipated BAA.
Who is the sponsoring agency for this opportunity?
The sponsoring agency is the U.S. Department of Defense, specifically the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Information Innovation Office (I2O).
What activity category does this opportunity fall under?
The listing identifies it under a science and technology research and development activity category.
What funding instrument type is associated with this notice?
The notice uses an "Other" funding instrument type, which is consistent with DARPA's BAA-based research model where awards may be made using different mechanisms depending on the program and performer.
Does "Other" mean DARPA will not use grants?
Not necessarily. The notice indicates DARPA BAA-based research can involve a mix of contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, or other transactions, depending on the program and the performer.
Is this opportunity considered discretionary?
Yes. The listing identifies the opportunity as discretionary.
What is the CFDA number associated with this notice, and what is it used for?
The CFDA number associated with the notice is 12.910, which is commonly used for DARPA research and development funding.
Who is eligible to participate?
Eligibility is described as "Unrestricted," meaning it is broadly open to any type of entity, with the caveat that additional eligibility details could be clarified in the full text of the announcement.
What types of organizations are typically included under "Unrestricted" eligibility?
Based on how this is commonly used in similar contexts, it typically signals that businesses (small and large), universities, nonprofit organizations, federally funded research and development centers, and other qualified entities may participate, subject to standard federal and DARPA-specific requirements that may appear in the full solicitation materials.
What are the key dates listed for this notice?
The announcement was created on August 3, 2016, and shows an original closing date of August 5, 2016.
Does the closing date refer to a full proposal deadline?
Based on the short window and the Proposers Day focus, the closing date strongly suggests a deadline related to Proposers Day registration or participation rather than a deadline for submitting full technical proposals.
Why does the listing show an award ceiling of zero and an expected number of awards of zero?
Those fields reinforce that this particular posting is not an immediate funding action. It is an informational and preparatory notice centered on the Proposers Day briefing and engagement ahead of a future solicitation.
What should interested organizations gain from attending the Proposers Day?
Attendees should gain clarity on DARPA's goals and direction for the anticipated XAI BAA, have an opportunity to ask questions, and be better positioned to align their future technical approach and teaming strategy with DARPA's objectives.
Is attending Proposers Day the same as submitting a proposal?
No. The notice emphasizes briefing and alignment for a forthcoming solicitation. It is not presented as a call for full proposals by itself.
What does XAI (Explainable Artificial Intelligence) mean in the context of this notice?
At a high level, XAI refers to AI systems whose decisions and predictions can be understood, interpreted, or meaningfully explained to human users.
Does this notice specify technical metrics or research thrusts for the XAI effort?
No. The notice does not lay out technical metrics or detailed research thrusts. Instead, it indicates that the Proposers Day is intended to communicate expectations and objectives directly.
What kinds of outcomes does the notice imply DARPA is interested in for XAI?
While specific requirements are not provided in the notice, the framing implies an R&D focus on improving transparency and user trust in AI systems, particularly in contexts where explanations influence operational decisions, oversight, and adoption.
What should organizations do if they want to pursue eventual funding under XAI?
Based on the notice, the practical next step is to engage with the Proposers Day to understand the forthcoming BAA's direction and then prepare to respond once the actual solicitation is released.
Where will additional eligibility requirements or submission details be clarified?
The notice indicates that additional eligibility details could be clarified in the full text of the announcement and, by implication, in the forthcoming solicitation materials for the anticipated XAI BAA.
What does the notice suggest about the timing and urgency of participation?
The short time window between the posting date (August 3, 2016) and the closing date (August 5, 2016) suggests that the notice was time-sensitive and likely tied to Proposers Day registration or attendance deadlines.
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