Opportunity Information: Apply for DARPA BAA 15 54
Apply for DARPA BAA 15 54
- The DARPA Information Innovation Office in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Information Innovation Office (I2O) Office wide" 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 Aug 3, 2015 and posted on Aug 3, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 2, 2016 BAA Closing Date and Time August 2, 2016, 1200 noon ET. (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 Information Innovation Office (I2O) Office-Wide opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number: DARPA BAA 15-54) is a Broad Agency Announcement issued by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) under its Information Innovation Office. The announcement is designed to attract innovative, high-risk/high-reward research and development proposals across information science and technology areas that align with I2O's mission: delivering "high payoff" capabilities that can provide the United States and its allies with a decisive information advantage. In practical terms, this is an open, office-wide solicitation rather than a single narrowly defined program, meaning DARPA is inviting ideas that are relevant to I2O's portfolio and strategic priorities, as described in the full BAA.
From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding and supports multiple award instruments depending on the nature of the proposed work and the government’s preferred contracting approach. Specifically, DARPA indicates it may make awards via cooperative agreements, grants, other transactions/other procurement contracts, or procurement contracts. The funding activity category is science and technology and other research and development, and it is associated with CFDA 12.910 (Research and Technology Development). No cost sharing or matching requirement is specified, which generally means proposers are not required to provide a formal non-federal cost share to be considered, although proposers may still choose to propose leveraging resources when it strengthens the technical approach.
Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning the solicitation is open to a broad range of applicant types, subject to any additional clarifications contained in the full announcement. In typical DARPA BAAs, that commonly includes U.S. and non-U.S. organizations where permitted, such as universities, nonprofits, for-profit companies (including small businesses and large businesses), federally funded research and development centers, and other qualified research entities, with any limitations spelled out in the detailed BAA language. Because this is an office-wide solicitation, potential applicants are expected to review the attached BAA carefully to confirm any specific eligibility, security, export-control, or teaming constraints that may apply to particular research topics.
Key dates reflect that this was a time-bounded BAA with an extended window for submission. The opportunity was posted and created on August 3, 2015. The original and current closing date is listed as August 2, 2016, with a specified deadline time of 12:00 noon Eastern Time. The archive date is September 1, 2016, indicating the opportunity was subsequently closed and archived after the submission period ended. Applicants planning to respond during the active period would have needed to ensure complete submission by the stated deadline, accounting for any required registrations and the time needed to upload documents and validate submission.
For proposers seeking the authoritative requirements, the announcement directs applicants to the full DARPA BAA 15-54 posting (referenced as available through FedBizOpps, which has since been consolidated into SAM.gov). The full BAA would contain the substantive details that govern how to propose, including any topical areas of interest, expected technical and programmatic content, proposal formatting and page limits, evaluation criteria, security and data rights considerations, and any instructions regarding abstracts or white papers (if requested). If access issues arise for the full announcement, the listed point of contact is the DARPA/I2O BAA Coordinator, who serves as the administrative contact for obtaining the solicitation materials and resolving electronic access problems.
At a high level, the core purpose of the opportunity is to seed and accelerate cutting-edge R&D that improves the ability to generate, move, protect, interpret, and operationalize information in ways that create strategic advantage. Because DARPA I2O focuses on transformative information technologies, strong proposals under an office-wide BAA typically emphasize novelty, technical rigor, clear metrics for success, a credible plan for demonstrating impact, and a pathway to deliverable outcomes that matter to national security missions, even if the work is early-stage and exploratory.
FAQs: DARPA Information Innovation Office (I2O) Office-Wide BAA (DARPA BAA 15-54)
What is this grant opportunity?
This opportunity is the DARPA Information Innovation Office (I2O) Office-Wide Broad Agency Announcement (BAA), Funding Opportunity Number DARPA BAA 15-54. It is a DARPA solicitation intended to attract innovative research and development proposals across information science and technology areas that align with I2O's mission.
Who is offering the opportunity?
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), through its Information Innovation Office (I2O), is offering this opportunity.
What is the purpose of an I2O office-wide BAA?
The purpose is to solicit high-risk/high-reward R&D ideas that could deliver "high payoff" capabilities and provide the United States and its allies with a decisive information advantage, consistent with I2O's portfolio and strategic priorities described in the full BAA.
Is this a single program with a narrow topic?
No. This is described as an open, office-wide solicitation rather than a single narrowly defined program. DARPA is inviting ideas that are relevant to I2O's mission and priorities as described in the complete BAA.
What research area does this fall under?
The funding activity category is science and technology and other research and development, with a focus on transformative information technologies and related information science and technology topics within I2O's scope.
What kinds of work is DARPA trying to fund through this announcement?
Based on the description provided, the announcement aims to seed and accelerate cutting-edge R&D that improves the ability to generate, move, protect, interpret, and operationalize information in ways that create strategic advantage, including early-stage and exploratory efforts when justified by potential impact.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA 12.910 (Research and Technology Development).
What type of funding is this categorized as?
It is categorized as discretionary funding.
What award instruments might DARPA use?
DARPA indicates it may make awards using multiple instruments, depending on the nature of the proposed work and the government's preferred approach. The listed possibilities include cooperative agreements, grants, other transactions/other procurement contracts, or procurement contracts.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No cost sharing or matching requirement is specified. That generally means a formal non-federal cost share is not required to be considered, although proposers may still choose to leverage resources if it strengthens the approach.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning it is open to a broad range of applicant types, subject to any additional requirements or limitations contained in the full BAA.
Does "unrestricted eligibility" mean any organization can apply without conditions?
Not necessarily. While eligibility is listed as unrestricted, the full BAA may include clarifications that affect eligibility or participation for specific topics, such as security, export-control, or teaming constraints. Applicants are expected to confirm details in the full announcement.
What organizations are typically included in a DARPA BAA like this?
The description notes that typical DARPA BAAs commonly include universities, nonprofits, for-profit companies (including small and large businesses), federally funded research and development centers, and other qualified research entities, with any limitations spelled out in the detailed BAA language.
Are non-U.S. organizations allowed to apply?
The information provided states that, in typical DARPA BAAs, U.S. and non-U.S. organizations may be included where permitted, but any limitations would be specified in the full BAA. Applicants should rely on the full BAA for authoritative guidance.
When was this opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted and created on August 3, 2015.
What was the submission deadline?
The closing date is listed as August 2, 2016, with a deadline time of 12:00 noon Eastern Time.
Was the closing date extended or changed?
The information provided indicates the original and current closing date are the same: August 2, 2016 at 12:00 noon Eastern Time.
Is this opportunity still open?
No. The archive date is September 1, 2016, indicating the opportunity was closed and archived after the submission period ended.
Where would applicants find the official solicitation text and requirements?
Applicants are directed to the full DARPA BAA 15-54 posting. It is referenced as being available through FedBizOpps, which has since been consolidated into SAM.gov.
What kinds of proposal requirements are typically contained in the full BAA?
The full BAA is described as containing the substantive details that govern how to propose, including topics of interest, expected technical and programmatic content, proposal formatting and page limits, evaluation criteria, security and data rights considerations, and any instructions regarding abstracts or white papers if requested.
Why is it important to read the full BAA for this office-wide opportunity?
Because the solicitation is open and office-wide, the full BAA is where DARPA describes what aligns with I2O priorities and how proposals will be evaluated and handled. It is also where any eligibility, security, export-control, or teaming constraints are spelled out.
What should applicants have planned for before submitting (when it was active)?
The description notes that applicants would have needed to ensure complete submission by the stated deadline and account for required registrations and sufficient time to upload documents and validate the submission.
Who is the point of contact for access or administrative issues?
The listed point of contact is the DARPA/I2O BAA Coordinator, identified as the administrative contact for obtaining solicitation materials and resolving electronic access problems.
What characteristics tend to make a strong proposal under an office-wide I2O BAA?
Based on the summary provided, strong proposals typically emphasize novelty, technical rigor, clear metrics for success, a credible plan for demonstrating impact, and a pathway to deliverable outcomes relevant to national security missions, even if the work is early-stage and exploratory.
What does "high-risk/high-reward" mean in the context described here?
In this context, it refers to innovative R&D that may be exploratory or technically ambitious, but that could produce "high payoff" capabilities if successful, aligned with delivering decisive information advantage.
Does this BAA guarantee an award?
No guarantee is stated. The announcement is a solicitation for proposals and notes multiple possible award instruments, but it does not state that funding will be made to every proposer.
How should an applicant determine whether a proposed idea fits I2O's mission and priorities?
The description indicates applicants should use the full BAA as the primary reference, since it describes I2O's portfolio and strategic priorities and provides the authoritative requirements and evaluation framework.
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