Phase 1 - base

The Pennsylvania State University was awarded a multiple-award Other Transaction Indefinite Delivery Vehicle by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency on June 23, 2025, with a ceiling value of $900,000.00 and no set-aside designation. This parent contract vehicle is structured to enable the issuance of task orders for Phase 1 base effort work, with full funding allocated at award. The contract reflects DARPA's selection of Penn State based on technical merit and demonstrated capability to deliver advanced research and development services supporting national defense priorities. As a major public research institution with extensive experience executing cost-plus-fixed-fee contracts across the Department of Defense, Penn State brings substantial expertise in materials science, engineering, quantum computing, and interdisciplinary scientific research to support DARPA's mission of developing breakthrough technologies.

While the specific statement of work and detailed deliverables for this particular IDV are not provided in the available documentation, Penn State's historical performance across DARPA and other defense agencies indicates the contract likely supports advanced research initiatives within the agency's portfolio. The university's track record includes significant delivery order awards exceeding $250 million in recent fiscal years for research and development efforts spanning submarine technology, photonic systems, materials processing, and advanced engineering solutions. The Other Transaction authority granted under this IDV provides DARPA with regulatory flexibility typical of prototype and research demonstration projects, allowing for streamlined acquisition of innovative solutions while Penn State performs the work from its primary campus location in University Park, Pennsylvania, leveraging its Applied Research Laboratory and other specialized research facilities.