3-VentureWell DARPA GO ICCG Solicitation Information Fact Sheet.pdf

Information Sheet: DARPA GO Independent Commercialization Consulting Group (ICCG) Panel Member

DARPA GO Program

The solicitation for ICCG members for the DARPA GO program is open from July 27, 2026 through August 17, 2026*. Interested contractors must submit a proposal here.

*Dates are subject to change at the discretion of VentureWell

Description VentureWell is seeking independent consultants or companies to be members of an Independent Commercialization Consulting Group (ICCG); a five member group who will provide commercialization advisory support to DARPA performers developing solutions in the field of Generative Optogenetics (GO). The DARPA GO program aims to overcome the challenges associated with creating synthetic DNA and RNA molecules by utilizing light to direct the synthesis of DNA and RNA directly within living cells. The group will include representation from venture capital and corporate investment, venture creation and licensing, and relevant technical sectors specific to synthetic biology, biotechnology, biomanufacturing and bioprogramming.

FACA Notice: This consulting opportunity is intended solely to secure individual, expert advice and perspectives. Participants will provide independent input and will not form a committee, subcommittee, or group consensus intended to provide collective advice or recommendations to the Federal Government. Therefore, this engagement is not subject to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) (5 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.).

Eligibility Requirements

● The submitter is a legitimate entity (E.g. LinkedIn profile matches resume information, reputable website tied to organization, etc.)

● The respondent submitted all required documentation

○ Resume, CV, or Biosketch for independent consultant or proposed individuals within company

○ Capabilities Statement (using template provided)

○ Completed solicitation questionnaire

● The submitter can attend both in-person events as detailed below:

https://venturewell.bonfirehub.com/opportunities/243586 https://www.darpa.mil/research/programs/go

○ In-person Workshop #1 (October 20 - 21, 2026)

○ In-person commercialization training event #1 (March 2027)

● Bachelor’s or higher degree

● The submitter meets the minimum capability requirements set forth in the solicitation (see below)

Capability Requirements

● 7+ Years demonstrated knowledge and/or experience in at least one of the following areas:

○ Commercialization strategy and business development

○ Scientific-led entrepreneurship and venture creation

○ Investment/Venture Capital, portfolio management, licensing, or joint ventures

○ Industry expertise in the agriculture, biotechnology, biomanufacturing, or other relevant industries

○ Subject matter expertise in synthetic biology, molecular biology, chemistry, material sciences, biological engineering, nucleic acid synthesis, optogenetics or similar disciplines

Optional, but Strongly Encouraged Expertise

● Demonstrated experience with DARPA or DoW programs/initiatives that presently use or could use biotech solutions to meet their requirements

Deliverables

ICCG members will provide commercialization advisory support to DARPA performers through participation in virtual meetings, in-person workshops and commercialization training. ICCG members will engage with performers in these events and provide regular feedback and reporting. Specific deliverables are due in accordance with the table below.

Subtask reference Deliverable description Frequency Due date (after contracting)

Participate in virtual onboarding/kickoff session(s) with VentureWell

One time 1 month

2 Participate in virtual initial working group meeting One time 1 month

3.1 Participate in the in-person Workshop

#1 One time 1 month

3.2 Provide feedback for the in-person One time 1 month

Workshop #1

4.1 Participate in the in-person

commercialization training event #1 One time 5 months

4.2 Provide feedback for the in-person

commercialization training event #1 One time 5 months

5.1 Participate in up to 15 virtual

workshop sessions

Up to 15 sessions 5 months

5.2 Provide feedback for up to 15 virtual

workshop sessions

Up to 15 sessions 5 months

The following is a milestone-based payment table that will be used to manage the scope of work.

Milestone payment number

Subtask number Deliverable description Due date (after contracting)

1 1 Participate in virtual onboarding/kickoff session(s) with VentureWell 1 month

2 2 Participate in virtual initial working group meeting 1 month

3 3.1, 3.2 Participate in and provide feedback for the in-person Workshop #1 1 month

4 4.1, 4.2 Participate in and provide feedback for the in-person commercialization training event #1 5 months

5 5.1, 5.2 Participate in and provide feedback for up to 15 virtual workshop sessions 5 months

*Dates and activities are subject to change and will be shared with the selected proposers prior to signing the contract.

Rate and Level of Effort

ICCG member remuneration for the GO program will be milestone-based. Deliverables include participation, performer engagement, and reporting throughout the program at virtual meetings, in-person workshops, and commercialization training. It is estimated that in-person participation will occur two-times per year (USA location TBD); total hours not inclusive of travel are estimated at 44 hours per year. Total available compensation is estimated at $6,600 per member per year. Travel and lodging costs will be covered by VentureWell. Additional mentoring, support, and advisory meetings with performers outside the scheduled events is encouraged, permitted* and optional but will not be compensated unless scopes of work are reviewed and approved by Venturewell and DARPA.

*Notification to DARPA and VentureWell for any outside engagements with performers is required

Period of Performance (Phase 1): October 2026 – May 2027 Contracts will only be issued on a yearly basis and will be subject to annual renewal based on member interest, performance, programmatic-alignment, and DARPA approval.

Prior to role engagement, ICCG members will be vetted for conflicts of interest and adversarial capital with respect to GO performers.

How To Submit a Proposal for ICCG Member Positions Interested individuals must submit a proposal through VentureWell’s online solicitation platform no later than August 17, 2026. Proposal Information is available here. To submit a proposal for the role, a VentureWell account is required. If you do not yet have an account, you can create one by clicking the “Sign Up” button found in the link above and following the required steps.

For help with the procurement process, watch our step-by-step video here: Unlocking Opportunities:

Navigating VentureWell’s Procurement Process (fast forward to the 14-minute mark).

Proposers will be notified of the selection decision in mid-September 2026.

If you have questions or need further assistance, please contact vendormanager@venturewell.org.

DARPA GO Program Background DARPA GO is an ambitious biomanufacturing program focused on the de novo, template-free synthesis of DNA/RNA using light stimulus. At the heart of the GO program is the development of a nucleic acid compiler (NAC), a type of molecular machine that can be integrated into living cells that allows the transduction of light signals into genetic information - without templates, hazardous chemicals, or other materials introduced into the cell. Current processes for producing synthetic DNA and RNA include a variety of limitations in terms of scale, complexity, and impact to the environment.

The solutions developed as a result of this program aim to eliminate these challenges and have wide applications in medicine, agriculture, manufacturing, space and more.

For More Information, Visit the Resource Links:

● DARPA GO Main Webpage

● Program Solicitation on Sam.gov

About VentureWell VentureWell supports the cultivation of science and technology inventors and the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems critical to their success. Since its founding in 1995, VentureWell has https://venturewell.bonfirehub.com/opportunities/157143 https://venturewell.bonfirehub.com/opportunities/243586 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IfsekUEkNA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IfsekUEkNA https://www.darpa.mil/research/programs/go https://sam.gov/opp/330a7d73f8e44c2ca588697555e48829/view http://sam.gov funded or trained over 20,500 early-stage science and technology inventors and innovators, resulting in the emergence of more than 7,300+ ventures with groundbreaking technological advancements in fields like biomedicine and healthcare, sustainable energy and materials, and solutions for low-resource settings. The ventures it has supported have raised subsequent funds totaling more than $9.0 billion and are reaching millions of people globally.

Visit venturewell.org to learn more.

http://venturewell.org

Eligibility Requirements