DARPA-PS-26-27.pdf

UNCLASSIFIED

Program Solicitation

Strategic Technology Office (STO)

Disruption through Intelligent Strategies, Counter Options, and Resilient Defenses (DISCORD)

DARPA-PS-26-27

May 15, 2026

PROGRAM SOLICITATION OVERVIEW INFORMATION

Federal Agency Name – Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Strategic

Technology Office (STO) Funding Opportunity Title – Disruption through Intelligent Strategies, Counter Options, and

Resilient Defenses (DISCORD) Announcement Type – Initial Announcement Funding Opportunity Number – DARPA-PS-26-27 Dates – All times are Eastern Time (ET) o (U) Posting Date: May 15, 2026 o (U) DISCORD Proposer’s Day: May 7, 2026, 09:30 AM ET o (U) CUI Addendum Request Deadline: May 26, 2026, 3:00 PM ET o (U) Abstracts Due Date and Time: June 11, 2026, 3:00 PM ET o (U) Final Questions Due Date: June 30, 2026, 3:00 PM ET o (U) Written Proposals Due Date and Time: July 9, 2026, 3:00 PM ET

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is soliciting innovative approaches toward developing an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-native tactics engine that can incorporate live sensor data and high-fidelity simulation to rapidly generate tactics that continuously adapt to changes in the operational environment. The goal is to provide commanders with a portfolio of diverse strategies that can pivot dynamically in response to evolving conditions. By discovering a wide range of superior and genuinely diverse strategies, rather than just a single optimized solution, the engine will help create true strategic flexibility. Importantly, this flexibility will afford commanders the power and freedom to exercise their own tactical judgment—born of hard-earned experience, training, and operational art—in ways that adversaries cannot poison, stymie, or accurately predict.

The DARPA DISCORD effort implements Ender’s Foundry, one of several warfighting Pace- Setting Projects (PSPs) established by the Department of War. Ender’s Foundry’s intent is to accelerate AI-enabled simulation capabilities to ensure we stay ahead of AI-enabled adversaries.

Multiple awards are anticipated.

Types of instruments that may be awarded – Other Transaction Authority (OTA) for

Prototype Agency Contact – The Solicitation Coordinator for this effort can be reached at:

DISCORD@darpa.mil

DARPA/STO

ATTN: DARPA-PS-26-27

675 North Randolph Street Arlington, VA 22203-2114

Note: Publication and presentation of information developed under this program to non-program organizations will require release review through the DARPA DISTAR process. A fundamental research exemption to prepublication review will not be provided.

PROGRAM SOLICITATION

Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)

Disruption through Intelligent Strategies, Counter Options, and Resilient Defenses (DISCORD)

1. PROGRAM INFORMATION

1.1. Background

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is soliciting innovative proposals that leverage: abstraction of physics based reduced order modeling, AI-driven simulation with edge compute, advances in online model-predictive control and online dynamics learning, recurrence quantification analysis, simulation with live sensor data, and game theory / theory of behavior.

The Disruption through Intelligent Strategies, Counter Options, and Resilient Defenses (DISCORD) program aims to develop an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-native approach for rapid generation of tactical options from both live sensor data and high-fidelity simulation. The goal is to provide commanders with a portfolio of diverse strategies that can pivot dynamically in response to evolving conditions. By discovering a wide range of superior and genuinely diverse strategies, rather than just a single optimized solution, the engine will help create true strategic flexibility.

Importantly, this flexibility will afford commanders the power and freedom to exercise their own tactical judgment—born of hard-earned experience, training, and operational art—in ways that adversaries cannot poison, stymie, or accurately predict.

DISCORD is a 24-month program organized into two 12-month phases. DARPA anticipates selecting multiple performers.

The DARPA DISCORD effort implements Ender’s Foundry, one of several warfighting Pace- Setting Projects (PSPs) established by the Department of War. Ender’s Foundry’s intent is to accelerate AI-enabled simulation capabilities to ensure we stay ahead of AI-enabled adversaries.

1.2. Application and Submission Information

The effort being solicited by this program solicitation (PS) is controlled unclassified information (CUI). A formal request for the CUI addendum may be submitted by filling out the DARPA-PS- 26-27 CUI ADDENDUM REQUEST FORM (Appendix A) and by emailing the Request Form to DISCORD@darpa.mil with the subject line “Request DARPA-PS-26-27”. Items will be transmitted electronically via DoD SAFE.

Proposers are required to submit this request no later than the date and time listed on page 2 to allow for adequate time for delivery of the material. Requests submitted after this date will be disregarded. Requestors should allow up to 48 business hours for a response. The Request Form below is the only method of request that will be accepted.

2. GUIDELINES FOR ABSTRACTS AND ORAL PRESENTATIONS

2.1. Abstracts Basis of Evaluation

Abstracts will be evaluated using the evaluation criteria for selecting abstracts, their relative importance, and the method of evaluation as contained in the CUI addendum.

2.2. Proposals Basis of Evaluation

Upon the government's invitation, proposers may submit a proposal to the DARPA program team.

Proposals will be evaluated using the evaluation criteria, their relative importance, and the method of evaluation as contained in the CUI addendum.

APPENDIX A: DARPA-PS-26-27 CUI ADDENDUM REQUEST FORM

This inquiry requests the following document unless otherwise stated: DISCORD CUI ADDENDUM. Items will be transmitted electronically via DoD SAFE.

Proposers are required to submit this request no later than May 26, 2026, by 3:00 PM Eastern Time to allow for adequate time for delivery of the material. Requests submitted after this date will be disregarded. Requestors should allow up to 48 business hours for a response. The Request Form below is the only method of request that will be accepted. Send requests to DISCORD@darpa.mil.

Date

Company Name

Company Address

Point of Contact (POC) Name

POC E-mail

POC Phone Number

NSF number or CAGE code

Notes