DARPA-SN-26-111.pdf

DARPA-SN- 26-111 SHINE Information Session Webcast

Special Notice (SN) DARPA-SN- 26-111 Selective Harnessing of Intrinsic Neuroplasticity Engineering (SHINE)

Disruption Opportunity (DO) Information Session

August 25, 2026

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Defense Sciences Office (DSO) is sponsoring an Information Session webcast to provide information to potential proposers on the objectives of the anticipated Selective Harnessing of Intrinsic Neuroplasticity Engineering (SHINE) Disruption Opportunity (DO). The Information Session will be held via prerecorded webcast on August 25, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. EDT. Advance registration is required to attend the webcast. All times listed in this announcement and on the registration website are Eastern Daylight Time (EDT).

The goals of the SHINE DO Information Session are to (1) introduce the research community (industry, academia, and Government) to the SHINE DO vision and goals and (2) explain the mechanics of a DARPA DO and the milestones of this particular effort. DARPA anticipates releasing the SHINE DO in August 2026. If released, the DO will be available on SAM.gov (https://sam.gov/). After the Information Session, DARPA may post the presented materials on the DARPA website.

Disruption Opportunities are released as Solicitation Notices under the Disruptioneering Program Announcement (DARPA-PA-25-07) and are rapid, targeted, limited-scope investments as part of an overall balanced portfolio. The Disruptioneering Program Announcement enables DARPA to initiate a new investment in less than 120 calendar days from idea inception.1

SHINE OBJECTIVE AND DESCRIPTION

SHINE aims to harness neuroplasticity to precisely and non-invasively target and enhance the brain’s ability to adapt and rewire itself, allowing for more complete recovery after injury. The program will establish whether adaptive neuroplasticity can be selectively induced within targeted, dysfunctional neural circuits while minimizing effects in surrounding tissue, enabling a new generation of precision neuroplasticity technologies. By fostering innovative approaches spanning molecular engineering, neuromodulation, biomaterials, behavioral interventions, and synthetic biology, SHINE aims to lay the scientific and technological foundation for future therapies capable of supporting the natural recovery and repair for dysfunctional neural circuits without disrupting healthy brain function.

All awards resulting from the SHINE DO and issued under the Disruptioneering Program Announcement will be Other Transactions (OTs) for prototype projects awarded under the authority of 10 U.S.C. § 4022. Potential proposers are highly encouraged to review Section 7 of the Disruptioneering Program Announcement for information on who may be eligible to respond to a Disruption Opportunity. DARPA expects that the SHINE program goals maybe be met by proposers intending to perform fundamental research. The Disruptioneering Program Announcement is available on SAM.gov under solicitation number DARPA-PA-25-

1 For the purposes of this Special Notice, “idea inception” is defined as the date an individual Solicitation Notice (Disruption Opportunity) is posted to https://sam.gov.

https://sam.gov/ https://sam.gov/

07 (https://sam.gov/opp/bae5fa32f4ee4cdb9a070a14309b2c66/view).

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

The SHINE DO Information Session will be webcast on August 25, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. EDT. There is no registration fee for the Information Session webcast.

Registration opens: As of the publication of this announcement.

Registration website: https://events.sa-meetings.com/SHINEInformationSession/ Registration closes: August 14, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. EDT or when capacity is reached, whichever comes first.

Advance registration via the above website is required to receive access to the webcast, and registration is mandatory for every individual intending to view the webcast either alone or as part of a group.

Registrants in excess of the maximum capacity limitations may be added to a waitlist.

Individuals who are unable to register because the deadline has passed may request to be added to the waitlist. If slots become available due to cancellations, the slots may be filled on a first-come, first-served basis from the waitlist.

ELIGIBILITY

DARPA is hosting this Information Session to (1) provide potential proposers with information on whether and how they might respond to the Government’s research and development solicitations and (2) increase efficiency in proposal preparation and evaluation.

Therefore, this event is open only to registered potential proposers, i.e., the events are closed to the general public and media. In addition, for this Disruption Opportunity, Information Session registration is open to potential proposers who are U.S. citizens, U.S. permanent residents, and foreign nationals.

All registrants who are not U.S. citizens must complete and submit either a DARPA Form 60 (U.S. Permanent Resident and Foreign National Visit Request – for industry or academia) or an Official Visit Request (for foreign government personnel only) through their country’s embassy based in Washington, DC, no later than 4:00 p.m. EDT on August 14, 2026. Form 60 submission instructions are provided on the registration website and in the registration confirmation email. Contact your Embassy staff for assistance in submitting the Official Visit Request.

Q&A Administrative, technical, and contractual questions about the SHINE program should be emailed to SHINE@darpa.mil. All questions must be in English and must include the name and email address of a point of contact. After the Information Session, DARPA may post an FAQ list to the DARPA website.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Please refer to the SHINE Information Session in all correspondence.

• Technical Point of Contact: Robin Bonomi, Program Manager, SHINE@darpa.mil

• Registration Website: https://events.sa-meetings.com/SHINEInformationSession/

• DARPA Opportunities Website: https://www.darpa.mil/work-with-us/opportunities https://sam.gov/opp/bae5fa32f4ee4cdb9a070a14309b2c66/view https://events.sa-meetings.com/website/97839/ mailto:SHINE@darpa.mil mailto:SHINE@darpa.mil https://events.sa-meetings.com/website/97839/ https://www.darpa.mil/work-with-us/opportunities

DISCLAIMERS AND IMPORTANT NOTES

Viewing the SHINE DO Information Session webcast is voluntary and is not required to propose to the anticipated SHINE DO. Interested parties to this notice are cautioned that nothing herein obligates the Government to issue a solicitation. The Information Session does not constitute a formal solicitation for proposals. This announcement is issued solely for information and planning purposes and is not a Request for Information (RFI). Since this is not an RFI, the Government will not accept submissions against this notice. No classified, International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) controlled, or proprietary information will be presented by the Government at the Information Session. DARPA will not reimburse costs incurred to participate in this Information Session. Recording the Information Session webcast is not permitted.

For those new to DARPA or national security, DARPA makes available a free, comprehensive resource via DARPAConnect on how to do business with the agency. In addition to DARPA 101 materials, relevant preparatory modules include “Making the Most of a Proposers Day” and “Understanding DARPA Broad Agency Announcements.” Registration and access are free at www.darpaconnect.us.

http://www.darpaconnect.us/