DARPA-PS-27-05.pdf

Program Solicitation Strategic Technology Office (STO)

BEamspace Analog processing for Multi-functional Enhanced RF Systems (BEAMERS)

DARPA-PS-27-05

November 10, 2026

Table of Contents

1. PROGRAM INFORMATION

1.1. Background

1.2. Program Objective

1.3. Program Description

1.4. Multidisciplinary Participation and Teaming

2. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

3. PROPOSAL BASIS OF EVALUATION

Appendix A: CLASSIFIED ADDENDUM REQUEST FORM Appendix B: CAPABILITY STATEMENT & TEAMING PROFILE

PROGRAM SOLICITATION OVERVIEW INFORMATION

• Federal Agency Name – Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Strategic Technology Office (STO)

• Funding Opportunity Title – BEAMERS (BEamspace Analog processing for Multi-functional Enhanced RF Systems)

• Announcement Type – Initial Announcement

• Funding Opportunity Number – DARPA-PS-27-05

• Dates – All times are Eastern Time Zone (ET) o Posting Date: November 10, 2026 o Deadline to submit Optional Capability Statement and Teaming Profile:

November 24, 2026 o Deadline to request classified addendum: November 24, 2026 o Questions Due Date: November 24, 2026 o Full Proposals Due Date and Time: January 8, 2027, 5:00 PM

• The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is soliciting classified innovative proposals to develop and demonstrate prototype staring electromagnetic support systems providing continuous spectral and spatial coverage over a large frequency span without scanning over the field of regard.

• Multiple awards are anticipated.

• Types of instruments that may be awarded – Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) for Prototypes

• Agency Contact The Solicitation Coordinator for this effort can be reached at: DARPA-PS-27-05@darpa.mil or via U.S. postal service to:

DARPA/STO

ATTN: DARPA-PS-27-05

675 North Randolph Street Arlington, VA 22203-2114

• Appendices o Appendix A: Classified Addendum Request Form o Appendix B: Capability Statement & Teaming Profile

PROGRAM SOLICITATION

Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)

BEAMERS

1. PROGRAM INFORMATION

1.1. Background

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is soliciting classified innovative research proposals for BEAMERS, a new program focused on wideband, staring electronic-support systems.

This Program Solicitation (PS) calls specifically for classified proposals to be submitted by January 8, 2027, at 5:00 PM (Eastern Time). Proposals will be reviewed by the Government and, if selected, may result in an award of an Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) for Prototypes.

This PS encourages solutions from all responsible sources capable of satisfying the Government’s needs, including large and small businesses, nontraditional defense contractors as defined in 10 U.S.C. § 3014, and research institutions as defined in 15 U.S.C. § 638.

1.2. Program Objective

The objective of BEAMERS is to demonstrate scalable, power-efficient, receive-only electronic support (ES) across a very wide band. BEAMERS seeks to remove scanning as a fundamental constraint in passive radio frequency (RF) sensing. Its objective is not simply a faster scanner, but an integrated receiver architecture that observes the required spatial and frequency coverage simultaneously while reserving high-fidelity waveform capture for selected signals.

ES spans warning, situational awareness, sensing, and related missions across diverse platforms and operating environments. These applications impose different requirements but share a fundamental challenge of multiple directions or frequencies at the same time. Staring means continuous, simultaneous coverage of the whole required band and field of regard without sequential spatial or frequency scanning.

Staring removes receiver-imposed search gaps, although successful detection still depends on sensitivity, interference, calibration, and detector performance. The architectural shift is from deciding where to look before an unknown emission appears to deciding which observed activity warrants further processing.

1.3. Program Description

BEAMERS is structured as a two-phase program. DARPA anticipates multiple awards. The program offers an opportunity to establish a scalable receiver architecture applicable to multiple ES missions rather than a single platform-specific solution.

1.4. Multidisciplinary Participation and Teaming

BEAMERS presents opportunities across the receiver chain, and participation by nontraditional performers is strongly encouraged. Relevant expertise includes wideband apertures and RF front ends; digital beamforming; analog beamspace processing using lenses, gradient-index structures, phased-array-fed lenses, and related spatial-transform technologies; advanced microelectronics;

integrated RF and microwave photonics; wideband channelization; calibration; low-power event detection and information reduction; switching and data movement; and coherent-capture and readout solutions.

DARPA encourages teams that combine end-to-end systems integration and testing with differentiated subsystem technologies. Traditional defense primes, non-traditional companies, small businesses, research institutions, and specialized laboratories may contribute complementary capabilities. An organization need not develop the entire receiver to make a consequential contribution as a teammate: an enabling advance in one part of the chain may determine whether the integrated architecture can scale.

Prospective prime contractors are encouraged to engage specialized technology providers early, and organizations with distinctive subsystem capabilities are encouraged to pursue partnerships with teams positioned to integrate and demonstrate complete prototypes. Prime contractors and non-traditional organizations are encouraged to request the classified addendum for detailed requirements and proposal instructions through the procedures identified in this solicitation.

To support collaborative teaming, organizations that do not possess the clearance required to receive the classified addendum may advertise their capabilities to prospective proposers.

Organizations interested in this opportunity shall complete the cover page in Appendix B of this solicitation and submit no more than five additional PDF pages describing their offerings and capabilities via email to DARPA-PS-27-05@darpa.mil with the subject line “Capability Statement and Teaming Profile.” The submission must be unclassified and must not contain Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) or proprietary information. The offerings and capabilities package must be submitted to DARPA by the deadline provided in the Program Solicitation Overview Information section. DARPA will then forward the material to all prospective proposers who have requested the classified addendum.

DARPA will serve solely as an administrator for distributing submitted information. DARPA’s distribution of such information does not constitute an endorsement, evaluation, recommendation, or indication of preference for any organization or its offerings. Prospective proposers are solely responsible for deciding whether to contact an organization or pursue a potential teaming arrangement and are under no obligation by DARPA to do so.

2. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

The effort being solicited by this PS is classified SECRET or otherwise involves access to, or generation of, classified information. A formal request for the classified addendum may be submitted by filling out the DARPA PS-27-05 CLASSIFIED ADDENDUM REQUEST FORM (Appendix A) and by emailing the Request Form to DARPA-PS-27-05@darpa.mil with the subject line “Requesting Classified Addendum.”

Proposers are required to submit this request no later than November 24, 2026, to allow adequate time for delivery of the material. Requests submitted after this date will be disregarded. The DARPA PS-27-05 Request Form is the only method of request that will be accepted. All requestors will receive a confirmation email with either a delivery tracking number or email confirmation, depending on the delivery method. Proof of facility clearance level must be validated by the Program Security point of contact before any classified documentation is sent to the proposer.

3. PROPOSAL BASIS OF EVALUATION

Detailed instructions for the format and submission of full proposals are provided in the classified addendum. Proposals will be evaluated using the evaluation criteria for selecting proposals, their relative importance, and the methods of evaluation contained in the classified addendum.

Appendix A: CLASSIFIED ADDENDUM REQUEST FORM

DARPA-PS-27-05 CLASSIFIED ADDENDUM REQUEST FORM

Date: <Insert date of request>

Company Name: <Insert company name from NISS report>

Company CAGE code: <Insert CAGE code to receive classified material>

Company Address (Unclassified): <Insert company address>

Point of Contact (POC) Name: <Insert main POC for solicitation emails>

POC Phone Number: <Insert main POC unclassified number>

POC Email: <Insert main POC unclassified email address>

POC SIPR/DSWAN Email (if available):

<Insert main POC classified email address>

Security or FSO POC: <Insert main security POC or FSO for solicitation emails>

Security or FSO Phone Number: <Insert main security POC unclassified number>

Security or FSO Email: <Insert main security POC unclassified email>

Security or FSO SIPR/DSWAN Email (if available):

<Insert main security POC classified email address>

How to Receive Classified Program Solicitation (PS) (other than SIPR/DSWAN):

<If other than SIPR/DSWAN, insert classified email address e.g., JWICS/SAV; or U.S. Postal Service address>

Notes: <Provide notes to expedite receiving classified materials, if applicable>

Appendix B: OPTIONAL CAPABILITY STATEMENT & TEAMING PROFILE Intended for organizations incapable of requesting the classified addendum

CAPABILITY STATEMENT COVER SHEET TEMPLATE

DARPA-PS-27-05 BEAMERS Program Solicitation Capability Statement and Teaming Profile Organization Name: <Company/Academic Institution/Research Lab Name>

Organization Type <e.g., Small Business, Large Business, University, Non-Profit, FFRDC, etc.>

Company CAGE Code: <Insert CAGE code to receive classified material>

Primary Teaming Role Sought: <Subcontractor, Vendor, etc.>

Primary Point of Contact (POC) Name:

<Insert POC name, title >

POC Phone Number: <Insert POC number>

POC Email: <Insert POC email address>

Company Address: <Insert company address>

Facility Clearance Status: <Uncleared/Eligible>

CMMC Compliance Status: <CMMC Level>

Executive Summary:

[Provide a concise 2-3 sentence executive summary explaining your core technology space, unique technical edge, and how your capability de-risks or accelerates a prime contractor’s overall proposal.]

Description of Offerings and Capabilities:

[Describe your technology offerings and capabilities in detail. Must be unclassified and must not include Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) or proprietary information. Full capability statement package should not exceed 1 page coversheet and 5 additional pages of content.]