Deep Thoughts

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is soliciting innovative approaches to develop full-ocean depth autonomous undersea vehicles (AUVs) that are significantly smaller and more cost-effective than current systems. The Tactical Technology Office is seeking proposals addressing AUV and pressure vessel designs, materials science, advanced manufacturing techniques, embedded subsystems and payloads, and digital engineering capabilities. Key requirements include U.S. citizenship and U.S. organization status with appropriate export control compliance and security clearances, with proposers required to select either Technical Area 1 (involving Controlled Unclassified Information) or Technical Area 2 (involving both CUI and SECRET collateral information). Evaluation will assess proposed innovations in novel materials, structural geometries, advanced manufacturing methods, and secure multi-level digital engineering ecosystems. Abstract submissions are due May 21, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. ET, with invited proposers' Oral Proposal Package submissions tentatively due July 20, 2026, and proposers must request the Program Solicitation CUI Addendum by May 14, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. ET to remain compliant.

This procurement uses no set-aside designations and will result in multiple awards through Other Transaction Agreements for Prototype work, with a 24-month performance period beginning in November 2026. No specific budget ranges or award values are disclosed in the solicitation notice. Cost sharing may be required from proposers, though specific percentages are not detailed in the available materials. The estimated period of performance is 24 months commencing November 2026, supporting the development of next-generation undersea vehicle technology. Performance location details are not specified in the posted solicitation materials, though the work is expected to be conducted by the awarded contractor organizations as part of this hardware-centric research and development effort.