Information Innovation Office (I2O) Office-Wide

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Information Innovation Office (I2O) has issued a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA HR001125S0002) seeking revolutionary research ideas across four key thrust areas: proficient artificial intelligence, resilient and secure systems, advantage in cyber operations, and confidence in the information domain. The I2O seeks unconventional computational approaches and novel capabilities that provide decisive information advantage for the United States and its allies, with emphasis on research that goes beyond evolutionary improvements to the existing state of the art. Proposers are strongly encouraged to first submit a five-page abstract by October 1, 2025, with DARPA providing feedback on whether to proceed with a full proposal submission. Full proposals are due by November 28, 2025, and will be evaluated based on overall scientific and technical merit, potential contribution and relevance to the DARPA mission, and cost realism. This opportunity is open to both traditional and non-traditional sources, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Small Businesses, and Minority Institutions.

No set-aside designations have been applied to this solicitation, allowing all eligible organizations to compete. While specific incumbent contractors are not identified in the announcement materials, proposers must enter into Associate Contractor Agreements with other performers on awarded efforts to maintain close cooperation and free information exchange. The BAA does not specify award values or budget ranges, as DARPA anticipates multiple awards using various instruments including procurement contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, and other transactions for research or prototype development. The performance period and timeline for services will be determined through individual proposal submissions and negotiations. Work may be performed at proposers' facilities, though proposals should include detailed statement of work, milestones, schedules, and cost proposals using DARPA's standard cost proposal spreadsheet for evaluation purposes.