QBI Topic Independent Verification and Validation (IV&V)

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency seeks innovative infrastructure, equipment, and expertise to provide independent verification and validation support for the Quantum Benchmarking Initiative, with full proposals due December 30, 2026 and abstracts due October 23, 2026. Awards will be issued as Other Transactions for Research projects.

The procurement targets technical teams with expertise in systems engineering, high-performance computing, quantum information science, and hardware design and testing. DARPA values experience in planning, red-teaming, and conducting IV&V of first-of-their-kind, large-scale, complex technical systems, and particularly seeks facilities offering infrastructure resources such as computing, space, power, and cooling to host and test quantum devices. The IV&V effort spans the quantum computing stack, including use-case definition, systems engineering, integrated prototype testing, component performance requirements, and device testing. The period of performance is 12 months.

A required CMMC Level 1 (Self) certification is mandatory for award eligibility. Eligible applicants include for-profit and nonprofit organizations, institutions of higher education, and non-U.S. organizations subject to compliance with applicable nondisclosure agreements, security regulations, and export control laws. FFRDCs, UARCs, and government entities must contact the program office before proposing. The NAICS code is 541715, Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences. Abstracts will be reviewed and feedback provided within 30 calendar days, determining eligibility to submit full proposals. Evaluation criteria for full proposals include Technical Feasibility and Execution, Scientific Validation and Evidence, and Budget and Price; abstracts are evaluated solely on Value Add to Existing QBI IV&V Efforts. Dr. Micah Stoutimore (QBIT_IVandV@darpa.mil) is the technical point of contact.