Quantum Benchmarking Initiative Topic (QBIT) Stage A

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency seeks innovative approaches to constructing utility-scale fault-tolerant quantum computers and computational workflows that include quantum compute steps, with abstracts due September 30, 2026, and full proposals due November 30, 2026.

This solicitation (DARPA-PA-26-02-02, Amendment 01) explicitly excludes evolutionary improvements to existing quantum computing technologies, instead prioritizing revolutionary advances in design, engineering, testing, and evaluation. The program encourages new entrants; performers selected under prior QBI or US2QC solicitations may submit only if their approach offers new or distinct contributions. Research is unclassified.

Stage A is a six-month effort with a not-to-exceed award value of $1 million in federal and non-federal resources combined, structured into three milestones: Stage A Kickoff Meeting (Month 1, up to $150,000), Concept Design Review (Month 4, up to $500,000), and Final Concept Design Report (Month 6, up to $350,000). Awards will be issued as either Research Other Transactions under 10 U.S.C. 4021 or Prototype OTs under 10 U.S.C. 4022.

Eligible proposers include for-profit and nonprofit organizations, institutions of higher education, and non-U.S. organizations subject to applicable security regulations and export control laws. FFRDCs, UARCs, and government entities must contact DARPA before proposing. Proposers must register in SAM.gov and WAWF and maintain CMMC Level 1 (Self) status with current annual affirmation in SPRS. Amendment 01 added this CMMC Level 1 requirement for basic safeguarding of Federal Contract Information. Questions are due September 15, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time to QBIT_Stage_A@darpa.mil. Abstracts and proposals must be submitted via DARPA's BAA website as zip files not exceeding 100 MB. NAICS code is 541715; PSC is AC12.