Track at Big Distances with Track-Before-Detect (TBD2)
Closed Solicitation Posted
- Solicitation number
- DARPA-PS-26-01
- Agency
-
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
Department of Defense
- Responses due
- Set-aside
- No set-aside
Opportunity facts
- NAICS code
- 541715 Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)
- Points of contact
-
- Solicitation Coordinator darpa-ps-26-01@darpa.mil
Notice details come from SAM.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is seeking innovative signal processing algorithms and payload designs through the Track at Big Distances with Track-Before-Detect (TBD2) program to enable continuous space-based detection and tracking of faint objects in cislunar space. The primary objective is to develop low-complexity algorithms compatible with commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) or quasi-COTS optical sensors and focal plane arrays that can detect and track 1-meter objects at gigameter distances while operating within available onboard processing capabilities and producing results within relevant timelines. Key requirements include achieving a detection capability of magnitude 23 or better (1 meter at 2 gigameters distance), maintaining a revisit time of less than 12 hours for full cislunar space coverage, constraining power consumption to 600 watts (with a 300-watt objective), achieving over 95 percent probability of detection, and maintaining false alarm rates below 1 percent. Proposers must develop two distinct payload designs—one for placement at the Sun-Earth Lagrangian point 1 (SEL1) and another for beyond geosynchronous orbit—and submit a 4-page abstract by December 4, 2025, at 12:00 PM ET, with oral presentations anticipated approximately four weeks thereafter. The evaluation will be conducted by a government team including the Air Force Research Laboratory, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, who will provide imagery, conduct architecture trade studies, generate synthetic and real data, and evaluate algorithm performance on an LLNL testbed.
This solicitation involves no set-aside designations and does not identify any current contractors or incumbents. DARPA anticipates multiple awards through an Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) for Prototype, with the program structured as a 15-month single-phase effort targeting both traditional and non-traditional defense contractors. No specific budget ceiling has been disclosed in the solicitation. The program welcomes performers with expertise in signal processing, space situational awareness, and optical sensors, including small businesses and nontraditional companies, with the DARPAConnect program offering resources and support for potential applicants. No specific facility security clearances are required for participation. Performance of work will be distributed across contractor facilities and government laboratories, with algorithm testing and validation conducted at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory's specialized testbed, which includes access to the El Capitan supercomputer and advanced computing resources for validating performer solutions against simulated and real space-based imagery datasets.
Notice text
5 versions
Update #5 · Latest ·
AMENDMENT 04: Amendment 04 includes an update to Figure 1 on Page 4, and incorporates V3 to the Q&A which adds Q&A #109. All other information remains unchanged in the Solicitation and associated Attachments.
AMENDMENT 03: Amendment 3 includes a clarification to Q&A Response #13 only. All other information remains unchanged in the Solicitation and associated Attachments.
AMENDMENT 02: Amendment 2 includes updates to the Solicitation and two (2) Attachments:
(Attachment 1) Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) Guide. The CUI Guide is available by request not later than November 21, 2025, by 12:00 PM ET.
(Attachment 2) DARPA-PS-26-01 Questions and Answers.
AMENDMENT 01: The Abstract Due Date is extended to December 4, 2025, by 12:00 PM ET.
The goal of the TBD2 program is to enable continuous space-based detection and tracking of objects in cislunar space on relevant timelines. This effort will increase the safety of cislunar commercial and civilian traffic for the benefit of all nations and enable a sustainable space ecosystem. To accomplish this, TBD2 seeks to advance the state of the art for signal processing algorithms so that when combined with commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) or quasi-COTS optical sensors and/or focal plane arrays (FPAs), they can a) detect and track faint objects at gigameter (Gm) distances b) operate using available onboard processing capabilities, and c) do so on relevant timelines (within hours).
Update #4 ·
AMENDMENT 03: Amendment 3 includes a clarification to Q&A Response #13 only. All other information remains unchanged in the Solicitation and associated Attachments.
AMENDMENT 02: Amendment 2 includes updates to the Solicitation and two (2) Attachments:
(Attachment 1) Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) Guide. The CUI Guide is available by request not later than November 21, 2025, by 12:00 PM ET.
(Attachment 2) DARPA-PS-26-01 Questions and Answers.
AMENDMENT 01: The Abstract Due Date is extended to December 4, 2025, by 12:00 PM ET.
The goal of the TBD2 program is to enable continuous space-based detection and tracking of objects in cislunar space on relevant timelines. This effort will increase the safety of cislunar commercial and civilian traffic for the benefit of all nations and enable a sustainable space ecosystem. To accomplish this, TBD2 seeks to advance the state of the art for signal processing algorithms so that when combined with commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) or quasi-COTS optical sensors and/or focal plane arrays (FPAs), they can a) detect and track faint objects at gigameter (Gm) distances b) operate using available onboard processing capabilities, and c) do so on relevant timelines (within hours).
Update #3 ·
AMENDMENT 02: Amendment 2 includes updates to the Solicitation and two (2) Attachments:
(Attachment 1) Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) Guide. The CUI Guide is available by request not later than November 21, 2025, by 12:00 PM ET.
(Attachment 2) DARPA-PS-26-01 Questions and Answers.
AMENDMENT 01: The Abstract Due Date is extended to December 4, 2025, by 12:00 PM ET.
The goal of the TBD2 program is to enable continuous space-based detection and tracking of objects in cislunar space on relevant timelines. This effort will increase the safety of cislunar commercial and civilian traffic for the benefit of all nations and enable a sustainable space ecosystem. To accomplish this, TBD2 seeks to advance the state of the art for signal processing algorithms so that when combined with commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) or quasi-COTS optical sensors and/or focal plane arrays (FPAs), they can a) detect and track faint objects at gigameter (Gm) distances b) operate using available onboard processing capabilities, and c) do so on relevant timelines (within hours).
Update #2 ·
AMENDMENT 01: The Abstract Due Date is extended to December 4, 2025, by 12:00 PM ET.
The goal of the TBD2 program is to enable continuous space-based detection and tracking of objects in cislunar space on relevant timelines. This effort will increase the safety of cislunar commercial and civilian traffic for the benefit of all nations and enable a sustainable space ecosystem. To accomplish this, TBD2 seeks to advance the state of the art for signal processing algorithms so that when combined with commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) or quasi-COTS optical sensors and/or focal plane arrays (FPAs), they can a) detect and track faint objects at gigameter (Gm) distances b) operate using available onboard processing capabilities, and c) do so on relevant timelines (within hours).
Update #1 ·
The goal of the TBD2 program is to enable continuous space-based detection and tracking of objects in cislunar space on relevant timelines. This effort will increase the safety of cislunar commercial and civilian traffic for the benefit of all nations and enable a sustainable space ecosystem. To accomplish this, TBD2 seeks to advance the state of the art for signal processing algorithms so that when combined with commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) or quasi-COTS optical sensors and/or focal plane arrays (FPAs), they can a) detect and track faint objects at gigameter (Gm) distances b) operate using available onboard processing capabilities, and c) do so on relevant timelines (within hours).
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