Advanced Research Concepts (ARC)

Our Advanced Research Concepts (ARC) initiative is designed to explore – and seize – the potential within emerging fields of scientific inquiry to result in game-changing technologies for national security applications.  

Issued by our Defense Sciences Office, ARC projects address topics of interest across all technical offices, seeking answers to high-risk, high-reward questions and assessing the impact of further investment on problems of importance to national security.  

Managed by DARPA Innovation Fellows, ARC enables rapid analysis of a high volume of promising new ideas by making targeted investments that are purposely limited in scope. Funding supports one full-time-equivalent (FTE) scientist or engineer to explore their idea for one year. During each solicitation period, we evaluate ideas on a rolling basis and issue contracts for selected proposals within weeks.

Timeline and funding  

ARC topics are designed for ideas that take one year to validate. The expected level of effort for a proposed research concept is one full-time equivalent (FTE) and 12 months. Sub-awardees are not permitted. The maximum funding is $300,000.  

Explore open topics

ARC opportunities remain open for up to six months.

• Imaging Practical Applications for a Quantum Tomorrow (IMPAQT)
• Safe and Assured Foundation Robots for Open eNvironments (SAFRON)

Put your best idea forward  

To respond to an open ARC topic:

• Review the ARC Exploration Announcement. This master solicitation includes an abstract template and model contract. 
• Review the specific topic solicitation. This describes the opportunity, defines the research question, and explains how to submit an abstract.  
• Prepare and submit a five-page abstract that provides a technical description of your idea.
• If selected for further evaluation, you will be invited to submit an oral proposal package and present your idea to DARPA. Successful proposals result in a Research Other Transaction (OT) award.  

What success looks like

The best way to understand ARC opportunities is to explore previous projects. Each of these efforts resulted from an ambitious proposal and plan for answering a fundamental research question:

• Collaborative Knowledge Curation (CKC)
• Discovering Unknome Function (DUF)
• Fuel Access Anywhere, Regardless of Means (FAARM)
• Grip Likelihood in Underwater Environments (GLUE)
• Imagining Practical Applications for a Quantum Tomorrow (IMPAQT)
• Quantum Materials Engineering Using Electromagnetic Fields (QUAMELEON)
• Separation and Purification of Rare Earth Elements (SPREE)

FAQs

• How do I prepare and submit an abstract to an open ARC opportunity?
  Review the ARC Master Exploration Announcement. Section 3 provides guidance and Attachment A provides a template.  

• Is the closing date listed in each ARC opportunity when all proposals are due?
  The closing date listed is the last day that abstracts will be accepted for evaluation for that specific ARC opportunity. No abstracts will be accepted after the end of the submission period.  

  We strongly recommend that you submit as early as possible. Abstracts are reviewed on a rolling basis and the closing date may be moved up depending on the availability of funding.

• Does DARPA grant deadline extensions for any reason?  
  No, abstracts cannot be accepted after the deadline. We encourage applicants to submit early to avoid potential delays due to technical difficulties or other issues.  

• We would like to submit an abstract but do not have a Unique Entity ID number. How can we submit?
  The SAM.gov-issued UEI Number is not required to create an account on baa.darpa.mil and submit an abstract. Please note that we are only requesting abstract submissions. Full proposals may be submitted later by invitation.

  Note: A UEI is required for award. We recommend registering as soon as possible to avoid delay.

• My abstract was not selected, but I believe I can address feedback provided by the government. Can I resubmit a revised abstract?
  Yes, as long as you resubmit before the solicitation closing date.
• Does the period of performance need to be one year?
  No. For example, two individuals working full time for six months on an effort would meet the one FTE, 12-month requirement.
• What kind of reporting requirements or expectations will apply to researchers if we are selected?
  Milestone and deliverable information can be found in Section II, Paragraphs C and D of individual ARC Opportunities. This may include a kick-off meeting, regular status meetings, monthly technical and financial updates, milestone summary reports, and a final report.

• Is there a limit to the number of ARC abstracts that can be submitted by a single institution?
  Organizations may submit multiple abstracts, but since individuals are expected to be proposed at or near full-time for each effort, an individual may not be Key Personnel on more than one award simultaneously.  

  In addition, multiple abstracts or proposals with the same individual as Key Personnel will not be reviewed concurrently. If the Government receives an abstract with an individual proposed as Key Personnel while another abstract or proposal is under review with the same individual, the subsequent abstract will be deemed non-conforming.

• Is ARC funding available for non-U.S. organizations?

  Yes. Non-U.S. organizations and/or individuals may participate to the extent that such participants comply with necessary nondisclosure agreements, security regulations export control laws, and other governing statutes applicable under the circumstances.

• If one FTE exceeds the funding limit of $300K, can their organization cover the additional costs?
  Yes, resource sharing is allowable. Any proposed resource share must be directly applicable to effort.  
• Can a team include performers from two or more organizations?
  No, teaming with other organizations is not allowed as one of the organizations would be a subawardee. Subawardees are not permitted in any proposed effort.
• Can two organizations collaborate to submit an abstract under one opportunity?
  No, this would be considered teaming, in which one organization would be a subawardee, which is not allowed under the master solicitation. If you and someone from another organization want to propose, you will need to each submit independent proposals that will be evaluated independently. They will be reviewed as separate submissions and must stand alone.  
• Can offerors propose multiple researchers in one abstract, so long as their time on the effort add up to 1 FTE for a year?
  Yes, you may propose multiple researchers so long as their total hours add up to one FTE. The intent of ARCs is to enable an individual or few individuals to thoroughly explore novel ideas. As such, it is expected that any proposed individuals will be working at or near full-time on the effort over the duration of the contract. For example, one person for one year, or two people at 100% for six months each.
• Can offerors propose multiple researchers in one abstract who are not dedicating a majority of their time to the effort during the period of performance, so long as their time on the effort adds up to one FTE for a year
  The goal of an ARC topic is to quickly explore the viability of new ideas related to a topic with a single or few individuals dedicating a majority of their time to the effort during the period of performance. Deviations from this are acceptable if all proposed personnel are part of the technical team.
• Do the proposed individuals need to be affiliated with the prime contractor during the entire period of performance?
  Yes. Under a Research Other Transaction, the researchers must remain employed by the prime contractor. For additional guidance, see page 6 of the ARC Master Exploration Announcement.
• Can a team include a primary performer from one institution and an advisor or performer from another institution?
  No, subawardees are not permitted in any proposed effort.
• Are consultants allowed?
  No, consultants would be considered subcontractors/subawardees, and subawardees are not permitted.
• Can a graduate student submit a proposal and include a faculty member as a supervisor?
  Yes. For educational institutions, one FTE could be a graduate student for a full year at the maximum level allowed by the school (normally less than 100%) with some summer faculty support.
• The maximum our university allows for a graduate student is only 50%. Can I propose two graduate students to meet the one FTE requirement?
  If the maximum time allowed by the university is 50% for student research, that is considered one FTE.
• Can the bibliography include links?
  No. Instructions in the ARC Master Exploration Announcement, which prohibits the inclusion of links, takes precedence over anything to the contrary (e.g., in the abstract template).  
• Do “references” refer to letters of commitment or letters of support?  
  “References” were listed in previous versions of the Master Solicitation. References are now listed as “technical papers.”
• If DARPA chooses to fund another Government agency through this opportunity, would DARPA issue a Research Other Transaction?
  No, DARPA would not issue a Research Other Transaction to another Government agency in this scenario. If selected, DARPA would issue a Military Interdepartmental Purchase Requisition (MIPR) based on a Statement of Work that aligns with the requirements listed in the solicitation. The requirements listed in the solicitation will still apply.