Disruptioneering Program Announcement
DARPA Disruptioneering Program opportunity funds high-risk, high-payoff unclassified prototype-oriented research in specific DSO technical domains for eligible contractors.
⚑ Federal contract solicitation · Individual Disruption Opportunity topics are issued under this umbrella announcement · Targets unclassified efforts with rapid initiation timeline (<120 days from idea inception) · Technical domain must match DSO topic-specific instructions when issued
This is a DARPA technical R&D solicitation aimed at prototype-level advances in scientific/engineering domains, not the team’s social-science programs. IPPRA’s fit is in public opinion, risk, and policy research around security, energy, and hazards—not in developing disruptive technical prototypes for defense applications.
JUDGED AGAINST THE ROSTER'S PUBLICATION DOSSIER · GPT-5.4-MINI · 2026-08-20
Unit fits — one characterization, each unit's own rules
| Physical Sciences & Engineering (demo) | 75 strong | technical depth: central; funds applied research |
| IPPRA | 58 good | portfolio topic: national_security_defense (primary); social/behavioral work is minor; funds applied research; eligibility unclear — verify in the NOFO |
| Tom Love Innovation Hub | 45 partial | funds applied research; prototyping/demonstration stage; deep-tech content |
Description
The mission of the DARPA DSO is to identify, investigate, and leverage nascent scientific advances for national security applications by pursuing high-risk, high-payoff research initiatives across a broad spectrum of science and engineering disciplines. Disruption Opportunity (DO) topics are issued to rapidly investigate new concepts with focused investments. DOs enable DARPA to initiate a new investment for unclassified efforts in less than 120 calendar days from idea inception. To enable this approach, DSO will issue individual DOs under this solicitation. These opportunities will target specific technical domains important to DSO’s mission to pursue innovative research that leads to a prototype demonstration. More information about DSO’s technical domains and research topics of interest may be found at https://www.darpa.mil/about/offices/dso.
Eligibility
Applicant restrictions (federal contract). Set-aside: . Notice type: Solicitation. Organization: DEPT OF DEFENSE / DEFENSE ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGENCY (DARPA) / DEF ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGCY.
Apply
Proposal brief SEE AN EXAMPLE →
A one-page internal memo: fit assessment, submission requirements, document scaffold, and next steps dated back from the deadline — tailored to your project idea if you add one.
Proposal shell · Department of Defense (BAA-style) conventions SEE A DOD EXAMPLE →
Funder-faithful document skeletons — Department of Defense (BAA-style)'s document set with section headings, page limits, reviewer guidance, and writing prompts; add a project idea to get [DRAFT] starter bullets. Download as .md for Word or Overleaf.