ARLINGTON, Va. - The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is seeking proposals to commercialize technologies developed under previous DARPA research and development programs through its Embedded Entrepreneur Initiative (EEI), an effort intended to accelerate the transition of advanced technologies into operational military and commercial products.
The solicitation, issued through DARPA Commercial Strategy within the agency director’s office, focuses on innovative solutions derived from DARPA-funded research programs that are mature enough for commercialization and transition into defense and civilian markets.
Under the initiative, DARPA aims to strengthen the U.S. industrial base, increase the speed and number of DARPA technologies reaching the market, and facilitate U.S. private investment into Department of Defense (DoD) capabilities. The agency is encouraging commercialization efforts that can address operational capability gaps, support government missions, and provide broader economic or civil-sector benefits.
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Broad spectrum of tech
The solicitation emphasizes technologies that have already undergone sufficient technical risk reduction through prior DARPA or other research efforts, while still offering the high-impact potential associated with DARPA programs. Areas potentially relevant to military and aerospace electronics include advanced sensors, artificial intelligence and machine learning, embedded computing, cyber technologies, communications systems, autonomy, RF systems, and signal processing technologies emerging from DARPA-funded work.
Through the EEI program, DARPA provides performers with access to a senior commercialization advisor and funding to hire an embedded entrepreneur to help transition research into commercially viable products. According to the solicitation, the embedded entrepreneur should possess experience in business development, commercialization of early-stage technologies, and communication with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
DARPA said proposals must demonstrate alignment with the agency’s commercialization goals, provide evidence of commercialization readiness, and outline strategies for intellectual property management, market transition, and product development.
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Eligible proposals must involve technologies derived from prior DARPA-funded research. This can include technologies developed directly under DARPA contracts or agreements, or technologies acquired from prior DARPA performers through licensing or other rights agreements.
The agency may award either fixed-price Federal Acquisition Regulation-based contracts or prototype Other Transactions agreements with milestone-based payments under 10 U.S.C. § 4022. Only proposals that include a minimum viable product option, or are submitted as minimum viable product stand-alone proposals, are eligible for Other Transaction awards.
Base Commercial Solutions Proposals related to EEI efforts generally should not exceed $350,000, although DARPA said larger proposals may be considered and could require longer evaluation periods.
DARPA will accept proposals through 30 April 2027 and plans to review submissions periodically while the solicitation remains open. The agency named Melissa Ramirez as the primary point of contact for this program. They can be reached via email at [email protected]. More information is available at https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/248f94e2f83d4831845f0178c5af0276/view.
