Intrinsic Market Resilience (IMR)
DEPT OF DEFENSE.DEFENSE ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGENCY (DARPA).DEF ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGCY · Response deadline: Mon, 07 Dec 2026
What the government is buying
DARPA is seeking research and development services under the Intrinsic Market Resilience (IMR) program. DARPA, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, funds high-risk, high-reward technology development with potential national security applications. Programs of this nature typically involve early-stage research, prototype development, or studies to advance novel technical capabilities.
The NAICS code 541715 corresponds to Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology). This classification covers organizations performing R&D in fields such as electronics, computer science, materials science, and related engineering disciplines—work that aligns with DARPA's mission to prevent technological surprise and maintain U.S. military advantage.
Classification code AC12 (Research and Development) confirms the acquisition category. No set-aside program is specified in the notice metadata, meaning this opportunity appears open to all qualified bidders rather than restricted to small business categories like 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, or WOSB.
Key facts
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Agency | Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) |
| Notice type | Solicitation |
| Solicitation number | DARPA-PS-26-138 |
| NAICS | 541715 |
| Set-aside | None specified |
| Response deadline | December 7, 2026 at 2:00 PM EST |
| Place of performance | Not specified in metadata (see the solicitation) |
Who can bid
Without a set-aside designation, this solicitation is broadly open to businesses of any size meeting DARPA's eligibility and technical qualifications. However, small businesses with capabilities in advanced R&D—particularly in areas relevant to market systems, economic resilience, or related technical domains—should evaluate whether they can meet DARPA's rigorous standards.
Bidders generally need:
- Demonstrated research and development capabilities in applicable scientific or engineering fields
- Past performance in relevant technology development, ideally with DARPA or comparable agencies
- Adequate facilities, personnel, and financial resources to execute complex, multi-phase research
- Compliance with Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) requirements, including cybersecurity standards and security clearances if required
DARPA historically favors performers with innovative technical approaches and credible execution plans over incumbency or scale. Small businesses with breakthrough concepts and strong technical teams often compete effectively.
How to put together a competitive bid
Understand DARPA's culture. DARPA program managers seek transformative results, not incremental improvements. Proposals should articulate a clear, ambitious technical vision with concrete milestones and measurable success criteria.
Assemble the right team. Given the complexity of 541715-classified R&D, consider partnering with academic institutions, federally funded research centers, or other contractors to fill capability gaps. Teaming arrangements are common and often advantageous.
Emphasize technical merit. The proposal should detail your technical approach, risk mitigation strategies, and why your solution surpasses alternatives. DARPA evaluations heavily weight innovation and feasibility.
Address cost realism. Provide a detailed, defensible cost proposal. DARPA scrutinizes budgets for reasonableness and allocability across labor, materials, subcontractors, and overhead.
Review security and compliance requirements. Determine whether classified work or CUI (Controlled Unclassified Information) handling is anticipated, and verify your organization's readiness to meet NIST SP 800-171 or CMMC requirements as applicable.
Prepare for potential oral presentations or white paper phases. DARPA often uses multi-stage selection processes; see the solicitation for any preliminary submission requirements.
Next steps
Read the complete solicitation for DARPA-PS-26-138 on SAM.gov to obtain full technical requirements, proposal instructions, evaluation criteria, and any amendments. Verify whether the anticipated scope, security requirements, and contract structure align with your capabilities and risk tolerance. Note the December 7, 2026 deadline at 2:00 PM EST—DARPA strictly enforces deadlines with limited exceptions. Register in SAM.gov and submit questions through the designated channels if clarification is needed.
View the official notice on SAM.gov →