# Quantum Benchmarking Initiative Topic (QBIT) Stage A

Canonical: https://abierto.us/opportunities/darpapa260202

- Solicitation number: DARPA-PA-26-02-02
- Notice type: Solicitation
- Status: Open. Offers due November 30, 2026
- Department: Department of Defense
- Agency: Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
- Contracting office: Def Advanced Research Projects Agcy (HR0011)
- NAICS: 541715 Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)
- Product or service code: AC12 National Defense R&D Services; Department Of Defense - Military; Applied Research
- First posted: March 9, 2026
- Last posted: July 29, 2026
- SAM.gov: https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/4a1aad28cb2a4b2ab1ee408c639202ef/view

## Description

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is issuing a Quantum Benchmarking Initiative topic (QBIT) to solicit innovative approaches addressing challenges related to quantum computing. The QBIT will examine approaches to constructing a utility-scale fault-tolerant quantum computer and computational workflows that include quantum compute steps. Proposed research should investigate approaches that enable revolutionary advances in design, engineering, testing, and evaluation of such systems.

Specifically excluded is research that primarily results in evolutionary improvements to the existing state of practice. The purpose of this QBIT is to encourage new entrants to QBI, ensuring DARPA has visibility into all approaches and potential solutions.

While this QBIT is not intended to solicit proposals from performers selected under prior QBI or US2QC solicitations, those performers are not precluded from submitting new proposals under this PA if they believe their approach offers new or distinct contributions to the QBI initiative. This QBIT is issued under DARPA’s Quantum Benchmarking Initiative (QBI), described in the QBI 2026 Program Announcement (PA), DARPA-PA-26-02.

To view the original DARPA PA for QBI 2026, visit SAM.gov under solicitation number DARPA-PA-26-02: https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/c26b38bf041a4d70b00ed619bebb4773/view

## Publications

- March 9, 2026: Solicitation, due September 30, 2026. Notice 743a55e6e10847b0b8104348a887e4ae. https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/743a55e6e10847b0b8104348a887e4ae/view
- March 13, 2026: Solicitation, due September 30, 2026 at 2:00 PM EDT. Notice 5e7243a4527f4d988336accbb82e9c15. https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/5e7243a4527f4d988336accbb82e9c15/view
- March 26, 2026: Solicitation, due September 30, 2026 at 2:00 PM EDT. Notice 91f08c718833446892dd9f4bf5d4fbe6. https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/91f08c718833446892dd9f4bf5d4fbe6/view
- July 29, 2026: Solicitation, due November 30, 2026. Notice 4a1aad28cb2a4b2ab1ee408c639202ef. https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/4a1aad28cb2a4b2ab1ee408c639202ef/view

## Points of contact

- PA Coordinator, QBIT_Stage_A@darpa.mil

---
Source: SAM.gov Contract Opportunities bulk extract. Confirm deadlines on SAM.gov before responding. Cite https://abierto.us/opportunities/darpapa260202.