Grainy Day

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is soliciting innovative proposals to the Grainy Day program. Grainy Day seeks innovative approaches and new methods to address challenges in passive accurate placement of new sensors from small Unmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS) and military aircraft. This Program Solicitation (PS) calls specifically for Abstracts to be submitted by August 6, 2025, by 5:00 PM ET.

The Government will review Abstracts; if selected, the proposer will be asked to give an oral presentation to the Government. Oral presentations will be evaluated by the Government and, if selected, may result in a Phase 1 (Base) and Phase 2 (Option) award of an Other Transaction and eligibility to participate in future Phases of the program.

This PS encourages solutions from all responsible sources capable of satisfying the Government’s needs, including large and small businesses, nontraditional defense contractors as defined in 10 U.S.C. § 3014, and research institutions as defined in 15 U.S.C. § 638. Grainy Day specifically encourages submissions from multi-disciplinary teams composed of experts in (1) aerodynamics and control, (2) rugged environment microelectronics, (3) micro–unmanned aerial vehicles (MAVs), (4) rapid electronic manufacturing experts, and other innovative proposers with technology solutions that may fulfill the metrics of the Grainy Day program.

To be considered for award, the Principal Investigator (PI) must have an active SECRET personnel clearance (PCL), the prime contractor team must have sufficient personnel with existing (or the ability to obtain) SECRET PCL(s), and the prime contractor must have an existing collateral SECRET facility clearance (FCL). DARPA highly encourages teaming prior to proposal submission. Within the boundaries of the SCG, there is likely an opportunity to team with innovative and non-traditional subcontractors at the unclassified level.