# Young Faculty Award (YFA) 2026

Canonical: https://abierto.us/opportunities/darpara2502

- Solicitation number: DARPARA2502
- Notice type: Solicitation
- Status: Closed. Deadline was January 20, 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: AC11 National Defense R&D Services; Department Of Defense - Military; Basic Research
- First posted: September 30, 2025
- Last posted: December 31, 2025
- SAM.gov: https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/6dcf20e8d8104a3da9b0073faa93026b/view

## Description

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Young Faculty Award (YFA) program aims to identify and engage rising stars in junior research positions in academia and equivalent positions at non-profit research institutions, particularly those without prior DARPA funding, to expose them to Department of Defense (DoD) needs and DARPA’s mission to create and prevent technological surprise for national security.

The YFA program will provide high-impact funding to researchers early in their careers to develop innovative new research that enables transformative DoD capabilities. Ultimately, the YFA program is developing the next generation of researchers focused on national security issues.

## Publications

- September 30, 2025: Solicitation, due January 20, 2026. Notice 6e1c9f0b12e14294a3e25469bca75d8a. https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/6e1c9f0b12e14294a3e25469bca75d8a/view
- October 9, 2025: Solicitation, due January 20, 2026. Notice 4684612f58f04b68871fb28792d4f913. https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/4684612f58f04b68871fb28792d4f913/view
- October 9, 2025: Solicitation, due January 20, 2026. Notice d52f213802ff427995584497cae09ab4. https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/d52f213802ff427995584497cae09ab4/view
- November 12, 2025: Solicitation, due January 20, 2026. Notice 59d6cb767149455da3062831f609fa33. https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/59d6cb767149455da3062831f609fa33/view
- December 8, 2025: Solicitation, due January 20, 2026. Notice db4e30929dad4015bf262d652ecc91e4. https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/db4e30929dad4015bf262d652ecc91e4/view
- December 15, 2025: Solicitation, due January 20, 2026. Notice 69397e333f74487f875a6c5a1fb2705f. https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/69397e333f74487f875a6c5a1fb2705f/view
- December 31, 2025: Solicitation, due January 20, 2026. Notice 6dcf20e8d8104a3da9b0073faa93026b. https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/6dcf20e8d8104a3da9b0073faa93026b/view

## Points of contact

- BAA Coordinator, YFA2026@darpa.mil

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Source: SAM.gov Contract Opportunities bulk extract. Confirm deadlines on SAM.gov before responding. Cite https://abierto.us/opportunities/darpara2502.