This Government Contract opportunity from Department Of Defense was posted on June 5, 2026. The submission period has ended. Browse the details below for market research, or find similar active opportunities.

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Lightweight Universal Codec

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DARPA-SN-26-86Federal

Submission Closed06/19/2026, 12:00:00 PM UTC

Contract Overview

Solicitation details, issuing organization, response deadlines, documents, and interested companies for this government contract opportunity.

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NAICS: 541715

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AI Contract Overview

The Lightweight Universal Codec program, announced through DARPA-SN-26-86, aims to revolutionize communication systems by developing a universal encoder-decoder capable of dynamically adapting to any existing or future error correction code. Building on the foundational GRAND noise decoding research, the program seeks to create an adaptive codec where the encoder integrates the decoder’s noise model and operational parameters to optimize code selection in real time for link budget efficiency and mission-specific performance. The encoder must support a broad and easily updatable set of error correction codes, enabling on-the-fly transitions between them without system redesign, while the decoder leverages GRAND’s low-power capabilities to maximize throughput and energy efficiency. Success will be measured by the codec’s universality across codes, the degree of link budget improvement achieved solely through its implementation, and its robust performance in complex, heterogeneous network environments. Integration into diverse existing communication platforms is required to validate improvements in security, efficiency, and interoperability, with performers given autonomy to select target systems that best demonstrate transformative impact. The program operates entirely at the unclassified level, with all implementations and integrations restricted to Controlled Unclassified Information to ensure broad accessibility and potential for adoption across both commercial and defense sectors. This notice serves solely as an information and planning tool and does not constitute a formal solicitation; no proposals will be accepted in response to this announcement, and no contract awards, evaluation criteria, deliverables, or funding levels are defined herein. The official solicitation, if issued, will be published separately on SAM.gov. The notice, posted on June 5, 2026, with a response deadline of June 19, 2026, is managed by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency under NAICS code 541715 and is addressed to industry and research entities through the primary point of contact at LUC@darpa.mil, with all activities centered in Arlington, Virginia.

General Info

Develop universal adaptive encoder-decoder codec improving communication efficiency, security, and power use.

Agency

Department Of Defense → Defense Advanced Research Projects AgcyView Agency

NAICS

541715 - Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)View NAICS

Place of Performance

Set-Aside

NONE

Documents

(1)

DARPA Special Notice SN-26-86 Lightweight Universal Codec

PDF•special-notice

AI Contract Breakdown

Uniform Contract Format

Timeline

PhaseClosed

PostedJun 5

special-notice

Response DeadlineJun 19

Deadline has passed

Submission Closed

06/19/2026, 12:00:00 PM UTC

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Organization & Contact Information

AgencyDepartment Of Defense → Defense Advanced Research Projects Agcy

Contacts1 person available

OfficeARLINGTON, VA, 222032114, USA

Organization / Agency

Department Of Defense → Defense Advanced Research Projects Agcy

View Agency Profile

Office AddressARLINGTON, VA, 222032114, USA

Contacts

BAA Coordinator

contact@example.gov

Full Description

Under the LUC program, DARPA IPTO will aim to develop a universal encoder-decoder (codec) capable of sending and receiving information using any known communication error correction code and any developed in the future.

Leveraging the groundbreaking work of DARPA’s Guessing Random Additive Noise Decoding (GRAND) study, the LUC program will aim to create an adaptive error correction codec capable of multiple on-the-fly changes to error correction codes. The program will seek to achieve this by developing an encoder capable of utilizing a highly diverse suite of error correcting codes that are easily updatable. The encoder is expected to pair with a GRAND-implementing decoder and the resulting codec will be designed such that the encoder incorporates the decoder’s GRAND noise model as well as other operating factors into its code selection process for link budget and task/mission optimization.

Integration of these codecs into various existing communication technologies would demonstrate improved efficiency, security, throughput, and interoperability achieved by record-setting low-power decoding and adaptive, dynamic forward error correction.
The LUC program will evaluate the success of these codecs and integrated systems by measuring elements of code universality, link budget improvement solely through the implementation of the codec, and the communication systems’ performance in heterogeneous network environments.

To maximize benefits of the LUC program and proliferation of its resulting technologies into both the commercial and military domains, DARPA will execute the program at the unclassified level with performers’ target implementations/integrations not to exceed Controlled Unclassified Information. Performers will be allowed to select their own target communication system(s) for integration and are expected to identify candidates that will demonstrate the greatest and/or most impactful improvement(s) through LUC implementation.