Non-Electronic Sensing & Computing Systems Development

The contract seeks the development and prototyping of non-electronic computing and sensing systems leveraging emerging physical platforms such as photonic, mechanical, quantum, or biochemical logic mechanisms. The focus is on creating functional proof-of-concept demonstrators that validate feasibility and deliver quantifiable performance metrics, ensuring the technologies can be evaluated against defined technical benchmarks. This effort is centered on advancing alternatives to traditional electronic systems to address future operational needs in environments where electronic components are vulnerable or insufficient. The contract is issued as a subcontract under the Department of Defense through the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and carries the NAICS code 334511, referencing scientific and technical instrumentation manufacturing. It is open for proposal submissions until July 29, 2026, with the request published on June 25, 2026. There is no set-aside designation specified, and performance location details are not provided, indicating flexibility in where the work may be conducted. The effort is strategically positioned to support next-generation computing resilient to electronic countermeasures and environmental constraints, with an emphasis on tangible, measurable outcomes beyond theoretical design.