RF Architectures Applying Photonic Timing and Routing (RAAPTR)

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is seeking innovative proposals under the Radiofrequency (RF) Architectures Applying Photonic Timing and Routing (RAAPTR) program to develop advanced RF systems that leverage optical timing precision for deployment on compact, mobile land, air, and space-based defense platforms. The program demands revolutionary advances in vibration-hardened, ultra-low phase noise photonic oscillators and associated analog and mixed-signal components, with a strict exclusion of non-optical microwave generation methods or evolutionary improvements to existing technology. Proposals must enable system architectures that maintain phase noise below -120 dBc/Hz at 100 Hz offset and -150 dBc/Hz at 10 kHz offset for a 10 GHz carrier, achieve relative timing error under 1 picosecond over 1–100 second intervals, operate within a volume constraint of 300 cc, and sustain performance across environmental extremes of -40 to 85°C and 7.7 gm vibration. The effort spans a 42-month, two-phase timeline, with Phase 1 focused on component development and architecture design, culminating in a brassboard prototype and an on-platform demonstration. Key deliverables include photonic oscillators, breadboard and brassboard prototypes, detailed digital signal processing algorithms, and environmental packaging compliant with MIL-STD-883-2, Method 2026, Test Condition I/B. This procurement is conducted as an Other Transaction (OT) agreement under 10 U.S.C. § 4022, bypassing traditional FAR clauses in favor of contractual articles governing term, management, administration, payment, patent and data rights, foreign access to technology, cybersecurity, and public dissemination. All proposals must be submitted via the BAAT portal and include mandatory attachments: a technical and management volume (Volume I), a price volume (Volume II) using the DARPA Price Summary Spreadsheet, a Task Description Document, a Schedule of Milestones and Payments, and the Other Transaction Certification. Full proposals require an Execution Plan Oral Proposal presentation and a CUI Addendum request by the August 24, 2026 deadline. Financially, the total program funding is $58 million, expected to be distributed among three to five awards, with payments tied to milestone completions verified through the Wide Area Workflow (WAWF) system. Proposers must certify compliance with SAM.gov requirements, including Unique Entity ID and CAGE code validation,