BAA Coordinator

The BAA Coordinator at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) plays a pivotal role in advancing the agency’s mission of pioneering high-risk, high-reward scientific innovation. Responsible for managing Broad Agency Announcements (BAAs), this position facilitates the solicitation, evaluation, and award of research and development contracts aimed at accelerating breakthroughs in physical, engineering, and life sciences. The Coordinator ensures alignment with DARPA’s strategic priorities—including autonomous systems, next-generation computing, bio-integrated technologies, and advanced materials—by engaging with leading research institutions, defense contractors, and cutting-edge technology firms to secure transformative solutions that maintain U.S. technological superiority. The BAA Coordinator maintains consistent partnerships with key contractors such as Aerospace & Commercial Technologies, LLC, AMD International Technologies LLC, Systems & Technology Research LLC, Abbott Laboratories Inc., and Pennsylvania & Southern Railway LLC, reflecting a preference for organizations with proven expertise in advanced R&D, systems integration, and applied science. These relationships are characterized by collaborative, program-driven engagements rather than transactional procurement, emphasizing technical merit, innovation potential, and rapid prototyping capabilities. There is no set-aside preference in the Coordinator’s procurement portfolio; all awards are competed openly under full and open competition, consistent with DARPA’s mission to identify the most capable performers regardless of size or socioeconomic status. This approach prioritizes technical excellence and mission impact over socioeconomic targeting, ensuring the fastest path to innovation. The Coordinator’s procurement activity is exclusively focused on NAICS 541712—Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)—reflecting deep specialization in foundational scientific inquiry, prototype development, and experimental systems engineering. The acquisitions support advanced materials, neurotechnologies, quantum computing architectures, and next-generation electronics, requiring contractors with strong R&D infrastructure and federal research experience.