BAA Coordinator

The BAA Coordinator at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) plays a pivotal role in advancing the agency’s mission of enabling transformative military technologies through high-risk, high-reward research. Responsible for managing the Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) process, they oversee the solicitation, evaluation, and award of competitive research contracts across physical, engineering, and life sciences domains. Their work directly supports DARPA’s strategic priorities in autonomous systems, next-generation computing, bio-integrated technologies, and advanced materials, ensuring that cutting-edge innovations from academia, industry, and national labs are rapidly transitioned into defense-relevant capabilities. They handle complex, performance-based acquisitions requiring technical rigor and agile contracting approaches tailored to early-stage R&D. The BAA Coordinator maintains consistent relationships with leading research and technology firms including AEROSPACE & COMMERCIAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC, AMD INTERNATIONAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC, SYSTEMS & TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH LLC, and ABBOTT LABORATORIES INC., partnering primarily with organizations possessing deep expertise in defense-critical R&D. These collaborations are characterized by long-term, mission-aligned engagements rather than transactional procurement, often involving multi-year, milestone-driven contracts with rigorous technical oversight. The coordinator fosters partnerships with entities capable of rapid prototyping, interdisciplinary innovation, and scalable technology maturation. There is no preference for socioeconomic set-asides; all awards are competed open to all eligible offerors, reflecting DARPA’s emphasis on technical excellence over socioeconomic criteria. This approach ensures access to the broadest possible pool of innovators, prioritizing capability and readiness over certification status. The coordinator’s procurement activity is exclusively focused on NAICS 541715—Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences—supporting advanced scientific work in areas such as neuromorphic computing, autonomous control systems, bio-sensing platforms, and novel materials development. Their portfolio centers on fundamental and applied research contracts requiring specialized technical review and non-traditional contracting mechanisms to accelerate breakthrough innovation.