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, this role facilitates the solicitation, evaluation, and award of competitive research contracts aligned with DARPA’s strategic priorities in autonomous systems, next-generation computing, bio-integrated technologies, and advanced materials. The coordinator ensures rigorous technical alignment between proposers and program objectives, overseeing the full lifecycle of research and development acquisitions under FAR Part 35 and DARPA-specific guidance, with a focus on accelerating innovation from academia, industry, and national labs. Key contractor relationships include AEROSPACE & COMMERCIAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC, AMD INTERNATIONAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC, SYSTEMS & TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH LLC, PENNSYLVANIA & SOUTHERN RAILWAY LLC, and ABBOTT LABORATORIES INC., reflecting a preference for established research institutions and defense technology firms with proven capabilities in physical and engineering sciences. These partnerships are typically formed through competitive BAA processes that prioritize technical excellence, innovation potential, and programmatic agility over cost alone, fostering long-term collaboration on multi-year, high-impact R&D initiatives. The BAA Coordinator maintains a strict no set-aside policy, with 100% of awards issued under full and open competition. This reflects DARPA’s emphasis on selecting the most technically capable performer regardless of size or socioeconomic status, prioritizing mission-critical innovation over socioeconomic contracting preferences. The primary NAICS classification is 541715—Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences—underscoring a deep specialization in fundamental and applied research across electronics, materials science, bioengineering, and computational systems. Procurements support prototype development, experimental testing, and proof-of-concept demonstrations, targeting cutting-edge capabilities that bridge the gap between laboratory discovery and operational military utility.