Executive Summary
DARPA's Information Processing Techniques Office wants input on FLASH: generating many different but provably equivalent versions of cyber-physical systems from formal specifications. Companies, universities, labs and individuals can respond. Responses are due November 30, 2026, 5:00 PM ET. This RFI offers no funding.
An RFI response is an early way to put your approach in front of the DARPA team scoping a likely new program. DARPA may contact respondents to discuss what they sent.
Solicitation at a Glance
- Agency: Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Information Processing Techniques Office (IPTO)
- Opportunity: Request for Information: Formal Learning and Abstractions for System Heterogeneity (FLASH)
- Number: DARPA-SN-27-17
- Award Vehicle: None (RFI)
- Funding: None; DARPA will not pay for responses
- Length: Five-page narrative encouraged
- Due Date: November 30, 2026, 5:00 PM ET (classified intent notice by November 13)
Think your company qualifies? Talk with BW&CO before the November 30 deadline.
What Is FLASH?
A DARPA concept that combines generative-model agents with symbolic reasoning to formally capture design intent and synthesize different system instances that keep the same specified properties, along with assurance evidence.
What Problem Is DARPA Trying to Solve?
Identical systems share the same vulnerabilities and failure modes. Generating varied but equivalent designs could make adversary knowledge of one instance less useful against the others.
What DARPA Wants to Hear About
- Applications: National-security systems that would benefit, such as autonomous tactical platforms, secure communications, industrial control systems, robot fleets, HPC clusters, edge networks and cybersecurity
- Technical approaches: Metrics for heterogeneity, methods to prove functional equivalence, oracle-guided synthesis, foundation models combined with interactive theorem provers, and single- or multi-agent design architectures
- Reusable assets: Libraries of formal specifications, models and proofs for specific domains
Eligibility
- Who can respond: Companies, individuals, universities, university-affiliated research centers, nonprofit research institutions and U.S. Government-sponsored laboratories
How to Apply
- Write: a narrative of about five pages, unprotected Word or PDF, 12-point font, with organization name and a technical point of contact
- Send unclassified responses: to FLASH@darpa.mil by November 30, 2026, 5:00 PM ET
- For CUI: request a DoD SAFE link from FLASH@darpa.mil
- For classified responses: email notice to FLASH@darpa.mil by November 13, 2026
What Happens After You Submit?
- Review: DARPA staff and support contractors review responses
- Follow-up: DARPA may contact respondents; it is not obliged to acknowledge or reply
Is This Opportunity a Good Fit for Your Company?
Good fit if you work on formal methods, program synthesis, verified AI or high-assurance cyber-physical systems and want to shape a likely DARPA program early.
How BW&CO Can Help
BW&CO has helped deep-tech and dual-use founders secure more than $350M in non-dilutive funding. For DARPA RFIs like FLASH, we help you:
- Reach the right DARPA program manager
- Shape a five-page response around DARPA's questions
- Show how your approach fits a future program
- Mark proprietary and CUI content correctly
- Prepare for the follow-on solicitation
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there funding?
No. This is a request for information; DARPA will not pay for responses.
When are responses due?
November 30, 2026, 5:00 PM ET.
How long should a response be?
DARPA encourages a five-page narrative.
Where do I send it?
Unclassified responses go to FLASH@darpa.mil.
Can I send classified material?
Yes, with an email notice to FLASH@darpa.mil by November 13, 2026.
Who can respond?
Companies, individuals, universities, UARCs, nonprofit research institutions and U.S. Government labs.
Will DARPA reply?
DARPA may contact respondents but is not required to.
Can BW&CO help with a FLASH RFI response?
Yes. We can often connect you with the right DARPA program manager first, then help shape your response. Book a call with our team.
Source: SAM.gov: DARPA-SN-27-17, FLASH Request for Information