DARPA DSO: Mathematics of Boosting Agentic Communication (MATHBAC)

Below is a brief summary. Please check the full solicitation before applying (link in resources section).

Executive Summary:

DARPA is funding foundational research to mathematically formalize how AI agents communicate, collaborate, and accelerate scientific discovery. This is a highly technical, early-stage research program aimed at breakthroughs—not incremental improvements.

Awards will support teams developing new mathematical frameworks, algorithms, and tools for multi-agent AI systems, with a strong emphasis on theory, not product development.

Key deadlines:

• Proposal Abstract Due Date: April 30, at 4:00 p.m. (ET)

• Proposal Due Date: June 16, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. (ET)

If you are a research-heavy team working on AI, mathematics, systems theory, or scientific discovery platforms, this is a time-sensitive opportunity to engage DARPA at the frontier of agentic AI.

How much funding would I receive?

• Phase I awards: Up to $2,000,000 per award

• Number of awards: Multiple awards are anticipated

No total program budget or Phase II award size is specified in the solicitation.

What could I use the funding for?

Funding supports foundational research, specifically:

• Developing mathematical frameworks for agent communication protocols

• Advancing systems theory and information theory for AI collaboration

• Creating algorithms and tools for extracting generalizable scientific principles from data

• Designing multi-agent communication systems for scientific discovery

• Building software tools to simulate and optimize agent interactions

Explicitly not allowed / not the focus:

• Incremental improvements to existing approaches

• Product development or application-layer systems

This program is focused on basic and applied research, not commercialization.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

• Opportunity to work directly with DARPA Defense Sciences Office (DSO)

• Participation in a 34-month program with potential continuation to Phase II

• Access to IV&V evaluation infrastructure and benchmarking

• Ability to collaborate in “Evolution Teams” in Phase II

• Potential to influence next-generation AI science discovery paradigms

No additional non-monetary benefits are explicitly guaranteed beyond program participation.

What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?

Key Dates (all ET):

• Posting Date: April 7, 2026

• Proposers Day: April 21, 2026

• Proposal Abstract Due Date: April 30, at 4:00 p.m.

• Question Deadline: June 4, 2026, at 4:00 p.m.

• Proposal Due Date: June 16, 2026, at 4:00 p.m.

Award timeline:

• Estimated Period of Performance Start: September 15, 2026

Program structure:

• Total duration: 34 months

  • Phase I: 16 months

  • Phase II: 18 months (subject to selection and funding availability)

Where does this funding come from?

• Agency: Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)

• Office: Defense Sciences Office (DSO)

• Program: Mathematics of Boosting Agentic Communication (MATHBAC)

Funding is issued via Other Transaction Agreements (OTs) for Research under 10 U.S.C. § 4021.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible:

• All responsible sources capable of meeting DARPA’s needs

• U.S. and non-U.S. organizations (subject to compliance requirements)

• Academic institutions, companies, and research organizations

Encouraged (but not set aside):

• Small businesses

• Minority-serving institutions

Not eligible:

• Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs)

• University Affiliated Research Centers (UARCs)

• Government entities (as performers under this solicitation)

Additional requirements:

• Must comply with security, export control, and nondisclosure requirements

• Must submit required representations and certifications

What companies and projects are likely to win?

DARPA will prioritize proposals that:

• Deliver novel, non-incremental approaches

• Provide strong mathematical and theoretical foundations

• Demonstrate feasible, well-structured technical plans

• Address either:

  • TA1: Agent communication protocols

  • TA2: Discovery of generalizable principles from data

• Show clear alignment with scientific discovery use cases

• Include baseline metrics and evaluation plans

• Identify technical risks and mitigation strategies

• Demonstrate team expertise in AI, mathematics, and systems/information theory

Projects focused on end-to-end applications without foundational advances are unlikely to be competitive.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

• Research must not focus on incremental improvements

• Program is not intended for product or application development

• Must use Other Transaction (OT) structure (not grants/contracts)

• Organizational Conflict of Interest (OCI) rules apply

• Must comply with Fundamental Research Risk-Based Security Review (FRRBS)

• Some research may be required to align with fundamental research guidelines or accept restrictions

• Proposals must follow strict DARPA submission templates and attachments

Additionally:

• Phase I proposals must not exceed $2,000,000

• Must address only one Technical Area (TA1 or TA2) in Phase I

• Must include a draft Phase II plan or risk being non-conforming

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

The solicitation does not specify preparation time.

However, based on requirements, applicants should expect significant effort due to:

• Detailed technical proposal volumes

• Required cost workbook and OT agreement markup

• Multiple attachments and templates (A–I, X)

• Defined milestones, metrics, and evaluation plans

• Need for draft Phase II Statement of Work and ROM cost

This is a high-complexity DARPA proposal.

How can BW&CO help?

BW&CO can support:

• Translating your technical concept into a DARPA-aligned narrative

• Structuring proposals to meet TA1 or TA2 expectations

• Developing clear technical rationale and differentiation

• Building evaluation metrics and milestone frameworks

• Drafting Phase II strategy and Evolution Team positioning

• Ensuring compliance with DARPA formatting and submission requirements

How much would BW&CO Charge?

We have both fractional engagements ($250 an hour) and full engagements ($15,000 + 5%) available.

Additional Resources

Review the solicitation here.