Protein ENGineering (PENG)
Solicitation from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (darpa). Due Oct 19, 2026, 1 day left.
| Solicitation number | DARPA-PS-26-129 |
|---|---|
| Agency | Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (darpa) |
| Office | Def Advanced Research Projects Agcy |
| Notice type | Solicitation |
| Set-aside | None |
| Trade (NAICS) | Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714) |
| Product or service code | AC12 |
| Posted | Aug 21, 2026 |
| Response deadline | Oct 19, 2026 (1 day left) |
Official notice and attachments
Description
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is soliciting innovative proposals for the development of a multifunctional, target-agnostic platform for precise, programmable editing of endogenous proteins. The goal of the Protein ENGineering (PENG) program is to transition proteome engineering from a collection of isolated, bespoke tools into a universal, software-defined discipline.
The PENG program will establish a comprehensive, integrated platform composed of modular targeting, generalizable effector chemistries, and multiplexed control systems. Rather than developing isolated, target-specific tools, performers will integrate novel splicing, ligation, and co-translational techniques to directly recognize, modify, and rewrite endogenous proteins within complex biological architectures.
Performers may explore multiple technical paths, progressively advancing their approaches from foundational validation to robust demonstrations of efficacy. Ultimately, this integrated platform will be validated in high-fidelity cellular models (e.g., organoids), to provide an integrated proof-of-concept at the tissue level.
About the buyer
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency awarded $1.2 billion in contracts in the last 12 months; its biggest suppliers were Lockheed Martin Corporation, Securigence LLC and The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory LLC. See what DARPA is buying now.