Bid document

DARPA-SN-27-14

Special Notice
Future Workshop Announcement:
Quantum Computing – Applications Workshops (QC-AW)

DARPA-SN-27-14

October 28, 2026

Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
Multi X Office
675 North Randolph Street
Arlington, VA 22203-2114

DARPA-SN-27-14

Future Workshop Announcement
Special Notice DARPA-SN-27-14
Quantum Computing – Applications Workshops (QC-AW)
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)
Multi X Office (MXO)
Posting Date: October 28, 2026
Technical POC: Micah Stoutimore, Ph.D., Managing Director, Quantum Benchmarking Initiative (QBI) E-mail: [email protected]

BACKGROUND:

The purpose of this Special Notice (SN) is to provide advance notice of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA’s) intention to host future workshops to determine the commercial impact of future utility-scale quantum computers. Any future Quantum Computing – Applications Workshops (QCAW) Request for Information (RFI) describing the workshop will be made available at https://sam.gov/.

WORKSHOP GOALS:

The findings of DARPA’s Quantum Benchmarking Initiative have indicated that a utility-scale quantum computer is likely to be realized by 2033. Previous DARPA programs developed application benchmarks to quantitively measure progress toward solving computational problems with scientific and industrial utility. With recent, rapid advances in quantum architecture and hardware, significant uncertainty remains regarding which application classes will run efficiently on future utility-scale quantum computers and deliver meaningful economic value.
In coordination with the Department of Energy Office of Science, the National Nuclear Security Administration, and the Laboratory for Physical Sciences, DARPA will announce a series of application workshops that will bring together end users and quantum-algorithm experts to identify high-value use cases, accelerate industrially relevant quantum advantage, create economic opportunity, and strengthen national defense.
A key goal of the workshops is defining a path toward pricing the value of quantum computations. DARPA has developed an initial set of benchmarks of interest to the government, but new benchmarks are needed to define commercial application workloads and expand the initial set. Benchmark instances like those used in the optimization community could have significant potential for connecting commercial companies to quantum computing capacity.
These workshops will solicit input and seek participation from multiple communities: