Industry Day Question and Answers

Industry Day
September 22, 2026
Special Notice DARPA-SN-26-120
Next Generation Hypersonic Cruise Missile (NGHCM)
Questions and Answers
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Topic

Question

Answer

Acquisition

Given the acquisition timeline extends through Fiscal Year 2032, can the Government please clarify how a company's size/growth during the program phases impacts eligibility for OTA-prototype awards? Must the offeror be a small business at the time of submission, at the time of award, or for the duration of the period of performance?

The Proposer (prime) must qualify at time of propsoal submission. If the Proposer qualifies at the time of proposal submission, its elgiiblity is preserved for the duration of the Other Transaction (OT).

Acquisition

As a non-traditional with limited history with DoW contracting but a mature battery science, how is the NGHCM program thinking of leveraging non-traditional performers? Are there opportunities to participate directly or through prime/subcontract or a TA where our science could fill a critical subsystem capability?

Both. The Government anticipates teaming opportunities with traditional prime contractors and funding Focus Area (FA) 3 and FA4 independently will be considered.

How should we securely submit unclassified responses to the program DARPA email? E.g. DoD SAFE, password protected profile.

Follow the Request or Inforrmation (RFI), DARPA-SN-26-120. However, the Government recommends using DoD SAFE for the transmission of CUI information. Use the RFI email address when using DoD SAFE or use the RFI email address to request the appropriate DoD SAFE submission link.

Acquisition

Acquisition

FA3

FA3

If a large business wants to provide an RFI response but hasn't yet finalized teaming do they need to specify how they will meet OTA requirements?
What emphasis is being placed on alternate Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) technologies? Will this be a specific line item or will it fall under the umbrella of a broader category?
The RFI describes FA3 technologies in terms of enabling a hypersonic cruise missile system, not a boost glide vehicle. Given that distinction, is DARPA's evaluation framework for thermal management solutions designed to account for the full flight duration of a continuously powered, air-breathing system, or are current evaulation criteria primarily derived from boost-glide thermal profiles?

No.
Yes, those technologies are identified under FA3 and the Government encourages responses to the RFI that address alternate PNT.