QBI CUI Guide v2.0 Signed

Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) Guide
Program: Quantum Benchmarking Initiative (QBI)
Program Manager: Joseph Altepeter, Ph.D.
Program Security Officer: James Persons

Date: January 6, 2026
Version: 2.0

signed by
ALTEPETER.JO Digitally

ALTEPETER.JOSEPH.B.150

SEPH.B.1505190 5190889

Date: 2026.01.15 15:28:13
-05'00'

PERSONS.JAMES. Digitally signed by

KENNETH.1214880 PERSONS.JAMES.KENNETH.12

14880993
Date: 2026.01.06 08:27:55 -05'00'

Joseph Altepeter, Ph.D.
MTO Program Manager

James Persons
MTO Program Security Officer

Distribution Statement A. Approved for public release: distribution is unlimited. i

FOREWORD

1. DESCRIPTION

2. AUTHORITY

3. DISTRIBUTION

GENERAL

1. PURPOSE

2. APPLICABILITY AND SCOPE

3. OFFICE OF PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY

4. CONTROLLED UNCLASSIFIED INFORAMTION (CUI) CHALLENGES

5. OPERATION SECURITY (OPSEC)

6. CUI CATEGORIES

7. EXPORT CONTROL RESTRICTED INFORMATION

8. FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA) EXEMPT INFORMATION

9. DISCLOSURE OF CUI

10. CUI PROTECTION REQUIREMENTS

11. NOTIFICATION OF UNAUTHORIZED DISCLOSURE

12. HORIZONTAL SECURITY PROTECTION

13. INFORMATION PROTECTION GUIDANCE CHARTS

14. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PROTECTION GUIDANCE

Distribution Statement A. Approved for public release: distribution is unlimited. ii

FOREWORD

1. DESCRIPTION

DARPA’s Quantum Benchmarking Initiative (QBI) aims to determine if it is possible to build an industrially useful quantum computer much faster than conventional predictions. Specifically, QBI is designed to rigorously verify and validate if any quantum computing approach can achieve utility-scale operation — meaning its computational value exceeds its cost — by the year 2033.
The Quantum Benchmarking Initiative is an expansion of the existing DARPA Underexplored Systems for Utility-Scale Quantum Computing (US2QC). It is a multi-stage approach to provide third-party verification and validation of an organization’s path to a utilityscale quantum computer. QBI will also communicate the results of this verification and validation effort to other U.S. government stakeholders.

2. AUTHORITY

CUI elements referenced in this guide are under the authority of DoDI 5200.48, “Controlled Unclassified Information,” March 6, 2020.

3. DISTRIBUTION

Distribution Statement A. Approved for public release: distribution is unlimited.

Distribution Statement A. Approved for public release: distribution is unlimited. iii

1. PURPOSE

a. The purpose of this CUI guide is to ensure the protection of QBI information in accordance with Department of Defense Instruction (DoDI) 5200.48. QBI information should be