ONHS Report: DARPA-PA-26-02

Quantum Benchmarking Initiative (QBI) 2026 Announcement

Solicitation ID: DARPA-PA-26-02

Agency: DARPA/MTO

Type: Solicitation

Deadline: 2026-11-14T23:59:00 ET

Eligibility: Maybe (Topic Dependent)

Funding: N/A

Doc Type: BAA

Clearance: CUI

Program Manager: Dr. Joseph Altepeter

Last Updated: 2025-11-24 13:01

Analyzed File: DARPA-PA-26-02.pdf

Eligibility Reasoning

Proposals must only be submitted in response to a QBIT. Proposals may not be submitted directly to this PA and any such proposal will be disregarded. ... Eligibility will be defined in individual QBITs.

Note: This is an AI-generated summary...

Summary

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has issued the Quantum Benchmarking Initiative (QBI) 2026 Program Announcement (DARPA-PA-26-02) to solicit revolutionary, high-risk approaches for developing a utility-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computer (USQC) by the year 2033. This announcement functions as an umbrella program; proposals will not be accepted directly. Instead, DARPA will issue specific 'Quantum Benchmarking Initiative Topics' (QBITs), each with its own technical focus, submission instructions, and deadlines. The initiative's goal is to rigorously verify and validate the entire path to a USQC, including the concept, R&D plan, and risk mitigation, while excluding projects that offer only evolutionary improvements. Awards are expected to be Other Transaction (OT) agreements to support rapid prototyping and research.

Overall Technical Areas

Fault-Tolerant Quantum ComputingUtility-Scale Quantum SystemsQuantum Computer ArchitectureQuantum System EngineeringQuantum Subsystem DevelopmentQuantum Component IntegrationQuantum System PrototypingQuantum Test and EvaluationQuantum System BenchmarkingQuantum Verification & ValidationQuantum Algorithm AnalysisHybrid Computational Workflows

Probable LBNL Areas

CSAEESAESALDPSA

Focus Areas

Example Priorities:

Describing a USQC concept that has a plausible path to realization in the near term.
Stage A: Describe a USQC concept that has a plausible path to realization in the near term.
explore additional high-risk, high-reward approaches that push the boundaries of utility-scale quantum computing.

Specific Technical Skills:

Quantum Architecture DesignQuantum AlgorithmsFault-Tolerant Quantum ComputingQuantum Error CorrectionSystems EngineeringComputational Complexity TheoryQuantum PhysicsHardware-Software Co-design

Potential PIs for this Area:

Name	Score	Organization
Meriam Gay Bautista-Jurney	0.71	CSA \| AMCR \| Computer Science
Neel Rajeshbhai Vora	0.71	PSA \| ATAP \| BACI
Yizhi Shen	0.70	CSA \| AMCR \| Applied Mathematics
Yilun Xu	0.70	PSA \| ATAP \| BACI
Katherine Klymko	0.70	CSA \| NERSC \| HPC Technology Department
Kan-Heng Lee	0.70	CSA \| AMCR \| Computer Science
Daan Camps	0.70	CSA \| NERSC \| HPC Technology Department
Roel Van Beeumen	0.70	CSA \| AMCR \| Applied Mathematics
Alp Sipahigil	0.70	ESA \| MSD \| Material Physics
Jonathan Carter	0.69	LD \| LD \| Computing Sciences

Example Priorities:

Describing a research and development plan capable of realizing the USQC, the risks associated with that plan, planned risk mitigation steps, and the prototypes needed to burn down these risks.
Stage B: Describe a research and development plan capable of realizing the USQC, the risks associated with that plan, planned risk mitigation steps, and the prototypes needed to burn down these risks.

Specific Technical Skills:

Program ManagementRisk Analysis & MitigationRapid PrototypingQuantum Device FabricationCryogenic EngineeringControl Systems EngineeringMaterials ScienceExperimental PhysicsTechnology Roadmapping

Potential PIs for this Area:

Name	Score	Organization
Kan-Heng Lee	0.73	CSA \| AMCR \| Computer Science
Ian Pong	0.73	PSA \| ATAP \| Superconducting Magnet Program
Meriam Gay Bautista-Jurney	0.72	CSA \| AMCR \| Computer Science
Soren Prestemon	0.72	PSA \| Engineering \| Mechanical Engineering
Yilun Xu	0.72	PSA \| ATAP \| BACI
Reed Teyber	0.72	PSA \| ATAP \| Superconducting Magnet Program
Alexei Fedorov	0.72	ESA \| ALS \| ALS Photon Science Operations
Tengming Shen	0.72	PSA \| ATAP \| Superconducting Magnet Program
Jean-Francois Croteau	0.72	PSA \| ATAP \| Superconducting Magnet Program
Neel Rajeshbhai Vora	0.71	PSA \| ATAP \| BACI

Example Priorities:

Providing tools to the Government to verify and validate that the envisioned USQC concept can be constructed as designed and operated as intended.
Augmenting the capabilities of the QBI Independent Verification and Validation team through the development of quantum computer testing and evaluation tools and/or concepts.
Stage C: Work with the Government to verify and validate that the USQC concept can be constructed as designed and operated as intended.
QBI will add value to ongoing research and development efforts by: Providing unbiased third-party verification and validation of an organization’s path to a USQC.

Specific Technical Skills:

Quantum BenchmarkingTest and Evaluation (T&E)Quantum CharacterizationVerification and Validation (V&V)Quantum MetrologyPerformance ModelingSimulationData AnalysisTool Development

Potential PIs for this Area:

Name	Score	Organization
Roel Van Beeumen	0.72	CSA \| AMCR \| Applied Mathematics
Ravi Naik	0.72	CSA \| AMCR \| Computer Science
Katherine Klymko	0.71	CSA \| NERSC \| HPC Technology Department
Yilun Xu	0.71	PSA \| ATAP \| BACI
Neel Rajeshbhai Vora	0.71	PSA \| ATAP \| BACI
Meriam Gay Bautista-Jurney	0.70	CSA \| AMCR \| Computer Science
Kan-Heng Lee	0.70	CSA \| AMCR \| Computer Science
Yizhi Shen	0.70	CSA \| AMCR \| Applied Mathematics
Boubacar Kante	0.70	ESA \| MSD \| Material Physics
Zhao Hao	0.70	EESA \| EG \| Geochemistry Dept

Potential LBNL PIs (Overall)

Note on PI Matching: These suggestions are generated through an AI-driven semantic analysis of LBNL staff profiles.

Name	Score	Organization
Angelos Ioannou	0.78	CSA \| AMCR \| Computer Science · Quantum Computer Architecture
Akash Dixit	0.76	CSA \| AMCR \| Computer Science · Quantum System Prototyping
Marina Radulaski	0.76	ESA \| MF \| MF Nanofabrication Facility · Quantum Component Integration
Meriam Gay Bautista-Jurney	0.76	CSA \| AMCR \| Computer Science · Quantum System Engineering
Ravi Naik	0.76	CSA \| AMCR \| Computer Science · Quantum System Benchmarking
Anthony Ciavarella	0.76	CSA \| AMCR \| Computer Science · Quantum Algorithm Analysis
Anna Giannakou	0.75	CSA \| SciData \| Data Science Applications · Hybrid Computational Workflows
Erhan Saglamyurek	0.75	CSA \| ESNET \| Tech Adv and Engagement · Quantum Subsystem Development
Jan Balewski	0.75	CSA \| NERSC \| Sci Eng & Workflows Department · Utility-Scale Quantum Systems
Siyuan Niu	0.74	CSA \| AMCR \| Computer Science · Fault-Tolerant Quantum Computing

Fundamental Research Exemption (FRE)

D. Fundamental Research A fundamental research section will be available in each individual QBIT.