The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)‘s Multi X Office has expanded the Quantum Benchmarking Initiative (QBI) with a new Topic call, QBIT Stage A, aimed at one deceptively simple question: can any quantum architecture credibly reach a utility‑scale, fault‑tolerant machine by about 2033. QBI defines “utility‑scale” as a quantum computer whose computational value exceeds its cost, and Stage A is the first gate in a multi‑stage verification and validation process that pushes teams far beyond incremental performance benchmarks.
QBI is an expansion of DARPA’s earlier Underexplored Systems for Utility‑Scale Quantum Computing (US2QC) program and sits alongside the legacy Quantum Benchmarking (QB) program, which focused on defining impact yardsticks. Here, DARPA is moving from “what would be useful” to “what can actually be built,” under realistic engineering and economic constraints.
What QBI Stage A Is Actually Asking For
QBIT Stage A is a six‑month effort focused on plausibility. DARPA is currently soliciting abstracts and full proposals for approaches to constructing a utility‑scale fault‑tolerant quantum computer and associated computational workflows that materially rely on quantum steps.
Key features of Stage A:
Performers must deliver a USQC Concept Design Report that describes, in detail, a complete system architecture, including physical and functional decomposition and the processes used to reach that design.
The stage is structured around three milestones: a kickoff, a concept design review, and a final concept design report, with total Stage A funding capped at roughly 1 million dollars per award (federal plus any non‑federal share).
The government test and evaluation team will review the draft concept, provide detailed feedback, and present their understanding of the baseline architecture before performers finalize the report.
DARPA explicitly excludes proposals that only offer evolutionary improvements to the current state of practice. The expectation is clearly high‑risk, high‑reward architectures and workflows that change the utility‑scale conversation rather than inching existing hardware forward.
How Stage A Fits Into The Larger QBI Verification Stack
QBI is structured as three stages:
Stage A – Plausibility: Describe a USQC concept with a plausible near‑term path to realization, and subject it to structured government review.
Stage B – R&D Plan (context only here): For selected Stage A performers, DARPA may negotiate Stage B to deeply examine the research and development plan, risk profile, prototypes, and how those prototypes burn down critical risks. Stage B is nominally ~12 months with common milestones and a not‑to‑exceed funding level in the single‑digit millions.
Stage C – Validation and Co‑Design (context only): For a subset of Stage B performers, Stage C becomes the long‑term test: component testing, major prototype evaluation, system‑level performance assessment, and application/algorithm co‑design, with total Stage C funding capped at hundreds of millions across the program.
Importantly, QBI is not a winner‑take‑all competition. DARPA states that it intends to pursue all viable approaches for which there is available funding, and uses Other Transaction (OT) authority to tailor agreements, milestones, and transition paths. The program is an industrial‑scale verification engine: rigorous design scrutiny, independent validation, and clear communication of results to U.S. government stakeholders.
Key Deadlines
QBIT Stage A key dates include:
- Abstracts due: September 30, 2026
- Full proposals due: November 30, 2026
- Oral proposals expected between mid‑2026 and early 2027.
Cyber maturity requirements (CMMC Level 1) apply, reflecting the sensitivity of controlled unclassified information in these designs.
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