Decentralized Artificial Intelligence through Controlled Emergence (DICE) Proposers Day
Dept of Defense · DEFENSE ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGENCY (DARPA)
This notice is not accepting responses (deadline was May 18, 2026, 8:00 PM EDT).
Page kept for research and related open opportunities below. For current work in this category, use the related notices or browse hubs.
- Response deadline
- May 18, 2026, 8:00 PM EDT
- Posted
- Apr 28, 2026
- Solicitation
- DARPA-SN-26-72
- Set-aside
- None listed
- Place of performance
- —
- Contracting office
- DEF ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGCY · ARLINGTON · VA
- Source
- SAM.gov · updated May 9, 2026
Description
The DICE program seeks to develop the theory and algorithms for decentralized coordination and local inference control to enable a scalable, adaptive, and resilient collective of heterogeneous AI agents that can autonomously execute sustained long-time-horizon missions in contested environments while remaining under human control. In contrast to small-scale, rigid, and fragile centralized orchestration or the high-risk unpredictable nature of ad hoc compositions of AI agents, DICE aims to harness the scalability and adaptability of self-organizing systems while minimizing risks and ensuring that the collective behavior remains predictable and aligned with intended outcomes. This approach mirrors the principles of decentralized self-organization that underpin the internet's own scalability and resilience, where robust global behavior emerges from simple, local rules.
What similar awards have paid
Real federal awards already on the books in a similar lane — so you can size the opportunity, not guess. This is public history, not a bid price, cost estimate, or prediction that you will win.
Typical award size
$1.07M
Middle of the pack for similar past awards
Most similar awards fall between $217,415 and $6.27M
Who has won work like this
Public awardees in this lane — useful for competitor scan or teaming ideas, not a ranked list of “best” firms.
- 1SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP.1 award$3.01B
- 2CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY40 awards$1.88B
- 3FERMI FORWARD DISCOVERY GROUP, LLC1 award$1.73B
- 4BATTELLE SAVANNAH RIVER ALLIANCE, LLC1 award$1.32B
- 5THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY APPLIED PHYSICS LABORATORY LLC5 awards$965.62M
- 6LEIDOS, INC.1 award$924.32M
- 7LEIDOS BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH INC13 awards$823.78M
- 8BOOZ ALLEN HAMILTON INC2 awards$472.06M
Recent examples
A few of the newest similar awards in our index.
- BARRIOS TECHNOLOGY, LLCSep 30, 2025National Aeronautics and Space Administration$351.72MSource
- CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGYSep 30, 2025National Aeronautics and Space Administration$852.19MSource
- EMERGENCY CARE RESEARCH INSTITUTESep 30, 2025Department of Health and Human Services$250,000Source
- MAKEL ENGINEERING, INC.Sep 30, 2025National Aeronautics and Space Administration$899,938Source
- THE MITRE CORPORATIONSep 30, 2025Department of Health and Human Services$1.85MSource
- BARRIOS TECHNOLOGY, LLCSep 30, 2025National Aeronautics and Space Administration$190,085Source
Drawn from official USAspending contract records in our index. Always confirm requirements on the SAM.gov notice before you bid.
Intelligence only — not legal advice or a guarantee of award. Always verify requirements on the official SAM.gov notice. Past award amounts are public history, not a suggested bid or prediction. Notice ID 993a9d98cd9444c3bfcfd6856eca90a1.