Lightweight Universal Codec (LUC) Proposers Day
| Location: | Federal |
|---|---|
| Posted: | Jun 15, 2026 |
| Due: | Jul 1, 2026 |
| Agency: | DEPT OF DEFENSE |
| Type of Government: | Federal |
| Category: |
|
| Solicitation No: | DARPA-SN-26-92 |
| Publication URL: | To access bid details, please log in. |
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Active
Contract Opportunity
Notice ID
DARPA-SN-26-92
Related Notice
Department/Ind. Agency
DEPT OF DEFENSE
Sub-tier
DEFENSE ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGENCY (DARPA)
Office
DEF ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGCY
General Information
Classification
Description
Contact Information
History
- Contract Opportunity Type: Special Notice (Original)
- Original Published Date: Jun 15, 2026 03:07 pm EDT
- Original Response Date: Jul 01, 2026 05:00 pm EDT
- Inactive Policy: Manual
- Original Inactive Date: Jul 09, 2026
-
Initiative:
- None
- Original Set Aside:
- Product Service Code: AC12 - NATIONAL DEFENSE R&D SERVICES; DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE - MILITARY; APPLIED RESEARCH
-
NAICS Code:
- 541715 - Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)
-
Place of Performance:
Under the LUC program, DARPA IPTO will aim to develop a universal encoder-decoder (codec) capable of sending and receiving information using any known communication error correction code and any developed in the future.
Leveraging the groundbreaking work of DARPA’s Guessing Random Additive Noise Decoding (GRAND) study, the LUC program will aim to create an adaptive error correction codec capable of multiple on-the-fly changes to error correction codes. The program will seek to achieve this by developing an encoder capable of utilizing a highly diverse suite of error correcting codes that are easily updatable. The encoder is expected to pair with a GRAND-implementing decoder and the resulting codec will be designed such that the encoder incorporates the decoder’s GRAND noise model as well as other operating factors into its code selection process for link budget and task/mission optimization.
Integration of these codecs into various existing communication technologies would demonstrate improved efficiency, security, throughput, and interoperability achieved by record-setting low-power decoding and adaptive, dynamic forward error correction.
The LUC program will evaluate the success of these codecs and integrated systems by measuring elements of code universality, link budget improvement solely through the implementation of the codec, and the communication systems’ performance in heterogeneous network environments.
To maximize benefits of the LUC program and proliferation of its resulting technologies into both the commercial and military domains, DARPA will execute the program at the unclassified level with performers’ target implementations/integrations not to exceed Controlled Unclassified Information. Performers will be allowed to select their own target communication system(s) for integration and are expected to identify candidates that will demonstrate the greatest and/or most impactful improvement(s) through LUC implementation.
Leveraging the groundbreaking work of DARPA’s Guessing Random Additive Noise Decoding (GRAND) study, the LUC program will aim to create an adaptive error correction codec capable of multiple on-the-fly changes to error correction codes. The program will seek to achieve this by developing an encoder capable of utilizing a highly diverse suite of error correcting codes that are easily updatable. The encoder is expected to pair with a GRAND-implementing decoder and the resulting codec will be designed such that the encoder incorporates the decoder’s GRAND noise model as well as other operating factors into its code selection process for link budget and task/mission optimization.
Integration of these codecs into various existing communication technologies would demonstrate improved efficiency, security, throughput, and interoperability achieved by record-setting low-power decoding and adaptive, dynamic forward error correction.
The LUC program will evaluate the success of these codecs and integrated systems by measuring elements of code universality, link budget improvement solely through the implementation of the codec, and the communication systems’ performance in heterogeneous network environments.
To maximize benefits of the LUC program and proliferation of its resulting technologies into both the commercial and military domains, DARPA will execute the program at the unclassified level with performers’ target implementations/integrations not to exceed Controlled Unclassified Information. Performers will be allowed to select their own target communication system(s) for integration and are expected to identify candidates that will demonstrate the greatest and/or most impactful improvement(s) through LUC implementation.
Attachments/Links
Contracting Office Address
- 675 NORTH RANDOLPH STREET
- ARLINGTON , VA 222032114
- USA
Primary Point of Contact
- BAA Coordinator
- LUC@darpa.mil
Secondary Point of Contact
- Jun 15, 2026 03:07 pm EDTSpecial Notice (Original)
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