Source: LinkedIn / Keith Whitener (DARPA PM, Defense Sciences Office) · Original Post
DARPA’s ExPEDitions program solicitation is inbound. Program Manager Keith Whitener flagged the SBIR pre-release as a warm-up while the full solicitation (DARPA-PS-26-118) drops. The pre-release is live now at the DoW SBIR 2026 BAA portal.
What It Is
Expeditionary Power- and Energy-Dense Implementations (ExPEDitions) is a DARPA Defense Sciences Office program seeking to leapfrog operational energy limitations for expeditionary forces. The program targets electrically rechargeable batteries that simultaneously achieve high energy density (matching hydrocarbons) and high power density (matching electric motors) — a combination that does not currently exist.
The predecessor program, ExCURSion (Expeditionary Carbon Utilization for Energy Resilience and Stabilization), demonstrated a rechargeable carbon-air chemistry with high specific energy and stability. ExPEDitions picks up where ExCURSion left off, focusing on the unsolved power density and manufacturability challenges.
Program Structure
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Solicitation | DARPA-PS-26-118 (Program Solicitation) |
| Special Notice | DARPA-SN-26-70 (SAM.gov) |
| Award Instrument | Other Transaction (OT) for Prototype (10 U.S.C. § 4022) |
| Duration | 36 months — Phase I (18 mo.) + Phase II (18 mo.) |
| Acquisition Approach | Abstract → Invited Full Proposal (two-step) |
| Questions Due | June 5, 2026, 5:00 PM ET |
| Abstracts Due | June 15, 2026, 5:00 PM ET |
| Full Proposal Notification | June 24, 2026 |
| Proposals Due | July 20, 2026, 5:00 PM ET |
| Anticipated Awards | January 2027 |
| NAICS | 541715 — R&D in Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences |
Technical Targets
| Metric | Phase I (18 Mo.) | Phase II (18 Mo.) |
|---|---|---|
| Specific Energy | >1 kWh/kg | >2 kWh/kg |
| Peak Specific Power | >1 kW/kg | >3 kW/kg |
| Rechargeability | >500 cycles @ >80% capacity | >5,000 cycles |
| Cost | Path towards $100/kWh | Materials cost floor of $50/kWh |
| Recharge Rate | >625 W/L | >625 W/L |
| Round-Trip Efficiency | >90% | >90% |
Why It Matters
Current lithium-ion batteries are outperformed by hydrocarbon fuel systems by a factor of 10 in energy density. ExPEDitions targets the ~2 kWh/kg threshold at which electric drivetrains would surpass fuel-powered systems in power, energy, and endurance — eliminating the fuel supply chain dependency that currently constrains expeditionary operations in contested environments.
The near-term application is drones with dramatically extended range. The longer-term application is any platform that currently relies on JP-8 or diesel in forward-deployed, fuel-resupply-denied environments.
Eligibility Notes
- Non-traditional defense contractors are actively encouraged — OT authority requires at least one non-traditional participant or small business to a significant extent
- Abstract submission is mandatory and decisional — full proposals will only be accepted by invitation
- Abstracts must be submitted via BAAT (DARPA’s submission portal)
- Submit questions to: [email protected]
Points of Contact
| Role | Name | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Program Manager | Dr. Keith Whitener, DARPA DSO | Via LinkedIn / [email protected] |
| Contracting Officer | Phuongthao Phan, DARPA CMO | [email protected] |
| BAA Coordinator | (unnamed) | [email protected] |
Resources
- SAM.gov Special Notice (DARPA-SN-26-70)
- DARPA ExPEDitions Program Page
- Proposers Day Briefing (PDF)
- Contracting Overview (PDF)
- DoW SBIR 2026 BAA Pre-Release
Source: LinkedIn / Keith Whitener (DARPA PM) · SAM.gov DARPA-SN-26-70 · DARPA ExPEDitions program page