Requests for Information (RFIs) are designed to gather more information on an idea in an area in which our program managers are not fully informed on the state of the art or the community of potential performers. RFIs are released on SAM.gov and posted to IARPA.gov.
It may be the case that an IARPA Program Manager has (or is presented with) an idea in an area where he/she is not fully informed on the state-of-the-art or the community of potential performers. As a result, IARPA may release an RFI. An RFI requests input from the community on a particular topic and includes a specified format and a deadline for responses.
An RFI must be rooted in an idea—they are not used as a means to generate ideas for a program. Proposers respond to an RFI because they are interested in the field and want to position themselves for a future Broad Agency Announcement (or influence its direction). Please note that issuing an RFI is not a commitment to funding or even a guarantee that a program will be initiated and responses to an RFI are freely shared and should not contain proprietary information.
