Request for Information: Formal Methods to Deliver Resilient Systems (FMDRS)
ID: DARPA-SN-25-34Type: Special Notice
Overview

Buyer

DEPT OF DEFENSEDEFENSE ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGENCY (DARPA)DEF ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGCYARLINGTON, VA, 222032114, USA

NAICS

Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)

PSC

NATIONAL DEFENSE R&D SERVICES; DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE - MILITARY; APPLIED RESEARCH (AC12)

Original Source

https://sam.gov/opp/ffd30e75a890495885d5da82896bdb8b/view
Timeline
    Description

    The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is seeking community feedback through a Request for Information (RFI) titled "Formal Methods to Deliver Resilient Systems" (FMDRS). The objective of this RFI is to gather insights on the draft FMDRS Guide, which outlines the use of formal methods to enhance the resilience of systems, particularly in the context of Department of Defense (DoD) capabilities. This initiative is crucial for developing secure systems that can withstand and recover from various threats, emphasizing the importance of structured proposals that detail resilience goals and implementation strategies. Interested parties, including companies, academic institutions, and research organizations, are encouraged to submit their feedback by February 25, 2025, to the primary contact at QB@darpa.mil.

    Point(s) of Contact
    QB@darpa.mil
    QB@darpa.mil
    Files
    Title
    Posted
    DARPA-SN-25-34.pdf
    The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has issued a Request for Information (RFI) designated DARPA-SN-25-34, seeking feedback on the draft "FMDRS Guide" aimed at enhancing the resilience of systems through formal methods. The RFI invites responses from various stakeholders, including companies, academic institutions, and research organizations, by February 25, 2025. The guide integrates formal mathematical techniques to improve software security, which is vital for safeguarding Department of Defense (DoD) capabilities. DARPA intends to incorporate input from this RFI to refine the guide for use in future solicitations and expects proposers to create a detailed implementation plan for resilient systems based on the guide. Key points include the RFI’s focus on system resilience across hardware, cyber-physical systems, and software, along with structured feedback on elements such as the comprehensiveness of the FMDRS Guide. DARPA emphasizes constructing a formal methods ecosystem and encourages participation in related initiatives. Responses should be submitted in specific formats, avoiding classified information. The RFI serves as an important step in fostering collaboration and improving the resilience of critical government systems while ensuring that formal methods are effectively integrated into future projects.
    Resilient_Systems_Best_Practices_Guide_-_1-9-2025.docx
    The DARPA Guide for Formal Methods to Deliver Resilient Systems (FMDRS) provides guidance for proposals addressing resilience through formal methods in response to DARPA Broad Agency Announcements (BAAs) and other RFPs. It emphasizes the Department of Defense's focus on developing high-quality, secure systems capable of withstanding and recovering from attacks. The document outlines the importance of formal methods, which are mathematically rigorous techniques supporting software reliability and security. Proposals must delineate clear resilience goals, detailing the types of threats the system will counter and how those objectives will be achieved. Key areas of focus include system architecture, file formats, data formats, network protocols, type and memory safety, and isolation measures. An example project, the Resilient Octopus Controlled Spacecraft (ROCS), illustrates resilience plans encompassing environmental factors and adversarial threats, while employing robust software development practices in alignment with DARPA's standards for security and system integrity. The guide reinforces the necessity of specific resilience strategies while conforming to broader quality objectives without serving as a formal solicitation.
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    Request for Information: Formal Methods to Deliver Resilient Systems (FMDRS)
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