Anticipatory and Adaptive Anti-Money Laundering (A3ML)
ID: DARPA-PS-25-10Type: Solicitation
Overview

Buyer

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

NAICS

Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) (541715)

PSC

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

    The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is soliciting proposals for the Anticipatory and Adaptive Anti-Money Laundering (A3ML) program, which aims to develop innovative algorithms to enhance the detection and prevention of money laundering activities. The program's objectives include creating rapid graph-search algorithms that can analyze heterogeneous financial transaction data to identify illicit finance tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs), while also adapting to evolving adversary behaviors. This initiative is critical for improving national security by minimizing false positives in anti-money laundering efforts and making it more difficult for adversaries to exploit the global financial system. Interested parties should submit their proposals, including abstracts detailing their approaches, to the designated contact, BAA Coordinator, at A3ML@darpa.mil, with key deadlines and evaluation criteria outlined in the solicitation documents.

    Point(s) of Contact
    BAA Coordinator
    A3ML@darpa.mil
    Files
    Title
    Posted
    The document outlines a federal agreement between the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and a selected nontraditional defense performer for a prototype development project under the authority of 10 U.S.C. § 4022. It includes detailed provisions regarding the scope, management, milestones, payment structures, and patent rights related to the project. The agreement emphasizes the importance of the research and technological advancement for military and commercial applications, aiming to address deficiencies in current technologies. Specific sections address the project scope, term length, project management responsibilities, funding obligations, dispute resolution, and intellectual property rights. The agreement defines various terms related to inventions, data rights, and foreign technology access, as well as requirements for protecting covered defense information and cyber incident reporting. Moreover, it highlights the goal of securing government benefits from the project outputs while encouraging the performer to innovate and potentially commercialize successful technologies. The document's comprehensive structure ensures both parties are aware of their rights and obligations while promoting collaboration towards advancements in critical technologies.
    The document is an Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) between an unnamed company and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) concerning a research and development program, aiming to develop a prototype identified within the agreement. It includes comprehensive terms addressing the scope, goals, management structure, and funding obligations. The performer is responsible for executing the work laid out in a Task Description Document, with payments tied to milestone achievements. The agreement emphasizes the government’s rights to data and inventions generated during the program while maintaining a cost-sharing model. Key provisions also address intellectual property rights, provisions for dispute resolution, compliance with security measures for covered defense information, and limitations on telecommunications equipment procurement. The ultimate goal is to foster innovations that can benefit both military applications and commercial sectors, ensuring government oversight and involvement throughout the project duration. This OTA exemplifies a collaborative approach in federal research and technology advancement, adhering to regulatory compliance and federal guidelines while maintaining competitive engagement with private industry.
    The document serves as a certification agreement for federal contracts, emphasizing compliance with various legal and ethical standards. Key points include affirmations from the organization regarding non-debarment status due to federal actions, commitment to maintaining a drug-free workplace, and adherence to nondiscrimination laws under the Civil Rights Act of 1964. For contracts exceeding $100,000, additional certifications must confirm that no federal funds are used for lobbying purposes, with a requirement for subawards to reflect this certification. It highlights penalties for failure to comply, including civil fines for non-compliance with these regulations. The document also mandates representations from corporations regarding unresolved federal tax liabilities or felony convictions within the past two years, requiring consideration and potential action by the awarding agency if issues exist. The final section requests official signature and affirmation, ensuring transparency and integrity in federal contracting processes. Overall, this certification is a prerequisite for securing federal transactions, aligning with government regulations to uphold accountability in federal funding and partnerships.
    The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is soliciting proposals for its Anticipatory and Adaptive Anti-Money Laundering (A3ML) program, aimed at developing innovative algorithms and software systems to combat money laundering effectively. This program addresses the need for more advanced techniques to detect and deter illicit financial behaviors that threaten national security, particularly against adversaries like North Korea and Russia. The solicitation outlines a two-track approach: the Research Track (focusing on algorithm development and integration) and the Competition Track (encouraging participation from non-traditional defense contractors without clearance). Proposers must submit abstracts detailing their approaches to extract and infer money laundering tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) from distributed financial transaction data. Key deliverables include executable software and documentation, with an emphasis on achieving high accuracy and reducing false discovery rates in identifying financial crimes. The program also stipulates security requirements for proposal submissions, emphasizing the potential classified nature of the work. Through this initiative, DARPA aims to transform anti-money laundering practices by leveraging algorithmic innovations and strategic partnerships, ultimately creating systems that are more cost-effective and operationally agile in preventing money laundering threats.
    The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has released a Program Solicitation for the Anticipatory and Adaptive Anti-Money Laundering (A3ML) initiative, focusing on developing technologies to combat illicit financial activities. The program aims to create algorithms that extract and infer money laundering tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) from diverse financial data, thereby adapting to evolving adversary behaviors. This solicitation highlights two main tracks: the Research Track, which targets algorithm development, and the Competition Track, offering unclassified surrogate data for participants without security clearances. Key milestones include proposal submission deadlines, oral presentation requirements, and evaluation criteria based on technical comprehension, innovation, and operational effectiveness. The overarching goal is to transition the developed technologies into practical applications within the Department of Defense and the broader U.S. government. The A3ML program seeks to enhance regulatory compliance while minimizing false positives in anti-money laundering efforts, ultimately making it cost-prohibitive for adversaries to launder funds via the global financial system. Successful proposers will engage in prototype development, with the potential for follow-on production contracts, reinforcing DARPA's commitment to innovative defense solutions.
    Lifecycle
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