LPS Qubit Collaboratory (LQC)

LPS Qubit Collaboratory (LQC)

Invests research teams and institutions for LPS Qubit Collaboratory BAA in quantum systems, defense innovation, and artificial intelligence.

The LPS Qubit Collaboratory (LQC), solicitation W911NF21S0009, is a continuously open Broad Agency Announcement jointly managed by DEVCOM Army Research Office (ARO) and the Laboratory for Physical Sciences (LPS) — a collaboration between the National Security Agency and the University of Maryland. The BAA falls under CFDA 12.431 (Basic Scientific Research) and supports disruptive fundamental research and enabling technologies for qubit development, spanning quantum computing and quantum sensing applications. The current submission window runs through April 30, 2027, making this a multi-year rolling opportunity rather than a single competitive cycle.

The LQC structures participation through three distinct proposal tracks to accommodate different team configurations and career stages. The Incubator track targets individual principal investigators or small research groups pursuing exploratory qubit science. The Collaboratory track is designed for multi-institution teams building sustained research programs. The QuaCR Research Fellowship track supports U.S.-citizen graduate students and postdoctoral researchers; citizenship is a firm requirement for this track. Award floors and ceilings are not publicly specified — ARO program managers at (919) 549-0641 should be contacted before preparing a full proposal to confirm scope alignment and expected budget ranges. No cost-share is required per the Grants.gov listing. Assistance types include cooperative agreements, grants, and procurement contracts.

For-profit companies (large and small), public and private universities, nonprofit research organizations, and individuals are all eligible. Although the formal grantor-of-record on Grants.gov is the Army Materiel Command (AMC), operational program authority rests with DEVCOM ARO under contracting prefix W911NF. Applicants with quantum computing or sensing capabilities should evaluate all three tracks against team size and career stage before selecting an approach, as the Collaboratory track rewards sustained multi-institution engagement while Incubator submissions can be made by solo investigators.