I would highly recommend not spending time as a single developer submitting proposals, and instead start trying to build relationships with some of the winners/participants of past IARPA tournaments. They regularly bid on these IARPA programs and have some level of success. Getting on one of their teams as a SME or with a specialized offering is a great first step. If you're in the area, the proposer's days can give you an opportunity to get up in front of everyone and talk for a couple minutes about you and your capabilities to get your name out there.

It's not entirely out of the question.

Some of the other *ARPAs have "proposer days" where you can go and ask questions.

thanks, I am looking into these. here's one link for anyone else interested https://www.iarpa.gov/index.php/working-with-iarpa/proposers...

specifically, this one looks interesting, with a deadline in the next couple of weeks https://www.iarpa.gov/index.php/research-programs/amon-hen/a...

actually, after reading the PDF, it sounds like they're just asking for ideas, so it probably doesn't make sense to submit anything that actually exists (unless I'm reading it incorrectly)