ARPA-H Proactive Health Office (PHO) BAA

Executive Summary:

ARPA-H’s Proactive Health Office (PHO) has an open Innovative Solutions Opening (ISO) to fund high-impact R&D that improves health span and health outcomes before disease onset. The ISO accepts Solution Summaries now through March 5, 2029, with multiple awards anticipated under Other Transactions (OTs). Eligible proposers include for-profit companies, non-profits, and academia. Solutions must be novel (not incremental) and align with PHO interests in prevention, early detection, behavior change, and system-level innovations.

How much funding would I receive?

The solicitation does not specify dollar amounts or funding ceilings. Awards are made as Other Transaction (OT) agreements at the government’s discretion, with specific payment structures negotiated individually. As a rule of thumb, companies should request only what they need to reach a meaningful technical or commercialization milestone—a concrete point that clearly demonstrates feasibility, enables transition, or unlocks follow-on investment.

What could I use the funding for?

The Proactive Health Office (PHO), one of ARPA-H’s mission offices, is seeking solutions to improve the health spans and health outcomes of Americans prior to the onset of disease and/or the development of diminished quality of life from illness. Specifically, PHO hypothesizes that: 1) the development of novel early detection methods and prophylactic interventions could drastically improve the health of American throughout their lives; 2) population-level improvements in access to and uptake of disease increase prevention- and wellness-promoting behaviors; and 3) system-level innovations are required to deliver proactive health measures effectively.

Specific PHO interest areas include:

• Novel prevention, detection, and prophylactic treatment methods for disease, including:

  i. Prophylactic approaches to prevention of diseases and harmfuldisease outcomes.

  ii. Methods for continuous and widespread sensing of health-state, and early disease indicators that can be deployed at population-scales.

  iii. Novel and scalable methods for early detection of disease and illness that include the use of low/no-cost sensing modalities.

• Population-level approaches to increase the adoption of prevention- and wellness behaviors:

  i. Methods to inform and educate individuals about healthy behaviors, including lifestyle and preventative medical measures.

  ii. Methods that incentivize individuals to adopt and maintain healthy behaviors.

  iii. Novel approaches to increasing individual health spans and independence even in the absence of disease.

  iv. Early indicators of both disease- and pre-disease states, and measures associated with proactive health outcomes that are both inexpensive and effective. Low-cost, high-uptake mental health resiliency and mindfulness-building methods for individuals.

• System innovation for the delivery of proactive health outcomes:

  i. Novel, robust, and predictive surrogates for long-term health outcomes with associated epidemiological models.

  ii. Valuation models for long-term treatment effects for vaccination, screening, and other public health interventions.

  iii. New funding and delivery models for preventative interventions.

• Other Topics

  High-quality submissions that propose revolutionary technologies that meet the goals of PHO will be considered even if they do not address the areas of interest listed above.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

Beyond the formal funding award, there are significant indirect benefits to receiving an ARPA-H Proactive Health Office (PHO) agreement:

• Government Validation and Credibility:
  Being selected by ARPA-H—the nation’s newest high-impact biomedical research agency—signals exceptional scientific credibility and alignment with the federal government’s most forward-leaning health innovation priorities. This “ARPA-H validation” often accelerates partnerships with major healthcare systems, research institutions, and investors who recognize the rigor and selectivity of government-vetted innovation.

• Enhanced Market Visibility and Notoriety:
  Award recipients are frequently featured in ARPA-H announcements, federal health innovation communications, and national press coverage. This visibility positions your company as a recognized leader in translational health technology and attracts new collaborators, talent, and private-sector investment.

• Ecosystem Access and Collaboration Opportunities:
  ARPA-H performers gain access to a broad innovation ecosystem spanning federal health agencies, academic research centers, and industry partners. These relationships foster collaboration, facilitate regulatory readiness, and open pathways to follow-on contracts, pilot deployments, and commercialization opportunities within the U.S. health system.

• Nondilutive Growth and Strategic Leverage:
  Because funding is nondilutive, companies can scale and validate core technologies without giving up equity. This validation and maturity achieved under government sponsorship often lead to higher valuations and greater leverage in future fundraising or acquisition discussions.

What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?

Open period: now through March 5, 2029.

• Step 1 (required): Submit a Solution Summary via the ARPA-H Solution Submission Portal. ARPA-H strives to provide written feedback within 30 business days of submission.

• Step 2: If encouraged, you’ll generally have 45 calendar days from feedback to submit a full proposal (unless ARPA-H specifies otherwise).

• Review cadence: ARPA-H reviews proposals on a rolling basis and strives to issue a decision within 60 calendar days of receiving a full proposal.

• Award timing: After selection, final negotiations for an Other Transaction (OT) award are completed rapidly, and invoicing is handled through Payment Management Services.

Because of this streamlined process, most ARPA-H applicants move from initial Solution Summary to award decision in approximately 4–5 months—making ARPA-H one of the fastest federal funders for high-impact health innovation projects.

Where does this funding come from?

The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), a federal R&D agency within HHS, issuing awards under the authority of 42 U.S.C. § 290c(g)(1)(D) via OT agreements.

Who is eligible to apply?

Academia, non-profit organizations, for-profit entities, hospitals, community health centers, and non-federal research centers. Non-U.S. entities may participate if compliant with all applicable laws.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

Reviewers assess (in descending importance):

1. Scientific/technical merit—innovative, complete plans with clear deliverables, risks, and mitigations;

2. Contribution & relevance to ARPA-H’s mission—transformative potential, unmet need, commercialization/transition thinking, and IP/software approaches that enable adoption (preference for open standards/OSS where appropriate);

3. Team capabilities/experience—track record delivering similar efforts on budget/schedule;

4. Cost/budget alignment with the technical approach. ARPA-H encourages proposing the best technical solution over low-risk/minimal-uncertainty concepts.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

• Standards & IP: strong preference for open, consensus-based standards (e.g., FHIR/TEFCA, DICOM) and commercial-friendly open-source licenses when feasible; proposals must justify any deviations/standard extensions and may need a pre-submission meeting for exceptions. Provide good-faith IP rights representations; pre-publication review may be required when sensitive info could be disclosed.

• Compliance: Human Subjects (IRB), Animal Subjects (IACUC), NIH Genomic Data Sharing (if applicable), CUI handling, research security disclosures (including CHIPS/NPSM-33 requirements), and OCI disclosures/mitigation.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

For a first-time applicant, preparing a competitive full proposal under this BAA will likely take 120–160 hours in total.

How can BW&CO help?

Our team specializes in complex federal R&D proposals and can:

• Triple your likelihood of success through proven strategy and insider-aligned proposal development

• Reduce your time spent on the proposal by 50–80%, letting your team focus on technology and operations

• Ensure you are targeting the best opportunity for your project and positioning your company for long-term growth under Federal & State R&D Initiatives.

How much would BW&CO Charge?

Our full service support is available for a flat fee of $4,000 to submit a solution summary.

Fractional support is $300 per hour.

For startups, we offer a discounted rate of $250 per hour to make top-tier grant consulting more accessible while maintaining the same level of strategic guidance and proposal quality.