Executive Summary
ARPA-H's SPECTRA program funds research and technology to identify and act on autism trajectories across the lifespan. It is open to companies, universities and nonprofits. Mandatory solution summaries for TA1 and TA2 are due December 2, 2026 at 3pm ET.
The solution summary is the gate for every technical area. ARPA-H reviews each one and either encourages or discourages a full proposal, and awards are made as Other Transaction (OT) agreements. TA1 and TA2 open first; TA3 summaries are due January 19, 2027 at 3pm ET, and the TA4 window closed on October 21, 2026.
Solicitation at a Glance
- Agency: Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), Proactive Health Office (PHO)
- Opportunity: Systems for Phenotypic Evaluation, Clinical Trajectories, Response, and Agency (SPECTRA) Innovative Solutions Opening
- Number: ARPA-H-SOL-26-163 (Amendment 1, October 14, 2026)
- Award Vehicle: Other Transaction (OT) agreements
- Funding: No amount posted. Resource sharing is encouraged but not required.
- Technology Maturity: Not stated. The ISO spans analysis, data infrastructure, clinical trials and new measurement technology.
- Due Date: TA1 and TA2 solution summaries December 2, 2026 at 3pm ET (portal opens Nov 18, 2026); TA3 solution summaries January 19, 2027 at 3pm ET (portal opens Jan 4, 2027). Proposal deadlines are forthcoming.
Think your company qualifies? Talk with BW&CO before the December 2 deadline.
What Is SPECTRA?
SPECTRA is an ARPA-H program, managed by Russell Shilling, PhD, that aims to identify and act on autism trajectories: the developmental paths people follow from the prenatal period through aging. Instead of studying genetic, biological, behavioral, environmental and medical factors one at a time, SPECTRA looks at how they combine and interact over time. It also funds technologies that extend reliable assessment beyond the clinic while improving everyday communication and quality of life. The program gives particular attention to people with the highest support needs, including profound autism.
What Problem Is ARPA-H Trying to Solve?
ARPA-H names five gaps. Diagnosis comes too late. Exposures are not studied together with host biology. The data that would show trajectories sit in separate systems. Existing models describe risk but do not guide which intervention helps whom and when. And most assessments were built for a narrow profile in a clinic setting, which fails people who are minimally verbal or nonspeaking. SPECTRA's four technical areas are each matched to one or more of these gaps.
Priority Capability Areas: What ARPA-H Is Looking For
- TA1, Multi-Factor Analysis and Trajectory Identification: Analyze how genetic, epigenetic, environmental, infectious, iatrogenic, microbiome, immune, metabolic, prenatal and perinatal factors interact, and deliver first-generation trajectory definitions in Year 1. TA1 is analysis only and does not fund measurement technology. Single-factor analyses are unlikely to be responsive.
- TA2, Population-Scale Modeling and Data Integration: Build a federated, privacy-preserving data network on a standard such as FHIR and OMOP, with a minimum of ten live nodes, plus population-level models and a versioned model registry. Submissions that only apply standard supervised learning will not be responsive.
- TA3, Precision Intervention and Trajectory Testing: Run adaptive platform and sequential randomized trials in real-world settings, where each arm also tests a mechanism nominated by TA1.
- TA4, Technologies for Communication, Quality of Life, and Embedded Assessment: Wearables, AAC and speech interfaces, eye tracking, low-channel EEG and camera-based analysis that support daily life and produce assessment data as a byproduct. The TA4 solution summary window has closed.
- Cross-program work: Performers should expect to coordinate with other technical areas and follow a three-tier evidence standard for any claim about cause.
Funding and Award Terms
- Amount: The ISO does not post a funding amount, a per-award ceiling or a number of awards.
- Instrument: ARPA-H may award Other Transaction (OT) agreements.
- Resource sharing: Encouraged but not required.
- Structure: A phased program with Program Phase Reviews at the end of each phase and possible down-selects at phase transitions.
- Partial funding: ARPA-H may select proposals for full or partial funding.
- Intellectual property: IP and data rights are negotiated at award, with the aim of enabling both government use and commercial transition.
Eligibility Requirements and Participation
- ARPA-H is primarily interested in proposals from commercial performers, academic institutions and non-profit organizations.
- FFRDCs and government entities, including federal employees, may not respond as a prime or sub-performer.
- ARPA-H must prioritize awards to entities that will do the funded work in the United States. Non-domestic performers are encouraged to team with a domestic entity.
- No awards to entities organized under the laws of a covered foreign country per 42 U.S.C. 290c(n)(1)(D).
- An active SAM.gov registration and UEI are required to receive an award. ARPA-H notes SAM processing can take up to 90 days.
- You may submit to more than one technical area, but each submission must stand on its own.
How to Apply
- Pick your technical area: Each solution summary covers a single technical area. ARPA-H will not answer which TA a concept belongs in.
- Watch for the TA1 to TA3 templates: ARPA-H will amend the ISO to add a separate Attachment A for each of TAs 1 to 3. Use of Attachment A is required. Monitor SAM.gov for the amendment.
- Plan to the page limit: The released TA4 template caps solution summaries at 7 pages, excluding the cover page, basis of estimate, resource share strategy and citations. Confirm the TA1 to TA3 limits when their templates post.
- Register on the portal: Registration on the ARPA-H Solutions site (solutions.arpa-h.gov) is required to submit.
- Submit the solution summary: TA1 and TA2 by December 2, 2026 at 3pm ET (portal opens Nov 18, 2026). TA3 by January 19, 2027 at 3pm ET (portal opens Jan 4, 2027). Late submissions may not be considered.
- Ask questions the right way: Use the Ask-A-Question page on the Solutions site and select SPECTRA. Questions sent by email may not be answered.
What Happens After You Submit?
- ARPA-H reviews each conforming solution summary and tells you whether a full proposal is encouraged or discouraged. Further feedback may not be provided.
- You may still submit a proposal if discouraged, but ARPA-H advises giving its determination significant weight.
- ARPA-H will post Attachment B, Proposal Requirements, for each TA after it evaluates solution summaries.
- Proposals are evaluated on scientific and technical merit, the proposer's capabilities and experience, price and value, and relevance to the ARPA-H mission.
- Proposals selected for negotiations go through a Research Security Review. Selection for negotiations is not an award.
Is This Opportunity a Good Fit for Your Company?
SPECTRA fits teams that already have access to the data, cohorts and partners the work requires. TA1 asks proposers to have identified datasets and established partnerships with retrospective data sources, cohorts and biobanks before they apply. TA2 suits health data infrastructure and privacy-preserving analytics groups that can stand up a federated network across institutions. TA3 suits clinical trial teams ready to run adaptive designs in clinics, schools and homes. Companies focused on autism devices and apps should note that the TA4 window has closed, though they may fit as partners to TA1 or TA3 teams.
How BW&CO Can Help
BW&CO has helped deep-tech and dual-use founders secure more than $350M in non-dilutive funding. For ARPA-H solicitations like SPECTRA, we help you:
- Technical area positioning: Map your capability to the TA boundaries so your concept lands in the right area and stays in scope.
- Solution summary writing: Draft a summary that answers ARPA-H's stated gaps and fits the required Attachment A template.
- Basis of estimate: Build the cost estimate and resource share strategy that sit outside the page count.
- Teaming plan: Organize data, cohort and clinical partners so the team shows it can start in Year 1.
- Full proposal management: If you are encouraged to propose, manage the Attachment B response through submission.
Frequently Asked Questions
When are SPECTRA solution summaries due?
Under Amendment 1, TA1 and TA2 solution summaries are due December 2, 2026 at 3pm ET, with the submission portal opening November 18, 2026. TA3 summaries are due January 19, 2027 at 3pm ET, with the portal opening January 4, 2027. Amendment 1 moved the times from 5pm ET to 3pm ET.
Is the solution summary required?
Yes. Submission of a solution summary is mandatory for all technical areas before a proposal.
How much funding is available?
No amount is posted. The ISO does not state a program total, a per-award ceiling or the number of awards.
What kind of award will ARPA-H make?
ARPA-H may award Other Transaction (OT) agreements. It may also select proposals for full or partial funding.
Who can apply?
ARPA-H is primarily interested in commercial performers, academic institutions and non-profit organizations. FFRDCs and government entities, including federal employees, cannot take part as a prime or sub-performer.
Can foreign organizations take part?
ARPA-H must prioritize awards to entities doing the funded work in the United States and encourages non-domestic performers to collaborate with a domestic entity. It will not make awards to entities organized under the laws of a covered foreign country.
Can I still apply to TA4?
No. The TA4 solution summary deadline was October 21, 2026 at 3pm ET.
Where are the TA1, TA2 and TA3 templates?
ARPA-H says it will amend the ISO to add a separate Attachment A for each of TAs 1 to 3. Amendment 1 anticipated an ISO amendment in late October for TA1 and TA2. Watch SAM.gov for the release.
Can I submit to more than one technical area?
Yes, as separate submissions. Each may discuss synergies, but each must stand on its own in case only one is funded.
Can BW&CO help with a SPECTRA submission?
Yes. BW&CO can run the full submission for you, from the solution summary to the full proposal. Book a call with our team.
Source: SAM.gov: SPECTRA Innovative Solutions Opening (ARPA-H-SOL-26-163)