ARPA-H: Systematic Targeting Of MicroPlastics (STOMP)

Below is a brief summary. Please check the full solicitation before applying (link in resources section).

Executive Summary:

ARPA-H’s Systematic Targeting Of MicroPlastics (STOMP) program is a new funding opportunity focused on detecting, understanding, and ultimately removing toxic microplastics from the human body. This is an early-stage, high-impact program targeting a major and unresolved public health challenge.

To apply, you must first submit a required Solution Summary by Monday, May 6, 2026, 5:00PM ET. Only those encouraged will proceed to a full proposal due Monday, June 22, 2026, 5:00PM ET. These deadlines are firm but noted as subject to change—waiting risks missing your window.

STOMP will fund efforts in measurement and biological understanding now, with removal technologies expected in a later phase.

How much funding would I receive?

Funding is expected to range from $500k - $10m.

What could I use the funding for?

Funding supports R&D aligned with two primary technical areas:

Phase 1:

• Develop lab-based measurement tools for nano-sized microplastics in biological tissue

• Image and characterize microplastics in organs and cells

• Study mechanisms of microplastic trafficking and toxicity

Phase 2:

• Translate measurement methods into scalable clinical systems

• Develop solutions to remove microplastics from the human body

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

• Access to a multidisciplinary ARPA-H program environment

• Opportunity to collaborate across technical domains

• Participation in a program aimed at major healthcare impact

No additional non-dilutive benefits (e.g., commercialization support, follow-on funding) are specified in the solicitation.

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

Key Dates:

• Solution Summary Due: Monday, May 6, 2026, 5:00PM ET

• Full Proposal Due: Monday, June 22, 2026, 5:00PM ET

Additional notes:

• A Solution Summary is required to submit a full proposal

• Proposers will be encouraged or discouraged from submitting a full proposal after summary review

• Dates are stated as estimates and subject to change

Award timing:

• Not specified in the solicitation

Where does this funding come from?

• Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H)

• Notice ID: ARPA-H-SOL-26-152

Who is eligible to apply?

• Eligibility criteria are not specified in the provided materials

What companies and projects are likely to win?

Based on stated program goals, competitive proposals will likely:

• Focus on microplastics measurement technologies or biological mechanism understanding

• Address challenges in detecting nano-sized particles in complex biological systems

• Provide novel approaches to understanding toxicity and distribution in the body

• Demonstrate strong multidisciplinary teaming, as teaming is encouraged

• Align with future translation into clinical and scalable systems

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

• A Solution Summary is required before submitting a full proposal

• Full proposals are recommended only for those encouraged to proceed

• Specific restrictions (e.g., cost share, IP terms, or use of funds) are not specified in the provided materials

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

• Not specified in the solicitation

However:

• The two-step process (Solution Summary → Full Proposal) requires staged preparation

• Teaming is encouraged, which may increase coordination time

How can BW&CO help?

BW&CO can support:

• Interpreting ARPA-H program fit and positioning

• Drafting compelling Solution Summaries aligned to evaluation criteria

• Structuring full proposals for technical clarity and competitiveness

• Coordinating multi-partner teams and narrative cohesion

How much would BW&CO Charge?

We have both fractional engagements ($250 an hour) and full engagements ($15,000 + 5%) available.

Additional Resources

Review the solicitation here.

ARPA-H SSO: “AGENTIC AI-ENABLED CARDIOVASCULAR CARE TRANSFORMATION” (ADVOCATE)

Below is a brief summary. Please check the full solicitation before applying (link in resources section).

Executive Summary:

ARPA-H is now accepting proposals for ADVOCATE: Agentic AI-Enabled Cardiovascular Care Transformation, a major new Innovative Solutions Opening (ISO) focused on deploying autonomous, FDA-regulated clinical AI agents for cardiovascular disease (CVD) care at national scale.

This program is designed to fund teams that can build, validate, and deploy patient-facing AI agents, paired with independent supervisory AI, and integrate them directly into real healthcare systems. Selected performers will work closely with FDA, large health systems, and ARPA-H leadership to establish a blueprint for scalable, reimbursable agentic AI in healthcare. A Solution Summary is mandatory and is due February 27, 2026, at 5:00 PM EST. Full proposals are by invitation only and are due April 1, 2026, at 5:00 PM EST.

How much funding would I receive?

• Total award size: Not specified in the solicitation

• Number of awards: Multiple awards anticipated

• Funding mechanism: Other Transaction (OT) Agreements

• Program length: Up to 39 months

  • Phase 1A: 12 months

  • Phase 1B: 12 months (option)

  • Phase 2: 15 months (option)

What could I use the funding for?

Funding must support development, validation, and deployment of agentic AI systems for cardiovascular care, aligned to one or more of the following Technical Areas (TAs):

TA1 — CVD Agent (Patient-Facing Clinical AI)

• Autonomous or semi-autonomous AI agents that:

  • Provide diagnostic and treatment assistance

  • Adjust prescriptions for CV conditions (FDA medical device)

  • Integrate real-time EHR and wearable data

  • Deliver 24/7 outpatient care management

• Clinical reasoning using multimodal inputs (text, voice, image, video)

• FDA regulatory engagement and authorization

• Deployment into real health systems for scalability studies

TA2 — Supervisory Agent (AI Oversight & Control)

• Disease-agnostic AI that:

  • Monitors safety, accuracy, uncertainty, and risk of clinical AI

  • Enables real-time control and auditability

  • Supports FDA Medical Device Development Tool (MDDT) qualification

• Continuous post-market monitoring functionality

• Strong preference for open-source solutions

TA3 — Scaled Implementation (Health Systems Only)

• Integration of TA1 and TA2 agents into live clinical workflows

• Access to EHR production and pre-production environments

• Execution of large-scale Scalability Studies

• Clinical outcome, cost, and reimbursement evidence generation

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

Selected teams receive:

• Direct engagement with FDA throughout development

• Access to real EHR data, clinicians, and patients (via TA3 performers)

• Participation in large, ARPA-H-funded scalability studies

• Validation by an independent IV&V partner

• Visibility with payers and CMS-relevant evidence generation

• Potential facilitation of investor engagement by ARPA-H

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

Key dates (firm):

• Posting date: January 13, 2026

• Proposers’ Day: January 23, 2026 (8:30 AM – 5:00 PM EST)

• Proposers’ Day registration deadline:

  • In-person: January 21, 2026, at 5:00 PM EST

  • Virtual: January 21, 2026, at 5:00 PM EST

• Solution Summary due: February 27, 2026, at 5:00 PM EST

• Full proposal due (if invited): April 1, 2026, at 5:00 PM EST

Funding timing after submission is not specified and is contingent on negotiations and down-selection decisions.

Where does this funding come from?

• Agency: Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H)

• Office: Scalable Solutions Office (SSO)

• Authority: Other Transaction (OT)

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants include:

• U.S. startups and growth-stage companies

• Universities and academic teams

• Non-profit organizations

• Non-federal research organizations

Not eligible:

• Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs)

• Federal government entities or employees (as performers)

• Entities from covered foreign countries or foreign entities of concern

• Organizations with unmitigable ARPA-H conflicts of interest

TA3 applicants cannot apply to TA1 or TA2.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

ARPA-H is explicitly seeking teams that:

• Are building agentic (not rules-based) clinical AI

• Can meet FDA medical device or MDDT requirements

• Have real experience integrating with EHRs and health systems

• Can demonstrate a path to non-inferiority vs cardiologists

• Are prepared for open data sharing and multi-party collaboration

• Can scale beyond pilots into national deployment

Incremental clinical decision support tools are unlikely to be competitive.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

Key restrictions include:

• Foundation models cannot be developed from scratch

• Solutions must be interoperable with other agents

• Clinical AI must pursue FDA authorization or qualification

• Extensive data-sharing and collaboration are mandatory

• Foreign talent, ownership, or funding risks are heavily scrutinized

• TA1 and TA2 proposals must remain technically independent

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

• Solution Summary: ~2–4 weeks for competitive teams

• Full Proposal: ~6–10 weeks if invited

Team formation, regulatory strategy, and data architecture must be addressed early.

How can BW&CO help?

BW&CO helps teams:

• Translate ADVOCATE requirements into a clear, fundable narrative

• Position technical capabilities against TA-specific metrics

• Shape FDA and commercialization strategy language

• Design compliant multi-party teaming structures

• Avoid common ARPA-H disqualifiers

How much would BW&CO Charge?

Fractional support is $300 per hour.

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

Additional Resources

Review the solicitation here.

ARPA-H BioStabilization Systems (BoSS)

Executive Summary:

The ARPA-H BioStabilization Systems (BoSS) program provides multi-year support for teams developing ambient-temperature cell stabilization and scalable bioprocessing systems. Performer Solution Summaries are due February 19, 2026.

How much funding would I receive?

ARPA-H anticipates multiple OT awards, with the expectation that Performer teams will be funded through multi-phase development (up to 48 months). While specific award ceilings aren't stated, ARPA-H OT programs typically support multi-million-dollar development efforts and note that several teams may be funded initially with down-selects in later phases.

What could I use the funding for?

The BioStabilization Systems (BoSS) program aims to transform how live cell-based therapies are stabilized, manufactured, and distributed. At its core, BoSS addresses a foundational bottleneck in the delivery of advanced cell and gene therapies (CGTs): the critical dependence on ultra-cold conditions (-80 to -196˚C) for storage and transport. BoSS will yield a bioprocessing system that enables scalable production of thermally stable cells, paving the way for a new era of efficient and resilient manufacturing and distribution of biologics without any need for cold storage. BoSS-developed technologies will also accelerate many other avenues in biotechnology that directly impact healthcare, including bio-surveillance, regenerative medicine, large-scale genetic testing, blood product supply, and wound repair, in addition to improving access to a wide range of existing biotherapeutics.

This ISO is intended to solicit:

1) Performer teams that can pioneer breakthrough cell stabilization technologies and integrate these technologies into a commercially viable system for producing cell therapy products at scale. Strategic partnerships are encouraged to best position technologies for commercialization success, such as assembling multidisciplinary teams that may include experts from academic, industry, regulatory, commercialization, and non-traditional backgrounds.

2) An Independent Verification and Validation (IV&V) partner to reliably provide well-characterized, clinically relevant, government-selected cells to Technical Area Performers. This partner will also assess cell viability and system performance at critical junctures throughout the program.

• Background

  This year approximately 150 million Americans will use at least one thermally unstable biologic, such as a monoclonal antibody, vaccine, or cell therapy. The instability of these medicines necessitates a reliance on cold chain, which jeopardizes product effectiveness, escalates costs, and limits access due to complex, temperature-dependent manufacturing and distribution schemes. Furthermore, costly ultra-cold cryopreservation is the standard approach to extending shelf-life stability for life saving biologics such as CGTs. However, demand for CGTs continues to surge, powered by their transformative impact on healthcare and reflected in rapid market expansion. Globally, there are now >3000 CGTs in the development pipeline, ranging from pre-clinical through pre-registration phases. Innovative solutions that relieve cold chain requirements while preserving shelf-life stability are crucial to meeting this rising demand, as FDA approval and widespread patient access to CGTs rely on maintaining product quality throughout storage and distribution.

  BoSS aims to develop innovative technologies that preserve cells at ambient temperatures, a breakthrough approach we will subsequently refer to as biostabilization. Achieving biostabilization remains a two-fold challenge that has yet to be overcome. The first challenge requires cellular interventions to preserve the integrity and function of vital elements prior to undergoing stabilization, enabling cells to withstand physical changes that would otherwise cause irreversible damage. This could include delivering protectants into cells and/or altering cells in other ways to improve processing and storage resilience. To maintain the clinical utility of cell products, cellular interventions to prepare and deploy biostabilization must be both biocompatible and reversible. The second challenge involves implementing aseptic, cell-friendly handling instrumentation to deploy stabilization techniques across various production scales.
  
  One approach to address the first challenge is to adopt nature’s strategies to accomplish biostabilization. For example, ‘anhydrobiotes’ can tolerate extreme loss of water and persist in a dehydrated state for years (e.g., tardigrades, rotifers, brine shrimp), quickly regaining full function after rehydration. Molecular contributors to this resilience have been elucidated such as amorphous trehalose glass and special classes of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs). Recent studies have revealed cell structure re-arrangements and stress-induced formation of molecular condensates that may be essential for surviving the stresses of dry processing. Other discoveries from the genomic to the organismal scale form the natural basis of desiccation tolerance and may be adapted or improved upon for biostabilization. Solutions inspired by chemistry and materials science advances are also encouraged along with approaches that employ biocompatible polymers, scaffolds, multi-organic frameworks, or cell encapsulation to protect and stabilize cells.

  Addressing the second challenge requires development of new processing approaches and potentially new instrumentation that can yield products suitable for ambient storage. Current gold standard methods for batch processing like lyophilization (freeze-drying) are energy-intensive, slow, and challenging to apply to complex biologics. While appropriate for proteins, antibodies, and even some vaccines, lyophilization is a risky and unproven approach for high-value cell products that are widely used in the biopharma industry as starting materials, manufacturing intermediates, host cells, and cell-based therapies. Nascent technologies like microwave-assisted vacuum foam-drying, thin film freeze-drying, and polymerization gelation exhibit potential for processing complex biologics but remain at a low manufacturing readiness level (MRL), i.e., early-stage development and requires significant development to establish full-scale production. Established technologies with high MRL, such as spray-drying, commonly used for food production, offer the advantage of continuous processing and may have potential for adaptation to biologics.
  

  Successful completion of BoSS will yield a bioprocessing system designed as a platform technology for stabilizing cell biologics capable of easy integration into biomanufacturing pipelines. The bioprocessing system will enable scalable production and distribution of thermally stable cells benefiting the biopharmaceutical ecosystem that uses cells as starting materials, manufacturing intermediates, and CGTs. Breakthroughs from BoSS are expected to yield biostabilization innovations including intracellular and extracellular protectants and stabilizers, enabling bioprocessing technologies, and re-animation products. Together, BoSS bioprocessing system and biostabilization technologies will be commercially viable solutions that will establish a new paradigm for biomanufacturing designed to reduce costs and ensure that biological medicines are accessible to patients, including those living in the most remote and resource-limited communities.

• Technical Areas

  BoSS envisions that successful solutions will converge from extremophile biology, biomaterials science, biomanufacturing, pharmaceutical formulation, process engineering, and device development to unlock new bioprocessing and biostabilization solutions, bridging historical silos in biostasis science and advancing biological medicines. Proposals are required to address solutions to both technical areas:
  
  Technical Area 1 (TA1): BioPrep

  Approaches to BioPrep include preparing, protecting, and other methods of intervention to allow cells to endure and recover from biostabilization at room temperature. BioPrep solutions should be reversible interventions that support the suspension of biological activity while ensuring cellular health and integrity upon reanimation. BioPrep solutions may also include the development of re-animation techniques and solutions that rapidly restore biological activities after biostabilization.
  
  Technical Area 2 (TA2): Bioprocessing

  Bioprocessing technologies (e.g., instruments, devices) should enable the deployment of biostabilization concepts at scale. Activities may include the scale-up of an early MRL, cell-friendly processing technology, or the adaptation of scaled systems that can be re-designed to safely and gently handle cells. The proposed solution should mitigate stress on cells while achieving biostabilization with preserved quality and function for extended durations at ambient temperatures.
  
  Proposers must submit proposals to both TAs. A conforming proposal will account for all program requirements outlined in this ISO, both TA-specific and overall program milestones and metrics.

• Program Overview

  Technology commercialization is a critical part of achieving the ARPA-H mission to improve health outcomes for all Americans. To support this goal, progress will be measured by strategic metrics and milestones that must be met to advance through subsequent phases. Technologies will advance across three integrated phases designed to drive both technical advancement and commercial translation:

  •

  Phase 1 focuses on establishing the scientific feasibility of ambient biostabilization. This proof-of-concept stage includes developing innovative cell preparation approaches with enabling instrumentation that, together, are capable of inducing biostabilization as well as re-animation methods to restore function after biostabilization.

  •

  Phase 2 emphasizes integrated capability demonstrations, converging biological and manufacturing innovations into a cohesive bioprocessing system that can produce stabilized cells under simulated commercial conditions.

  •

  Phase 3 advances to scaled solution development and industry transition, preparing the bioprocessing system for market entry through GMP-compliant production, strategic industry partnerships, and validation in real-world use cases.

  Performer teams must meet increasingly stringent technological capability requirements and stabilized cell quality metrics during each phase to demonstrate progress on biostabilization technology development. Performers will choose cells used for end of phase demonstrations from a list of government-selected cell types, which will be identified at the start of the performance period. Sub-phase milestones may be demonstrated on cell types chosen by the Performer, with consideration to the restrictions identified in Table 1. In later stages, end of phase demonstrations will be permitted on cells that are aligned with Phase 3 transition partners. Ideal transitional partners for Performers are organizations equipped with established distribution networks to seamlessly integrate the developed bioprocessing system into their existing biomanufacturing pipelines for cell biologics, accelerating the path from innovation to implementation.

  At the end of the program, biostabilization technologies will demonstrate capability, scalability, and applicability of commercially viable platform technologies that enable room temperature storage and distribution of stabilized cells agnostic of cell type, supporting widespread access to biologic medicines. The ideal bioprocessing system will integrate seamlessly with biomanufacturing and fill-finish systems. Ultimately, partnerships will culminate into early adoption of a new commercially viable bioprocessing system capable of scalable production of stabilized cell products that meet Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) and GMP standards with a path paved for commercialization to support broad industry adoption.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

Beyond the primary funding, BoSS awardees gain several indirect strategic advantages:

Government Validation & Credibility
Selection by ARPA-H establishes strong scientific legitimacy and positions your technology as a potential national-level biomanufacturing platform.

Enhanced Visibility & Notoriety
Awardees are featured through ARPA-H communications, Proposers’ Day events, and industry engagement, increasing recognition among biotech investors, health systems, and biopharma manufacturers.

Access to a National Innovation Network
BoSS includes structured engagement with an Independent Verification & Validation (IV&V) partner, FDA interactions, and optional commercialization support—creating opportunities for partnerships, pilot studies, and eventual technology adoption.

Stronger Exit, Growth, and Acquisition Potential
Nondilutive development of platform technologies can significantly improve valuation, especially for companies working in CGT manufacturing, biosurveillance platforms, or enabling bioprocessing technologies. Government validation reduces perceived technical risk for acquirers and later-stage investors.

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

Key dates:

• Proposers’ Day: January 29, 2026

• Performer Solution Summary: February 19, 2026

• Performer Pitch: March 26, 2026

• IV&V Solution Summary: April 17, 2026

• IV&V Pitch: May 15, 2026

Where does this funding come from?

Funding is issued through the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), under the Scalable Solutions Office, using Other Transaction (OT) authority for high-risk, high-impact biomedical innovation.

Who is eligible to apply?

Universities, Nonprofits, Small and large commercial businesses, Non-U.S. entities (with restrictions; must not be from foreign entities of concern), Must conduct work in the U.S., FFRDCs and U.S. Government entities cannot participate as Performers.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

See full solicitation for details. Strong candidates include companies with capabilities in:

• Cell & gene therapy engineering

• Bioprocessing & biomanufacturing instrumentation

• Biomaterials, polymers, encapsulation, or intracellular protectants

• Cell preservation technologies (cryopreservation alternatives, desiccation biology)

• Microfluidics, closed-system processing, or continuous manufacturing

• Regulatory-ready biologics or device development expertise

• Advanced analytical platforms (cell viability, potency, functional assays)

Winning projects will propose integrated TA1 + TA2 solutions capable of achieving:

• Room-temperature stability (14 days → 3 months)

• Reanimation <1 hour by Phase 3

• High viability, function, and potency metrics across multiple cell types

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

Key restrictions include:

• No genetic manipulation of cells

• No dangerous gain-of-function research (per EO 14292)

• No demonstrations on RBCs or microbial species

• No slow (>4 hr prep or >1 day processing) methods

• No methods that cannot scale or meet GMP requirements

• No traditional lyophilization

• Teams must maintain SAM.gov registration for Step 2

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

For a first-time applicant, preparing a solution summary under this opportunity will likely take 50-70 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.

Resources

See the full solicitation here.

Autonomous Interventions and Robotics (AIR) – ARPA-H-SOL-26-146

Below is a summary. Please see the official solicitation on sam.gov for details (link in Resources Section).

Executive Summary:

The AIR program will award multiple OT agreements to teams developing autonomous endovascular robotic systems and interventional microbots that can perform key parts of surgical and interventional procedures without direct human control. The program runs for five years (two-year Phase 1 and three-year Phase 2). Companies must submit a Solution Summary by January 26, 2026 and a Full Proposal by March 30, 2026.

How much funding would I receive?

The ISO does not specify a minimum or maximum award amount. ARPA-H states only that it expects to make multiple OT awards under this opportunity; budgets will be driven by the scope, risk, and duration of each proposed 5-year effort (2-year Phase 1 + 3-year Phase 2).

What could I use the funding for?

The Autonomous Interventions and Robotics (AIR) program aims to catalyze the development of autonomous robotic surgery—an intervention during which a robot performs part, or all, of the procedure without direct human input. AIR encompasses two (2) technical areas: Technical Area 1 (TA1)—endovascular robotics, and Technical Area 2 (TA2)—microbots. Technical Area 1 comprises sub-areas TA1-A—endovascular robotic systems and TA1-B—endovascular simulation environment.

• Background

  During an endovascular procedure, the surgeon reviews the pre-operative CT of the patient’s vasculature, makes a small incision in the patient’s skin, then manually navigates guidewires and catheters from the femoral or radial artery up into the patient’s brain, using occasional guidance from intra-operative 2D fluoroscopy images. The surgeon steers the distal tip of the catheter around tortuous anatomy by pushing, pulling, and twisting the catheter at the entry point—a challenging process requiring dexterity, mental mapping, and an understanding of the physical properties of catheters. Often, the surgeon must try multiple types of catheters, restarting the navigation from the beginning and losing precious time in the process. Once the target is reached, additional challenges await. For example, during a mechanical thrombectomy—the removal of a stroke-inducing blood clot from the brain—once the catheter reaches the clot, there is ambiguity around contact and suction; with little tactile feedback beyond translated resistance, the surgeon needs to make a seal and suction the clot. In addition, endovascular surgeons receive high yearly doses of radiation during procedures, increasing their risk of cancer and other sequelae such as cataracts1.

  Thrombectomies are a critical unmet need in the United States and worldwide. Every year, approximately 335,000 Americans experience an ischemic stroke caused by a large vessel occlusion (LVO), a situation in which a major blood vessel in the brain is blocked by a clot. The standard of care is to mechanically remove the clot via thrombectomy; unfortunately, only ~40,000 Americans per year—about 10% of the patients with LVOs—receive thrombectomies2. There are only 311 thrombectomy-capable centers in the United States as of 20223, and they are unevenly distributed, with 50% of Americans living more than one hour away from one. Time to procedure is crucial; every 10-minute delay in revascularization lowers a patient’s disability-free lifetime by ~40 days and increases health care costs by $10,0004. While thrombectomies are currently recommended for patients within six hours from stroke onset, recent clinical studies have shown benefit to 24 hours and beyond5.

  More broadly, other specialized or highly invasive procedures are often the only way to obtain disease diagnostics and treat pathological conditions. These include biopsies of suspicious tissue, ablations of uterine fibroids, and destruction of kidney stones, among numerous others. Overall, surgery remains dangerous: more than one in three patients experience adverse events during surgical care. Furthermore, surgery requires specialist care, which can involve extensive travel and waiting times.

  Automated systems such as microbots (small, mechanical, electronic or hybrid devices) have the potential to dramatically increase access to interventions. However, surgical microrobot research and development is largely at an early stage and mostly devoted to biosensing and microrobot motion; the smaller the entity, the more difficult it is for the entity to propel itself directionally. Implementation of end-to-end clinical solutions is notional at best, except for pill-sized gastro-intestinal (GI) imaging devices, which are specifically excluded from accepted AIR solutions. Autonomous endovascular systems also currently do not exist; although complex robotics elements have been developed in industry and academia, autonomous navigation and control algorithms are still in their infancy.

• Program Goals

  AIR aims to make endovascular procedures available at hospitals everywhere through autonomous robotic systems; it is understood, though, that the transition from the current state of clinical care to this audacious goal is likely to involve multiple practical evolutionary steps. They will likely include: a) clinical trials during which endovascular surgeons present in the room will be ready to take over at any moment from the autonomous endovascular robotic system; b) a first deployment phase, in which local general surgeons and remote endovascular surgeons will oversee the procedure; and ultimately, c) a phase in which only local general surgeons (or other medical professionals) will oversee the operation of thoroughly validated autonomous systems.

  AIR microbots are intended to create a paradigm shift in interventional procedures, transforming these invasive procedures—currently performed in advanced care settings and requiring skilled practitioners—into minimally invasive procedures performed in a general practitioner’s office. Microbots are expected to simplify existing procedures, enable completely new procedures, reduce complications rates and costs, and increase procedure availability.

• Technical Area 1

  Technical Area 1 (TA1) of AIR aims to develop fully autonomous robotic endovascular intervention systems. After a medical professional inserts the catheter system into the femoral or radial artery, the robot will complete an endovascular procedure without human intervention. The system capabilities will be demonstrated in several procedures, including 3D rotational angiogram imaging, vascular embolization, and, most importantly, thrombectomy. Autonomous endovascular systems developed in TA1-A will encompass:

  1) Robotic control systems that can manipulate catheters and guidewires

  2) Navigation algorithms based on pre-operative imaging and real-time sensing

  3) Steerable catheters and guidewires (if required)

  4) Solutions for autonomous clot removal and vascular embolization

  In addition, TA1-B will develop an in silico testing and validation environment for these robots, an activity that will include the collection of fluoroscopic videos of endovascular procedures, CT angiograms, and other imaging modalities as needed for training.

  Note that autonomous blood vessel access is out of scope for the AIR program; a surgeon or surgical technician will obtain vessel access.
  
  Additional details are available in the solicitation.

• Technical Area 2

  Technical Area 2 (TA2) of AIR aims to develop a set of interventional microbots. Performers will specify a target clinical indication and develop microbots that move, sense, and act to diagnose or treat this condition by means of more precise targeting and/or less invasive access. TA2 teams will address:

  a. Microbot locomotion

  b. Anatomy/pathology targeting methods

  c. Miniaturization or externalization of power supplies and computational processing

  d. Autonomous or automated action

  e. Microbot removal or deactivation

  Gastrointestinal/ingestible pill microbots that only image, stimulate, and/or deliver cargo are out of scope for the AIR program.

  Although the technologies for both TAs are developed and validated for a target indication, it is expected that they will serve as platforms for multiple interventions and procedures.
  
  Additional details are available in the solicitation.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

Beyond direct funding, AIR awards can provide strategic benefits typical of ARPA-style programs:

• Government technical validation: Being selected by ARPA-H signals that your approach is technically ambitious and nationally relevant in health innovation and surgical autonomy, which can help in discussions with strategics, hospital systems, and investors.

• Positioning for regulatory and ecosystem engagement: AIR is structured with parallel FDA collaboration (for TA1) and explicit regulatory milestones (e.g., simulation frameworks, Q-submissions) that can de-risk later clinical and commercialization steps.

• Access to a high-end performer network: Performers will interact with other top robotics, imaging, and microbotics teams, plus FDA scientific collaborators and ARPA-H program staff—often leading to follow-on partnerships and future solicitations.

• Nondilutive growth capital: Because funding is nondilutive, successful teams can mature high-capex platforms (robotics, microfabrication, imaging) while preserving equity and potentially driving higher valuations and stronger exit options down the line.

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

1. Proposer’s Day: December 16, 2025

2. Q&A deadline: January 20, 2026, 5:00 PM ET

3. Solution Summaries due: January 26, 2026, 5:00 PM ET

4. Full Proposals due: March 30, 2026, 5:00 PM ET

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?

• Universities and other educational institutions

• Non-profit organizations

• Small businesses

• Other-than-small businesses

What companies and projects are likely to win?

1. Overall Scientific & Technical Merit:
   Companies proposing highly innovative, technically rigorous, and fully executable plans with well-defined milestones, clear risk-mitigation strategies, and IP structures that enable commercialization are most competitive. Winning projects will demonstrate a credible path to achieving AIR’s demanding 5-year technical milestones.

2. Proposer’s Capabilities & Related Experience:
   Teams with deep, directly relevant expertise—including experienced robotics engineers, imaging specialists, microbot developers, and required clinicians (e.g., an endovascular neurosurgeon for TA1-A)—are most likely to win. Prior success delivering complex R&D programs on time and on budget is a major advantage.

3. Assessment of Proposed Cost/Price:
   ARPA-H will favor proposers who submit realistic, well-justified budgets that reflect the true complexity of autonomous surgical robotics or microbot development. Costs must align with the technical plan, leverage past research efficiently, and avoid artificially low budgets or staffing junior personnel simply to reduce cost.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

• Key restrictions from the ISO include:

  • Scope restrictions

    • TA1 excludes autonomous vascular access and closure; a human must obtain vessel access.

    • GI “pill camera–only” devices and ingestible microbots that only image, stimulate, or deliver cargo are out of scope; GI microbots must at least sense and biopsy, or sense/biopsy/ablate, to qualify.

    • Purely biological, purely chemical, or chem-bio-only delivery concepts (no mechanical/electronic component) are not acceptable microbots. Nanoparticles alone are out of scope.

  • Team composition and application rules

    • TA1-A teams must include at least one endovascular neurosurgeon.

    • A given team may propose to either TA1-A or TA1-B, but not both

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

For a first-time applicant, preparing a competitive solutions summary under this BAA will likely take 40–60 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.

Additional Resources

Check the full solicitation here.

Making Obstetrics Care Smart (MOCS) – ARPA-H

Executive Summary:

ARPA-H’s Making Obstetrics Care Smart (MOCS) program, run by the Scalable Solutions Office (SSO), is soliciting proposals under ISO ARPA-H-SOL-26-143 to develop new placenta health tests and noninvasive, wireless, AI-backed monitoring tools that can better predict fetal oxygen status and guide intervention during labor and delivery. Pre-proposal discussions are required between December 15–19, 2025, and full proposals are due by 12:00 PM ET on January 21, 2026 via the ARPA-H Solutions Portal.

How much funding would I receive?

Specific funding amounts are not listed so practically, you should assume that budgets must be tailored to the technical scope required to:

• Develop and validate placenta risk-stratification tools, and/or

• Design, build, and test noninvasive, wireless fetal monitoring technologies integrated with AI/ML decision support.

What could I use the funding for?

Based on the stated technical objectives, allowable work is expected to focus on R&D activities according to these guidelines:

The Problem

• The United States has the highest rate of maternal and infant morbidity and mortality of any wealthy country, despite spending more per capita on maternal care.

• This unacceptable status quo is largely the result of a 50-year-old, imprecise tool used during labor and delivery to monitor babies and determine whether they are getting enough oxygen—a tool called the fetal electronic monitor.  

• Without reliable data, confusion prevails and it’s tough to make smart, informed decisions. Women end up having unnecessary cesarean sections and babies are born with low oxygen levels, which sometimes cause lifelong complications.  

• This confusion leads to the dissolution of trust between patients and the medical system, massive lawsuits, and ultimately can cause medical providers to quit obstetrics, exacerbating the healthcare provider shortage.   

The Solution

• The Making Obstetrics Care Smart (MOCS) program aims to address this combination of problems by developing technology to help families and care teams plan for and have safe deliveries.  

• Our goal is ambitious: use advanced diagnostics and smart technology to make births safe. The program seeks to generate tools to predict both chronic and acute fetal status and provide the best recommendations for intervention, giving peace of mind to the care providers, mothers, and families making choices for critical labor and delivery care.

• MOCS will develop better ways to track a baby’s status during labor. First, developing a new test that will assess the health of the placenta to understand which patients are at high risk for complications during labor. Second, designing new types of noninvasive, wireless sensors and AI-backed technology to gain real-time information about a baby’s oxygen levels and make smart decisions during delivery.  

• If successful, MOCS will enable safe deliveries for all, drastically improving the health of women and children.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

Beyond direct funding, competitive ARPA-H programs like MOCS typically create several strategic benefits for companies and teams:

• Government validation and credibility
  Being selected by ARPA-H signals strong technical merit and alignment with high-priority national health goals in maternal and infant outcomes. That endorsement can de-risk you in the eyes of hospitals, payers, strategic partners, and investors.

• Visibility in a critical health domain
  MOCS targets one of the most pressing and visible failures in U.S. healthcare: maternal and infant morbidity and mortality tied to inadequate fetal monitoring. Demonstrated progress here can drive significant attention from media, advocacy groups, and professional societies.

• Access to a curated ecosystem
  The program explicitly aims to convene “the best researchers and collaborators in labor and delivery, including healthcare providers, hospitals, payers, attorneys, and families,” creating a structured network of stakeholders that can accelerate pilots, studies, and adoption.

• Non-dilutive capital to mature your product
  ARPA-H support is non-dilutive, enabling you to build and validate high-risk capabilities—advanced diagnostics, sensors, and AI—without giving up equity. That can translate into stronger valuations in later private rounds or at exit.

• Stronger exit and partnership potential
  A validated, government-funded platform for safer labor and delivery can be attractive to medical device manufacturers, hospital system partners, payers, and women’s health platforms looking to expand into perinatal safety and monitoring.

These strategic benefits are not guaranteed, but they are typical of successful participation in high-profile federal health R&D programs.

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

From the publicly available materials:

• Proposers’ Day: December 11, 2025 (hybrid; Washington, DC + virtual).

• Required pre-proposal discussions: December 15–19, 2025 (request via ARPA-H Solutions Portal).

• Full Proposal Due: January 21, 2026 at 12:00 PM ET (submitted via ARPA-H Solutions Portal).

The documents provided do not specify:

• Exact dates for selection decisions,

• Award announcement dates, or

• When funds will be obligated or projects will start.

Where does this funding come from?

Funding is provided by the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), specifically through its Scalable Solutions Office (SSO), under ISO ARPA-H-SOL-26-143 for the Making Obstetric Care Smart (MOCS) program.

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?

Official scoring criteria have not been released but typical criteria for ARPA-H opportunities are below (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?

• Attendance at Proposers’ Day is optional.
  It is not required for submission or selection, though ARPA-H notes it may help with teaming.

• Pre-proposal discussions are required.
  Pre-proposal discussions between December 15–19, 2025 must be scheduled via the ARPA-H Solutions Portal and are a required step before full proposal submission.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

For a first-time applicant, preparing a competitive full proposal 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 support is available for $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.

ARPA-H Scalable Solutions Office (SSO) BAA

Executive Summary:

ARPA-H’s Scalable Solutions Office (SSO) has an open “Mission Office Innovative Solutions Opening (ISO)” to fund revolutionary solutions that expand access, affordability, manufacturing, and distribution of health technologies across the U.S. healthcare system. The ISO accepts Solution Summaries and, if encouraged, full proposals; it anticipates multiple awards made as Other Transactions (OTs). The solicitation is open now and remains open until March 5, 2029.

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?

This ISO seeks solution summaries and proposals for projects that fall within the general scope of the ARPA-H Scalable Solutions Office (SSO). The SSO seeks to improve health care access and affordability through revolutionary technical innovations that address the challenges of geography, distribution, manufacturing, and data- and information management. Many communities and remote areas in the United States lack access to timely and quality health care, which leads to disparities in health outcomes for those populations. Bottlenecks during the manufacturing processes of products and health technologies also lead to delays and limited availability, preventing effective distribution of health care solutions to areas of need, especially in emergencies.

Funded SSO health innovation projects will improve the readiness of technologies and medical capabilities to be rapidly, broadly, and affordably adopted by patients, providers, and payers throughout the healthcare ecosystem and improve the patient experience. Manufacturing and supply chain focused SSO projects will lower the bar to entry for new developers, accelerate the rate of development, reduce development and product costs, and improve reliability and agility in manufacturing and product distribution.

Solutions should focus on rapid innovation and the use of partnerships, as well as flexible distribution networks and streamlined manufacturing processes. The following SSO interest areas categorize the ground-breaking solutions we seek to support:

• Health Technologies and Interventions:

  • Approaches to improve affordability and access to health care that are adaptable to various geographic, demographic, economic contexts and can be rapidly and broadly deployed (e.g., drug-repurposing, point-of-care diagnostics, and modular health care infrastructure).

  • Tailored solutions that provide the pediatric population parity with the adult population with respect to access to treatments and other health care interventions, and that adapt to the pediatric patient’s changing physiology and developmental status over the course of years.

  • Transformational approaches to reduce or eliminate health disparities, including leap-ahead technologies that scale novel approaches in human factors, and human-centered design to respond to full diversity of patients in varied geographic settings. Tools to enable expansion of capacities, capabilities, and reach of individual and institutional healthcare providers (e.g., school nurses and schools, walk-in clinics, homesteading care) to address unmet health care access needs and expand availability of critical services.

  • Foundational capabilities to accelerate diagnoses of rare diseases and reduce the cost and increase the availability rare disease treatments wherever patients are, without the need for specialized facilities or healthcare expertise.

  • Novel materials and technologies to not only return autonomy to limited mobility and/or home bound patients.

• Advanced Technologies for Medical Product and Capability Distribution:

  • Methods for standardization, automation, and broad distribution of complex procedures including, but not limited to, histopathology, rare disease diagnosis and treatment, and surgical interventions to ensure access and delivery to all populations.

  • Technical approaches to enhance delivery of effective healthcare solutions, to include dentistry, in rural or low resource settings, including but not limited to "last mile delivery”, at-home monitoring and diagnosis, imaging, drug delivery, telehealth augmentation, and support for remote medical procedures with limited need for specialized training.

  • Technologies to enable the deployment of critical healthcare resources rapidly and securely at scale to the point of need in permissive and non-permissive (i.e., damaged infrastructure, cyberdenied) environments during a public health crisis or natural disaster.

  • Innovative information technology, data and analytic products and technologies to enable ordering, inventory management, situational awareness, allocation planning and demand forecasting of critical healthcare resources during a public health crisis or natural disaster.

• Biomanufacturing Innovations:

  • Innovative manufacturing technologies

    • Approaches that reduce costs; improve access; expedite production timelines; and strengthen domestic competitiveness for biologics, pharmaceuticals, medical devices and personalprotective equipment (PPE). These innovations aim to mitigate supply chain risks through:

      • Novel solutions to minimize the reliance on cold chain management and specialized handling of pharmaceuticals and biologics.

      • Scalable solutions to strengthen biomanufacturing supplychains, resolve bottlenecks, and enable domestic production, such as:

        • Improved production of active pharmaceutical ingredients, process consumables, and other critical materials (e.g., enzymes, cell lines, etc.).

        • Data-driven models to optimize bioprocessing, enhance process control, and bolster supply chain visibility.

        • Development of alternative materials and innovative methods for PPE manufacturing.

        • Improvement of capabilities to sustainably re-shore manufacturing and utilize readily accessible, cost-efficient feedstocks to strengthen the local and national industry bases.

  • Predictable, programable biological production

    • Advanced analytical technologies designed to improve product knowledge, accelerate release, and/or significantly improve analytical figures of merit.

    • Novel sensor systems, process analytical technologies, and associated process models to precisely manage bioproduction management, including:

      • Process control and monitoring systems.

      • Real-time release assays for rapid product validation.

      • Predictive capabilities to inform process development and enable efficient and effective scale-up of manufacturing to industrial scale.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

Beyond the formal funding award, there are significant indirect benefits to receiving an ARPA-H Scalable Solutions Office (SSO) 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.

ARPA-H Resilient Systems Office (RSO) BAA

Executive Summary:

ARPA-H’s Resilient Systems Office (RSO) is accepting innovative Solution Summaries and full proposals—on a rolling basis—aimed at strengthening the adaptability, reliability, and interoperability of the U.S. health ecosystem. Multiple awards are anticipated under flexible Other Transaction (OT) agreements. The ISO is open now and remains open until March 5, 2029.

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 Resilient Systems Office (RSO), one of ARPA-H’s mission offices, seeks project proposals that drive innovations to enhance the adaptability, reliability, and interoperability of the health ecosystem. Submissions should aim for groundbreaking ideas that solve systemic challenges across the health landscape, leveraging cutting-edge technologies that address long-standing gaps in the quality, consistency, personalization, and efficacy of care.

RSO is interested in innovations that take a systems level approach in areas including, but not limited to, systems biology, data systems, biophysical systems, health IT systems, sociotechnical systems, health-related systems engineering, and other systems with the potential to improve health outcomes. While RSO welcomes “out of the box” ideas to address the above gaps, the mission office encourages proposals that address the following areas:

• Fortifying systems to improve robustness:

  Novel system designs and modular capabilities that extend the shelf-life of systems, ensuring peak performance across a broad range of healthcare environments and use cases. Applications of interest include, but are not limited to, the adaptability and robustness of biological systems; digital platforms for secure and efficient management of information; and socio-technical systems to maintain access to care and critical information.

• Removing barriers to enhance system efficiency and efficacy:

  Approaches that provide paradigm shifts in system dynamics to improve health outcomes. This includes improvements to system interoperability, process, and transparency; foundational capabilities to enable integration of emerging technology solutions; overcoming systemic barriers driven by misaligned incentives; user-centric tools that improve patient care coordination and user experience; and clinical and research solutions to boost efficiency, reduce cognitive load, and accelerate scientific discovery and its application.

• Early detection and interventions to mitigate disruptions to the healthcare ecosystem:

  Agile interventions to reduce the impact of disruptions and enhance readiness to manage and recover from large-scale health events. This spans the entire health system, including supply chains, manufacturing, and logistics.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

Beyond the formal funding award, there are significant indirect benefits to receiving an ARPA-H Resilient Systems Office (RSO) 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.

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.

ARPA-H Health Science Futures (HSF) Mission Office BAA

Executive Summary:

The ARPA-H Health Science Futures (HSF) Mission Office is accepting Solution Summaries and full proposals for revolutionary health R&D under its Innovative Solutions Opening (ISO), ARPA-H-SOL-24-104. Multiple awards are anticipated via Other Transaction (OT) agreements. The ISO remains open through March 5, 2029, and you must submit a short Solution Summary and receive written feedback before a full proposal. Submissions must align with HSF focus areas (e.g., breakthrough technologies, transformative tools, and adaptable platform systems) and are expected to be high-risk, high-impact—incremental or clinical-trial-stage efforts are out of scope.

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?

This ISO seeks solution summaries and proposal submissions for projects that fall within the general scope of the ARPA-H Health Science Futures (HSF) mission office. The HSF mission office expands what is technically possible by developing approaches that will remove the scientific and technological limitations that stymie progress towards the healthcare of the future. The HSF mission office
supports cutting-edge, often disease-agnostic research programs that have the potential for translational real-world change. Specifically excluded from consideration are proposals that represent an evolutionary or incremental advance in the current state of the art, or technology that has reached the clinical trial stage. An example of this type of proposal might include the request to fund clinical trials of an otherwise developed product. Additionally, proposals directed toward policy changes; traditional education and training; center coordination, formation, or development; and construction of physical infrastructure are outside the scope of the ARPA-H mission.

The following areas define the ground-breaking research that HSF seeks to support:

• Breakthrough Technologies

  Paradigm shifting technologies that will change how we approach the diagnosis, treatment, and impact of diseases and conditions.

  • Novel approaches to improve maternal and fetal medicine, decrease maternal morbidity and mortality during birth, and the post-partum period. Efforts should include new technology to monitor, detect, and/or treat maternal and/or fetal complications with less invasive and traumatic methods.

  • Foundational advances in genetic, epigenetic, cellular, tissue, and organ replacement therapies that enable personalized medical interventions at scale in a manner that is accessible, cost-effective, and designed to impact the communities of greatest need.

  • Interventions that target and reverse disease pathogenesis and/or enhance plasticity to address diseases of the nervous, neuromuscular, skeletal, lymphatic, cardiovascular, and other organ systems.

  • Novel approaches to definitively diagnose and cure chronic diseases including, but not limited to, diabetes, autoimmune diseases, neurodegenerative disorders (Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, ALS, etc.), and cancer.

  • Technologies that expand the precision, scale, and accessibility of brain circuit mapping technologies that enable causative neuropsychiatric links to mental health disorders leading to definitive diagnosis and reliable therapeutic monitoring.

• Transformative Tools

  Novel, agile solutions that will move from bench to bedside quickly, facilitating revolutionary advances in medical care.

  • Development of tools that counter idiosyncratic, off-target, or chronic effects of medicines that are commonly used or that are being used experimentally to treat or prevent disease.

  • Development of bionic or biohybrid devices that enable direct integration and communication with the body to activate restorative pathways that restore lost senses, physical abilities, immune functions, and other organ functions.

  • Site-selective neuromodulation to regulate specific physiological functions and treat chronic health conditions such as inflammation, pain, and metabolic or endocrine disorders.

  • Synthetic biology approaches incorporating novel logic mechanisms, disease targeting and response methods, and robust control strategies to diagnose, and/or cure a multitude of diseases.

  • Imaging or other technologies engineered from discoveries at the forefront of physics and/or chemistry that reduce cost, improve size and/or portability, increase availability, expand capability, improve resolution, reduce exposure to radiation, and accommodate pediatric patient populations.

  • Integrated sensing and therapy delivery devices for addressing chronic health conditions, including mental health conditions or substance use disorders.

• Platform Systems

  Adaptable, multi-application systems and technologies that are reconfigurable for a wide variety of clinical needs.

  • Novel molecular platforms to target and cure diseases, including the modulation of physiological systems, delivery to targets with spatial and temporal precision, and mitigation of off-target effects to accelerate interventions that dramatically improve health outcomes.

  • New approaches to accelerate and routinize mammalian and microbial cellular engineering to enable next generation therapeutic applications, develop multiscale interventions, and automate hypothesis generation and discovery to expand those applications to disease states in which cellular therapies have not traditionally been employed.

  • Innovative approaches at the intersection of artificial intelligence, high performance computing (including quantum computing) and biological systems, including enabling de novo design of biomolecules with entirely new phenotypes.

  • Revolutionary omics platforms that enable unprecedented spatial and temporal scales and resolution of physiological and disease mechanisms.

• Other Technologies

  Other high-quality submissions that propose revolutionary technologies that meet the goals of HSF will be considered even if they do not address the other listed topics.

  Proposals in response to this Innovative Solutions Opening (ISO) are expected to identify innovative approaches to enable revolutionary advances in medicine and healthcare and the science and technologies underlying these areas. While approaches that are disease agnostic are encouraged, ARPA-H welcomes proposals that offer radically new insights to address specific health conditions, including (but not limited to) cancer, cardiovascular, diabetes, infectious and neurological diseases, and pediatric and maternal/fetal health.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

Beyond the formal funding award, there are significant indirect benefits to receiving an ARPA-H Health Science Futures (HSF) 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.