CDMRP: Tick-Borne Disease Research Program (TBDRP)

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

Executive Summary:

The Fiscal Year 2026 Tick-Borne Disease Research Program (TBDRP) pre-announcement was released by the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) on February 12, 2026. This pre-announcement signals anticipated funding opportunities aimed at high-impact research to prevent, detect, and resolve Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases that affect Service Members, Veterans, families, and the general public. Funding opportunity announcements (FOAs) — including pre-application and full application deadlines — have not yet been released and must be monitored on Grants.gov and eBRAP.

How much funding would I receive?

Award-specific maximums from the pre-announcement:

• Idea Development Award – Up to $800,000 total costs over up to 3 years.

• Idea Development Award – Career Development Option – Up to $550,000 total costs over up to 3 years.

• Therapeutic/Diagnostic Research Award – Up to $1,325,000 total costs over up to 3 years.

What could I use the funding for?

Funding is intended to support innovative, high-impact research addressing tick-borne diseases. The pre-announcement defines mechanism-specific focus areas:

A) Idea Development Award

Pathogenesis

• Assess interactions among tick-borne pathogens (emphasis Lyme and co-infections)

• Study persistent clinical manifestations (neurologic symptoms encouraged)

• Studies on maternal health, pregnancy outcomes, congenital infections

Treatment

• Proof-of-concept for novel therapeutics or repurposing existing compounds

• Target identification/validation and early refinement of therapeutic candidates

Diagnosis

• Development/optimization of improved diagnostics for:

  • Single or multiple tick-borne pathogens (priority on direct detection of Borrelia burgdorferi)

  • Distinguish active Lyme infection from past exposure

  • Detect/diagnose maternal-to-fetal transmission, including relevant animal models

B) Therapeutic/Diagnostic Research Award

• Treatment – Evaluation/refinement of therapeutic candidates, including PK/PD and toxicology; designed to advance early/preclinical drug development.

• Diagnosis – Validation of novel diagnostics capable of single or multi-pathogen detection, distinguishing active from past infection, and detecting maternal-to-fetal transmission pathways.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

• The program explicitly supports career development options for early-career investigators (with mentorship).

• Pre-application requirements and peer review support transparency in mechanism expectations.

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

• Application deadlines: Not yet released. The pre-announcement states that FOAs containing specific pre-application and application deadlines will be posted on Grants.gov and through the eBRAP portal once available.

• Funding start: After successful review, awards typically begin in the fiscal year following announcement (FY26), but exact start dates are not yet published.

Where does this funding come from?

Funding for TBDRP is provided by the Fiscal Year 2026 Defense Appropriations Act, and administered by the Defense Health Agency Research and Development / Medical Research and Development Command (CDMRP).

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility varies by mechanism. From the pre-announcement:

• Independent investigators at all career levels are eligible for many mechanisms.

• Career Development Option has specific requirements:

  • PI must be within 10 years of terminal degree (with exceptions for residency/family leave)

  • Mentor must be experienced (≥5 year track record in tick-borne disease research)

What companies and projects are likely to win?

Projects that are highly innovative, directly related to the defined focus areas, and translational in nature (with clear clinical relevance) are likely to be competitive. Specifically:

• Approaches that address persistent Lyme disease, novel diagnostics, and novel therapeutic strategies

• Research that demonstrates strong rationale or preliminary data aligned with CDCMRP priorities

• Early-career investigators partnered with experienced mentors (for Career Development Option)

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

• Clinical trials cannot be supported under these mechanisms; human studies are permitted where applicable.

• Full application submission is by invitation only after pre-proposal review.

• Mechanism‐specific eligibility and focus area alignment are strict and will be enforced in the FOA.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

Preparation time varies significantly by mechanism and institutional support, but given the requirement for pre-proposals, preliminary data, and alignment with specific focus areas, investigators should plan for 6–12 weeks of preparation once the FOA is released. This accounts for drafting, internal review, and compliance checks prior to pre-application submission.

How can BW&CO help?

BW&CO can help you:

• Interpret and map your research to specific TBDRP focus areas

• Develop pre-proposal drafts and strategic research narratives

• Identify data needs and plan for compliant application packages

• Coordinate mentor relationships for career development submissions

• Set milestones to meet pre-application and full application deadlines

How much would BW&CO Charge?

We have both fractional engagements ($250 an hour) and full engagements ($13,000 + 5%) available.

Additional Resources

Review the solicitation here.

DIU: Runway Independent Maritime & Expeditionary Strike (RIMES)

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

Executive Summary:

This is a DIU Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) that invites companies with novel unmanned aerial systems (UAS) capable of providing long-range strike support for naval surface combatants—without relying on large runways or flight decks—to submit a solution. It is a fast, flexible path to a prototype Other Transaction (OT) award that could potentially lead to follow-on production contracts across the U.S. Department of Defense. Proposals are due February 27, 2026 at 23:59:59 US/Eastern Time.

How much funding would I receive?

The DIU CSO does not specify a fixed award amount on the posting. Instead, selected vendors typically negotiate a prototype Other Transaction (OT) agreement. Funding levels vary based on solution complexity and scope, and successful prototype awards can lead to larger follow-on production arrangements.

What could I use the funding for?

You may propose funding for:

• Technical development of a long-range UAS capability that meets the challenge criteria

• Prototyping of vehicle hardware, autonomy software, and integration with naval systems

• Test, evaluation, and demonstration efforts

• Integration and safety risk reduction activities

• Personnel, materials, subcontractors, and other direct costs aligned with system delivery and prototype execution

DIU’s focus is mission-relevant prototyping that can be transitioned rapidly to DoD users.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

If your prototype is successful:

• You may be considered for follow-on production contracts or agreements that do not require further competitive procedures, under 10 U.S.C. 4022(f).

• DIU’s CSO process provides strategic exposure and faster contracting than traditional DoD pathways.

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

Submission Deadline: February 27, 2026 at 23:59:59 US/Eastern — submit solution brief by this time.

After submission:

• DIU reviews briefs and may invite you to pitch or submit a full proposal.

• Prototype OT awards are typically executed weeks to a few months after selection, depending on evaluations and negotiations.

Where does this funding come from?

This solicitation is run by the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) — a Department of Defense organization that accelerates commercial technology adoption for national security missions. It uses Other Transaction Authority (OTA) to award prototype agreements directly to commercial tech companies.

Who is eligible to apply?

• U.S. and foreign owned businesses are generally eligible; eligibility specifics are governed by the broader CSO requirements.

• Companies must register in SAM.gov and obtain a CAGE code prior to award if not already registered.

• A CMMC Level 2 (Self) cybersecurity posture is required before award.

DIU encourages commercial entities of all sizes — including first-time defense contractors — to submit solutions.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

Strong candidates will offer a UAS that:

• Operates without runways or large flight decks

• Has ≥1400 NM one-way range with a ~1000-lb payload of standard naval munitions

• Integrates with existing combat systems

• Demonstrates mission autonomy and resilience in contested environments

• Offers cost-effective, maintainable, and scalable approaches

• Supports rapid prototyping and field demonstration within 12 months

Projects that show technical maturity, clear operational benefit, and transition readiness are most competitive.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

• Solutions must meet DIU CSO format and content requirements, typically not exceeding five pages or fifteen slides.

• CMMC Level 2 (Self) compliance is required before award.

• Any award will include compliance with applicable laws such as Section 889 NDAA requirements.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

• A compliant Solution Brief should take a few weeks of focused effort to develop, including company overview, technical description, risk assessment, and linkage to challenge attributes.

• For competitive positioning, start well before the deadline to refine mission relevance and prototype feasibility.

How can BW&CO help?

BW&CO can help you:
• Translate your technical capabilities into a competitive DIU solution brief.
• Strategize on Line of Effort selection and demo readiness.
• Prepare compliance documentation and security coordination plans.
• Draft a high-impact live demonstration plan that aligns with DIU and DoD expectations.

How much would BW&CO Charge?

We have an hourly rate to strategize, review, and edit applications of $250.

Additional Resources

Review the solicitation here.

DIU: Counter UAS Sensing for Homeland and Mobile Defense

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

Executive Summary:

The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) seeks commercial sensing solutions to detect, track, and classify small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS) for fixed homeland defense and mobile tactical use. This Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) is urgent due to evolving UAS threats, and responses are due by February 26, 2026 at 23:59:59 US Eastern Time. Selected companies may be invited to a Phase 2 live demonstration at Yuma Proving Ground (AZ) in Spring 2026 — at the company’s expense — making quick readiness and regulatory compliance essential.

How much funding would I receive?

DIU does not list a specific award amount on the submission page. As a CSO, funding typically depends on the solution’s relevance and negotiation between DIU, the DoD sponsor, and the vendor — often structured as an Other Transaction (OT) prototyping agreement. Follow-on production awards can be significantly larger if the prototype is successful.

What could I use the funding for?

Prototypes should deliver scalable, survivable, life-saving sUAS sensing capabilities in two categories:
• Line of Effort 1 — Homeland Defense Sensing:

• Persistent fixed-site sensing near population centers and congested airspace.

• Must include a radar sensor with high-performance detection, tracking, and classification.
  • Line of Effort 2 — Mobile Tactical Sensing:

• Resilient, low-signature systems that operate stationary and on-the-move in GNSS-denied or contested environments.
  Proposals must demonstrate technical performance, integration paths, and operational readiness.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

• Rapid engagement with the U.S. Department of Defense through DIU’s CSO process.
• Potential transition to follow-on production contracts without further competition if your prototype meets success criteria under 10 U.S.C. 4022(f) authority.
• Exposure to DoD partners and Program Managers at demonstration events (e.g., Yuma Proving Ground).

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

• Solution briefs due: February 26, 2026 @ 23:59:59 US Eastern Time.
• Phase 2 live demonstration: Planned for Spring 2026 at Yuma Proving Ground, AZ.
Funding awards are typically announced after Phase 1 evaluation and negotiation, which can occur within DIU’s standard 60-90 day CSO window once a solution is selected for full proposal submission.

Where does this funding come from?

This project is funded by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and administered by the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) through its Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) process, leveraging Other Transaction Authority (OTA).

Who is eligible to apply?

Any commercial entity or individual with a mature sensing solution or applicable commercial-ready technology can respond. DIU encourages both established defense contractors and nontraditional vendors to submit.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

Competitively favored proposals will:
• Address either or both LOEs fully and clearly.
• Demonstrate proven sensing performance (e.g., range, tracking, classification).
• Provide integration paths with DoD systems and readiness for live demonstration.
• Be commercially mature or near production — especially for Homeland Defense sensing.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

• If selected for live demonstrations, companies must coordinate security protocols (varies for U.S. vs. non-U.S. citizens) and supply a DD Form 1494 with the Phase 1 proposal.

• Proposals must comply with DoD cybersecurity frameworks (e.g., RMF and ATO).

• Nontraditional defense contractors may enable faster OT awards; traditional contractors might need a cost share per DIU CSO rules.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

Expect 2–6 weeks to prepare a compelling solution brief depending on:
• Technical readiness of your system.
• Teaming arrangements and integration plans.
• Supporting data on detection performance.
• Required compliance forms (e.g., DD 1494).

How can BW&CO help?

BW&CO can help you:
• Translate your technical capabilities into a competitive DIU solution brief.
• Strategize on Line of Effort selection and demo readiness.
• Prepare compliance documentation and security coordination plans.
• Draft a high-impact live demonstration plan that aligns with DIU and DoD expectations.

How much would BW&CO Charge?

We have an hourly rate to strategize, review, and edit applications of $250.

Additional Resources

Review the solicitation here.

DARPA BTO: Protean

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

Executive Summary:

DARPA’s Biological Technologies Office has released DARPARA2601: Protean, a high-impact research announcement focused on developing next-generation medical countermeasures that protect critical human proteins from chemical threat agents. This program aims to create prophylactics (and optionally therapeutics) that protect protein function against chemical threat challenges over 10,000x LD50s . Abstracts are due March 12th, 2026 at 4:00pm ET.

How much funding would I receive?

• Award instruments: Cooperative Agreements or Research Other Transactions (OTs)

• Period of performance: 33 months total

  • Phase 1 (Base): 18 months

  • Phase 2 (Option): 15 months

• Funding levels will depend on proposal quality and availability of funds.

What could I use the funding for?

Funding must support work aligned with Protean’s objective: restoring or protecting protein function against chemical threat agents at the mechanistic level .

Focus Areas (You must propose both phases)

You may propose in one or more of the following:

1. Nerve agents

2. Synthetic opioids

3. Ion channel toxins

Work must target DoD-relevant proteins such as:

• Acetylcholinesterase

• Mu Opioid Receptor

• Ion channels

Phase 1 – Non-Classical Protection (18 months)

Funding may support:

• Discovery of novel regulatory points in protein conformational landscapes

• Identification of distal regulatory sites (>1 required by Month 6 milestone)

• Structural biology and computational modeling of bound/unbound conformations

• Experimental validation of novel conformational states

• Mechanistic characterization of intoxication pathways

• In vitro demonstration of functional rescue or protection

• Demonstrating:

  • 10-fold decrease in threat simulant binding affinity (Month 12)

  • 10x increase in ED50 of >3 threat surrogates (Month 16)

End of Phase 1 requires in vitro evaluation by a government Test & Evaluation (T&E) partner .

Phase 2 – Countermeasure Design (15 months)

Funding may support:

• Structure-based or ligand-based drug design

• Optimization of non-competitive chemical matter

• In vitro and in vivo efficacy improvements

• Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics studies

• ADME validation

• Safety and acute toxicity screening

• In vivo rodent validation against real CWAs

Key metrics include:

• 1,000x increase in ED50 in vitro (Month 24)

• LD50 with intervention >1000x baseline (Month 24, rodent model)

• 10,000x increase in ED50 in vitro (Month 30)

• LD50 with intervention >10,000x baseline exposure (Month 33, rodent model)

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

• Access to government Test & Evaluation (T&E) partners for real chemical warfare agent testing

• Potential use of flexible Other Transaction (OT) authority

• Early technical feedback via invitation-only pre-award sessions (if selected after Gate 1)

• Opportunity for DoD transition and chemical/biological defense positioning

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

Key Dates:

• Posting Date: February 11th, 2026

• Protean Virtual Proposers Day: February 20th, 2026

• Question Submittal Closed: March 9th, 2026 by 4:00 PM ET

• Gate 1 Due Date (Abstract): March 12th, 2026 by 4:00 PM ET

• Gate 2 Due Date (Full Proposal): May 7th, 2026 by 4:00 PM ET

Gate 1 selection is required to submit a full proposal.

The program period of performance is 33 months .

Where does this funding come from?

Funding comes from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Biological Technologies Office (BTO) .

Funding Opportunity Number: DARPARA2601
NAICS Code: 541714

Who is eligible to apply?

All responsible sources capable of satisfying the Government's needs, including U.S. and non-U.S. sources, may submit proposals .

• Historically Black Colleges and Universities, small businesses, small-disadvantaged businesses, and minority institutions are encouraged to apply .

• Proposers must be registered in SAM and have a valid Unique Entity ID .

• Proposals must be UNCLASSIFIED or CUI .

• FFRDCs, UARCs, and Government entities must contact the agency POC prior to submission to discuss eligibility , competitive proposals will:

• Present highly innovative, non-classical mechanistic approaches

• Identify >1 novel distal regulatory site by Month 6

• Demonstrate feasibility across both Phase 1 and Phase 2 metrics

• Provide experimentally validated structural insights (not purely computational)

• Show credible in vivo translation plans

• Demonstrate strong relevance to DoD chemical and biological defense

Proposals that fail to address both phases will be deemed non-conforming .

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

Key restrictions include:

• Must propose to both Phases

• Must comply with Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) handling requirements (NIST 800-171 compliant systems)

• IP ownership or licensing must be clearly documented

• Potential publication restrictions for non-fundamental research

• Organizational Conflict of Interest disclosures required

• No classified submissions allowed at Gate 1

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

Gate 1 is intentionally streamlined:

• 10-minute Video Abstract (max 5 slides)

• 5-page Abbreviated Technical Volume

• Rough Order of Magnitude cost estimate

Most well-prepared teams should expect 3–6 weeks to develop a competitive Gate 1 submission, depending on technical maturity and team alignment.

Gate 2 preparation will require significantly more effort if invited.

How can BW&CO help?

We help founders and research teams:

• Reverse-engineer DARPA evaluation criteria

• Position non-classical mechanisms to align with milestone language

• Translate structural biology and modeling approaches into milestone-driven narratives

• Architect Phase 1 → Phase 2 transition logic

• Draft Gate 1 materials that maximize selection probability

• Build credible in vivo translation pathways

Our role is to make sure your science aligns exactly with DARPA’s stated metrics and exclusion criteria.

How much would BW&CO Charge?

We charge a flat $4,000 fee to submit the pre-proposal for Gate 1. We also have an hourly rate to strategize, review, and edit applications of $250.

Additional Resources

Review the solicitation here.