NIH Highlighted Topic: Cellular Quiescence, Senescence, and Cell Death in Aging and Disease

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

Executive Summary:

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is encouraging innovative research focused on understanding the mechanistic and functional interrelationships among cellular quiescence, senescence, regulated cell death, and other cell-fate decisions. This highlighted topic aims to uncover the molecular logic governing cell fate under stress and during aging, moving beyond simple classification to establish a foundation for next-generation therapeutics targeting aging and age-related diseases.

While a decade of senescence research has revealed extraordinary heterogeneity among senescent cells shaped by stressors, tissue origin, and organismal age, NIH notes that fundamental mechanistic questions remain unresolved, including whether quiescence, senescence, and apoptosis represent separate endpoints, a continuum, or probabilistic outcomes of cell-cycle re-entry. NIH is particularly interested in projects that clarify how aging reshapes these decision pathways and whether they can be therapeutically redirected to prevent or delay age-related disease and extend healthspan.

Areas of interest include determining whether quiescence and senescence are discrete or continuum-based cell fates, defining molecular factors governing senescence versus apoptosis, identifying cell fate decisions that can be selectively promoted or redirected during aging, examining cell fate determination in brain aging including post-mitotic neurons and glial populations, evaluating how senolytics affect quiescent and reprogramming cell populations, and characterizing cell-cycle exit and re-entry mechanisms in quiescent, senescent, stem, progenitor, and dormant tumor or stromal cells relevant to cancer initiation, progression, and therapy response.

Note: as with prior topics, this is a Highlighted Topic rather than a standalone NOFO, so applicants apply through an appropriate NIH Parent Funding Announcement or other broad opportunity on Grants.gov rather than a dedicated solicitation with its own SBIR/STTR dollar figures.

This highlighted topic is supported primarily by the National Institute on Aging (NIA), with additional participation from the National Cancer Institute (NCI), both of which are seeking mechanistic research into cell-fate decision pathways relevant to aging, cancer, and age-related disease.

How much funding would I receive?

Awards provide up to $323,090 for Phase I projects (up to 2 years) and $2,153,927 for Phase II projects (up to 3 years). Some topics approved by NIH may exceed these limits. Fast-Track and Phase IIB (follow-on) options allow continuous or extended funding beyond Phase II.

What could I use the funding for?

Funding may support the research, development, validation, and commercialization of technologies, clinical tools, software platforms, and evidence-based interventions related to augmentative and alternative communication (AAC).

Eligible activities may include:

• Development of speech-generating devices and AAC communication platforms

• AI and machine learning tools for adaptive communication support

• Personalized AAC assessment and recommendation systems

• Precision measurement tools for tracking communication outcomes

• Digital health platforms supporting AAC users and caregivers

• Literacy instruction technologies for AAC users

• Mobile applications supporting non-speaking and minimally verbal individuals

• Predictive analytics and communication profiling systems

• User-centered design and accessibility research for AAC technologies

• Tools supporting communication partner engagement and training

• Clinical software for AAC implementation and therapy management

• Mixed-methods research platforms for communication needs analysis

• Technologies supporting lifelong AAC adaptation and personalization

• Remote monitoring and telehealth solutions for speech and communication therapy

• Assistive technologies supporting autism, ALS, cerebral palsy, and related conditions

• Research evaluating quality-of-life and well-being outcomes for AAC users

• Prototype development, validation studies, and usability testing

• Commercialization planning and implementation strategy development

Funding may also support personnel, software development, usability studies, clinical testing, cloud infrastructure, AI model development, accessibility design, data collection, intellectual property protection, regulatory preparation, and commercialization activities necessary to advance a scalable and commercially viable AAC solution aligned with NIH priorities.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

Beyond the formal funding award, awardees gain several strategic advantages:

• Government Validation and Credibility:
  Being selected for an NIH-backed SBIR grant signals technical excellence and alignment with national health and biomedical priorities. This validation builds investor and partner confidence.

• Enhanced Visibility and Market Recognition:
  Awardees are featured in NIH and HHS announcements, helping attract partnerships, media attention, and future contracting opportunities.

• Access to the Federal Innovation Ecosystem:
  Recipients join a national network of researchers and agencies advancing life science innovation, often opening doors to collaborations with NIH laboratories and federal health programs.

• Stronger Commercial and Exit Potential:
  By maturing technology through nondilutive funding, companies strengthen valuation, de-risk commercialization, and increase attractiveness for acquisition or follow-on private investment.

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

Applications are accepted each year on January 5th, April 5th, and September 5th. Funding is received approximately 9 months after submission.

Where does this funding come from?

Funding comes from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, with statutory set-asides requiring NIH, CDC, and FDA to devote portions of their extramural R&D budgets (3.2% for SBIR, 0.45% for STTR) to support small business innovation.

Who is eligible to apply?

Applicants must be U.S. small business concerns (SBCs) that:

• Are organized for profit with a U.S. place of business.

• Have ≤ 500 employees including affiliates.

• Are > 50% owned by U.S. citizens or permanent residents, qualifying U.S. entities, or combinations thereof.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

Projects that demonstrate:

• A clear unmet medical or public-health need,

• Strong scientific rationale and feasibility,

• High commercialization potential, supported by a realistic market and regulatory strategy, and

• Alignment with an NIH Institute’s or CDC/FDA Center’s specific research mission (e.g., infectious disease, digital health, diagnostics, therapeutics, or data analytics).

Competitive applicants often have an early prototype, preliminary data, and a defined path to market adoption.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

• Companies must complete multiple federal registrations (SAM.gov, Grants.gov, eRA Commons, SBA Company Registry) before applying.

• Foreign entities are not eligible.

• Disclosure of foreign affiliations and compliance with national security screening are mandatory. Currently we do not recommend any sort of foreign affiliation.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

For a first-time applicant, preparing a competitive submission will likely take 120–200 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.

Review solicitation here.

NIH Highlighted Topic: New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) for Dietary Supplement and Nutrition research

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

Executive Summary:

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is encouraging innovative research focused on human-relevant new approach methodologies (NAMs)—such as organoids, tissue chips, microphysiological systems, multi-omics technologies, and computational models—to evaluate the safety and efficacy of foods, food components, and dietary supplements for health optimization and chronic disease risk reduction across the lifespan.

Traditional diet-related health research has relied heavily on animal studies and population-level endpoints, which NIH notes have limited relevance to human biology and metabolism, poor sensitivity for detecting subtle or life-stage-specific effects, and an inability to assess complex foods, novel ingredients, or matrix effects. NIH is particularly interested in projects that develop and validate human-based NAMs to investigate nutrient absorption, distribution, and metabolic processes, and to simulate health-relevant interactions between cellular, organ, and body systems in response to complex food or supplement matrices. This topic is issued as part of the Make America Healthy Again initiative, and the EPA, FDA, and NIH have all committed to expanding use of NAMs moving forward.

Areas of interest include identifying and validating bioactive compound exposure biomarkers, quantifying bioaccessibility and bioavailability of nutrients in multi-ingredient supplements or processed foods, modeling diet-related chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and cystic fibrosis, examining nutrition's role in ocular health and vision-loss conditions, capturing age-related changes in nutrient metabolism among older adults, validating dietary assessment methodologies and noninvasive biomarkers relevant to heart, lung, blood, and sleep outcomes, assessing dietary supplement interactions in cancer risk and treatment contexts, and characterizing dietary bioactive substances' impact on fetal and early childhood neurodevelopment.

Note: as with prior topics, this is a Highlighted Topic rather than a standalone NOFO, so applicants apply through an appropriate NIH Parent Funding Announcement or other broad opportunity on Grants.gov rather than a dedicated solicitation with its own SBIR/STTR dollar figures.

This highlighted topic is supported primarily by the Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS), with additional participation from the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Eye Institute (NEI), National Institute on Aging (NIA), National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), Office of Nutrition Research (ONR), and National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), all of which are seeking human-relevant methodologies to advance nutrition and dietary supplement science.

How much funding would I receive?

Awards provide up to $323,090 for Phase I projects (up to 2 years) and $2,153,927 for Phase II projects (up to 3 years). Some topics approved by NIH may exceed these limits. Fast-Track and Phase IIB (follow-on) options allow continuous or extended funding beyond Phase II.

What could I use the funding for?

Funding may support the research, development, validation, and commercialization of technologies, clinical tools, software platforms, and evidence-based interventions related to augmentative and alternative communication (AAC).

Eligible activities may include:

• Development of speech-generating devices and AAC communication platforms

• AI and machine learning tools for adaptive communication support

• Personalized AAC assessment and recommendation systems

• Precision measurement tools for tracking communication outcomes

• Digital health platforms supporting AAC users and caregivers

• Literacy instruction technologies for AAC users

• Mobile applications supporting non-speaking and minimally verbal individuals

• Predictive analytics and communication profiling systems

• User-centered design and accessibility research for AAC technologies

• Tools supporting communication partner engagement and training

• Clinical software for AAC implementation and therapy management

• Mixed-methods research platforms for communication needs analysis

• Technologies supporting lifelong AAC adaptation and personalization

• Remote monitoring and telehealth solutions for speech and communication therapy

• Assistive technologies supporting autism, ALS, cerebral palsy, and related conditions

• Research evaluating quality-of-life and well-being outcomes for AAC users

• Prototype development, validation studies, and usability testing

• Commercialization planning and implementation strategy development

Funding may also support personnel, software development, usability studies, clinical testing, cloud infrastructure, AI model development, accessibility design, data collection, intellectual property protection, regulatory preparation, and commercialization activities necessary to advance a scalable and commercially viable AAC solution aligned with NIH priorities.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

Beyond the formal funding award, awardees gain several strategic advantages:

• Government Validation and Credibility:
  Being selected for an NIH-backed SBIR grant signals technical excellence and alignment with national health and biomedical priorities. This validation builds investor and partner confidence.

• Enhanced Visibility and Market Recognition:
  Awardees are featured in NIH and HHS announcements, helping attract partnerships, media attention, and future contracting opportunities.

• Access to the Federal Innovation Ecosystem:
  Recipients join a national network of researchers and agencies advancing life science innovation, often opening doors to collaborations with NIH laboratories and federal health programs.

• Stronger Commercial and Exit Potential:
  By maturing technology through nondilutive funding, companies strengthen valuation, de-risk commercialization, and increase attractiveness for acquisition or follow-on private investment.

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

Applications are accepted each year on January 5th, April 5th, and September 5th. Funding is received approximately 9 months after submission.

Where does this funding come from?

Funding comes from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, with statutory set-asides requiring NIH, CDC, and FDA to devote portions of their extramural R&D budgets (3.2% for SBIR, 0.45% for STTR) to support small business innovation.

Who is eligible to apply?

Applicants must be U.S. small business concerns (SBCs) that:

• Are organized for profit with a U.S. place of business.

• Have ≤ 500 employees including affiliates.

• Are > 50% owned by U.S. citizens or permanent residents, qualifying U.S. entities, or combinations thereof.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

Projects that demonstrate:

• A clear unmet medical or public-health need,

• Strong scientific rationale and feasibility,

• High commercialization potential, supported by a realistic market and regulatory strategy, and

• Alignment with an NIH Institute’s or CDC/FDA Center’s specific research mission (e.g., infectious disease, digital health, diagnostics, therapeutics, or data analytics).

Competitive applicants often have an early prototype, preliminary data, and a defined path to market adoption.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

• Companies must complete multiple federal registrations (SAM.gov, Grants.gov, eRA Commons, SBA Company Registry) before applying.

• Foreign entities are not eligible.

• Disclosure of foreign affiliations and compliance with national security screening are mandatory. Currently we do not recommend any sort of foreign affiliation.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

For a first-time applicant, preparing a competitive submission will likely take 120–200 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.

Review solicitation here.

NIH Highlighted Topic: Breaking Barriers: Integrating Immunology and Neuroscience to Transform AD/ADRD Research and Bring a Better Understanding of the Aging Brain

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

Executive Summary:

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is encouraging innovative research focused on integrating immunology, neuroscience, and biogerontology to advance the prevention, treatment, and understanding of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Alzheimer's Disease-Related Dementias (ADRD). This highlighted topic aims to accelerate discovery at the intersection of immune-nervous system interactions across the aging lifespan and support development of improved diagnostics, risk stratification tools, and immunotherapeutic strategies.

Accumulating evidence implicates dysregulation of both innate and adaptive immune responses in the aging brain as a significant contributor to AD/ADRD pathogenesis, with clinical studies reporting changes in T-cells, B-cells, the complement system, and disease-specific autoantibodies in individuals living with AD/ADRD. NIH notes that a major obstacle to progress has been insufficient sustained collaboration between immunologists, infectious disease experts, and neuroscientists, leaving critical knowledge gaps around the links between autoimmunity, infectious disease, and neurodegeneration. NIH is particularly interested in projects using cutting-edge technology, including AI and novel model systems such as organoids and microphysiological systems, to close these gaps.

Areas of interest include innate and adaptive immunity crosstalk in healthy aging and AD/ADRD, links among immunosenescence, neuroinflammation, infection, and autoimmunity, mechanisms of immune dysfunction underlying neuropsychiatric symptoms, novel biomarker discovery and validation, environmental exposure effects on the immune-brain axis, sex-specific and lifespan immunophenotype changes, and chronic immune dysregulation accelerating neuroimmune senescence in the context of people with HIV.

Note: as with prior topics, this is a Highlighted Topic rather than a standalone NOFO, so applicants apply through an appropriate NIH Parent Funding Announcement or other broad opportunity on Grants.gov rather than a dedicated solicitation with its own SBIR/STTR dollar figures.

This highlighted topic is supported primarily by the National Institute on Aging (NIA), with additional participation from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), and National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), all of which are seeking interdisciplinary research that bridges immunology and neuroscience to transform understanding of the aging brain and AD/ADRD.

How much funding would I receive?

Awards provide up to $323,090 for Phase I projects (up to 2 years) and $2,153,927 for Phase II projects (up to 3 years). Some topics approved by NIH may exceed these limits. Fast-Track and Phase IIB (follow-on) options allow continuous or extended funding beyond Phase II.

What could I use the funding for?

Funding may support the research, development, validation, and commercialization of technologies, clinical tools, software platforms, and evidence-based interventions related to augmentative and alternative communication (AAC).

Eligible activities may include:

• Development of speech-generating devices and AAC communication platforms

• AI and machine learning tools for adaptive communication support

• Personalized AAC assessment and recommendation systems

• Precision measurement tools for tracking communication outcomes

• Digital health platforms supporting AAC users and caregivers

• Literacy instruction technologies for AAC users

• Mobile applications supporting non-speaking and minimally verbal individuals

• Predictive analytics and communication profiling systems

• User-centered design and accessibility research for AAC technologies

• Tools supporting communication partner engagement and training

• Clinical software for AAC implementation and therapy management

• Mixed-methods research platforms for communication needs analysis

• Technologies supporting lifelong AAC adaptation and personalization

• Remote monitoring and telehealth solutions for speech and communication therapy

• Assistive technologies supporting autism, ALS, cerebral palsy, and related conditions

• Research evaluating quality-of-life and well-being outcomes for AAC users

• Prototype development, validation studies, and usability testing

• Commercialization planning and implementation strategy development

Funding may also support personnel, software development, usability studies, clinical testing, cloud infrastructure, AI model development, accessibility design, data collection, intellectual property protection, regulatory preparation, and commercialization activities necessary to advance a scalable and commercially viable AAC solution aligned with NIH priorities.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

Beyond the formal funding award, awardees gain several strategic advantages:

• Government Validation and Credibility:
  Being selected for an NIH-backed SBIR grant signals technical excellence and alignment with national health and biomedical priorities. This validation builds investor and partner confidence.

• Enhanced Visibility and Market Recognition:
  Awardees are featured in NIH and HHS announcements, helping attract partnerships, media attention, and future contracting opportunities.

• Access to the Federal Innovation Ecosystem:
  Recipients join a national network of researchers and agencies advancing life science innovation, often opening doors to collaborations with NIH laboratories and federal health programs.

• Stronger Commercial and Exit Potential:
  By maturing technology through nondilutive funding, companies strengthen valuation, de-risk commercialization, and increase attractiveness for acquisition or follow-on private investment.

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

Applications are accepted each year on January 5th, April 5th, and September 5th. Funding is received approximately 9 months after submission.

Where does this funding come from?

Funding comes from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, with statutory set-asides requiring NIH, CDC, and FDA to devote portions of their extramural R&D budgets (3.2% for SBIR, 0.45% for STTR) to support small business innovation.

Who is eligible to apply?

Applicants must be U.S. small business concerns (SBCs) that:

• Are organized for profit with a U.S. place of business.

• Have ≤ 500 employees including affiliates.

• Are > 50% owned by U.S. citizens or permanent residents, qualifying U.S. entities, or combinations thereof.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

Projects that demonstrate:

• A clear unmet medical or public-health need,

• Strong scientific rationale and feasibility,

• High commercialization potential, supported by a realistic market and regulatory strategy, and

• Alignment with an NIH Institute’s or CDC/FDA Center’s specific research mission (e.g., infectious disease, digital health, diagnostics, therapeutics, or data analytics).

Competitive applicants often have an early prototype, preliminary data, and a defined path to market adoption.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

• Companies must complete multiple federal registrations (SAM.gov, Grants.gov, eRA Commons, SBA Company Registry) before applying.

• Foreign entities are not eligible.

• Disclosure of foreign affiliations and compliance with national security screening are mandatory. Currently we do not recommend any sort of foreign affiliation.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

For a first-time applicant, preparing a competitive submission will likely take 120–200 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.

Review solicitation here.

NIH Highlighted Topic: School Mental and Behavioral Health: Expanding Access to Evidence-Based Interventions and Services

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

Executive Summary:

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is encouraging innovative research focused on optimizing and testing mental and behavioral health interventions and service delivery models within school and afterschool settings. This highlighted topic aims to advance approaches that can be rapidly deployed and sustained using existing school personnel, contracted providers, and referral networks, rather than requiring extensive new infrastructure.

Schools function as de facto points of service for health promotion in many communities, and NIH is particularly interested in research that validates sustainable strategies for detecting at-risk students, matching them to appropriate interventions, and building decision-support tools to guide selection of research-informed approaches based on available resources. Projects addressing the full multitiered system of supports continuum, from universal prevention to indicated treatment, are of interest, along with strategies to promote adoption and sustained fidelity of evidence-based practices, including the judicious use of non-specialty providers to extend a stretched mental health workforce.

Areas of interest include community-engaged research addressing access barriers, workforce shortages, and privacy concerns in schools, research-practice partnerships leveraging existing infrastructure such as SAMHSA-supported behavioral health services, substance use risk screening and prevention programming for high-risk youth, nurse-led preventive interventions incorporating students' daily living conditions, sex-specific strategies for detecting and treating at-risk girls and young women, and rigorous multi-site or cluster randomized trials evaluating school-based service delivery models.

Note: as with prior topics, this is a Highlighted Topic rather than a standalone NOFO, so applicants apply through an appropriate NIH Parent Funding Announcement or other broad opportunity on Grants.gov rather than a dedicated solicitation with its own SBIR/STTR dollar figures.

This highlighted topic is supported primarily by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), with additional participation from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD), National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR), Office of Disease Prevention (ODP), and Office of Research on Women's Health (ORWH), all of which are seeking research that expands sustainable, evidence-based mental and behavioral health access in school settings.

How much funding would I receive?

Awards provide up to $323,090 for Phase I projects (up to 2 years) and $2,153,927 for Phase II projects (up to 3 years). Some topics approved by NIH may exceed these limits. Fast-Track and Phase IIB (follow-on) options allow continuous or extended funding beyond Phase II.

What could I use the funding for?

Funding may support the research, development, validation, and commercialization of technologies, clinical tools, software platforms, and evidence-based interventions related to augmentative and alternative communication (AAC).

Eligible activities may include:

• Development of speech-generating devices and AAC communication platforms

• AI and machine learning tools for adaptive communication support

• Personalized AAC assessment and recommendation systems

• Precision measurement tools for tracking communication outcomes

• Digital health platforms supporting AAC users and caregivers

• Literacy instruction technologies for AAC users

• Mobile applications supporting non-speaking and minimally verbal individuals

• Predictive analytics and communication profiling systems

• User-centered design and accessibility research for AAC technologies

• Tools supporting communication partner engagement and training

• Clinical software for AAC implementation and therapy management

• Mixed-methods research platforms for communication needs analysis

• Technologies supporting lifelong AAC adaptation and personalization

• Remote monitoring and telehealth solutions for speech and communication therapy

• Assistive technologies supporting autism, ALS, cerebral palsy, and related conditions

• Research evaluating quality-of-life and well-being outcomes for AAC users

• Prototype development, validation studies, and usability testing

• Commercialization planning and implementation strategy development

Funding may also support personnel, software development, usability studies, clinical testing, cloud infrastructure, AI model development, accessibility design, data collection, intellectual property protection, regulatory preparation, and commercialization activities necessary to advance a scalable and commercially viable AAC solution aligned with NIH priorities.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

Beyond the formal funding award, awardees gain several strategic advantages:

• Government Validation and Credibility:
  Being selected for an NIH-backed SBIR grant signals technical excellence and alignment with national health and biomedical priorities. This validation builds investor and partner confidence.

• Enhanced Visibility and Market Recognition:
  Awardees are featured in NIH and HHS announcements, helping attract partnerships, media attention, and future contracting opportunities.

• Access to the Federal Innovation Ecosystem:
  Recipients join a national network of researchers and agencies advancing life science innovation, often opening doors to collaborations with NIH laboratories and federal health programs.

• Stronger Commercial and Exit Potential:
  By maturing technology through nondilutive funding, companies strengthen valuation, de-risk commercialization, and increase attractiveness for acquisition or follow-on private investment.

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

Applications are accepted each year on January 5th, April 5th, and September 5th. Funding is received approximately 9 months after submission.

Where does this funding come from?

Funding comes from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, with statutory set-asides requiring NIH, CDC, and FDA to devote portions of their extramural R&D budgets (3.2% for SBIR, 0.45% for STTR) to support small business innovation.

Who is eligible to apply?

Applicants must be U.S. small business concerns (SBCs) that:

• Are organized for profit with a U.S. place of business.

• Have ≤ 500 employees including affiliates.

• Are > 50% owned by U.S. citizens or permanent residents, qualifying U.S. entities, or combinations thereof.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

Projects that demonstrate:

• A clear unmet medical or public-health need,

• Strong scientific rationale and feasibility,

• High commercialization potential, supported by a realistic market and regulatory strategy, and

• Alignment with an NIH Institute’s or CDC/FDA Center’s specific research mission (e.g., infectious disease, digital health, diagnostics, therapeutics, or data analytics).

Competitive applicants often have an early prototype, preliminary data, and a defined path to market adoption.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

• Companies must complete multiple federal registrations (SAM.gov, Grants.gov, eRA Commons, SBA Company Registry) before applying.

• Foreign entities are not eligible.

• Disclosure of foreign affiliations and compliance with national security screening are mandatory. Currently we do not recommend any sort of foreign affiliation.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

For a first-time applicant, preparing a competitive submission will likely take 120–200 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.

Review solicitation here.

NIH Highlighted Topic: Implementation Science to Optimize Alcohol Misuse Prevention and Treatment in the Criminal Justice System

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

Executive Summary:

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is encouraging innovative research focused on preventing alcohol misuse and treating alcohol use disorder (AUD) within the U.S. criminal justice and juvenile justice systems. This highlighted topic aims to advance prevention interventions, treatment approaches, and implementation strategies that address the under-detection and under-treatment of alcohol problems in these settings.

Criminal justice populations, including jail, parole, probation, juvenile justice, and prison populations, report elevated levels of AUD and high-risk drinking compared to the general population, often alongside co-morbid drug use disorders. NIH notes that alcohol misuse research in these settings is challenging given rapid cycling of detainees back into the community, and that individuals face a critical gap in care upon release, where relapse risk increases with renewed exposure to people, places, and things tied to substance use. NIH is particularly interested in projects that build on promising approaches such as brief motivational interviewing-based interventions and extended-release naltrexone, which require confirmation through larger, longer-duration studies combined with behavioral interventions.

Areas of interest include developing and testing brief motivational interviewing-based alcohol interventions for integration into criminal justice settings, optimizing Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) models for these populations, evaluating pre-release motivational interventions to reduce substance use and relapse risk post-release, combining motivational enhancement with cognitive behavioral therapy, building implementation strategies for care linkages as individuals return to the community, developing remote intervention technology adapted for correctional settings, and creating cost-effective prevention and treatment approaches for corrections officials themselves.

Note: as with prior topics, this is a Highlighted Topic rather than a standalone NOFO, so applicants apply through an appropriate NIH Parent Funding Announcement or other broad opportunity on Grants.gov rather than a dedicated solicitation with its own SBIR/STTR dollar figures.

This highlighted topic is supported primarily by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), with additional input from the Office of Disease Prevention (ODP), both of which are seeking implementation science that closes gaps in alcohol misuse prevention and treatment across criminal justice settings.

How much funding would I receive?

Awards provide up to $323,090 for Phase I projects (up to 2 years) and $2,153,927 for Phase II projects (up to 3 years). Some topics approved by NIH may exceed these limits. Fast-Track and Phase IIB (follow-on) options allow continuous or extended funding beyond Phase II.

What could I use the funding for?

Funding may support the research, development, validation, and commercialization of technologies, clinical tools, software platforms, and evidence-based interventions related to augmentative and alternative communication (AAC).

Eligible activities may include:

• Development of speech-generating devices and AAC communication platforms

• AI and machine learning tools for adaptive communication support

• Personalized AAC assessment and recommendation systems

• Precision measurement tools for tracking communication outcomes

• Digital health platforms supporting AAC users and caregivers

• Literacy instruction technologies for AAC users

• Mobile applications supporting non-speaking and minimally verbal individuals

• Predictive analytics and communication profiling systems

• User-centered design and accessibility research for AAC technologies

• Tools supporting communication partner engagement and training

• Clinical software for AAC implementation and therapy management

• Mixed-methods research platforms for communication needs analysis

• Technologies supporting lifelong AAC adaptation and personalization

• Remote monitoring and telehealth solutions for speech and communication therapy

• Assistive technologies supporting autism, ALS, cerebral palsy, and related conditions

• Research evaluating quality-of-life and well-being outcomes for AAC users

• Prototype development, validation studies, and usability testing

• Commercialization planning and implementation strategy development

Funding may also support personnel, software development, usability studies, clinical testing, cloud infrastructure, AI model development, accessibility design, data collection, intellectual property protection, regulatory preparation, and commercialization activities necessary to advance a scalable and commercially viable AAC solution aligned with NIH priorities.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

Beyond the formal funding award, awardees gain several strategic advantages:

• Government Validation and Credibility:
  Being selected for an NIH-backed SBIR grant signals technical excellence and alignment with national health and biomedical priorities. This validation builds investor and partner confidence.

• Enhanced Visibility and Market Recognition:
  Awardees are featured in NIH and HHS announcements, helping attract partnerships, media attention, and future contracting opportunities.

• Access to the Federal Innovation Ecosystem:
  Recipients join a national network of researchers and agencies advancing life science innovation, often opening doors to collaborations with NIH laboratories and federal health programs.

• Stronger Commercial and Exit Potential:
  By maturing technology through nondilutive funding, companies strengthen valuation, de-risk commercialization, and increase attractiveness for acquisition or follow-on private investment.

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

Applications are accepted each year on January 5th, April 5th, and September 5th. Funding is received approximately 9 months after submission.

Where does this funding come from?

Funding comes from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, with statutory set-asides requiring NIH, CDC, and FDA to devote portions of their extramural R&D budgets (3.2% for SBIR, 0.45% for STTR) to support small business innovation.

Who is eligible to apply?

Applicants must be U.S. small business concerns (SBCs) that:

• Are organized for profit with a U.S. place of business.

• Have ≤ 500 employees including affiliates.

• Are > 50% owned by U.S. citizens or permanent residents, qualifying U.S. entities, or combinations thereof.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

Projects that demonstrate:

• A clear unmet medical or public-health need,

• Strong scientific rationale and feasibility,

• High commercialization potential, supported by a realistic market and regulatory strategy, and

• Alignment with an NIH Institute’s or CDC/FDA Center’s specific research mission (e.g., infectious disease, digital health, diagnostics, therapeutics, or data analytics).

Competitive applicants often have an early prototype, preliminary data, and a defined path to market adoption.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

• Companies must complete multiple federal registrations (SAM.gov, Grants.gov, eRA Commons, SBA Company Registry) before applying.

• Foreign entities are not eligible.

• Disclosure of foreign affiliations and compliance with national security screening are mandatory. Currently we do not recommend any sort of foreign affiliation.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

For a first-time applicant, preparing a competitive submission will likely take 120–200 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.

Review solicitation here.

NIH Highlighted Topic: Increasing Engagement in Treatment for Behavioral Health

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

Executive Summary:

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is encouraging innovative research focused on increasing engagement with treatment among individuals with psychiatric disorders, particularly conditions with significant treatment gaps. This highlighted topic aims to advance outreach strategies, care design, and access improvements that help patients both initiate and sustain evidence-based treatment.

Psychiatric disorders affect an estimated 1-20% of the U.S. population depending on diagnosis, yet the majority of affected individuals never receive specific treatment, worsening prognosis and increasing burden on individuals and communities. Alcohol use disorder illustrates this gap starkly, impacting roughly 10% of U.S. adults while fewer than 20% receive treatment, and NIH notes that many psychiatric conditions have lengthy prodromal phases that offer a window for preventive intervention before severe disease onset. NIH is particularly interested in projects that address not just initial engagement but sustained retention in care, given high dropout rates for chronic mental illness.

Areas of interest include qualitative research and provider education to identify best practices for treatment engagement, screening and brief intervention models embedded in general mental health settings, digital and telehealth interventions for alcohol-related and co-occurring disorders, integration of complementary and integrative health approaches into primary care for mild-to-moderate symptoms, implementation-effectiveness studies of integrated care models, and AI- and technology-based approaches to reach rural, underserved, and high-risk youth populations.

Note: as with prior topics, this is a Highlighted Topic rather than a standalone NOFO, so applicants apply through an appropriate NIH Parent Funding Announcement or other broad opportunity on Grants.gov rather than a dedicated solicitation with its own SBIR/STTR dollar figures.

This highlighted topic is supported primarily by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), with additional behavioral and social science input from the Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (OBSSR), all of which are seeking strategies to close persistent gaps in behavioral health treatment engagement.

How much funding would I receive?

Awards provide up to $323,090 for Phase I projects (up to 2 years) and $2,153,927 for Phase II projects (up to 3 years). Some topics approved by NIH may exceed these limits. Fast-Track and Phase IIB (follow-on) options allow continuous or extended funding beyond Phase II.

What could I use the funding for?

Funding may support the research, development, validation, and commercialization of technologies, clinical tools, software platforms, and evidence-based interventions related to augmentative and alternative communication (AAC).

Eligible activities may include:

• Development of speech-generating devices and AAC communication platforms

• AI and machine learning tools for adaptive communication support

• Personalized AAC assessment and recommendation systems

• Precision measurement tools for tracking communication outcomes

• Digital health platforms supporting AAC users and caregivers

• Literacy instruction technologies for AAC users

• Mobile applications supporting non-speaking and minimally verbal individuals

• Predictive analytics and communication profiling systems

• User-centered design and accessibility research for AAC technologies

• Tools supporting communication partner engagement and training

• Clinical software for AAC implementation and therapy management

• Mixed-methods research platforms for communication needs analysis

• Technologies supporting lifelong AAC adaptation and personalization

• Remote monitoring and telehealth solutions for speech and communication therapy

• Assistive technologies supporting autism, ALS, cerebral palsy, and related conditions

• Research evaluating quality-of-life and well-being outcomes for AAC users

• Prototype development, validation studies, and usability testing

• Commercialization planning and implementation strategy development

Funding may also support personnel, software development, usability studies, clinical testing, cloud infrastructure, AI model development, accessibility design, data collection, intellectual property protection, regulatory preparation, and commercialization activities necessary to advance a scalable and commercially viable AAC solution aligned with NIH priorities.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

Beyond the formal funding award, awardees gain several strategic advantages:

• Government Validation and Credibility:
  Being selected for an NIH-backed SBIR grant signals technical excellence and alignment with national health and biomedical priorities. This validation builds investor and partner confidence.

• Enhanced Visibility and Market Recognition:
  Awardees are featured in NIH and HHS announcements, helping attract partnerships, media attention, and future contracting opportunities.

• Access to the Federal Innovation Ecosystem:
  Recipients join a national network of researchers and agencies advancing life science innovation, often opening doors to collaborations with NIH laboratories and federal health programs.

• Stronger Commercial and Exit Potential:
  By maturing technology through nondilutive funding, companies strengthen valuation, de-risk commercialization, and increase attractiveness for acquisition or follow-on private investment.

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

Applications are accepted each year on January 5th, April 5th, and September 5th. Funding is received approximately 9 months after submission.

Where does this funding come from?

Funding comes from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, with statutory set-asides requiring NIH, CDC, and FDA to devote portions of their extramural R&D budgets (3.2% for SBIR, 0.45% for STTR) to support small business innovation.

Who is eligible to apply?

Applicants must be U.S. small business concerns (SBCs) that:

• Are organized for profit with a U.S. place of business.

• Have ≤ 500 employees including affiliates.

• Are > 50% owned by U.S. citizens or permanent residents, qualifying U.S. entities, or combinations thereof.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

Projects that demonstrate:

• A clear unmet medical or public-health need,

• Strong scientific rationale and feasibility,

• High commercialization potential, supported by a realistic market and regulatory strategy, and

• Alignment with an NIH Institute’s or CDC/FDA Center’s specific research mission (e.g., infectious disease, digital health, diagnostics, therapeutics, or data analytics).

Competitive applicants often have an early prototype, preliminary data, and a defined path to market adoption.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

• Companies must complete multiple federal registrations (SAM.gov, Grants.gov, eRA Commons, SBA Company Registry) before applying.

• Foreign entities are not eligible.

• Disclosure of foreign affiliations and compliance with national security screening are mandatory. Currently we do not recommend any sort of foreign affiliation.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

For a first-time applicant, preparing a competitive submission will likely take 120–200 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.

Review solicitation here.

NIH Highlighted Topic: Characterizing Indoor Exposures to Advance Exposome Research

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

Executive Summary:

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is encouraging innovative research focused on characterizing indoor environmental exposures as a critical, understudied component of the human exposome. This highlighted topic aims to advance exposure detection technologies, measurement tools, and biomarkers that improve understanding of how indoor pollutants and conditions contribute to overall exposure and health burden across the lifespan.

People spend 80-90% of their time indoors on average, making indoor environments a primary determinant of total exposure, yet thousands of contaminants from building materials, furnishings, cleaning products, and biological sources like mold remain difficult to assess with existing tools. NIH is particularly interested in projects that address the complex mixture effects, secondary chemical reaction products, and multiple exposure sources that current single-pollutant studies fail to capture.

Areas of interest include developing novel biomarkers and personal monitoring devices for indoor exposure assessment, characterizing the chemical and biological composition of indoor exposure mixtures across residential, school, work, and mixed-use settings, understanding how combined indoor exposures and chemical reactions shape the exposome's impact on health, and developing measurement metrics to evaluate interventions such as HEPA filtration.

Note: as with the RNA metabolism topic, this is a Highlighted Topic rather than a standalone NOFO, so applicants apply through an appropriate NIH Parent Funding Announcement or other broad opportunity on Grants.gov rather than a dedicated solicitation with its own SBIR/STTR dollar figures.

This highlighted topic is supported primarily by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), which is seeking innovative exposure assessment technologies and biomarker-driven strategies to better understand and manage indoor exposure's contribution to human health outcomes.

How much funding would I receive?

Awards provide up to $323,090 for Phase I projects (up to 2 years) and $2,153,927 for Phase II projects (up to 3 years). Some topics approved by NIH may exceed these limits. Fast-Track and Phase IIB (follow-on) options allow continuous or extended funding beyond Phase II.

What could I use the funding for?

Funding may support the research, development, validation, and commercialization of technologies, clinical tools, software platforms, and evidence-based interventions related to augmentative and alternative communication (AAC).

Eligible activities may include:

• Development of speech-generating devices and AAC communication platforms

• AI and machine learning tools for adaptive communication support

• Personalized AAC assessment and recommendation systems

• Precision measurement tools for tracking communication outcomes

• Digital health platforms supporting AAC users and caregivers

• Literacy instruction technologies for AAC users

• Mobile applications supporting non-speaking and minimally verbal individuals

• Predictive analytics and communication profiling systems

• User-centered design and accessibility research for AAC technologies

• Tools supporting communication partner engagement and training

• Clinical software for AAC implementation and therapy management

• Mixed-methods research platforms for communication needs analysis

• Technologies supporting lifelong AAC adaptation and personalization

• Remote monitoring and telehealth solutions for speech and communication therapy

• Assistive technologies supporting autism, ALS, cerebral palsy, and related conditions

• Research evaluating quality-of-life and well-being outcomes for AAC users

• Prototype development, validation studies, and usability testing

• Commercialization planning and implementation strategy development

Funding may also support personnel, software development, usability studies, clinical testing, cloud infrastructure, AI model development, accessibility design, data collection, intellectual property protection, regulatory preparation, and commercialization activities necessary to advance a scalable and commercially viable AAC solution aligned with NIH priorities.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

Beyond the formal funding award, awardees gain several strategic advantages:

• Government Validation and Credibility:
  Being selected for an NIH-backed SBIR grant signals technical excellence and alignment with national health and biomedical priorities. This validation builds investor and partner confidence.

• Enhanced Visibility and Market Recognition:
  Awardees are featured in NIH and HHS announcements, helping attract partnerships, media attention, and future contracting opportunities.

• Access to the Federal Innovation Ecosystem:
  Recipients join a national network of researchers and agencies advancing life science innovation, often opening doors to collaborations with NIH laboratories and federal health programs.

• Stronger Commercial and Exit Potential:
  By maturing technology through nondilutive funding, companies strengthen valuation, de-risk commercialization, and increase attractiveness for acquisition or follow-on private investment.

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

Applications are accepted each year on January 5th, April 5th, and September 5th. Funding is received approximately 9 months after submission.

Where does this funding come from?

Funding comes from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, with statutory set-asides requiring NIH, CDC, and FDA to devote portions of their extramural R&D budgets (3.2% for SBIR, 0.45% for STTR) to support small business innovation.

Who is eligible to apply?

Applicants must be U.S. small business concerns (SBCs) that:

• Are organized for profit with a U.S. place of business.

• Have ≤ 500 employees including affiliates.

• Are > 50% owned by U.S. citizens or permanent residents, qualifying U.S. entities, or combinations thereof.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

Projects that demonstrate:

• A clear unmet medical or public-health need,

• Strong scientific rationale and feasibility,

• High commercialization potential, supported by a realistic market and regulatory strategy, and

• Alignment with an NIH Institute’s or CDC/FDA Center’s specific research mission (e.g., infectious disease, digital health, diagnostics, therapeutics, or data analytics).

Competitive applicants often have an early prototype, preliminary data, and a defined path to market adoption.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

• Companies must complete multiple federal registrations (SAM.gov, Grants.gov, eRA Commons, SBA Company Registry) before applying.

• Foreign entities are not eligible.

• Disclosure of foreign affiliations and compliance with national security screening are mandatory. Currently we do not recommend any sort of foreign affiliation.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

For a first-time applicant, preparing a competitive submission will likely take 120–200 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.

Review solicitation here.

NIH Highlighted Topic: RNA Metabolism in Aging and Healthy Lifespan

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

Executive Summary:

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is encouraging innovative research focused on understanding the molecular mechanisms by which RNA metabolism influences aging and aging-related diseases. This highlighted topic aims to advance studies on RNA editing, alternative splicing, and RNA modification, and how these processes drive cellular deterioration, disease etiology, and biomarker discovery for age-related conditions.

RNA metabolism governs how genetic information moves from DNA to functional protein, and NIH notes that over 170 distinct post-transcriptional chemical modifications have been identified in cellular RNAs, each shaping RNA function in different ways. NIH is particularly interested in projects that leverage cutting-edge sequencing and RNA modification detection technologies to dissect the complexity and specificity of aging processes, including in populations affected by substance use.

Areas of interest include characterizing RNA metabolism changes associated with aging and aging-related diseases, determining causal roles of RNA changes in aging or disease etiology, identifying reliable RNA-based biomarkers of aging, discovering therapeutic targets among "non-druggable" proteins via their RNA regulators, and elucidating RNA-mediated mechanisms linking aging, drug use, and comorbidities such as HIV infection and polysubstance use.

This highlighted topic is supported primarily by the National Institute on Aging (NIA) and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), both of which are seeking research that identifies mechanistic, biomarker, and therapeutic insights into how RNA metabolism shapes aging and age-related disease.

How much funding would I receive?

Awards provide up to $323,090 for Phase I projects (up to 2 years) and $2,153,927 for Phase II projects (up to 3 years). Some topics approved by NIH may exceed these limits. Fast-Track and Phase IIB (follow-on) options allow continuous or extended funding beyond Phase II.

What could I use the funding for?

Funding may support the research, development, validation, and commercialization of technologies, clinical tools, software platforms, and evidence-based interventions related to augmentative and alternative communication (AAC).

Eligible activities may include:

• Development of speech-generating devices and AAC communication platforms

• AI and machine learning tools for adaptive communication support

• Personalized AAC assessment and recommendation systems

• Precision measurement tools for tracking communication outcomes

• Digital health platforms supporting AAC users and caregivers

• Literacy instruction technologies for AAC users

• Mobile applications supporting non-speaking and minimally verbal individuals

• Predictive analytics and communication profiling systems

• User-centered design and accessibility research for AAC technologies

• Tools supporting communication partner engagement and training

• Clinical software for AAC implementation and therapy management

• Mixed-methods research platforms for communication needs analysis

• Technologies supporting lifelong AAC adaptation and personalization

• Remote monitoring and telehealth solutions for speech and communication therapy

• Assistive technologies supporting autism, ALS, cerebral palsy, and related conditions

• Research evaluating quality-of-life and well-being outcomes for AAC users

• Prototype development, validation studies, and usability testing

• Commercialization planning and implementation strategy development

Funding may also support personnel, software development, usability studies, clinical testing, cloud infrastructure, AI model development, accessibility design, data collection, intellectual property protection, regulatory preparation, and commercialization activities necessary to advance a scalable and commercially viable AAC solution aligned with NIH priorities.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

Beyond the formal funding award, awardees gain several strategic advantages:

• Government Validation and Credibility:
  Being selected for an NIH-backed SBIR grant signals technical excellence and alignment with national health and biomedical priorities. This validation builds investor and partner confidence.

• Enhanced Visibility and Market Recognition:
  Awardees are featured in NIH and HHS announcements, helping attract partnerships, media attention, and future contracting opportunities.

• Access to the Federal Innovation Ecosystem:
  Recipients join a national network of researchers and agencies advancing life science innovation, often opening doors to collaborations with NIH laboratories and federal health programs.

• Stronger Commercial and Exit Potential:
  By maturing technology through nondilutive funding, companies strengthen valuation, de-risk commercialization, and increase attractiveness for acquisition or follow-on private investment.

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

Applications are accepted each year on January 5th, April 5th, and September 5th. Funding is received approximately 9 months after submission.

Where does this funding come from?

Funding comes from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, with statutory set-asides requiring NIH, CDC, and FDA to devote portions of their extramural R&D budgets (3.2% for SBIR, 0.45% for STTR) to support small business innovation.

Who is eligible to apply?

Applicants must be U.S. small business concerns (SBCs) that:

• Are organized for profit with a U.S. place of business.

• Have ≤ 500 employees including affiliates.

• Are > 50% owned by U.S. citizens or permanent residents, qualifying U.S. entities, or combinations thereof.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

Projects that demonstrate:

• A clear unmet medical or public-health need,

• Strong scientific rationale and feasibility,

• High commercialization potential, supported by a realistic market and regulatory strategy, and

• Alignment with an NIH Institute’s or CDC/FDA Center’s specific research mission (e.g., infectious disease, digital health, diagnostics, therapeutics, or data analytics).

Competitive applicants often have an early prototype, preliminary data, and a defined path to market adoption.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

• Companies must complete multiple federal registrations (SAM.gov, Grants.gov, eRA Commons, SBA Company Registry) before applying.

• Foreign entities are not eligible.

• Disclosure of foreign affiliations and compliance with national security screening are mandatory. Currently we do not recommend any sort of foreign affiliation.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

For a first-time applicant, preparing a competitive submission will likely take 120–200 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.

Review solicitation here.

Domestic Production for Military-Critical Cylindrical Cells Request for Project Proposals | DIBC | RPP-BES-26-01

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

Executive Summary:

Companies developing domestic battery manufacturing capabilities should strongly consider this opportunity. The Defense Industrial Base Consortium (DIBC), on behalf of the Office of the Under Secretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment (OUSW(A&S)) Industrial Base Policy (IBP) office, is seeking prototype projects that strengthen U.S. battery supply chains in two critical areas:

1. Domestic production of military-critical 18650 and 21700 lithium-ion cells.

2. Modernization and automation of U.S.-based Silver-Zinc battery production facilities.

The Government is specifically seeking projects that reduce dependence on Foreign Entities of Concern (FEOC), establish resilient domestic manufacturing capabilities, and support national security requirements. Phase I submissions are due no later than July 17, 2026 12:00 PM ET.

How much funding would I receive?

Awards typically range from $500,000 to $5 million. Proposers are required to submit pricing information and propose a total price for their project solution. The Government anticipates fixed-price agreements but may negotiate other award structures.

What could I use the funding for?

Funding is intended to support prototype projects aligned with one of two Areas of Interest (AOIs).

AOI 1: Domestic Production of 18650/21700 Lithium-Ion Cells

(Requirement ID: BES-RPP-BES-26-01-001)

This AOI seeks to establish an initial domestic prototype manufacturing line for 18650 and 21700 format Li-ion cells. The objective is to create a sustainable, commercially viable production capability that meets DoD performance requirements while minimizing reliance on Foreign Entities of Concern (FEOC). Successful solutions will demonstrate a credible plan to produce cells that meet the technical specifications outlined below utilizing secure domestic supply chains.

Requirements for AOI 1 Lithium-Ion Cells

Solutions for AOI 1 must address a plan to produce 18650 and/or 21700 cells that meet the following requirements:

• Technical Specifications
• Production Line and Commercial Viability
• Safety and Certification
• Supply Chain

Technical Specifications

Energy Density (Wh/kg)

• 21700 Threshold: 270 Wh/kg
• 21700 Objective: 340 Wh/kg
• 18650 Threshold: 260 Wh/kg
• 18650 Objective: 330 Wh/kg

Notes: At standard conditions, room temperature, ½ C rate.

Energy Density (Wh/L)

• 21700 Threshold: 700 Wh/L
• 21700 Objective: 850 Wh/L
• 18650 Threshold: 680 Wh/L
• 18650 Objective: 780 Wh/L

Discharge Rate Capability (continuous/pulse)

• 21700 Threshold: 3C / 5C
• 21700 Objective: 5C / 10C
• 18650 Threshold: 1.5C / 5C
• 18650 Objective: 3C / 10C

Notes: Objective values measured at 20°C.

Cycle Life

• Threshold: 300 cycles
• Objective: 1000 cycles

Notes: ½ C charge, 1 C discharge for energy design to 80% BOL.

Storage Temperature

• Threshold: -30°C to 55°C
• Objective: -40°C to 70°C

Notes: At 100% SOC.

Operating Temperature

Threshold:

• Charge: 0°C to 55°C
• Discharge: -20°C to 55°C

Objective:

• Charge: -20°C to 60°C
• Discharge: -30°C to 60°C

Notes: Charge rate below 0°C may be reduced.

Capacity Delivered at -20°C

• Threshold: 50%
• Objective: 80%

Notes: At 1 C.

Annual Self-Discharge Rate

• Threshold: 5%
• Objective: Less than 3%

Notes: At 20°C.

Zero Volt Capability

• Threshold: No capability
• Objective: Some capability

Notes: Refers to ability for 0V storage with limited or no lifetime/performance impacts.

Cell Internal Resistance

• Threshold: 35 mΩ
• Objective: Less than 25 mΩ

Notes: At 20°C and 100% SOC.

Production Line & Commercial Viability Requirements

• Production Capacity: Demonstrate a path to achieve a minimum annual production capacity of 50 MWh for 18650 or 21700 cells within two years after award, with an objective target of scaling to 3 GWh.

• Flexibility: Describe the line's ability to cross produce both 18650 and 21700 formats.

• Commercial Viability: Include a viable business plan demonstrating the commercial marketability of the battery cells to ensure long-term sustainability of the production line.

• Cell Price: Demonstrate a clear path to achieve cost parity with high-energy Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) cells by 2030.

Safety & Certification Requirements

• Cell Level: Cells must be designed to be compliant with UL 1642 and comparable to modern COTS cells, incorporating safety features such as a cell vent and Current Interrupt Device (CID). The objective is to achieve safety performance better than high-energy COTS cells.

• Pack Level: Describe how cells will support integration into battery packs that meet UL 2054 requirements.

• Transportation: Cells must be designed to pass UN/DOT 38.3 transportation testing.

• MIL-STD-810 environmental testing for UAS batteries.

• Demonstrated fail-safe features and thermal runaway prevention for battery packs.

Supply Chain Security Requirements

Manufacturing Equipment

• Threshold: A minimum of 50% of manufacturing equipment (by value) must be secured from non-FEOC sources.

• Objective: 100% of equipment to be from non-FEOC sources.

Cell Components

Detail a plan to meet the following domestic content thresholds for electrode active materials:

• Threshold: Meet domestic content requirements as defined by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).

• Objective: Achieve greater than 95% of electrode active material within each cell, by value, from sources compliant with FEOC restrictions as defined in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), Section 40207(a)(5).

AOI 2: Modernization of Silver-Zinc (Ag-Zn) Battery Production

(Requirement ID: BES-RPP-BES-26-01-002)

This AOI seeks to modernize and automate a U.S.-based Silver-Zinc battery prototype production facility. The objective is to create a reliable, efficient, and high-yield production source capable of meeting the stringent quality and volume demands for batteries used in critical strategic systems (such as the TRIDENT II and Minuteman III).

Requirements for AOI 2 Silver-Zinc Modernization

Solutions for AOI 2 must detail a credible, economically viable plan to modernize and automate a U.S.-based Silver-Zinc battery production facility.

Technical and Modernization Requirements

• Throughput & Efficiency: The proposed solution must demonstrate how automation and process controls will reduce battery activation and testing cycle times by at least 30% compared to current industry performance levels.

• Process Yield: The proposal must detail improvements to the zinc plate deposition and positive formation processes to increase the first-pass yield of defect-free plates to over 99%.

• Advanced Manufacturing: The proposal must include a plan to prototype and test an additively manufactured (3D-printed) battery case or internal support structure that achieves one of the following:

• Reduces component weight by at least 15%, or

• Increases internal volume for active materials by 10%.

The new component must not compromise structural integrity under relevant shock and vibration standards.

• Infrastructure & Workforce: The proposal must outline a plan to modernize critical manufacturing infrastructure and establish a robust training program to cultivate a skilled workforce.

Special Considerations

• Anticipated Security Level: Unclassified; however, Controlled Technical Information and/or Controlled Unclassified Information may be required.

• Environmental Questionnaire: All respondents will complete and submit an Environmental Questionnaire.

• Disclose any/all Foreign Investment or Control.

• Resource sharing for any proposed project.

• Anticipated Data Rights: Data rights may be negotiated on a case-by-case basis. The Government seeks to protect commercial IP while ensuring DoW’s ability to maintain supply chain visibility.

• Supply chain information for suppliers and subcontractors that includes supply chain data of components relevant to the completion of this prototype.

Consortium Members shall:

• Collect, document, and report supply chain data including data from subcontractors.

Data shall include the following:

1. Vendor name

2. Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) and/or Unique Entity Identification (UEID) code(s), if applicable

3. Part/product and descriptions to include as applicable:

a. Purchaser part number

b. Vendor part number

c. Description of if the part/product is connected to a higher or lower-level part

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

Potential benefits include:

• Access to a DIBC Other Transaction (OT) award structure rather than a traditional FAR-based contract.

• Eligibility for follow-on production opportunities if the prototype project is successfully completed.

• Potential consideration for additional Government financial tools and incentives, including equity investments, SAFE agreements, convertible notes, revenue-sharing agreements, offtake agreements, loans, loan guarantees, and purchase commitments.

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

Key dates:

• RPP Release Date: June 22, 2026

• Questions Due Date: June 29, 2026 12:00 PM ET

• Phase I Submission Due Date: July 17, 2026 12:00 PM ET

The solicitation uses a two-phase competitive down-select process:

Phase 1:

• Quad Chart submission.

Phase 2:

• Selected applicants may be invited to submit a full proposal package.

The solicitation does not specify award announcement dates, negotiation timelines, project start dates, or expected funding disbursement dates.

The Phase I submission deadline is July 17, 2026 12:00 PM ET.

Where does this funding come from?

This opportunity originates from the Office of the Under Secretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment (OUSW(A&S)) Industrial Base Policy (IBP) office. The project is being executed through the Defense Industrial Base Consortium (DIBC) and administered through Washington Headquarters Services Acquisition Directorate (WHS/AD).

Projects are expected to align with:

• Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment (IBAS) authorities.

• Defense Production Act Title III authorities.

Who is eligible to apply?

The solicitation is open to DIBC Consortium Members.

Additional eligibility-related requirements include:

• Registration in the System for Award Management (SAM).

• Responsibility determination by the Agreements Officer.

• Disclosure of any foreign investment or control.

• Compliance with applicable prototype OT authority requirements.

For prototype authority eligibility, proposed projects must satisfy at least one of the following:

• Significant participation by at least one Nontraditional Defense Contractor (NDC).

• Significant participation by at least one Nonprofit Research Institution (NRI).

• Complete participation by a small business.

• Resource contribution of at least one-third by consortium members other than those categories.

Who is not eligible to apply?

Applicants may be ineligible if they:

• Are suspended or debarred by the Federal Government.

• Are prohibited by Presidential Executive Order or law from receiving an award.

• Fail to meet DIBC Consortium membership requirements.

• Fail to satisfy statutory requirements for prototype OT authority.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

Based on the stated evaluation criteria, competitive projects will likely:

For AOI 1:

• Demonstrate a credible path to domestic 18650 and/or 21700 cell production.

• Meet or exceed technical performance requirements.

• Establish secure domestic supply chains.

• Reduce reliance on FEOCs.

• Present a viable commercial business case.

• Demonstrate scalability toward meaningful production capacity.

For AOI 2:

• Deliver measurable automation and modernization improvements.

• Improve throughput and yield.

• Modernize critical manufacturing infrastructure.

• Develop workforce training capabilities.

• Demonstrate economically viable modernization plans.

Across both AOIs, the Government will evaluate:

• Relevance to the AOI.

• Technical merit and feasibility.

• Schedule realism.

• Cost reasonableness.

• Data rights considerations.

• Compliance with the definition of a prototype project.

How competitive will this solicitation be?

The solicitation appears likely to be highly competitive.

Reasons include:

• A two-phase down-select process.

• Evaluation focused on technical feasibility, schedule, cost, and prototype merit.

• Government discretion to decline proposals that fail any evaluation criterion.

• No guarantee of award even for technically acceptable submissions.

The solicitation does not specify the anticipated number of awards, expected applicant volume, or success rates.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

Key restrictions and requirements include:

• Submissions must be made electronically through the ATI Acquisition Management Portal.

• Classified information may not be submitted.

• Any CUI must comply with NIST SP 800-171 requirements.

• Environmental questionnaires are mandatory.

• Foreign investment and control disclosures are required.

• Certain DIBC agreement terms and conditions are non-negotiable.

• Supply chain reporting requirements apply to suppliers and subcontractors.

• Applicants must use mandatory templates provided by the Government.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

The solicitation does not estimate proposal preparation effort.

Applicants should plan for a two-phase process:

Phase 1:

• Quad Chart submission.

Phase 2 (invitation only):

• Cover Page.

• Project Execution Plan.

• Pricing Package.

• Affirmation of Business Status Certification.

• Environmental Assessment Questionnaire.

• End User License Agreement (if applicable).

• Conflict of Interest Disclosure.

Given the technical, manufacturing, pricing, supply chain, environmental, and compliance requirements, applicants should expect a substantial preparation effort. The solicitation does not specify a recommended preparation timeline.

How can BW&CO help?

BW&CO can help your team:

• Assess fit against AOI 1 or AOI 2 requirements.

• Develop a winning Quad Chart for Phase 1.

• Build a compliant Project Execution Plan.

• Strengthen commercialization and manufacturing scale-up narratives.

• Develop pricing justification and milestone structures.

• Prepare environmental and supply-chain documentation.

• Manage proposal strategy, reviews, and submission coordination.

Review the solicitation here.

Farseer: Quantum Sensing for ISR - HQ0034-20-9-DIU

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

Executive Summary:

The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) is seeking mature quantum sensing and timing technologies through its Farseer program to rapidly transition commercial quantum capabilities into operational Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) applications for the Department of War (DoW). The program focuses on four Lines of Effort (LoEs): magnetometers, gravimeters, portable clocks, and enabling component technologies. Solutions must demonstrate prototype readiness, a clear transition path to operational deployment, and a minimum Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 4. Vendors may submit one solution brief per LoE and may apply to multiple LoEs. Responses are due by 2026-07-10 23:59:59 US/Eastern Time. Companies with mature quantum technologies that can be demonstrated in operational environments within three to nine months of award should strongly consider applying.

How much funding would I receive?

The solicitation does not specify award amounts but typically awards from DIU range from $500,000 to about $5 million.

What could I use the funding for?

Funding may support prototype projects related to:

• Quantum magnetometers for ISR applications.

• Scalar absolute gravimeters and single-component gravity gradiometers.

• Portable quantum clocks for Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT), resilient communications, and coherent sensor networks.

• Component technologies that reduce Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP) or improve manufacturability of quantum sensing and timing systems.

• Prototyping, manufacturing, integration, field testing, ruggedization, and operational demonstrations of qualifying technologies.

• Agile development activities and iterative technology insertions throughout the program lifecycle.

Lines of Efforts (LoE):

LoE 1: Magnetometers

The DoW seeks commercial solutions to prototype magnetometers for strategic ISR needs. Magnetometers detecting signals above 100 Hz are of potential interest, with solutions expected to operate in specific frequency ranges that are relevant to targeted DoW and commercial applications.

LoE 2: Gravimeters

The DoW seeks commercial solutions to prototype scalar absolute gravimeters and single-component gravity gradiometers for warfighter needs suitable for static, low-dynamics (e.g., maritime), or high-dynamics (e.g., airborne) contexts. Representative operational metrics are provided in Tables 2-4 based on potential applications in each context. Submissions should specify expected sensor performance in targeted DoW and commercial applications. Example commercial applications include mineral surveying, oil & gas field monitoring, and detection of sink holes or underground voids.

LoE 3: Portable Clocks

The DoW seeks commercial solutions that progress prototyping, manufacturing, integration, and field testing of portable clocks for warfighter needs that achieve the operational metrics given in Table 3. Submissions may propose solutions focused on (a) scaling clock manufacturing, or (b) integration of existing prototypes into new and legacy platforms. Platforms of relevance include Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) capabilities, resilient communications, as well as coherent sensor network applications. For the latter category of submissions, solutions may optionally focus on ruggedization of existing prototypes to military specifications and hardware/software interfaces that enable fusion of portable clock outputs with existing timing infrastructure on DoW platforms. System integration submitters can assume tactical clock RF outputs of 10 MHz, 100 MHz and 1 PPS, with the SWaP metrics indicated in Table 5.

LoE 4: Component Technologies

The DoW seeks commercial solutions to reduce the SWaP and improve the manufacturability of the current generation of quantum platforms described in LoEs 1-3 or less mature but relevant quantum sensors for ISR applications such as Rydberg electric field sensors. Maturation of components such as chip-scale lasers, micro-optics, photonic integrated circuits, cryogenics, and vapor cells that are necessary to enable operational utility of quantum sensors and clocks.

Compelling solutions will have one or more of the following characteristics:

• Clear insertion pathway to quantum sensor or clock technical solutions, which may occur in mid-course development spirals. 

• Modular and broad applicability to multiple types of quantum platforms.

• Production that can scale to mature manufacturing/microfabrication processes involving trusted manufacturers/foundries, if they are not already mature.

• Contributes to quantum supply chain robustness.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

Potential benefits include:

• Opportunity to demonstrate technology in operational military environments.

• Participation in a multi-phase program that includes functional and operational demonstrations.

• Potential integration with Department of War mission partners.

• Eligibility for award through an Other Transaction (OT) agreement under 10 U.S.C. 4022.

• Potential direct award of follow-on production contracts or transactions without further competition upon successful completion of a prototype effort.

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

Application deadline: 2026-07-10 23:59:59 US/Eastern Time.

The solicitation follows a three-phase process:

1. Solution Brief submission.

2. Pitch session for selected companies.

3. Full proposal submission for companies invited to continue.

DIU states it will strive to notify companies within approximately 30 days if it is interested in learning more through a pitch. The solicitation does not specify award dates, contracting timelines, or funding disbursement dates. Prototype periods of performance may not exceed 24 months.

Where does this funding come from?

The opportunity is offered by the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) on behalf of the Department of War through the Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) process. Any resulting agreements will be awarded under Other Transactions Authority (OTA) pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 4022.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants include:

• U.S. vendors.

• International vendors.

• Vendors applying independently or collaboratively.

• Vendors that currently have or previously had contracts with DIU.

• Traditional defense contractors.

• Nontraditional defense contractors.

• Nonprofit research institutions, where otherwise eligible under OTA requirements.

• Companies proposing solutions with a minimum current TRL of 4.

Who is not eligible to apply?

The solicitation states that:

• Solutions below TRL 4 are not eligible.

• Projects with periods of performance longer than 24 months are not eligible.

• Respondents must be eligible to receive an award under 10 U.S.C. 4022.

• Companies that are suspended, debarred, prohibited by law, or otherwise determined ineligible for federal award may not receive an agreement.

No additional eligibility exclusions are explicitly specified.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

Based on the stated evaluation criteria and desired solution attributes, competitive projects are likely to demonstrate:

• Mature prototypes ready for operational testing within three to nine months after award.

• Clear transition pathways to operational deployment within two to three years.

• Improvements in sensitivity and SWaP beyond current state-of-the-art solutions.

• Strong technical merit and feasibility.

• Open Systems Architecture and Sensor Open Systems Architecture (SOSA) alignment where applicable.

• Evidence of manufacturability, scalability, and supply chain robustness.

• Previous laboratory, field, defense, or commercial testing results.

• Dual-use commercial market potential.

• Clear insertion pathways into military ISR applications.

• Unique, innovative, or underutilized technologies relevant to the stated mission needs.How competitive will this solicitation be?

ONR plans to fund approximately five to six awards, indicating a limited number of available selections.

The solicitation does not specify the expected number of applicants, historical success rates, or anticipated competition levels.

How competitive will this solicitation be?

The solicitation is expected to be competitive.

DIU states that it routinely receives more solution briefs than it has resources to award and that only a select group of submissions will be invited to pitch. Solution briefs are evaluated on relevance to the Area of Interest, technical merit, feasibility, innovation, and company viability.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

Key restrictions include:

• Vendors may submit no more than one solution brief per Line of Effort.

• Solutions must have a minimum current TRL of 4.

• Periods of performance may not exceed 24 months.

• Solution briefs must be submitted through the DIU website.

• Late submissions will not be reviewed.

• Submissions must be unclassified.

• Respondents must be eligible for award under OTA authority.

• Technical data with military applications may require export approvals or licenses.

• Companies must register in SAM prior to award.

• Any awarded agreement will require compliance with Section 889 of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

The solicitation requests a solution brief that is approximately:

• Five written pages or fewer, or

• Fifteen slides or fewer.

Applicants must provide technical, business, prototype readiness, transition readiness, ruggedness, and commercialization information. The solicitation does not estimate preparation time.

How can BW&CO help?

BW&CO can help your team:

• Determine the most appropriate Line of Effort.

• Assess alignment with DIU evaluation criteria.

• Position your technology around prototype readiness, transition readiness, and dual-use value.

• Develop a compliant solution brief and supporting materials.

• Prepare for DIU pitch sessions.

• Structure technical narratives around operational military outcomes and commercialization potential.

• Support proposal development if invited to Phase 3.

Review the solicitation here.

FY27 Communications and Networking Applied Research Announcement for Office of Naval Research

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

Executive Summary:

The Office of Naval Research (ONR) is seeking applied research projects that advance communications and networking technologies for distributed maritime operations and the Naval Tactical Grid. This opportunity is focused on technologies that improve connectivity, resilience, throughput, and mission-critical information exchange across naval, joint, and coalition forces operating in challenging environments.

ONR is particularly interested in projects related to advanced communications systems, networking technologies, low-probability-of-detection communications, distributed network control, and predictive network performance algorithms. The agency plans to fund approximately five to six awards.

Although white papers are not required, they are strongly encouraged and provide an opportunity to receive feedback before submitting a full proposal. To ensure full consideration, white papers should be submitted no later than July 31, 2026, 4 pm Eastern Time.

How much funding would I receive?

ONR plans to fund five (5) to six (6) individual awards valued at $250,000 to $500,000 per year using research funds. Lower-cost and higher-cost proposals will also be considered.

The period of performance may be one, two, or three years.

What could I use the funding for?

Funding is intended for applied research projects that develop and mature communications and networking technologies for Naval operations. ONR identified the following focus areas:

• Development of long-range VHF-band data links using compact 4x4 MIMO systems based on 5G/COTS technologies and sub-MHz frequency channelization.

• Novel design and prototyping of compact electronically steered apertures for frequencies above Ka-band.

• Innovative approaches for low probability-of-detection communications against advanced electronic threats.

• Advanced techniques for distributed network control, synchronization, and scheduling.

• New algorithms for predicting network behavior, network performance, or emerging operational requirements that can be translated into traffic engineering policies.

ONR also states that it is receptive to innovative communications and networking concepts that fall outside these focus areas if they are important to Navy and Marine Corps communications and networking needs.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

Offerors that submit white papers may receive Government feedback indicating whether the proposed technology appears to be of “particular value” to the Department of the Navy. This feedback is intended to help organizations assess the likelihood of funding.

ONR may also suggest modifications to project scope, budget, tasks, or applications to better align proposals with available funding and Navy priorities.

Organizations identified as offering technologies of particular value may be invited to provide an oral presentation to further discuss their approach and impact.

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

Key dates include:

• Recommended White Paper Submission Date: July 31, 2026, 4 pm Eastern Time

• Notification of White Paper Valuation: August 14, 2026

• Oral Presentations: September 10, 2026

• Notification of Selection: Full Proposals: October 5, 2026

• Recommended Full Proposal Submission: November 16, 2026, 4 pm Eastern Time

• Awards: April 15, 2027

The solicitation states that white papers should be submitted no later than July 31, 2026, 4 pm Eastern Time to ensure full and timely consideration.

Funding decisions should be made by October 5, 2026, and selected projects have an estimated award date of April 15, 2027.

Where does this funding come from?

This opportunity is offered by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) under BAA Call Number N0001426SBC11, titled FY27 Communications and Networking Applied Research. It is issued under the Navy and Marine Corps Long Range Broad Agency Announcement N0001425SB001.

The effort supports the Navy’s Information Warfare vision and communications and networking research priorities.

Who is eligible to apply?

The solicitation does not provide a standalone eligibility section within this announcement. Offerors are directed to submit white papers and proposals in accordance with the parent Broad Agency Announcement N0001425SB001 or its successor.

The announcement explicitly references participation by:

• Small businesses.

• Other-than-small businesses (large businesses).

• Non-profit organizations.

• Educational institutions.

Additional eligibility requirements are not specified in this announcement.

Who is not eligible to apply?

Not specified in this announcement. Offerors should review the parent Broad Agency Announcement N0001425SB001 or its successor for any eligibility restrictions.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

Based on the stated program objectives, ONR is seeking projects that directly advance communications and networking capabilities for Naval operations and distributed maritime operations. Competitive projects are likely to demonstrate:

• Strong technical innovation.

• Clear relevance to Navy and Marine Corps missions.

• Measurable operational performance improvements.

• Practical concepts of operation.

• Demonstrated plans for operational evaluation.

• Clear research goals and benchmarks.

• Alignment with Gold Standard Science requirements.

Projects aligned with one or more of the five identified focus areas may be particularly responsive to the solicitation.

How competitive will this solicitation be?

ONR plans to fund approximately five to six awards, indicating a limited number of available selections.

The solicitation does not specify the expected number of applicants, historical success rates, or anticipated competition levels.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

Important requirements include:

• White papers should not exceed five single-sided pages, excluding the cover page, references, and principal investigator resume.

• White papers must use 12-point Times New Roman font and margins of at least one inch.

• White papers must be submitted through the ONR Submission Portal.

• White papers must include a rough order of magnitude cost estimate.

• White papers must address Gold Standard Science requirements.

• Principal investigator resumes are limited to one page.

• Other-than-small businesses, including large businesses, non-profits, and educational institutions, must submit a subcontracting plan with their research proposal.

The solicitation also requires compliance with Gold Standard Science policies under Executive Order 14303.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

The solicitation does not specify the expected preparation time.

Applicants choosing to submit a white paper must prepare a technical concept, naval relevance discussion, operational concept, operational utility assessment plan, research goals and benchmarks, Gold Standard Science discussion, rough order of magnitude budget estimate, and principal investigator resume.

Organizations invited to continue will also need to prepare a full proposal in accordance with the requirements of N0001425SB001 or its successor.

How can BW&CO help?

BW&CO can help you:

• Assess alignment with ONR’s Communications and Networking priorities.

• Develop a competitive white paper that clearly demonstrates Naval relevance and technical innovation.

• Refine project scope, milestones, benchmarks, and transition strategy.

• Prepare full proposal technical and cost volumes.

• Strengthen positioning for oral presentations and ONR discussions.

• Ensure compliance with submission requirements and deadlines.

Review the solicitation here.

NIH & NIAID | RADIOLOGICAL OR NUCLEAR MEDICAL COUNTERMEASURE PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT (PDS)

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

Executive Summary:

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is seeking a single organization capable of providing comprehensive product development support for radiological and nuclear medical countermeasures (MCMs) and biodosimetry technologies. The awardee will support the development of products intended to achieve FDA approval, licensure, or clearance through a series of government-funded task orders. This opportunity is designed for organizations with broad product development capabilities spanning animal models, efficacy testing, nonclinical development, manufacturing, quality systems, and Phase I clinical studies. The proposal deadline is August 31, 2026 at 3:00 PM, Local Time. NIAID has explicitly stated that this deadline will not be extended.

How much funding would I receive?

The solicitation is structured as a single Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract.

• Contract minimum: $2,500

• Contract maximum: $135,000,000

• One IDIQ contract is expected to be awarded.

The solicitation does not specify the value of individual task orders. Most sample task orders included in the solicitation list estimated costs as "TBD."

What could I use the funding for?

Funding will support product development activities related to radiological or nuclear medical countermeasures and biodosimetry technologies. The contractor must be capable of supporting activities across five task areas:

• Task Area A: Administrative and Technical Support

• Task Area B: Animal Model and New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) Development and Efficacy Testing of Candidate MCMs

• Task Area C: Non-Clinical Studies supporting IND, NDA, and BLA submissions

• Task Area D: Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls (CMC) Support

• Task Area E: Phase I Clinical Safety Studies and Support

Examples of supported activities include:

• Animal model development

• Efficacy testing in rodent and large animal models

• Biodosimetry support

• Pharmacology and toxicology studies

• Manufacturing and formulation development

• Quality assurance activities

• Phase I clinical safety studies

• Regulatory support toward FDA approval, licensure, or clearance

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

The solicitation does not specify any non-financial benefits such as mentorship, commercialization support, technical assistance, networking programs, or investor introductions.

However, the contractor will work directly with NIAID through government-directed task orders and support the development of medical countermeasures intended for FDA approval, licensure, or clearance.

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

Key dates include:

• Solicitation issued: June 2, 2026

• Recommended deadline for questions: July 2, 2026 at 3:00 PM EST

• Proposal deadline: August 31, 2026 at 3:00 PM, Local Time (Unchanged)

• Contract period of performance: July 1, 2027 through June 30, 2034

The solicitation does not specify an anticipated award date.

Work and funding will be provided through task orders issued under the IDIQ contract after award.

Where does this funding come from?

Funding comes from:

• National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

• National Institutes of Health (NIH)

• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

Who is eligible to apply?

The solicitation does not provide a specific eligibility section limiting applicants by company type.

The solicitation states that one IDIQ contract will be awarded to an organization capable of providing comprehensive product development services and notes that products may originate from industry, academia, and government agencies.

Offerors must:

• Be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) prior to award.

• Demonstrate the facilities, expertise, personnel, and capabilities necessary to perform all required task areas.

Who is not eligible to apply?

The solicitation does not explicitly identify categories of organizations that are ineligible to apply.

However, organizations that cannot demonstrate the required technical capabilities, facilities, staffing, regulatory compliance, and ability to perform across the required task areas may not be competitive. The solicitation also requires SAM registration prior to award.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

The solicitation strongly favors organizations capable of operating as a full-service product development partner for NIAID.

Competitive offerors will likely demonstrate:

• Experience developing radiological or nuclear medical countermeasures

• GLP-compliant animal efficacy testing capabilities

• Large-animal research capabilities

• Biodosimetry support capabilities

• Nonclinical pharmacology and toxicology expertise

• Current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) manufacturing capabilities

• Regulatory support experience for INDs, NDAs, BLAs, and FDA submissions

• Phase I clinical research capabilities

• Ability to execute work across all five task areas through internal resources and/or integrated subcontractor teams

The solicitation states that the contractor must be capable of carrying out task orders in each of the five task areas identified in the Statement of Work.

How competitive will this solicitation be?

This solicitation is likely to be highly competitive.

Reasons include:

• Only one IDIQ contract is anticipated.

• Maximum contract ceiling of $135,000,000.

• Requirement to support all five technical task areas.

• Significant infrastructure, regulatory, manufacturing, animal research, and clinical capabilities are required.

The solicitation does not state the expected number of proposals or anticipated success rate.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

Examples include:

• Offerors must comply with extensive human subjects, animal welfare, clinical trial, data reporting, and information security requirements.

• NIH-funded clinical trials must be registered and reported through ClinicalTrials.gov.

• Contract funds may not be used for abortion activities, human embryo research, or gene-editing technologies in human embryos.

• Contract funds may not be used for needle exchange programs.

• Contract funds may not be used to disseminate false or deliberately misleading information.

• Certain direct costs may require prior approval, including foreign travel, consultant fees, subcontracts, and other specified costs.

Proposal restrictions include:

• Technical proposal page limit is 250 pages inclusive of attachments, as clarified by Amendment 1.

• CVs may not exceed 3 pages.

• Pages exceeding the limitation will not be considered.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

The solicitation does not specify an estimated preparation time.

However, the proposal requires:

• Detailed technical responses

• Responses to task-order scenarios

• Cost proposals

• Regulatory and compliance documentation

• Staffing and organizational information

• Potential subcontracting plans

• Capability demonstrations across five major technical areas

Given the complexity and breadth of the requirements, applicants should plan for a substantial proposal development effort.

How can BW&CO help?

BW&CO can help organizations:

• Assess fit before investing in proposal development

• Interpret the solicitation requirements

• Build a compliant proposal strategy

• Coordinate technical, management, and cost volume development

• Manage subcontractor contributions

• Develop win themes aligned with NIAID priorities

• Review proposals for compliance with page limits, formatting requirements, and evaluation criteria

• Support final submission preparation

Review the solicitation here.

ARPA-H REST (Restorative & health-Enhancing Sleep Time) Program

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

Executive Summary:

ARPA-H is seeking ambitious teams to develop the next generation of sleep technologies through the Restorative & health-Enhancing Sleep Time (REST) program.

The program aims to redefine sleep as a measurable and controllable biological system by funding technologies that can objectively measure sleep quality at home, diagnose poor sleep (with a primary emphasis on insomnia), and deliver personalized, real-time interventions throughout the night.

REST is structured around two technical areas:

• Technical Area 1 (TA1): Measure & Diagnose

• Technical Area 2 (TA2): Control & Treat

ARPA-H is specifically looking for interdisciplinary teams that combine expertise across areas such as sleep medicine, neuroscience, AI/ML, biosensing, wearable technologies, neuromodulation, clinical research, and regulatory strategy.

A Solution Summary is required before a team can be invited to submit a full proposal.

Application deadline: August 12, 2026 at 12pm ET.

How much funding would I receive?

The solicitation does not specify award amounts, award ranges, total program funding, or the number of awards anticipated, but typical ARPA-H awards range anywhere from $5 million to $50 million.

ARPA-H states that awards may be made through Other Transaction (OT) agreements.

What could I use the funding for?

Funding may be used to develop technologies within one or both of the following Technical Areas.

Technical Area 1 (TA1): Measure & Diagnose

• Consumer-grade in-home sleep monitoring systems

• Wearable or nearable sleep sensing technologies

• Sleep microstructure measurement technologies

• Mechanistic insomnia subtype classification systems

• In-home diagnostic systems

• Personalized sleep-related health risk prediction tools

• Human factors and usability validation

• Integration with broader REST program resources

Technical Area 2 (TA2): Control & Treat

• Closed-loop sleep intervention systems

• Noninvasive neuromodulation technologies

• Real-time physiological monitoring and feedback systems

• Adaptive treatment algorithms

• Personalized sleep intervention technologies

• Human subjects research

• Safety and tolerability validation

• Regulatory and commercialization planning

Examples of technologies referenced in the solicitation include:

• Wearable EEG

• Smartwatches

• Rings

• In/under-mattress sensors

• WiFi signal analysis

• Haptics

• Acoustics

• Transcranial electrical stimulation

• Focused ultrasound

• Targeted nerve stimulation

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

Potential benefits include:

• Access to shared REST program resources

• Access to large-scale harmonized sleep datasets as they become available

• Participation in program-wide benchmarking efforts

• Support from a Research Integrator focused on interoperability and transition planning

• Independent verification and validation support

• Opportunities to collaborate with other REST performers

The solicitation also anticipates support for future clinical translation and commercialization activities.

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

Key dates currently identified in the solicitation are:

• Solicitation released: June 16, 2026

• Proposers' Day: July 13, 2026

• Solution Summary Deadline: August 12, 2026 at 12pm ET

• Full Proposal: By invitation only following Solution Summary review

• Full Proposal Due Date: Not specified in the solicitation

Important notes:

• Submission of a Solution Summary is mandatory.

• Only selected Solution Summaries will be invited to submit a Full Proposal.

• Submission of a Solution Summary does not guarantee invitation to submit a Full Proposal.

• Award timing is not specified in the solicitation.

Program duration:

• 66 months (5.5 years)

• Phase 1: Months 1–24

• Phase 2: Months 25–42

• Phase 3: Months 43–66

The Solution Summary deadline is August 12, 2026 at 12pm ET.

Where does this funding come from?

Funding comes from the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) through the Proactive Health Office (PHO).

Program:

• Restorative & health-Enhancing Sleep Time (REST)

Solicitation Number:

• ARPA-H-SOL-26-159

Award Instrument:

• Other Transaction (OT)

Who is eligible to apply?

ARPA-H states it is primarily interested in proposals from:

• Commercial performers

• Academic institutions

• Non-profit organizations

Additional requirements include:

• Work must be conducted in the United States

• Active SAM.gov registration is required

• Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) is required

Restrictions include:

• Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) are generally not permitted to participate as prime or sub-performers except under limited exceptions

• Government entities, including federal employees, are generally not permitted to respond

• ARPA-H will not make awards to entities organized under the laws of a covered foreign country per 42 U.S.C. 290c(n)(1)(D)

Non-domestic performers are encouraged to collaborate with a domestic entity.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

Based on the solicitation, competitive proposals are likely to:

• Focus on insomnia as a primary use case

• Deliver objective, physiological measurement of sleep quality

• Demonstrate clinically meaningful home-based performance

• Combine multiple technical disciplines

• Incorporate AI/ML approaches

• Include strong commercialization pathways

• Demonstrate integration with the broader REST ecosystem

• Provide clear plans for data sharing, benchmarking, and interoperability

• Show a credible path toward clinical translation

ARPA-H specifically encourages teams spanning:

• Sleep medicine

• Neuroscience

• Psychiatry

• Biomedical engineering

• Wearable and in-home biosensing

• Signal processing

• Machine learning

• Neuromodulation

• Clinical trials

• Regulatory science

For TA1, proposals should also include a credible industry cost-share strategy as technologies mature toward commercialization.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

Out-of-scope TA1 activities include:

• General wellness tracking only

• Sleep hygiene tools only

• Conventional sleep scoring without a credible path to diagnosis, mechanistic characterization, or health-relevant prediction

Out-of-scope TA2 activities include:

• Pharmacologic treatment-only approaches

• Non-personalized interventions

• Systems that do not use objective physiological measurements to adapt treatment

For both Technical Areas:

• Standalone infrastructure efforts without direct contribution to REST research objectives are out of scope

Additional requirements include:

• Human subjects research approvals

• Participation in program coordination activities

• Benchmarking and integration activities

• Compliance with research security reviews

• Compliance with negotiated intellectual property and data rights requirements

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

The required Solution Summary is limited to:

• Maximum 6 pages for a single Technical Area

• Maximum 8 pages for proposals covering both Technical Areas

Required content includes:

• Technical Area selection

• Technical approach

• Team qualifications

• Key risks and mitigations

• Rough order of magnitude budget

• Preliminary cost-share strategy for TA1 applicants

Because REST emphasizes interdisciplinary teams, commercialization planning, human subjects considerations, regulatory strategy, and technical integration, applicants should expect substantial coordination and preparation effort.

The solicitation does not estimate preparation time.

How can BW&CO help?

BW&CO can support:

• Opportunity qualification

• Teaming strategy

• Technical narrative development

• Solution Summary preparation

• Commercialization strategy development

• Cost-share strategy development for TA1 applicants

• Proposal management

• Full Proposal preparation if invited

• Pitch preparation and coaching

• Reviewer-style compliance reviews

Review the solicitation here.

Cornerstone Initiative Request (CIR) | Reshore Enhanced Secure Heterogenous Advanced Packaged Electronics(RESHAPE) 2.0 | Cornerstone Initiative Request (CIR) Number: CS-26-1301

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

Executive Summary:

The Reshore Enhanced Secure Heterogenous Advanced Packaged Electronics (RESHAPE) 2.0 initiative is a major Department of Defense effort to build a U.S.-owned, domestic advanced packaging ecosystem for secure microelectronics manufacturing. The Government intends to fund multiple prototype projects that expand U.S. capabilities in advanced substrates, 2.5D and 3D packaging, fan-out packaging, RF packaging, advanced assembly, testing, and related manufacturing technologies.

This is a large-scale funding opportunity with an estimated total initiative value of $1,250,000,000 and an expected 4 to 10 awards. The Government is seeking projects that strengthen domestic supply chains, reshore advanced microelectronics manufacturing capabilities, and support Department of Defense programs.

Application deadline: 15 July 2026/12:00pm Central. Questions will not be accepted after 8 July 2026/12:00pm Central.

How much funding would I receive?

The solicitation states that the total estimated value for this initiative is $1,250,000,000.00, subject to the availability of funds. The Government intends to award multiple (estimated 4 to 10) Fixed-Price Other Transaction Agreements (OTAs).

The solicitation does not specify individual award sizes. The Government reserves the right to award all, some, or none of the proposed elements.

What could I use the funding for?

Funding is intended for prototype projects that improve U.S. advanced packaging capability and capacity for defense-related microelectronics. Projects may address one or more of the following technical elements:

• Advanced Substrates

• 3D Packaging

• Fan-Out Packaging

• 2.5D Packaging

• Radio Frequency Packaging

• Design Enablement

• Department of War Multi-Chip Module Prototypes

• Back-End-of-Line (BEOL) Processes

• Advanced Assembly

• Advanced Test and Failure Analysis

The initiative supports development of domestic capabilities for advanced system integration, secure packaging, heterogeneous integration, manufacturing infrastructure, prototyping, testing, and related technologies.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

Potential benefits include:

• Eligibility for a prototype OTA rather than a FAR-based contract.

• Potential follow-on production opportunities under 10 U.S.C. § 4022(f) if the prototype project is successfully completed.

• Opportunity to participate in a national effort to establish a domestic advanced packaging ecosystem supporting Department of Defense programs and supply chain resilience.

The solicitation explicitly states that follow-on production is not guaranteed.

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

Key dates include:

• Solicitation issued: 15 June 2026

• Questions accepted until: 8 July 2026/12:00pm Central

• White Papers due date: 15 July 2026/12:00pm Central

The solicitation uses a two-step process consisting of:

1. White Paper submission.

2. Full Proposal submission by invitation. The due date for full proposals will be provided in the Government's invitation.

Funding is expected to be provided through milestone-based payments upon successful completion and Government acceptance of agreed deliverables.

The solicitation does not specify when award decisions will be made or when funding will be received.

Where does this funding come from?

The opportunity is being issued by Army Contracting Command – Rock Island Arsenal (ACC-RIA) on behalf of the Combat Capabilities Development Command – Chemical Biological Center (DEVCOM CBC) in support of the Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment (IBAS) Program (10 U.S.C. § 4817).

Funding supports the Department of Defense objective to strengthen the defense industrial base, expand domestic manufacturing capacity, and address supply chain vulnerabilities in advanced microelectronics packaging.

Who is eligible to apply?

Applicants must:

• Be members with an executed Cornerstone Consortium Management Agreement.

• Have an active System for Award Management (SAM) registration.

• Have favorable status in the Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System (FAPIIS).

Foreign participation, access, and transfers are restricted and reviewed on a case-by-case basis when determined to be in the best interest of the U.S. Government.

To satisfy OTA statutory requirements, projects must meet at least one condition described in 10 U.S.C. § 4022, including participation by a nontraditional defense contractor, participation by qualifying small businesses, qualifying cost share, or exceptional circumstances approved by the Government.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

The solicitation favors projects that:

• Establish or expand domestic advanced packaging capabilities.

• Strengthen supply chain resilience and reduce foreign dependencies.

• Deliver measurable Government return on investment through financial, technical, or supply-chain benefits.

• Support Department of War Programs of Record.

• Demonstrate commercially viable business models and sustainable operations.

• Provide functional prototypes with clear transition pathways.

• Leverage prior Department of War and Department of Commerce investments.

• Strengthen domestic workforce, manufacturing infrastructure, and technical capability.

Priority is specifically encouraged for responses that include delivery of functional prototypes capable of transitioning to Department of War Programs of Record.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

Key restrictions include:

• All manufacturing and development work must be performed within the United States.

• Foreign participation is restricted and subject to Government approval.

• Participation in non-U.S. research programs is restricted without Government concurrence.

• Export-controlled information restrictions apply.

• NIST SP 800-171 cybersecurity requirements apply.

• Controlled Unclassified Information requirements apply.

• The Government will seek Unlimited Rights or, at minimum, Government Purpose Rights for work performed under the project.

• The security classification level is UNCLASSIFIED, although CUI requirements may apply.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

This opportunity will likely require a significant application effort.

The solicitation requires detailed technical, manufacturing, supply chain, financial, workforce, infrastructure, ROI, commercialization, and milestone planning information. White papers are limited to 10 pages, and invited full proposals are limited to 15 pages plus appendices and supporting materials.

Applicants responding to multiple technical elements must prepare separate responses for each element.

The solicitation does not specify an estimated preparation time.

How can BW&CO help?

BW&CO can support companies by:

• Assessing fit against the solicitation requirements.

• Identifying the strongest technical element(s) for submission.

• Developing the white paper strategy and narrative.

• Building milestone-based project plans.

• Preparing commercialization, ROI, and supply chain impact sections.

• Developing cost-share and investment positioning.

• Drafting and managing proposal submissions.

• Supporting consortium participation and OTA strategy.

MTEC Multi-Topic Request for Project Proposals: Military Medical Prototype Advancement (MTEC-26-04-MultiTopic)

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

Executive Summary

The Medical Technology Enterprise Consortium (MTEC) has released its Fiscal Year 2026 Multi-Topic Request for Project Proposals (RPP), solicitation number MTEC-26-04-MultiTopic, under Other Transaction Agreement No. W81XWH-15-9-0001. This is the full solicitation, not a pre-announcement. The RPP was issued on August 6, 2026, and Enhanced White Papers are due by October 30, 2026 at Noon Eastern Time.

The opportunity funds military-relevant medical prototype technologies, medical techniques, knowledge products, devices, drugs, and biologics across 15 Focus Areas spanning primary prevention, infectious disease, trauma and wound infection, sepsis, musculoskeletal injury, pain management, anesthesia, and blast and blunt exposure monitoring. Note that the released RPP now includes 15 Focus Areas rather than the 14 described in the earlier pre-announcement. Focus Area 15 (Blast and Blunt Sensors for Exposure Monitoring) has been added, and several Focus Area titles were refined.

Each proposal must address one and only one Focus Area. Competition is expected to be highly competitive and uses a two-stage Enhanced White Paper process. Evaluations run on a rolling, first-in first-out basis, so early submission is an advantage. Only current MTEC members in good standing may submit as the prime.

Application deadline: October 30, 2026, Noon Eastern Time.

How much funding would I receive?

For most Focus Areas the funding amount, number of awards, and period of performance remain unspecified and are contingent upon the availability of federal funds. For informational purposes, MTEC states that the average size of MTEC awards for the initial period of performance is approximately $2.0M to $3.5M over a 2 to 3 year period of performance. These figures are historical averages and are not guaranteed award amounts.

The released RPP does specify funding for three sub areas. For Focus Area 10A, therapeutic interventions to accelerate recovery from musculoskeletal injury, the Government anticipates 1 to 2 awards of roughly $3M each, with a period of performance not to exceed 36 months. For Focus Area 10B, preservation of musculoskeletal health, the Government anticipates 2 to 3 awards of roughly $1.5M each, also with a period of performance not to exceed 36 months. For Focus Area 15, blast and blunt sensors for exposure monitoring, a total of $10.5M is available for 2 awards, one of which may be up to $7M, with a period of performance not to exceed 48 months and an expected FY27 start.

Focus Area 10 and Focus Area 15 awards are expected to begin in FY27. Awards from the RPP overall are expected to be made in FY 2027 and FY 2028.

For Focus Areas 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, and 14, the Government has chosen to keep funding availability unspecified given the wide range of prototype maturity that could be responsive. Offerors are encouraged to propose budgets and a period of performance commensurate with the nature, scope, and complexity of the proposed work, and to structure budgets around major deliverables so that Sponsors can more easily allocate available funding.

Awards may be structured incrementally and tied to completion of milestones and deliverables.

What could I use the funding for?

Each proposal must address only one Focus Area. Proposed solutions may include medical techniques, knowledge products, and materiel such as medical devices, drugs, and biologics. Military relevance is a key requirement.

Examples of work that could be included in the period of performance include non-GLP laboratory research, exploratory studies of candidate devices, drugs, or systems, evaluation in laboratory or animal models, prototype development and maturation, nonclinical and preclinical studies for a regulatory data package, preparation of regulatory submissions (IND, IDE), clinical feasibility and pivotal studies as needed, stability and shelf-life studies, GMP manufacturing establishment, and prototype delivery for military-relevant testing.

Focus Areas:

• Focus Area 1: Policies and practices for cross-cutting prevention

  The aim of this focus area is to develop and evaluate non-training interventions/activities that address risk and protective factors for harmful behaviors. Priority risk/protective factors to address include: morale, fairness, work-life balance, passive leadership, toxic leadership, and workplace hostility.

• Focus Area 2: Fostering Service member physical fitness through integrated primary prevention

  The aim of this focus area is to develop interventions or trainings to combat the key contributors to obesity and physical inactivity. This focus area encourages offerors to consider resource/environmental constraints and social and psychological barriers present for warfighters when developing solutions.

• Focus Area 3: Identify and reduce barriers to help-seeking

  The aim of this focus area is to identify and develop solutions against key drivers of help-seeking. Solutions should prioritize high-impact resources/services and Service member populations at elevated risk for harmful behaviors.

• Focus Area 4: Prophylactic Solutions to Prevent Battlefield and Complex Traumatic Wound Infections in Austere or Contested Environments

  The aim of this focus area is thedevelopment of solutions to prevent or delay wound infections (bacterial, fungal, and/or antimicrobial-resistant) following battlefield and complex traumatic wounds, including in austere or contested environments, for use at the point of injury and in prolonged care environments (Roles 1 and 2), without negatively impacting wound healing. High-priority pathogens include Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Staphylococcus aureus, and invasive fungal infections.

• Focus Area 5: Pathogen Agnostic Countermeasures for the Treatment of Sepsis Caused by Wound Infection

  The aim of this focus area is the development of products, including immune modulators, novel drugs, immunotherapeutics, and other pathogen-agnostic and/or host-directed approaches, to treat sepsis following battlefield and complex traumatic wounds (excluding burn wounds), including in austere or contested environments.

• Focus Area 6: Knowledge Product Solutions for the Prevention of Infection in Traumatic Penetrating Wounds

  The aim of this focus area is the development of knowledge product solutions to optimize clinical practice guidelines for the prevention of infection in traumatic penetrating wounds.

• Focus Area 7: Bacterial Diarrhea Prevention

  The aim of this focus area is the development of solutions to prevent bacterial diarrhea resulting from high-priority pathogens (Campylobacter jejuni, enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli, and Shigella) in operational settings.

• Focus Area 8: Dengue Fever Prevention and/or Treatment Solutions

  The aim of this focus area is the development of prophylactic drugs and vaccines, to prevent all four serotypes of Dengue Fever.

• Focus Area 9: Prevention and Treatment of Emerging Infectious Diseases

  The aim of this focus area is on developing pathogen-agnostic and/or broad-spectrum solutions for prevention or treatment of Lassa fever virus, Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus (CCHFV), and various hantaviruses, which are high-consequence pathogens that pose distinct risks to the deployed Joint Force.

• Focus Area 10: Musculoskeletal Injury Treatment

  The aim of this focus area is the development of solutions for musculoskeletal injury interventions for the pre-hospital environment. Specifically, this focus area seeks (1) therapeutic interventions to accelerate recovery from musculoskeletal injury or (2) solutions for the preservation of musculoskeletal health.

• Focus Area 11: Operational Suitability of Existing Pain Treatments

  The aim of this focus area is for solutions that inform risk/benefit decisions and create evidence-based recommendations for the Joint Trauma System (JTS) to refine and optimize existing Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs) and Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) protocols.

• Focus Area 12: Repurposing and Novel Delivery of Approved Compounds

  The aim of this focus area is to accelerate the development of safer, opioid-sparing analgesics by leveraging the FDA's 505(b)(2) regulatory pathway for repurposed drugs delivered via novel administration methods. The desired end-state is a candidate drug/device combination ready to enter Phase I clinical trials.

• Focus Area 13: Development of Novel Non-Addictive Analgesics

  The aim of this focus area is to advance the preclinical development of a novel, non-addictive analgesic compound with a mechanism of action suitable for treating acute, combat-related trauma. The desired end-state is a promising lead candidate with a data package sufficient to justify further investment in IND-enabling studies.

• Focus Area 14: Advanced Anesthesia and Procedural Pain Solutions

  The aim of this focus area is to develop and demonstrate a prototype system or therapeutic for the management of anesthesia and procedural pain in austere environments (Role 1 and 2). The goal is to produce a solution that reduces the cognitive burden on providers and can be used by non-specialists.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

Potential additional benefits include:

• Potential award of one or more non-competitive follow-on tasks based on successful project performance and milestone progression, awarded to the original awardee.

• Access to MTEC member teaming resources, the Member Profiles directory, and M-Corps subject matter experts.

• Potential access to MTEC's consortium network and its relationships with the Defense Health Agency and other government agencies.

• Eligibility for the "basket" provision: proposals with technical merit that cannot be funded immediately remain eligible for funding for two years from the date of submission.

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

Key dates from the released RPP:

• RPP issued: August 6, 2026

• BIDS submission portal opens: no later than August 21, 2026

• Enhanced White Paper due: October 30, 2026, Noon Eastern Time

• Proposers Conference series: webinars expected within several weeks of RPP release

• Teaming Connects: virtual sessions to be scheduled; 3 minutes and 1 slide per pitch

• Period of performance start: no sooner than 4 months after the submission deadline unless otherwise specified

• Awards expected: FY 2027 and FY 2028

The solicitation uses a two-stage Enhanced White Paper process. In Stage 1, current MTEC members submit Enhanced White Papers in the mandatory format. Selected offerors are invited to submit a full cost proposal in Stage 2. Evaluations and award recommendations are conducted on a rolling, first-in first-out basis, so submitting early in the open window is advantageous.

Application deadline: October 30, 2026, Noon Eastern Time.

Where does this funding come from?

The opportunity is released through the Medical Technology Enterprise Consortium (MTEC), a 501(c)(3) non profit. MTEC supports the Department of Defense and Department of War, the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command, the Defense Health Agency, and other government agencies. MTEC operates under a renewable Other Transaction Agreement with a ten year term, Agreement No. W81XWH-15-9-0001, with the Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity, awarded under the authority of 10 U.S.C. § 4022.

Who is eligible to apply?

The prime performer must be an MTEC member in good standing at least three days prior to submission of the Enhanced White Paper. Subcontractors and lower tier subawardees do not need to be MTEC members. Proposed projects must fit MTEC's prototype definition and must not be exploratory, and a foundation of preliminary data is required. A minimum KRL or TRL of 3 at the time of submission is required unless a Focus Area specifies otherwise. Proposed solutions must not have been submitted to MTEC under RPPs within the past two years, including the 25-04-MultiTopic and 24-01-MPAI solicitations; substantially revised proposals that respond to prior Government feedback are allowed, but identical resubmissions are not. Each Enhanced White Paper must align to a single Focus Area.

Members who have not paid the MTEC Assessment Fee within 90 days of its due date are not considered members in good standing.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

Selection is highly competitive and is based on technical merit, programmatic considerations including portfolio composition, and the availability of funds. The number of meaningful submissions normally exceeds what available funding can support.

The RPP now specifies three evaluation factors:

1. Programmatic Relevance, which covers alignment to the Focus Area, the clinical problem and research gap, and demonstration of the minimum requirements: military relevance, prototype fit, minimum KRL or TRL, new submission, and single Focus Area alignment.

2. Technical Approach, which covers the hypothesis and objectives, scientific rationale and preliminary data, experimental design and feasibility, the team's ability to execute including regulatory compliance, and the statement of work and budget.

3. Commercialization Readiness Advancement, which covers technical maturity advancement, the market and business model, and the development and regulatory strategy, or a plan to transition the technology to the government where commercialization does not apply.

Proposals are rated Outstanding, Good, Acceptable, Marginal, or Unacceptable. High merit ratings do not guarantee funding, since decisions also weigh funding priorities and portfolio balance.

The projects best positioned are those that address exactly one Focus Area, demonstrate clear military relevance, meet the prototype definition, satisfy the minimum KRL or TRL, include supporting preliminary and preclinical data, address a clearly identified DoD medical need, and include the Focus Area's mandatory submission documents.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

Each proposal must address only one Focus Area, and failure to align to a single Focus Area may result in an Unacceptable rating. Projects must not be exploratory and must have preliminary data. The minimum KRL or TRL is 3 at submission unless a Focus Area specifies higher. Solutions submitted to MTEC within the previous two years may not be resubmitted.

Several Focus Areas carry mandatory documentation at submission, for example preclinical efficacy data, toxicity data if the FDA requires it, and documented FDA engagement, and missing required documentation can result in an Unacceptable rating. Route of administration limits apply to Focus Areas 8 and 9, which allow oral, intramuscular, transdermal, or subcutaneous administration only and exclude intravenous. Animal studies are prohibited under Focus Area 10A and out of scope for Focus Area 15.

Research involving human subjects or animals requires review by the DHA R&D MRDC Office of Research and Regulatory Compliance, specifically the Office of Human Research Oversight for human subjects and the Animal Care and Use Review Office for animals, in addition to local IRB or IACUC review. Allow two to three months for the human subjects review and three to four months for the animal review, and build at least 30 days into the schedule for the compliance office review and authorization process.

The MTEC Assessment Fee of 2 percent of the total funded value is not allowable as a direct charge and must not be included in proposed direct costs. Do not submit classified information in the Enhanced White Paper.

What do I need to submit?

Stage 1 requires six documents for all Focus Areas, submitted separately through BIDS, each 5MB or lower: Enhanced White Paper, limited to ten pages including the cover page, using the mandatory template in Section 8. Warranties and Representations. Statement of Work and Milestone Payment Schedule. Current and Pending Support. Intellectual Property and Data Rights Assertions, signed. Technology or Knowledge Readiness Level Checklist. Additional documents are required or encouraged depending on the Focus Area, including Extramural Research Involving Human Subjects, Documentation of FDA Engagement, Letters of Support, Biographical Sketches, and a Published or Additional Data Addendum. Refer to Addendum 6 of the RPP for the matrix showing which documents apply to each Focus Area. The Enhanced White Paper must be in 12 point font or larger, single spaced, 8.5 by 11 inches, with margins of at least 0.5 inch. Full cost proposals are only required in Stage 2, for offerors recommended for funding. Submissions are made through BIDS at https://bids.mtec-sc.org/Hub/Portal.nsf/Start?ReadForm. It is the offeror's responsibility to ensure a timely and complete submission, so submit ahead of the deadline.

How is my application evaluated?

MTEC first conducts a preliminary screening for compliance. Enhanced White Papers that pass are forwarded to the Government for source selection against the three evaluation factors above, sometimes with external peer review. Favorably evaluated offerors may be invited to a dialogue with the Government. The outcomes are an overall recommendation of Award, placement in the basket, or non selection. Given the high submission volume and compressed rolling review cycles, feedback may be very brief.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

The RPP does not specify a preparation time, but the ten page Enhanced White Paper, the six required documents, and the Focus Area specific data requirements, including preclinical data and FDA engagement documentation for several areas, mean preparation should begin now. Because evaluations follow a rolling process where the earliest complete submissions are reviewed first, submitting earlier in the open window improves the odds. Companies proposing human subjects or animal research should account for the additional regulatory review timelines noted above.

How can BW&CO help?

BW&CO can help your team:

1. Assess fit against the 15 Focus Areas and confirm you are targeting exactly one.

2. Determine whether your technology satisfies MTEC's prototype definition and the minimum KRL or TRL 3 expectation, and complete the readiness level checklist accurately.

3. Build a compelling military relevance narrative tied to the Joint Trauma System guidelines, Tactical Combat Casualty Care protocols, or other Department of War requirements documents.

4. Develop the Enhanced White Paper strategy and draft the full ten page paper plus the six required documents.

5. Assemble Focus Area specific requirements, including preclinical data packages, FDA engagement documentation, and letters of support.

6. Identify teaming partners through MTEC's Member Profiles directory and prepare for Teaming Connects.

7. Sequence your submission to take advantage of the rolling review.

8. Prepare the Stage 2 cost proposal and supporting materials if invited.

Review solicitation here.

NASA - Robotically Manipulated Payload Challenge

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

Executive Summary:

NASA’s Flight Opportunities program is accepting applications for the Robotically Manipulated Payload Challenge, the fifth challenge in the NASA TechLeap Prize series. The program is designed to advance technologies that support in-space servicing, assembly, and manufacturing (ISAM) by funding payloads that can be manipulated, installed, reconfigured, or activated by a robotic arm in low Earth orbit.

NASA plans to select up to three winners, each with the opportunity to receive up to $500,000 in prize funding across three phases. In addition, NASA intends to offer Phase 3 winners a flight test aboard a hosted orbital spacecraft at no additional cost.

The application deadline is August 12, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. ET. Applicants must complete registration by July 29, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. ET.

How much funding would I receive?

NASA will select up to three winners.

Each winner may receive up to $500,000 in total prize funding across three phases:

• Phase 1: $200,000

• Phase 2: Additional $200,000

• Phase 3: Additional $100,000

Funding is awarded as a prize competition rather than a grant.

What could I use the funding for?

According to the challenge FAQ, prize funds are distributed directly to winners and may be used however the winner sees fit, provided eligibility requirements continue to be met throughout all phases.

Applicants are permitted to include any cost categories they believe support payload development, including contingencies for risk mitigation.

NASA states that budgets should exclude flight test costs because NASA intends to provide the flight opportunity separately.

Example application areas identified by NASA include:

• Robotic inspection

• Structural assembly

• Sensor deployment

• Material processing

• Modular systems that can be swapped, upgraded, or reconfigured in orbit

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

Benefits include:

• Support from NASA subject matter experts during payload development.

• Technical engagement to ensure compatibility with the Fly Foundational Robots (FFR) mission.

• Site visit feedback from field judges during later phases.

• NASA intends to offer Phase 3 winners a flight test aboard a hosted orbital spacecraft at no additional cost.

• Opportunity to demonstrate hardware in orbit using the FFR robotic platform.

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

Key deadlines:

• Challenge launch: May 20, 2026

• Virtual information session: June 18, 2026

• Registration deadline: July 29, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. ET

• Application deadline: August 12, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. ET

• Phase 1 winners announced: September 2026

Phase schedule:

Phase 1 – Application Period

• Applications submitted and evaluated

• Up to three winners receive $200,000

Phase 2 – Final Design and Initial Build

• September 2026 through December 2026

• Winners finalize designs and begin payload construction

• Eligible for an additional $200,000

Phase 3 – Complete Build for Integration

• December 2026 through May 2027

• Winners complete payloads and prepare for flight integration

• Eligible for an additional $100,000

• NASA intends to offer a flight test opportunity at no additional cost

The application deadline is August 12, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. ET.

Where does this funding come from?

The challenge is sponsored by NASA through the Flight Opportunities program as part of the NASA TechLeap Prize series.

The challenge supports NASA’s objectives in In-space Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing (ISAM).

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants include:

• U.S. citizens or permanent residents who are 18 years of age or older.

• U.S.-incorporated organizations with a primary place of business in the United States.

• Teams led by a U.S. citizen or permanent resident who is 18 years of age or older.

• For-profit organizations.

• Nonprofit organizations.

• Universities and academic organizations that meet eligibility requirements.

Additional eligibility requirements apply.

Foreign nationals may participate on teams under specific conditions described in the challenge rules.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

Based on the published evaluation criteria, the strongest applications will:

• Address a clearly defined ISAM capability gap.

• Make robotic manipulation central to the payload’s value proposition.

• Demonstrate a meaningful advancement in in-space servicing, assembly, or manufacturing.

• Define measurable success metrics for an on-orbit demonstration.

• Present a technically sound design compatible with FFR mission requirements.

• Demonstrate strong systems engineering practices.

• Provide a credible path to flight readiness within the competition timeline.

• Identify risks and present realistic mitigation strategies.

• Show the team has the experience, resources, and project management capabilities required to deliver a flight-ready payload.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

Key restrictions include:

• Applicants may submit only one application as the lead applicant.

• Applicants cannot receive U.S. government funding twice for the same scope of work.

• Organizations already receiving government funding to develop a similar flight-ready payload may be ineligible.

• Federal entities and federal employees acting within the scope of employment are not eligible for awards.

• Employees of NASA, Luminary Labs, Motiv Space Systems, Rocket Lab Corporation, their affiliates, and certain related individuals are not eligible.

• Participants must maintain at least $250,000 in liability insurance coverage or otherwise demonstrate financial responsibility for that amount.

• Applications must be submitted in English.

• Organizations must maintain a primary place of business in the United States.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

The challenge uses a competitive application process requiring:

• Technical payload concept development

• Systems engineering planning

• Budget preparation

• Risk assessment

• Flight-readiness planning

• A video pitch

• Written application responses

Because applicants must demonstrate technical feasibility, mission compatibility, project execution capability, and clear ISAM impact, most teams should expect a substantial preparation effort. The solicitation does not specify an estimated application preparation time.

How can BW&CO help?

BW&CO can help your team:

• Evaluate whether your payload concept aligns with NASA’s stated scoring criteria.

• Identify and articulate the ISAM capability gap your technology addresses.

• Develop compelling success metrics tied directly to evaluation criteria.

• Strengthen project plans, schedules, budgets, and risk mitigation strategies.

• Review technical narratives for consistency with NASA requirements.

• Maximize competitiveness before submission.

Review solicitation here.

Rapid Electromagnetic Warfare & Signals Intelligence (REWSI)

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

Executive Summary:

The U.S. Army’s Project Manager Electromagnetic Warfare & Collection (PM EW&C) is seeking commercial Electromagnetic Warfare & Collection (EW&C) capabilities through the Rapid Electromagnetic Warfare & Signals Intelligence (REWSI) Call for Solutions under the Army Open Solicitation (AOS) Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO). The Army intends to establish one or more commercial contracts and may also award prototype Other Transaction Authorities (OTAs) to rapidly acquire and field electromagnetic spectrum operations (EMSO) capabilities.

This opportunity is designed for companies with mature commercial technologies or post-prototype capabilities that can help the Army sense, locate, attack, protect, and manage spectrum-dependent systems in denied, degraded, intermittent connectivity, or limited bandwidth (DDIL) environments.

Solution Brief Due Date/Time: 22 April 2027 1600 EST. Solution briefs received after this date and time will not be considered.

How much funding would I receive?

The solicitation does not specify award amounts, contract ceilings, minimum awards, maximum awards, or funding ranges.

Offerors are required to provide a notional pricing structure, including unit pricing, quantity discounts, and sustainment pricing, but no government funding amount is stated.

What could I use the funding for?

Funding may support the production, sustainment, and associated services for EW&C capabilities aligned with the Army’s EMSO requirements.

Solutions should address one or more of the following areas:

• Electromagnetic Attack (EA)

• Electromagnetic Surveillance (ES) / Support

• Electromagnetic Protection (EP) / Protect

• Common Services supporting open architecture integration and data exchange standards

The Army is interested in capabilities that are:

• Resilient

• Adaptable

• Modular

• Scalable

• AI/ML-enabled

• Rapidly Deployable

• Secure

• Interoperable with Next Generation Command and Control (NGC2) architectures

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

Potential benefits include:

• Access to a streamlined acquisition pathway intended to accelerate delivery of capabilities to Army units.

• Consideration for one or more commercial contracts, including potential IDIQ awards.

• Consideration for prototype OTA awards for solutions requiring additional maturation.

• If not immediately selected, solutions may be retained in a government library for up to 12 months for future consideration.

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

The selection process consists of three stages:

1. Solution Brief Submission

2. Pitch Session / Vendor Technical Demonstration (PS/VTD)

3. Proposal Submission

Solution Brief Due Date/Time: 22 April 2027 1600 EST. Solution briefs received after this date and time will not be considered.

Additional timeline details:

• The Call will remain open for no more than 12 months from the original posting.

• Reviews may occur on an ongoing basis as submissions are received.

• There is no specified timeline for awards. Evaluation of submissions will continue throughout the open period.

The solicitation does not specify when funding, contracts, or OTA awards would be issued following selection.

Where does this funding come from?

The opportunity is sponsored by:

• Capability Program Executive Intelligence and Spectrum Warfare (CPE ISW)

• Project Manager Electromagnetic Warfare & Collection (PM EW&C)

The contracting activity is:

• Army Contracting Command – Aberdeen Proving Ground (ACC-APG)

The solicitation is being issued under the Army Open Solicitation (AOS) Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO).

Who is eligible to apply?

The solicitation invites submissions from parties with innovative solutions that address the EW&C requirements described in the Call.

The Government is specifically seeking:

• Commercially available EW&C capabilities

• Mature commercial solutions

• Post-prototype capabilities

• Solutions that may require additional development

• Fully commercialized and currently fielded technologies

The solicitation does not specify company size restrictions, small business requirements, geographic restrictions, ownership requirements, or other eligibility categories.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

Based on the stated evaluation criteria, the strongest applicants will likely be companies that can demonstrate:

• Clear alignment with Army EMSO objectives.

• Solutions addressing EA, ES, EP, or Common Services requirements.

• Mature, technically credible capabilities with demonstrated performance potential.

• Open architecture approaches that support MOSA, SOSA, APIs, and NGC2 integration.

• AI/ML-enabled capabilities that improve sensing, geolocation, targeting, and decision-making.

• Demonstrated production capacity, sustainment planning, training support, and scalability.

• Strong operational readiness supported by testing, pilot programs, previous fieldings, or work with government entities.

The Government states that vendor selection will be based on:

• Relevance to EMSO requirements

• Maturity of the offering

• Demonstrated ability to produce and sustain capabilities

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

Key restrictions and requirements include:

• Solution Briefs must clearly demonstrate relevance to EMSO requirements or they will not be considered.

• Solution Briefs are limited to a maximum of ten (10) pages or slides, excluding the coversheet or title page.

• Solution Briefs must be written in English.

• The period of performance for any Solution Brief or proposal should generally be no greater than twelve (12) months.

• Solution Briefs received after 22 April 2027 1600 EST will not be considered.

• Vendors must register on the VULCAN platform to submit solution briefs or proposals.

• Submitted materials may be reviewed by support contractors and Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) personnel operating under nondisclosure requirements.

The solicitation does not specify cost-share requirements.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

The solicitation requires a Solution Brief of up to ten pages or slides addressing:

• Capability description

• Technical alignment

• Technical maturity or TRL

• Company experience and past performance

• Production and sustainment approach

• Pricing structure

The solicitation does not specify an expected proposal preparation time.

How can BW&CO help?

BW&CO can support:

• Go/no-go assessment against the Army’s EMSO evaluation criteria

• Solution Brief development and narrative drafting

• Positioning around EMSO technical objectives, MOSA, SOSA, NGC2, and AI/ML requirements

• Pricing strategy development and ROM presentation

• Pitch Session and Vendor Technical Demonstration preparation

• Proposal and Statement of Work support for companies invited to Step 3

Review solicitation here.

Targeting RNA in Disease with Novel Technologies (TRDNT) Challenge

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

Executive Summary:

The NIH Targeting RNA in Disease with Novel Technologies (TRDNT) Challenge is seeking novel technologies that target endogenous RNA to address diseases driven by RNA dysfunction or difficult-to-drug protein targets. Unlike traditional grant programs, this is a prize competition that rewards promising concepts and technologies through multiple phases.

Phase I is focused on planning and proposal development. Applicants must describe a novel RNA-targeting technology, explain the health need it addresses, and provide a roadmap for developing the technology into a prototype in future phases.

The application deadline is July 15, 2026, at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. Companies and research teams developing innovative RNA-targeting approaches should evaluate this opportunity quickly, as Phase I winners may be well-positioned for anticipated future prize phases totaling up to $13.1 million.

How much funding would I receive?

Phase I (Currently Open)

• Up to $20,000 per winner

• Up to 25 winners

• Total Phase I prize pool: up to $500,000

Future Phases (Anticipated)

Phase II: Prototype Development and Use Case Demonstration

• Interim Milestone Prize: Up to $120,000 per winner

• Up to 25 winners

• Final Submission Prize: Up to $320,000 per winner

• Up to 15 winners

Phase III: Final Iteration and Technology Dissemination

• Winner Prize: Up to $525,000 per winner

• Up to 8 winners

• Runner-Up Prize: Up to $200,000 per winner

• Up to 3 winners

NIH states that the announcement of Phases II and III is discretionary and contingent upon the availability of appropriated funds.

What could I use the funding for?

Phase I funding supports development of a proposal for a novel RNA-targeting technology.

Applicants must submit:

• A description of the technology

• The significant health need it addresses

• An early-stage technical concept

• A development plan for future prototype creation

• A proposed use case demonstrating future therapeutic potential

The challenge is focused on technologies that target endogenous RNA in disease and may include:

• RNA-RNA binding protein (RBP) interaction technologies

• Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) targeting approaches

• RNA-protein interaction discovery platforms

• RNA-targeting small molecule screening technologies

• Technologies that modify aberrant RNA structures

Submissions are not limited to these examples but must align with the challenge goal.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

In addition to prize funding, participants may receive:

• Validation from NIH subject matter experts

• Visibility within the RNA therapeutics ecosystem

• Potential eligibility to participate in future challenge phases

• An opportunity to contribute technologies intended for broad scientific use

NIH also encourages winners to pursue future NIH funding opportunities, although no future funding is guaranteed.

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

Phase I Timeline

• Challenge Launch: January 30, 2026

• Submission Open: May 30, 2026

• Submission Deadline: July 15, 2026, at 11:59 PM Eastern Time

• Judging: July–August 2026

• Winners Announced: August 2026

Anticipated Future Phases

Phase II

• Launch: August 2026

• Interim Milestone Submission: November 2026–January 2027

• Interim Winners Announced: March 2027

• Final Submission: June–July 2027

• Final Winners Announced: October 2027

Phase III

• Launch: November 2027

• Submission Window: August–October 2028

• Winners Announced: January 2029

All future phase timelines are anticipated and subject to NIH discretion.

Where does this funding come from?

This challenge is funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Common Fund through the NIH Venture Program.

The program is administered through the NIH Office of the Director and is intended to support innovative technologies that address priorities shared across multiple NIH Institutes and Centers.

The challenge is conducted under the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010, as amended.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible participants include:

• Individuals

• Teams of individuals

• Startups

• Small businesses

• Mid-size businesses

• Large businesses

• Nonprofit organizations

• Academic institutions

• Independent research institutions

To be eligible for a prize:

• Individuals must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents

• Private entities must be incorporated in the United States and maintain a primary place of business in the United States

• Participants must be at least 18 years old

Federal employees acting within the scope of their employment are not eligible.

Non-U.S. citizens and non-permanent residents may participate on eligible teams but are not eligible to receive prize money.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

NIH states that highly competitive submissions will:

• Target endogenous RNA to treat disease

• Address unmet medical needs

• Demonstrate relevance across multiple diseases

• Present innovative and novel approaches

• Avoid well-established and widely utilized technologies

• Provide sufficient technical detail to support future prototyping

• Demonstrate a realistic development plan

• Identify potential development risks and mitigation strategies

• Show that the team possesses, or can quickly obtain, the expertise required for execution

Phase I judging emphasizes:

• Potential clinical impact (30%)

• Novelty of the proposed solution (30%)

• Likelihood that the team can successfully develop the technology (30%)

• Completeness of the submission (10%)

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

Key restrictions include:

• Only technologies targeting endogenous RNA are considered competitive.

• Standard RNA therapeutic programs are not the focus unless they specifically target endogenous RNA in a manner aligned with challenge goals.

• Federal contractors may not use federal contract funds to support submissions.

• Participants using federal grant, cooperative agreement, or OT award funding must comply with applicable federal requirements.

• NIH receives a royalty-free, nonexclusive worldwide license to reproduce, publish, post, link to, share, and publicly display submissions.

• Participants retain their intellectual property rights.

• Winning technologies are expected to be made publicly available to the scientific community in future phases.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

Applicants should expect a moderate preparation effort.

Phase I requires:

• A Title and Executive Summary

• A written proposal of up to 10 pages

• A development roadmap

• Technical concept documentation

• Discussion of expertise, resources, and potential development challenges

• References

For teams with an existing RNA-targeting technology concept, preparation may primarily involve organizing technical and commercialization plans. For earlier-stage concepts, additional time may be required to develop a credible prototype development strategy.

The solicitation does not specify an expected preparation timeline.

How can BW&CO help?

BW&CO can support applicants by:

• Assessing alignment with NIH's RNA-targeting objectives

• Positioning the technology against the evaluation criteria

• Developing a compelling clinical impact narrative

• Strengthening technical concept documentation

• Building a clear prototype development roadmap

• Identifying and addressing reviewer concerns

• Preparing submission materials for compliance with challenge requirements

• Managing the overall application process from kickoff through submission

Review solicitation here.

ARPA-H | BRAIN REPAIR OF ANY INJURED NEURAL STRUCTURE | BRAINS | HEALTH SCIENCE FUTURES | ARPA-H-SOL-26-148

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

Executive Summary:

ARPA-H’s Brain Repair of Any Injured Neural Structure (BRAINS) program is seeking breakthrough approaches to regenerate and replace damaged brain tissue in regions outside the neocortex and spinal cord. The goal is to develop technologies that can generate region-specific precursor brain tissue and demonstrate surgical engraftment into damaged brain regions, laying the groundwork for future therapies that restore lost neurological function.

This opportunity is designed for ambitious teams pursuing transformative—not incremental—approaches to brain repair. ARPA-H specifically seeks technologies that could enable replacement of damaged tissue in brain regions such as the hippocampus, amygdala, thalamus, hypothalamus, striatum, substantia nigra, brainstem, and cerebellum. Proposals focused on the neocortex or spinal cord will not be reviewed.

There are two application cycles. The first application deadline is July 9th, 2026, 5:00 PM Eastern Time for Solution Summaries. The second application deadline is January 7th, 2027, 5:00 PM Eastern Time for Solution Summaries.

How much funding would I receive?

ARPA-H anticipates:

• Phase I awards of $500,000 per team per Technical Area (TA)

• The possibility of an additional $500,000 per team per TA for Phase II

The solicitation also states that ARPA-H intends to negotiate multiple Other Transaction (OT) Agreements with selected performers.

The total number of awards is not specified.

What could I use the funding for?

Funding is intended to support projects addressing one or both of the following Technical Areas:

TA1: Defining and generating precursor tissue for any brain region

• Characterization of natural precursor tissue

• Identification of cellular and extracellular components

• Generation of human iPSC-derived precursor cells

• Development and validation of precursor tissue generation methods

TA2: Optimizing surgical engraftment of precursor tissue

• Development of transplantation methods

• Demonstration of graft survival and vascularization

• Demonstration of tissue maturation, structure, and connectivity in animal models

Projects must address all milestones and metrics associated with either one Technical Area or both.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

The solicitation states that selected performers may receive:

• Funding through an Other Transaction (OT) Agreement structure.

• Direct engagement with ARPA-H program leadership through:

  • Monthly technical status reporting

  • Monthly meetings with the ARPA-H Program Manager

  • Potential site visits and technical reviews by ARPA-H personnel throughout performance.

No other additional benefits are specified.

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

BRAINS has two intake groups. Applicants must first submit a Solution Summary and, if encouraged by ARPA-H, may then submit a Full Proposal.

Intake Group 1

• Solution Summaries Due: July 9th, 2026, 5:00 PM

• Full Proposals Due: August 6th, 2026, 5:00 PM

Intake Group 2

• Solution Summaries Due: January 7th, 2027, 5:00 PM

• Full Proposals Due: February 6th, 2027, 5:00 PM

Program structure:

• 18-month project duration

• Two 9-month phases

• Down-select at the end of Phase I based on milestone achievement.

The solicitation does not specify when award decisions will be made or when funding will be received.

Where does this funding come from?

This funding comes from the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H). The federal agency listed in the solicitation is ARPA-H.

Program title:
Brain Repair of Any Injured Neural Structure (BRAINS).

Who is eligible to apply?

The solicitation states that all responsible sources capable of satisfying the Government’s needs may submit a proposal. Eligible organizations include:

• Universities

• Non-profit organizations

• Small businesses

• Other than small businesses (large businesses)

ARPA-H states that early career investigators are preferred.

Additional eligibility requirements include:

• Active SAM.gov registration.

• Work conducted in the United States is prioritized.

• Non-U.S. entities may participate subject to applicable restrictions.

Ineligible entities include:

• Organizations currently providing contracted support services to ARPA-H where an unmitigable OCI exists.

• FFRDCs and Government entities acting as prime or sub-performers, except under limited circumstances described in the solicitation.

• Covered foreign entities and other restricted organizations identified in the solicitation.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

Based on the stated evaluation criteria, ARPA-H is looking for projects that are:

• Innovative, feasible, and technically strong.

• Led by teams with demonstrated expertise and relevant experience.

• Capable of transforming biomedicine and addressing unmet medical needs.

• Positioned for future research, commercial, and/or clinical impact.

• Pursuing revolutionary approaches rather than incremental improvements.

The solicitation specifically states that ARPA-H seeks approaches that will generate precursor tissue capable of restoring function in damaged brain regions and demonstrate successful engraftment in preclinical models.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

The solicitation specifically excludes proposals that:

• Offer incremental improvements to the current state-of-the-art.

• Use human embryos.

• Use human fetal tissue.

• Do not address the objectives of the BRAINS Exploratory Topic.

Additional restrictions include:

• Proposals addressing the neocortex or spinal cord will not be reviewed.

• Cell-based and state-of-the-art organoid approaches will not be considered.

• Research must comply with applicable HHS stem cell policies and regulations.

• HHS funds may not be used for dangerous gain-of-function research.

• Various research security, foreign participation, and organizational conflict-of-interest requirements apply.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

The application process requires:

Step 1

• A mandatory Solution Summary submission limited to three pages (excluding permitted attachments).

Step 2

• A Full Proposal if encouraged by ARPA-H. The Full Proposal includes:

  • Technical and Management Proposal

  • Cost Proposal

  • Administrative and Policy Requirements Submission

  • Supporting schedules, milestones, and compliance documentation.

The solicitation does not specify the expected preparation time required to develop an application.

How can BW&CO help?

BW&CO can support applicants by:

• Assessing fit with BRAINS technical objectives and evaluation criteria.

• Developing the Solution Summary.

• Building the technical narrative, milestones, and commercialization positioning.

• Structuring budgets and proposal volumes.

• Coordinating subcontractors and proposal compliance.

• Managing submission through the ARPA-H process.

Review solicitation here.

NIH Highlighted Topic: Biomarker Discovery and Validation for Alcohol-Related Cardiovascular Diseases

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

Executive Summary:

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is encouraging innovative research proposals focused on discovering and validating biomarkers for alcohol-related cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases (CVD). This highlighted topic supports multidisciplinary projects designed to improve early detection, risk prediction, disease phenotyping, prognosis, and mechanistic understanding of how alcohol exposure contributes to cardiovascular injury and disease progression.

NIH recognizes that alcohol-related cardiovascular disease is frequently underdiagnosed because current clinical assessments, imaging approaches, and commonly used biomarkers lack specificity for alcohol-associated pathology. The initiative is particularly interested in projects that distinguish alcohol-related disease mechanisms from non-alcohol-related or mixed etiologies using advanced biomarker strategies, AI-enabled analytics, multimodal datasets, and longitudinal population studies.

Companies developing cardiovascular biomarker platforms, AI-powered diagnostic systems, digital health monitoring technologies, predictive analytics tools, imaging technologies, EHR-integrated clinical analytics systems, or precision medicine platforms may be strong candidates for funding.

Areas of interest include alcohol-associated hypertension, atrial fibrillation, alcoholic cardiomyopathy, ischemic heart disease, ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, multimodal biomarker discovery, molecular phenotyping, digital biomarkers, imaging biomarkers, causal inference modeling, and sex-specific disease susceptibility analysis. NIH is also encouraging projects leveraging longitudinal cohorts, electronic health records (EHRs), Mendelian randomization, machine learning, and integrated multi-omics datasets to improve cardiovascular disease characterization and clinical translation.

Funding is available through the NIH SBIR/STTR Program, which currently provides up to approximately $323,090 for Phase I projects and up to $2,153,927 for Phase II projects, with opportunities for additional commercialization and follow-on funding depending on project scope and translational impact.

This highlighted topic is supported primarily by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), which is seeking transformative innovations that improve alcohol-related cardiovascular disease detection, biomarker science, precision diagnostics, risk stratification, and individualized prevention and treatment strategies.

How much funding would I receive?

Awards provide up to $323,090 for Phase I projects (up to 2 years) and $2,153,927 for Phase II projects (up to 3 years). Some topics approved by NIH may exceed these limits. Fast-Track and Phase IIB (follow-on) options allow continuous or extended funding beyond Phase II.

What could I use the funding for?

Funding may support the research, development, validation, and commercialization of cardiovascular biomarker technologies, AI analytics systems, precision diagnostics, digital monitoring tools, and translational cardiovascular research platforms related to alcohol-associated cardiovascular disease.

Eligible activities may include:

• AI and machine learning platforms for alcohol-related cardiovascular disease risk prediction

• Biomarker discovery and validation technologies for alcohol-associated cardiovascular injury

• Multi-omics and systems biology analytics platforms

• Digital biomarker and wearable cardiovascular monitoring systems

• Imaging biomarkers and advanced cardiovascular imaging technologies

• EHR-integrated cardiovascular analytics and phenotyping platforms

• Precision diagnostics distinguishing alcohol-related versus non-alcohol-related CVD

• Predictive analytics for ischemic stroke, atrial fibrillation, hypertension, and cardiomyopathy

• Longitudinal cohort analysis and causal inference modeling systems

• Mendelian randomization and population health analytics technologies

• Sex-specific cardiovascular disease susceptibility and progression research platforms

• Prognostic biomarker development for disease progression and treatment response

• Clinical decision support systems for cardiovascular risk management

• Remote patient monitoring and cardiovascular digital health technologies

• Molecular pathway analysis and translational cardiovascular therapeutics research

• Integrated imaging, molecular, physiological, and digital biomarker platforms

• Prototype development, translational studies, and clinical validation research

• Commercialization planning, regulatory preparation, and manufacturing scale-up activities

Funding may also support personnel, laboratory testing, software engineering, cloud infrastructure, AI model development, cardiovascular imaging research, bioinformatics analysis, longitudinal cohort analytics, clinical trial preparation, wearable integration, intellectual property protection, regulatory strategy, and commercialization activities necessary to advance a scalable and commercially viable cardiovascular or digital health solution aligned with NIH priorities.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

Beyond the formal funding award, awardees gain several strategic advantages:

• Government Validation and Credibility:
  Being selected for an NIH-backed SBIR grant signals technical excellence and alignment with national health and biomedical priorities. This validation builds investor and partner confidence.

• Enhanced Visibility and Market Recognition:
  Awardees are featured in NIH and HHS announcements, helping attract partnerships, media attention, and future contracting opportunities.

• Access to the Federal Innovation Ecosystem:
  Recipients join a national network of researchers and agencies advancing life science innovation, often opening doors to collaborations with NIH laboratories and federal health programs.

• Stronger Commercial and Exit Potential:
  By maturing technology through nondilutive funding, companies strengthen valuation, de-risk commercialization, and increase attractiveness for acquisition or follow-on private investment.

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

Applications are accepted each year on January 5th, April 5th, and September 5th. Funding is received approximately 9 months after submission.

Where does this funding come from?

Funding comes from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, with statutory set-asides requiring NIH, CDC, and FDA to devote portions of their extramural R&D budgets (3.2% for SBIR, 0.45% for STTR) to support small business innovation.

Who is eligible to apply?

Applicants must be U.S. small business concerns (SBCs) that:

• Are organized for profit with a U.S. place of business.

• Have ≤ 500 employees including affiliates.

• Are > 50% owned by U.S. citizens or permanent residents, qualifying U.S. entities, or combinations thereof.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

Projects that demonstrate:

• A clear unmet medical or public-health need,

• Strong scientific rationale and feasibility,

• High commercialization potential, supported by a realistic market and regulatory strategy, and

• Alignment with an NIH Institute’s or CDC/FDA Center’s specific research mission (e.g., infectious disease, digital health, diagnostics, therapeutics, or data analytics).

Competitive applicants often have an early prototype, preliminary data, and a defined path to market adoption.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

• Companies must complete multiple federal registrations (SAM.gov, Grants.gov, eRA Commons, SBA Company Registry) before applying.

• Foreign entities are not eligible.

• Disclosure of foreign affiliations and compliance with national security screening are mandatory. Currently we do not recommend any sort of foreign affiliation.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

For a first-time applicant, preparing a competitive submission will likely take 120–200 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.

Review solicitation here.