Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)/Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Program

Quick Summary

The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) is issuing a Presolicitation for its Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)/Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Program. This opportunity, under Solicitation Number 75N99226R00002, seeks proposals from small business concerns (SBCs) with R&D expertise to conduct innovative research aligned with ARPA-H's mission and SBIR/STTR objectives. The program aims to stimulate technological innovation, strengthen small business involvement in federal R&D, foster participation by disadvantaged and women-owned businesses, and increase the commercialization of innovations. This is a Total Small Business Set-Aside.

Scope of Work

ARPA-H anticipates including seven specific research topics:

• ARPA-H 01: Development of an annual diagnostic test to inform women about their future fertility by discovering new biomarkers.
• ARPA-H 02: Creation of versatile bioadhesives, specifically surgical glues with antimicrobial properties, controllable reversibility, degradability, and tissue/organ agnostic application.
• ARPA-H 03: Development of a Universal Platform for Living Adaptive Toxin-removal (UNI-PLAT), a 'plug-and-play' synthetic biology platform for programmable microbial chassis.
• ARPA-H 04: Advancement of the first curative, non-invasive, long-lasting therapy for endometriosis, focusing on reducing/deactivating lesions and preventing regrowth with precise specificity.
• ARPA-H 05: The ARPA-H Lineage Topic, supporting the advancement and commercialization of technologies originating from ARPA-H funded efforts.
• ARPA-H 06: Development of a rapid, comprehensive diagnostic test for multi-system autoimmune disease, focusing on novel assays to detect tissue-specific signatures.
• ARPA-H 07: Creation of a virtual human brain for the development of neurosurgical robotics, aiming for a high-resolution, physically and anatomically accurate model for AI-assisted intracranial microsurgery.

Contract & Timeline

• Opportunity Type: Presolicitation
• Solicitation Number: 75N99226R00002
• Contract Type: Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP) awards for Phase I, Direct-to-Phase II, and Fast Track.
• Set-Aside: Total Small Business Set-Aside (FAR 19.5)
• Anticipated Availability: TBD on SAM.gov
• Anticipated Closing Date: TBD (Response Date in metadata is May 7, 2026, but the description indicates TBD for the closing date of the solicitation itself).
• Published Date: April 22, 2026
• Place of Performance: Washington, DC (Agency location)

Submission & Evaluation

Proposals will follow a two-stage process: Stage 1 (Solution Summary) and Stage 2 (Technical Presentation). Templates are provided for key submission documents:

• Solution Summary: Max 4 pages (plus additional pages for Feasibility/Commercialization if applicable), covering project overview, technical solution, activities, milestones, and relevance.
• Technical Presentation: Max 16 slides, 50 minutes total (20 min presentation, 30 min Q&A). Requires a Task Description Document (TDD), GANTT chart, and cost proposal.
• Evaluation Criteria: Technical merit, technical novelty, team and relevant expertise, path to impact and health outcomes, and cost. Heilmeier Questions are provided as prompts.
• Eligibility: Small Business Concerns (SBCs) must meet specific criteria (e.g., <= 500 employees, U.S. ownership) and be registered in the SBA Company Registry and SAM.gov.

Additional Notes

This is a DRAFT solicitation and all information is subject to change. Important dates (Proposer's Day, Deadline for Questions, Solution Summary Deadlines) are TBD. ARPA-H encourages proposers to check for updates and offers commercialization support, including an Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) program. Any submissions at this presolicitation stage will not be considered.