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

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) from the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) solicits proposals from small businesses for research and development projects under the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. The goal is to accelerate health outcomes by supporting high-impact solutions to challenging health problems. ARPA-H seeks novel approaches for revolutionary advances, excluding incremental research.

Proposals should focus on specific research topics outlined in Section 8. ARPA-H emphasizes commercialization and transition. Projects are organized into Phase I (Feasibility) and Phase II (Full R&D). Specific deliverables and reporting requirements are detailed, including quarterly reports and commercialization plans.

Awards will be made on a Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP) basis. This solicitation accepts proposals for Phase I, Direct-to-Phase II, and Fast Track awards.

Submissions follow a two-stage process: Stage 1 (Solution Summary) and Stage 2 (Technical Presentation). Solution Summaries are due by TBD for specific topics. Technical merit, novelty, team experience, path to impact, and cost are key evaluation criteria. Proposers must submit via the ARPA-H Solutions site.

Eligible proposers must be Small Business Concerns (SBCs) meeting specific criteria (e.g., <= 500 employees, U.S. ownership, specific work distribution for SBIR/STTR). Registration in SBA Company Registry and SAM.gov is required. Disclosures of foreign affiliations are mandatory.

This document is a DRAFT and subject to change. Important dates (Proposer's Day, Deadline for Questions, Solution Summary Deadlines) are TBD. Proposers are encouraged to check for updates. ARPA-H offers commercialization support, including an Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) program.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a template for a Task Description Document (TDD). It is intended to guide offerors in detailing their proposed tasks to fulfill the objectives and requirements of a solicitation. Bidders should use this template to describe their approach, responsibilities, deliverables, and project milestones.

• Project Description: A brief overview of the project's objectives, aims, and background.
• Tasks: Detailed descriptions of each proposed task, including:
  • Approach to accomplish the task.
  • Organization responsible for execution.
  • Location(s) where work will be performed.
  • Technical deliverables and associated Intellectual Property (IP) assertions.
  • Identification of human subjects or animal research.
  • Estimated budget for the task.
  • Measurable milestones with associated risks and mitigations.

This template is crucial for bidders to understand the required format and content for outlining their technical approach and project plan. It ensures that all necessary details regarding task execution, deliverables, timelines, and potential risks are clearly communicated to the Government. Adhering to this template will help bidders create a comprehensive and compliant proposal.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document provides a template and guidance for pre-award technical presentations for the FY26 Small Business Program. It outlines the structure, content requirements, and evaluation criteria for these presentations.

• Slide Limit: Maximum of 16 slides (excluding title slides).
• Suggested Slide Breakdown: Guidance provided for sections like Technical Merit & Novelty (3 slides), Technical Risk & Mitigation (2 slides), Project Timeline (3 slides), Team (2 slides), Commercialization Plan (2-3 slides), and High-Level Project Overview (1 slide).
• Presentation Length: Limited to 50 minutes (20 min presentation, 30 min Q&A).
• Submission Requirements: In addition to the presentation, bidders must submit a Task Description Document (TDD), GANTT chart, and cost proposal.
• Evaluation Criteria: Presentations will be evaluated on Technical Merit, Technical Novelty, Team & Relevant Expertise, and Path to Impact and Health Outcomes.
• Heilmeier Questions: Specific ARPA-H Heilmeier questions are provided as prompts for key sections (Technical Merit, Technical Risk, Project Timeline, Commercialization Plan).
• Format: High-quality graphs and visuals are encouraged. Presentations can be in-person, hybrid, or virtual, as determined by ARPA-H.

This template is crucial for bidders preparing their pre-award presentations. It dictates the required content, structure, length, and evaluation focus, directly impacting proposal strategy and success. Bidders must adhere to the slide limits, content guidelines, and submission requirements to ensure their presentation is evaluated appropriately.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is an Excel spreadsheet template designed for bidders to submit their cost proposals. It includes various sheets for detailing labor rates, materials, equipment, travel, other direct costs (ODCs), consultants, and subcontractors, culminating in Phase I and Phase II cost summaries.

• Proposal Data: Collects basic information about the prime contractor and subcontractors, and defines the periods of performance for Phase I and Phase II.
• Labor Rates (Sheet A): Requires entry of labor categories, names/comments, hourly rates, and indication of key personnel for both Phase I and Phase II.
• Materials/Supplies (Sheet B): For itemizing materials and supplies with quantities, unit prices, and total costs, including a Basis of Estimate (BoE) for items over $1,000.
• Equipment (Sheet C): For detailing equipment with descriptions, quantities, unit prices, and total costs, including a BoE for items over $5,000.
• Travel (Sheet D): A comprehensive section for detailing travel costs, including purpose, origin, destination, number of people/days, airfare, lodging, per diem, car rental, mileage, and conference fees.
• ODCs (Sheet E): For listing and costing other direct costs not covered in other categories.
• Consultants (Sheet F): For detailing consultant costs, including description, quantity, unit price, and total cost.
• Subcontractors (Sheet G): For itemizing subcontractor costs, including labor categories, rates, quantities, and total prices.
• Phase I & Phase II Summary Sheets: Consolidate cost data from the preceding sheets to present a total cost proposal for each phase.

This template is essential for bidders to structure and submit their cost proposals in a format required by the government. It guides the detailed breakdown of all anticipated costs, including direct labor, subcontracts, consultants, materials, equipment, travel, and other direct costs, across the defined periods of performance for Phase I and Phase II. Bidders must accurately complete the green-filled cells as instructed to ensure their cost proposal is complete and compliant.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a template for submitting a Solution Summary for ARPA-H's Small Business Program. It outlines the required format and content for proposals, particularly for Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs.

• Formatting: 11 pt font, minimum 0.5” margins, convert to PDF. Cover Page is not part of the 4-page limit. Charts and figures are permitted.
• Cover Page Information: Proposed Project Title, Topic # and Title, Phase (I, Direct to Phase II, Fast Track), Program (SBIR/STTR), Applicant Organization Name, UEI, and Partner Organizations.
• Solution Summary Content (Max 4 pages):
  • Brief overview of the proposed project and technology.
  • Description of the technical solution, challenges, and innovations.
  • Key activities and milestones.
  • Relevance of the technology and approach to the topic.
• Feasibility Statement (Required for Direct-to-Phase II only - Max 1 additional page): Scientific basis and evidence of project success.
• Commercialization Plan Statement (Required for Direct-to-Phase II or Fast-Track only - Max 1 additional page): Strategy, customers/markets, and transition challenges.

This template is crucial for potential bidders applying to ARPA-H's small business programs. It dictates the structure, content, and length requirements for their proposals, ensuring they address the Technical Merit and Technical Novelty evaluation criteria. Bidders must adhere to these guidelines for their submissions to be considered.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document provides a template for a Gantt chart, which is used for project scheduling and milestone tracking. It includes sections for technical tasks and milestones, as well as a Gantt chart visualization.

• Technical Tasks & Milestones Sheet: Contains columns for Work Breakdown Structure (WBS), Task/Milestone Title, Task/Milestone Description, Start Quarter (Start Q), End Quarter (End Q), Baseline Start Date, and Baseline End Date. It also indicates a project start date of 2024-01-01.
• Gantt Chart Sheet: Includes columns for WBS, Task/Milestone Title, a Go/No-Go indicator (G/N), Start Date, End Date, and a detailed quarterly breakdown (Quarters 1-24). It also contains fields for Lead Org, Title, Start Date, and Version.

This template is provided to help bidders understand the expected project timeline and structure. Bidders may be expected to use this template or a similar format to present their proposed project schedule, including key tasks, milestones, and their durations, aligned with the government's project start date and overall schedule framework.