Autonomous Interventions and Robotics (AIR) Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H)
Overview
Buyer
Place of Performance
NAICS
PSC
Set Aside
Original Source
Timeline
Qualification Details
Fit reasons
- NAICS alignment with historical contract wins in similar service areas.
- Scope strongly matches core technical capabilities and delivery model.
Risks
- Past performance thresholds may require one additional teaming partner.
- Potential clarification needed on staffing minimums before bid/no-bid.
Next steps
Validate eligibility requirements, assign capture owner, and schedule partner outreach to confirm teaming strategy before submission planning.
Quick Summary
The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) has issued an Innovative Solutions Opening (ISO) for its Autonomous Interventions and Robotics (AIR) Program. This solicitation seeks proposals for the development of autonomous robotic surgery systems, focusing on endovascular procedures and microbots. The goal is to enhance accessibility and reduce invasiveness of medical interventions. Solution Summaries are due January 26, 2026, and Full Proposals are due March 18, 2026.
Purpose
ARPA-H's AIR program aims to drive the development of autonomous robotic surgery systems. This ISO (ARPA-H-SOL-26-146) targets two primary technical areas: autonomous endovascular robotics and surgical microbots, with the overarching objective of revolutionizing interventional medicine.
Scope of Work
Proposals are sought for two technical areas:
- Technical Area 1 (TA1): Autonomous Endovascular Robotics
- TA1-A: Endovascular Interventional Robotic Systems: Develop autonomous robotic systems for procedures such as diagnostic imaging, embolization, and mechanical thrombectomy. Teams must include at least one endovascular neurosurgeon.
- TA1-B: Endovascular Interventional Simulation Environment: Create an in silico simulation environment and a medical imaging dataset to support the development, validation, and regulatory approval of TA1-A systems.
- Note: Proposers can apply to either TA1-A or TA1-B, but not both as a prime.
- Technical Area 2 (TA2): Microbots
- Develop untethered, autonomous surgical microbots (200 nm to 2 cm) for interventional procedures like biopsy and ablation. Proposers must define a target clinical indication. Solutions consisting solely of chemical or biological components without a mechanical/electronic component are not eligible.
Contract & Timeline
- Contract Type: Multiple Other Transaction (OT) Agreements.
- Period of Performance: Five years, structured into a two-year Phase 1 and a three-year Phase 2.
- Key Deadlines:
- Proposer's Day: December 16, 2025
- Q&A Due Date: January 20, 2026
- Solution Summaries Due: January 26, 2026
- Full Proposals Due: March 18, 2026
- Latest Amendment Published: February 24, 2026
Eligibility & Set-Aside
This is an open competition with no specific set-aside. All responsible sources are eligible, including universities, non-profit organizations, small businesses, and other than small businesses. Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) and other Government entities are prohibited from responding as prime or sub-performers. Entities currently providing contracted support services to ARPA-H are ineligible due to potential organizational conflicts of interest (OCI). ARPA-H prioritizes awards to entities conducting funded work in the United States.
Evaluation
Proposals will be evaluated based on:
- Overall Scientific and Technical Merit
- Proposer's Capabilities and/or Related Experience
- Assessment of Proposed Cost/Price
Additional Notes
Proposers must have an active registration in SAM.gov. ARPA-H encourages high-risk, high-reward proposals and includes FDA collaboration for regulatory assessment. Teams may be prime for one technical area and subcontractor for another, but cannot be prime for both TA1-A and TA1-B.