Autonomous Interventions and Robotics (AIR) Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H)

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This solicitation (ARPA-H-SOL-26-146), titled "Innovative Solutions Opening for Autonomous Interventions and Robotics (AIR)," seeks proposals to develop autonomous robotic surgery systems. The program aims to advance robotic surgery for both endovascular procedures (Technical Area 1) and microbots (Technical Area 2), with the ultimate goal of making these interventions more accessible and less invasive.

Technical Area 1 (TA1): Autonomous Endovascular Robotics

• TA1-A: Develop autonomous endovascular robotic systems for procedures like diagnostic imaging, embolization, and thrombectomy. Systems should include robotic control, navigation algorithms, and treatment delivery devices. Teams must include at least one endovascular neurosurgeon. Proposers can apply to TA1-A or TA1-B, but not both.
• TA1-B: Develop an in silico simulation environment and a medical imaging dataset to support TA1-A development, validation, and regulatory approval. This includes creating a virtual testbed for robot navigation and task performance.

Technical Area 2 (TA2): Microbots

• Develop untethered, autonomous surgical microbots (200 nm to 2 cm) for interventional procedures such as biopsy and ablation. Teams must define a target clinical indication and demonstrate microbot capabilities. Solutions proposing only chemical or biological components without a mechanical/electronic component are not eligible.

• Anticipated Awards: Multiple Other Transaction (OT) Agreements.

• Period of Performance: 5 years (2-year Phase 1, 3-year Phase 2).

• Submission Process: Two-step process: Solution Summary submission, followed by Full Proposal submission (if encouraged).

• 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

• Evaluation Criteria:

  1. Overall Scientific and Technical Merit
  2. Proposer's Capabilities and/or Related Experience
  3. Assessment of Proposed Cost/Price

• Eligible sources include universities, non-profit organizations, small businesses, and other than small businesses.

• FFRDCs and Government entities are not permitted to respond as prime or sub-performer.

• ARPA-H prioritizes awards to entities conducting work in the United States.

• Proposers must have an active registration in SAM.gov.

• Teams may be prime for one technical area and subcontractor for another, but cannot be prime for both TA1-A and TA1-B.

• A Proposers' Day will be held on December 16, 2025.

• Questions must be submitted via the provided link. Q&As will be posted on the ARPA-H ISO Website and SAM.gov.

Amendment / Modification

This document is Amendment #01 to the "Innovative Solutions Opening for Autonomous Interventions and Robotics (AIR)" solicitation (ARPA-H-SOL-26-146). The amendment was issued on December 11, 2025.

This amendment modifies the original solicitation. Specific details of the changes are not provided in the initial pages of the document, but it is indicated as Amendment #01.

This amendment may impact proposal deadlines, requirements, or evaluation factors. Proposers should refer to the full amendment details for specific changes.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This solicitation (ARPA-H-SOL-26-146) is for an Innovative Solutions Opening (ISO) for the Autonomous Interventions and Robotics (AIR) program. The program aims to develop autonomous robotic surgery, focusing on two technical areas: Technical Area 1 (TA1) for endovascular robotics and Technical Area 2 (TA2) for microbots. The ultimate goal is to make interventions more accessible and less invasive.

Technical Area 1 (TA1): Autonomous Endovascular Robotics

• TA1-A: Endovascular Interventional Robotic Systems: Develop autonomous robotic systems for procedures like 3D angiographic imaging, embolization, and mechanical thrombectomy. Key components include navigation devices, robotic driving mechanisms, software for planning, intra-operative imaging, and treatment delivery devices. Autonomous blood vessel access is out of scope.

• TA1-B: Endovascular Interventional Simulation Environment: Create a simulation environment and a medical imaging dataset to train robots and validate systems. This includes anatomical models, a fluoroscopy imaging simulator, and a virtual testbed for navigation and clinical tasks. Technical Area 2 (TA2): Microbots

• Develop untethered, autonomous surgical microbots (200 nm to 2 cm) for interventional procedures. Teams must define a target clinical indication. Acceptable functions include tissue extraction/biopsy, energy delivery, cargo delivery, and tissue destruction. Ingestible imaging GI microbots are acceptable, but purely chemical or biological solutions are not.

• Anticipated Awards: Multiple Other Transaction (OT) Agreements.

• Period of Performance: Five years, divided into a two-year Phase 1 and a three-year Phase 2.

• Submission Process: Two steps: 1) Submit Solution Summary, 2) Submit Full Proposals. Full proposals include four volumes: Technical and Management, Cost, Administrative & National Policy, and Draft OT Response.

• 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 30, 2026

• Evaluation Criteria: 1) Overall Scientific and Technical Merit, 2) Proposer's Capabilities and/or Related Experience, 3) Assessment of Proposed Cost/Price.

• All responsible sources are eligible, including universities, non-profit organizations, and small/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).

• Awards will prioritize entities conducting funded work in the United States.

• Proposers must have an active registration in SAM.gov.

• ARPA-H encourages proposals that are high-risk and high-reward.

• FDA collaboration is included for regulatory assessment of autonomous robotic interventions.