Scalable Solutions Office (SSO) Mission Office Innovative Solutions Opening (ISO)
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), under the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has issued an Innovative Solutions Opening (ISO) for its Scalable Solutions Office (SSO). This ISO seeks solution summaries and proposals for projects that leverage interdisciplinary approaches and collaborative networks to address critical challenges in healthcare access, affordability, distribution, manufacturing, data, and information. The goal is to improve health outcomes, particularly in underserved communities and remote areas. Proposals are accepted until March 5, 2029.
Scope of Opportunity
The SSO aims to expand technical possibilities by developing innovative approaches to overcome geographical, distribution, manufacturing, and data-related bottlenecks that hinder timely and quality healthcare. This includes addressing disparities in health outcomes and delays in the availability of health technologies. The opportunity falls under Health R&D Services; Health Care Services; Experimental Development (PSC: AN13).
Key Amendment 3 Changes
Amendment 3, effective immediately, significantly updates several proposal documents. Offerors who have submitted a solution summary but not a proposal will have their proposal evaluated under these updated terms.
- Administrative & National Policy Requirements Document: Updates to Organizational Conflicts of Interest (OCI), Research Security Disclosure, and Intellectual Property (IP) sections, including new definitions and a consolidated data assertions chart. The "Software Component Standards" section has been eliminated. Human Subjects Research (HSR), Animal Subjects Research (ASR), and Biosecurity sections also received updates.
- Cost Proposal Document: Clarified definitions for "burdened labor rate" and "fully burdened labor rate." The threshold for providing supporting documentation for planned materials and equipment purchases increased from $5,000 to $10,000.
- Cost Proposal Workbooks: Instructions updated regarding profit/fee (ARPA-H assumes not applicable if not included) and supporting documentation for materials/equipment (reflecting the new $10,000 threshold).
Submission Requirements & Deadlines
- Solution Summary Template: Bidders must use Appendix A - ARPA-H Solutions Summary Template-Amend-3.docx, which dictates the structure, content, and formatting. Submissions are limited to six (6) pages.
- Submission Portals:
- Solution Summary Submissions:
https://solutions.arpa-h.gov - Proposal Submissions:
https://solutions.arpa-h.gov/Submit-Proposal/ - Questions:
https://solutions.arpa-h.gov/Ask-A-Question/
- Solution Summary Submissions:
- Closing Date: March 5, 2029. Questions may be asked while the solicitation is open.
- Set-Aside: None specified.
Evaluation
The SSO_MO_ISO_AMEND_3.pdf indicates a formal "Solution Summary Review Process" and "Evaluation Criteria for Award" will be applied, as detailed in Section 5.0 of the solicitation.