One Comprehensive Universal Radiotherapy for Everyone (1-CURE)
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 the One Comprehensive Universal Radiotherapy for Everyone (1-CURE) Program. This solicitation seeks revolutionary radiotherapy (RT) approaches for all cancers, integrating ultra-high dose rate (FLASH)-RT with multifunctional immunogenic smart radiotherapy biomaterials (SRBs) to boost the abscopal effect and achieve universal curative treatment. Solution Summaries are due April 15, 2026, and Full Proposals are due May 22, 2026.
Scope of Work
The program is divided into two Technical Areas (TAs), and proposals must address both:
- TA1: Immunogenic Nanoparticle SRBs: Develop multi-functional nanoparticle SRBs to guide FLASH-RT, enhance abscopal responses, and deliver immunoadjuvants.
- TA2: Abscopal Treatment Planning System (ATPS): Create an ATPS that integrates FLASH-RT and immunogenic SRBs for effective abscopal responses (>90%) with minimal toxicities.
Contract & Timeline
- Type: Multiple Other Transaction (OT) Agreements.
- Duration: 60 months, structured into three phases (Phase I: 18 months, Phase II: 18 months, Phase III: 24 months).
- Set-Aside: None specified. Eligible proposers include universities, non-profit organizations, small businesses, and other than small businesses. Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) and other Government entities are prohibited. For-profit organizations not qualifying as small businesses require a meaningful cost share.
- Key Deadlines:
- Questions & Answers (Q&A) due: April 8, 2026
- Solution Summaries due: April 15, 2026
- Full Proposals due: May 22, 2026
- Published Date: April 29, 2026 (Amendment 3)
Submission Requirements
The submission process involves an optional Proposers' Day, a mandatory Solution Summary (limited to 4 pages, excluding cover page and other specific sections, using Appendix A guidelines), followed by a Full Proposal for selected teams (structured into four volumes: Technical and Management, Cost, Administrative and Policy, and Draft OT Response, using Appendix B guidelines). Proposers must utilize templates for cost proposals (Appendix J), Gantt charts (Appendix K), and a Task Description Document (Appendix D). Key attachments include a Dangerous Gain of Function Assessment (Appendix H), Data Management and Sharing Plan (Appendix E), and a Security Attestation Form (Appendix G). Appendix F (Administrative & National Policy Requirements), revised by Amendment 3, details critical disclosures for OCI, research security, IP, HSR/ASR, cybersecurity, and biosecurity. Biographical Common Form, Current and Pending Support Common Form, and Collaborators and Other Affiliations attachments may be provided during the negotiation phase.
Evaluation Criteria
Proposals will be evaluated based on:
- Overall Scientific and Technical Merit
- Proposer's Capabilities and/or Related Experience
- Potential Contribution to Relevance to the ARPA-H Mission and User Experience
- Price/Cost
Important Notes
Proposers are encouraged to review the separate Special Notice, ARPA-H-SN-26-152, for information regarding the 1-CURE Proposers’ Day. All questions and answers will be posted to the 1-CURE Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page: https://arpa-h.gov/explore-funding/programs/1-cure/faqs. Contact the 1-CURE Team at 1-CURE@ARPA-H.GOV.