Smart Red Blood Cells (Smart-RBC)

SOL #: DARPA-PS-26-02Solicitation

Overview

Buyer

DEPT OF DEFENSE
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (Darpa)
DEF ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGCY
ARLINGTON, VA, 222032114, United States

Place of Performance

Place of performance not available

NAICS

Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)

PSC

National Defense R&D Services; Department Of Defense Military; Applied Research (AC12)

Set Aside

No set aside specified

Timeline

1
Posted
Oct 17, 2025
2
Submission Deadline
Jan 14, 2026, 11:59 PM

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.

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is soliciting innovative proposals in support of the Smart Red Blood Cells program (Smart-RBC). The DARPA Smart-RBC program aims to engineer red blood cells to contain novel biological features that can safely, temporarily, and reliably alter human physiology. Specifically, the Smart-RBC program will revolutionize blood products by creating “smart red blood cells” (SRBCs). SRBCs will be engineered to contain additional biological circuits consisting of three layers: Sense extracellular biomarkers; Decide next steps; Act by creating effector molecules that can alter metabolism or physiology. The program will identify the art-of-the-possible to create SRBCs to enhance human performance and maximize survival via hemostasis products. This program does not include clinical trials or direct human testing.

People

Points of Contact

Dr. Christopher Bettinger, DARPA/BTOPRIMARY

Files

Files

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Versions

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Solicitation
Posted: Oct 17, 2025
Smart Red Blood Cells (Smart-RBC) | GovScope