Innovative Solutions Opening

The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), operating under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, has released an amended solicitation under its Scalable Solutions Office (SSO), titled “Mission Office Innovative Solutions Opening (ISO)” (ARPA-H-SOL-24-105). The initiative seeks novel, transformative ideas that improve healthcare access and affordability through groundbreaking technical innovations. The solicitation remains open until March 5, 2029, and represents an ongoing opportunity for eligible applicants to submit solutions that can fundamentally change the healthcare landscape in the United States. The solicitation focuses on addressing structural challenges in healthcare delivery such as geographic disparities, distribution inefficiencies, manufacturing constraints, and data management barriers. ARPA-H is particularly interested in projects that can improve the scalability and readiness of technologies to benefit patients, providers, and payers. The areas of interest are divided into three broad domains: Health Technologies and Interventions, Advanced Technologies for Medical Product and Capability Distribution, and Biomanufacturing Innovations. Projects might include innovations in point-of-care diagnostics, telehealth, scalable biomanufacturing, and technologies for deploying care in austere or underserved environments. Eligible applicants must submit a Solution Summary through ARPA-H’s dedicated submission portal and await feedback before submitting a full proposal. Proposals are evaluated on scientific merit, relevance to the ARPA-H mission, proposer capability, and budget alignment. The review process is transparent and iterative, allowing for refinement and targeted selection. ARPA-H intends to issue awards using Other Transactions (OTs), which are not governed by the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), offering greater flexibility in structuring agreements. All awards will be made under the legal authority provided in 42 U.S.C. § 290c(g)(1)(D). Proposals must be submitted in English and adhere to specific formatting templates provided in the solicitation’s attachments. The process begins with a mandatory Solution Summary, followed by a proposal that includes a technical and management plan, task description, cost proposal, and compliance documents. All applicants must have an active registration in SAM.gov and a valid UEI at the time of proposal and award. Solution Summaries and proposals must be submitted via ARPA-H’s online portal. While ARPA-H seeks U.S.-based applicants, certain non-U.S. organizations may be eligible provided they meet regulatory requirements and are not listed under foreign restrictions. Applications involving human or animal subjects require compliance with federal regulations, including IRB and IACUC approvals. ARPA-H also enforces disclosure policies around research security and organizational conflicts of interest. Contractors providing support services to ARPA-H are ineligible to apply. Furthermore, all submitted materials must identify proprietary information clearly, and awardees must follow pre-publication review procedures if the project involves sensitive or controlled information. The agency encourages all interested applicants to consult its Submission Portal and FAQ pages regularly and submit questions during the open period. Proposals are reviewed on a rolling basis, and ARPA-H aims to provide feedback within 30 days for Solution Summaries and within 60 days for full proposals. Multiple awards are anticipated through this solicitation, and selected applicants will engage in negotiations to finalize terms and project scope.

Interested parties are encouraged to submit questions and proposals through the designated online portal.