Health Science Futures Mission Office Innovative Solutions Opening

The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, has issued an open solicitation titled “Health Science Futures Mission Office Innovative Solutions Opening (ISO),” with the solicitation number ARPA-H-SOL-24-104. The program falls under the Health Science Futures (HSF) mission office and is designed to fund transformative health research and development projects that aim to produce real-world improvements in human health. This solicitation seeks solution summaries and full proposals addressing high-risk, high-impact biomedical and health-related technologies, tools, and systems. The HSF Mission Office specifically encourages disease-agnostic and broadly applicable technological innovations. Proposed solutions should aim to disrupt current paradigms in health and medical sciences by addressing significant unmet needs through bold, novel approaches. Project types may range across three primary domains: breakthrough technologies (e.g., advanced diagnostics, maternal/fetal health tools, regenerative medicine), transformative tools (e.g., biohybrid devices, synthetic biology, next-gen imaging), and platform systems (e.g., cellular engineering, AI-driven biomolecule design, multi-scale omics platforms). Proposals that are merely incremental, propose clinical trials for existing products, or focus on infrastructure or policy are not eligible for funding. This opportunity is open to academic institutions, nonprofit organizations, for-profit companies, community health centers, and other non-federal research organizations. However, entities such as Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) and federal government organizations are generally not eligible unless explicitly justified. All proposal development must begin with the submission of a "Solution Summary" through ARPA-H's Solution Submission Portal. Feedback on the summary is mandatory and must be received before a full proposal can be submitted. ARPA-H does not fund renewals or supplements under this solicitation. Evaluation of proposals will be based on four key criteria: scientific and technical merit, alignment with ARPA-H’s mission, proposer capabilities and experience, and budget appropriateness. ARPA-H encourages proposers to submit the best technical solution and avoid diluting proposals for budgetary favorability. Proposals will be evaluated individually, not comparatively, and conforming proposals that align with the solicitation’s goals may proceed to negotiations. Proposals may be selected in part or in full, and ARPA-H reserves the right to fund efforts in phases. The solicitation is open from March 14, 2024, through March 5, 2029. Solution summaries may be submitted at any point during this window. If selected for full proposal submission, applicants must submit their proposal within 45 days of receiving feedback. ARPA-H anticipates making multiple awards through “Other Transaction” agreements, which are exempt from Federal Acquisition Regulations. These agreements allow for flexible, milestone-based project management. Questions may be submitted through ARPA-H’s online portal throughout the open period. Proposers are required to be registered in SAM.gov and possess a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) to submit proposals. Any research involving human or animal subjects must adhere to federal ethical guidelines and receive appropriate institutional approvals. Intellectual property terms and standards-based software development are also emphasized, including preferences for open-source licensing and adherence to interoperability standards. Sensitive or proprietary proposal content should be clearly labeled, and all awards will be subject to research security reviews, including disclosure of any foreign talent affiliations.