ContractSpecial Notice

Hearing Enhancement through ARtificially Intelligent NeurotechnoloGy (HEARING)

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES ARPA-H-SN-26-154
Response Deadline
Aug 14, 2026
98 days left
Days Remaining
98
Until deadline
Set-Aside
No Set aside used
Notice Type
Special Notice

Contract Opportunity Analysis

ARPA-H’s Health Science Futures Office is hosting a Proposers’ Day for the HEARING program, a funding opportunity focused on developing a novel hearing-assistive platform that engages the brain’s auditory centers to improve speech understanding in complex environments. The program scope includes three technical areas: minimally invasive intracortical devices, a dynamic sound modulator, and an auditory read-and-write algorithm to support brain-computer interface capabilities. The effort emphasizes safe access to the auditory cortex, real-time brain-signal capture, and algorithms that can interpret intended perception and help fill in missing sound information, with the event designed to support teaming and program understanding. The Proposers’ Day will be held June 8, 2026, in Arlington, Virginia, in hybrid format, and registration is required for in-person or virtual attendance with separate closing dates of June 3 and June 5, 2026, respectively.

Classification Codes

NAICS Code
541715
Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)
PSC Code
AN13
HEALTH R&D SERVICES; HEALTH CARE SERVICES; EXPERIMENTAL DEVELOPMENT

Solicitation Documents

2 Files
HEARING_ISO_ARPA-H-SN-26-154 Amendment 01.pdf
PDF181 KBMay 8, 2026
AI Summary
ARPA-H's Health Science Futures (HSF) Office is hosting a Proposers’ Day on June 8, 2026, in Arlington, VA (hybrid), for its new Hearing Enhancement through ARtificially Intelligent NeurotechnoloGy (HEARING) program. This Special Notice (SN) aims to inform the scientific community about the program, which seeks to develop a novel hearing-assistive platform engaging the brain's hearing centers to improve speech understanding in complex environments. The program focuses on enabling safe auditory cortex access, capturing real-time brain signals, and developing algorithms to read intended perception and fill in missing sound information. HEARING is divided into three technical areas: Intracortical Device(s) (TA1), Dynamic Sound Modulator (TA2), and Auditory Read & Write Algorithm (TA3). The Proposers' Day will facilitate collaboration through lightning talks, poster sessions, and virtual teaming profiles. Registration is mandatory and closes on June 3, 2026, for in-person and June 5, 2026, for virtual attendance. This SN is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation for proposals.
HEARING_ISO_ARPA-H-SN-26-154.pdf
PDF179 KBMay 8, 2026
AI Summary
ARPA-H's Health Science Futures Office announced a Proposers' Day on June 8th, 2026, for its new HEARING program in Arlington, VA (hybrid). The program, detailed in an upcoming Innovative Solutions Opening (ISO) no later than May 7, 2026, seeks to develop a novel hearing-assistive platform. This platform will directly engage the brain's auditory centers to improve hearing in complex, real-world environments, moving beyond traditional ear-focused treatments to address hearing loss as a neurological condition. The HEARING program has three technical areas: Intracortical Devices (TA1) for minimally invasive neural interfaces, a Dynamic Sound Modulator (TA2) as an external wearable hub, and an Auditory Read & Write Algorithm (TA3) for brain-computer interface algorithms. The Proposers' Day, though optional, aims to inform the scientific community, provide program details, and foster collaboration through lightning talks, poster sessions, and virtual teaming profiles. Registration opens May 7, 2026, at 10:30 AM ET and closes June 3, 2026, for in-person attendance or when capacity is reached, and June 5, 2026, for virtual attendance.

Related Contract Opportunities

Project Timeline

postedOriginal Solicitation PostedMay 7, 2026
amendedAmendment #1· Description UpdatedMay 8, 2026
amendedLatest Amendment· Description UpdatedMay 8, 2026
deadlineResponse DeadlineAug 14, 2026
expiryArchive DateAug 29, 2026

Agency Information

Department
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Sub-Tier
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH
Office
ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGENCY FOR HEALTH (ARPA-H)

Point of Contact

Name
HEARING Team

Place of Performance

Washington, District of Columbia, UNITED STATES

Official Sources