The DARPA-PS-26-02 "Smart-Red Blood Cells (Smart-RBC)" program solicits abstracts for unclassified proposals. Submissions must adhere to specific formatting guidelines, including 8-1/2 by 11-inch paper, 1-inch margins, 12-point Times New Roman font, and a maximum of 8 pages excluding the title page and references. Abstracts must include an Executive Summary (1 page, not counted in page limit), Proposed Approach (up to 5 pages), Technology Challenges (up to 1 page), Technical Ability, and Estimated Cost (up to half a page). The title page requires proposer organization details, technical and administrative points of contact, estimated total cost, and period of performance. Proposers must affirm acceptance of the model OT agreement and confirm no current SETA, A&AS, or similar support services provided to DARPA offices. The proposal aims to address a technical problem in Smart-RBC, with proposers demonstrating their understanding, proposed technical approach, identified challenges, team's technical ability, and estimated costs.

This document is an Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) for Prototypes, specifically Agreement No. HR0011-XX-9-XXXX, issued by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). It outlines the terms and conditions for a research and development program focused on developing a prototype. Key aspects include the scope of the agreement, project management, financial obligations and payment via milestones using the Wide Area Workflow (WAWF) system, patent and data rights (with the Government generally receiving Unlimited Rights), and strict controls on foreign access to technology. The agreement also details requirements for safeguarding covered defense information, cyber incident reporting, and prohibitions on certain telecommunications equipment from covered foreign countries. It emphasizes the Performer's responsibility for technical and program management, with DARPA providing oversight and approval for modifications and milestones. The document also includes provisions for follow-on production contracts and partnerships with nontraditional defense contractors or nonprofit research institutions.

This document outlines the Preliminary Oral Proposal Package (OPP) Instructions and Process for DARPA, detailing requirements for proposers invited to provide further details on their proposed solutions. Oral presentations, anticipated in January 2026 in Arlington, Virginia, will be 60 minutes long, including a 40-minute presentation and Q&A. Key components of the OPP include a title page, a slide deck addressing the Smart-RBC technical approach, detailed risks and mitigation plans, a program schedule (no more than 36 months), updates from the abstract submission, facilities and teaming/personnel qualifications, and examples of past performance. Proposers must also complete a cost spreadsheet with the principal investigator's effort at ≥20% and submit a Technical Clarification Document (TCD) responding to DARPA's requests and including a risk assessment matrix. Additionally, proposers must answer specific questions regarding their understanding of current technology, how their solution provides increased capability, its potential value to federal entities and commercial markets, and how DARPA's involvement accelerates value and transition to markets.

DARPA's Smart Red Blood Cells (Smart-RBC) program is soliciting innovative proposals to engineer red blood cells with novel biological features for safely and temporarily altering human physiology. The program, with approximately $35.1M in total funding, aims to create "smart red blood cells" (SRBCs) with three biological layers: Sense, Decide, and Act. These SRBCs will enhance human performance and maximize survival, focusing on increasing exercise tolerance or accelerating hemostasis. The 36-month program involves two phases: Phase I (18 months) for producing, positioning, and retaining novel proteins in mature RBCs, and Phase II (18 months) for developing biological circuits with sense, decide, and act capabilities, culminating in a capability demonstration. Proposals must be unclassified, adhere to specific technical and safety metrics, and address scientific questions regarding protein expression limits, circuit possibilities, and safety impacts. Clinical trials and direct human testing are out of scope, but animal subjects research and the use of donor blood are permitted under specific guidelines. Multiple awards are anticipated as Other Transactions for Prototype. Abstracts are required, and selected proposers will be invited to submit an Oral Proposal Package.