The Master Announcement Instructions from the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) outline a funding opportunity titled ARPA-H-MAI-24-01, aimed at soliciting innovative proposals to enhance health resilience through advanced research projects. The announcement, effective from October 20, 2023, includes crucial amendments and a structured proposal submission process, emphasizing a two-stage evaluation of applications. Focus areas include the development of resilient health systems that can withstand disruptive events, either through novel technologies or approaches. Various funding modules will be categorized based on the estimated value of potential awards, ranging from $2 million to over $50 million. Eligible applicants are encouraged to include universities, small businesses, and non-profit organizations, while participation from Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) and U.S. government entities is restricted unless special circumstances apply. The document underscores the importance of originality in proposals, excluding incremental advancements and approaches focused on policy changes or traditional education. The evaluation criteria focus on scientific merit, proposer capabilities, relevance to the ARPA-H mission, and cost realism. Clear guidelines for proposal submission, including the need for System for Award Management (SAM) registration and adherence to background policies on human and animal subject research, are also established. The overall intent is to foster groundbreaking research that addresses significant health challenges.

The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) has issued a Master Announcement Instructions (MAI) for funding opportunities under number ARPA-H-MAI-24-01, aimed at stimulating innovative research proposals that enhance public health resilience. The MAI has been amended to extend the closing date for proposals to December 31, 2024. It establishes tiered proposal submission requirements to streamline the burden on proposers, particularly non-traditional performers, by aligning proposal effort with project size. Eligible applicants include universities, non-profit organizations, and businesses, while proposals focusing on revolutionary innovations are prioritized. Significant interest areas addressed include novel methods to improve health systems and resilience against crises, with a strong emphasis on technological advancements and interdisciplinary approaches. The evaluation of proposals will be based on their scientific merit, proposer capabilities, relevance to the ARPA-H mission, and cost analysis. The submission process involves a two-stage evaluation, with selected proposals advancing to a cost proposal phase. Communication regarding the announcement will primarily be conducted through electronic means. This initiative reflects ARPA-H's commitment to funding transformative health solutions, driving advancements in health research and development to benefit the American public.

The document is the draft 2 master announcement instructions for a funding opportunity by the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H). The instructions provide an overview of the funding opportunity, eligibility information, application and submission instructions, evaluation criteria, and award administration information. Proposals should be submitted in response to specific module announcements rather than the master announcement instructions.

The MASTER ANNOUNCEMENT INSTRUCTIONS FOR ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGENCY FOR HEALTH (ARPA-H) provides information on the funding opportunity and application process for ARPA-H projects. The announcement highlights the mission alignment of ARPA-H and the areas of interest for proposed projects. It also outlines the evaluation criteria and award administration information for successful proposals.

The Master Announcement Instructions for the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) introduces funding opportunity ARPA-H-MAI-24-01, aimed at fostering revolutionary solutions to enhance health outcomes in the U.S. through innovative research and development. The program encourages proposals that align with the agency's mission of creating resilient health systems and emphasizes the importance of achieving significant advancements rather than incremental improvements. Eligibility extends to a wide range of entities, including universities and small businesses, with specific limits on participation for Federally Funded Research and Development Centers. Proposals will be evaluated based on scientific merit, the proposer’s experience, and potential contributions to ARPA-H goals. The submission process involves a two-stage evaluation: initially focusing on technical proposals, followed by a detailed cost proposal for selected candidates. There are various module categories based on award values, ensuring the proposal requirements scale accordingly. Proposers are encouraged to collaborate and share innovations while adhering to stringent eligibility and compliance criteria, particularly regarding human and animal research. The announcement reflects a structured approach to streamline applications and attract transformative research efforts in health resilience.

The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) is soliciting proposals for the ARPA-H Biomedical Data Fabric (BDF) Toolbox, which aims to develop software capabilities for integrating and analyzing biomedical datasets. The project will focus on data collection, curation, intuitive exploration, and user testing. Proposers can submit proposals for one or multiple technical areas. The deadline for proposal submissions is November 14, 2023.

The Master Instructions Announcement (MAI) ARPA-H-MAI-24-01 outlines the proposal process for soliciting research and development efforts under the ARPA-H framework. It introduces a standard tiered submission system to simplify proposal writing based on the project's scope, aiming to lower barriers for non-traditional performers. Domestic entities will be prioritized, but international collaboration is permitted under certain conditions, excluding entities from defined covered foreign countries. The Government will determine the type of agreement (Other Transaction or Cooperative Agreement) based on the project’s technical effort and interaction level. Proposers may suggest their preferred agreement type, but the final decision rests with the Agreement Officer during the negotiation phase. The document emphasizes that cost-sharing can be negotiated and that all costs, including indirect expenses, will be considered in proposal evaluations. Furthermore, larger projects are expected to present more comprehensive plans, while smaller initiatives may be more exploratory. This framework establishes a structured approach for entities seeking federal support for innovative health solutions and aims to optimize the allocation of government resources in the process.

The MAI aims to create standard proposal submission requirements that vary based on the size of the proposed effort, reducing the upfront work required to submit cost information. Non-U.S. entities can participate in Module Announcements as long as they comply with applicable regulations and collaborate with domestic U.S. entities. The type of agreement (Other Transaction or Cooperative Agreement) will be determined based on the overall technical effort and will be negotiated during the award process. The Government will review proposed costs to ensure their realism and alignment with the technical solution. The determination on cost-share will be made based on negotiation objectives and the potential benefits to the performer. Module categories include both direct and indirect costs. Smaller Module categories may focus on exploratory efforts or subsets of technical areas, while larger categories will have more thorough technical descriptions, ambitious milestones, and comprehensive capabilities.