Autonomous Interventions and Robotics (AIR) Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H)

The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) issued solicitation ARPA-H-SOL-26-146 for the Autonomous Interventions and Robotics (AIR) program, posted on November 20, 2025, with an amendment on December 11, 2025 updating proposal deadlines. This funding opportunity seeks innovative research and development proposals to advance autonomous robotic systems and microbot technologies for medical interventions, especially in endovascular and related health applications. The program anticipates awarding multiple Other Transaction (OT) agreements primarily aimed at developing functional robotic prototypes, simulation environments, and regulatory-ready testbeds in collaboration with the FDA. The period of performance is structured into a two-year initial phase with a possible three-year extension, totaling five years. Proposals require detailed technical, cost, and administrative volumes, including specific templates, such as a Solution Summary and a Task Description Document, with stringent page limits and formatting guidelines. The solicitation incorporates a comprehensive set of federal regulations, policies, and specialized requirements despite being an OT arrangement. Compliance with Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) handling, organizational conflicts of interest (OCI) disclosures and mitigation plans as outlined in FAR Subpart 9.5, human and animal subjects research assurances, intellectual property rights assertions, and research security protocols (including disclosures related to foreign influences per NSPM-33 and the CHIPS and Science Act) are mandatory. Proposers must register in the System for Award Management (SAM) and submit cost proposals with detailed breakdowns supported by narratives and spreadsheets. Evaluation emphasizes scientific and technical merit as the foremost factor, followed by proposer capabilities and cost realism. Proprietary information must be distinctly marked, but no packaging, bar-coding, or MIL-STD labeling requirements apply. Invoicing will be conducted electronically via the Payment Management Services system. The government reserves broad discretion in awarding agreements, including the right to negotiate terms or reject proposals, and the evaluation intends a best value trade-off approach rather than lowest price alone. All proposal communications and submissions must be conducted through the designated ARPA-H Solution Submission Portal by the stated deadlines.