Systematic Targeting Of MicroPlastics (STOMP)

The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) is soliciting innovative solutions through an Other Transaction Agreement for the Systematic Targeting Of MicroPlastics (STOMP) program, with a proposal deadline of June 22, 2026. This solicitation, identified as ARPA-H-SOL-26-152, targets the development of technologies to measure, understand, and remove micro- and nano-plastics (MNPs) from human and animal systems, with a focus on fibers and irregular fragments that pose heightened biological risks. The program is structured into three technical areas: Technical Area 1 (TA1) requires a validated, standardized methodology for MNP detection in biological samples by Month 9 and a low-cost, rapid clinical quantification system under $50 and 15 minutes per test; Technical Area 2 (TA2) investigates the trafficking and accumulation mechanisms of MNPs in key organ systems, with updated metrics for TA2.1 and microplastics samples as of Amendment 3; Technical Area 3 (TA3), focused on removal methods, will not be solicited until near Month 24. Proposals must be submitted in four volumes — Technical and Management, Cost, Draft OT Response, and Administrative and National Policy Requirements — adhering strictly to formatting rules, including a 25-page limit for Volume I, exclusion of cover and supporting materials from that limit, and mandatory use of English with searchable PDFs. Proposal submissions require prior submission of a Solution Summary and are limited to entities outside federally funded research centers; non-U.S. entities may participate only under strict compliance with security, export control, and non-disclosure requirements, while ARPA-H prioritizes U.S.-based work. Financial proposals must include a detailed cost breakdown by direct labor, subcontracts, materials, equipment, travel, indirect costs, and cost sharing, broken down further by TA1 and TA2 subcomponents, with a simplified materials estimate acceptable initially and full itemization required post-selection. All awards involve negotiated Articles rather than standard FAR clauses, governed by an Agreements Officer with sole authority to modify or terminate, and payments are milestone-based according to a defined Payment Schedule. Key compliance obligations include annual certifications that principal investigators and senior personnel are not involved in malign foreign talent recruitment programs, disclosure of all conflicts of interest and foreign affiliations, adherence to Section 889 telecommunications prohibitions, and the ability to safeguard Controlled Unclassified Information. The agreement survives in full for core provisions including