Does ARPA-H fund small businesses?ARPA-H Innovative Solution Openings (ISOs) — Health Technology OT Agreements

Who qualifies

• U.S.-based for-profit small businesses with a health technology innovation are eligible
• Large companies, universities, nonprofits, hospitals, and research institutions also eligible
• No size restriction for standard ISO awards (small business set-asides exist for SBIR topics only)
• PI must be primarily employed by the applicant organization (>50% effort)
• Work must primarily be performed in the United States
• For SBIR topics specifically: fewer than 500 employees, majority U.S.-owned and controlled

Hard requirements

• Must be incorporated
• Restricted to industry: healthcare

What small businesses ask next

Is ARPA-H a grant agency?

No. ARPA-H describes itself as not a grant-making agency. It mainly signs Other Transactions (OTs) and cooperative agreements for research and development. An OT is a flexible agreement written to fit the project, with funding tied to milestones agreed in negotiation. ARPA-H program managers stay involved while the work runs. This is why the program type above reads “Grant” but the money arrives as a negotiated agreement.

Can a small for-profit company apply?

Yes. ARPA-H says small businesses are welcome to apply to any opportunity. Universities, nonprofits, hospitals and individuals can apply too. It will not fund current ARPA-H support contractors, government entities, or entities organized in Russia, Iran, North Korea or China. SBIR and STTR topics are limited to small businesses: no more than 500 employees, majority U.S. ownership, and all work done in the U.S.

How much can a small business receive?

ARPA-H SBIR and STTR awards are generally contracts of up to $600K for Phase 1 and $3.5M for Phase 2. Awards to small businesses outside SBIR depend on the project and the ISO, so check the amount range above. Payments depend on meeting milestones. For smaller, standard-size health SBIRs, compare SBIR Phase I at NIH.

How do I apply to a Mission Office ISO?

Start with a short Solution Summary, not a full proposal. Submit it through ARPA-H’s Solutions site to the one Mission Office ISO that fits your idea. ARPA-H answers in writing, and you must have that response before you send a full proposal. Every ARPA-H solicitation requires a valid Unique Entity ID (UEI) from SAM.gov when you submit a proposal, so register early because SAM.gov timing is outside ARPA-H’s control.

What if nothing is open right now?

Mission Office ISOs are accepted on a rolling basis, so there is usually a way in. Program ISOs and SBIR/STTR topics open for a limited time and are announced throughout the year; see the Deadline row above. Mission Office submissions are reviewed more slowly than program submissions, and an idea inside an existing ARPA-H program can be rejected, so read its program list first. You can also leave your email in the watch box below to hear when a window moves.

What it covers

How to apply

1. 1

   Monitor ARPA-H for relevant ISOs

   Visit arpa-h.gov/explore-funding/open-funding-opportunities and SAM.gov regularly. Subscribe to ARPA-H email updates. Review the four Mission Office areas (Health Science Futures, Proactive Health, Resilient Systems, Scalable Solutions) to identify where your technology fits.

   ~5 hrs

2. 2

   Review the ISO and prepare a Solution Summary

   ARPA-H uses a fast, lightweight first stage — typically a 2–4 page Solution Summary (not a 50-page grant proposal). The Summary describes the technical approach, team, proposed milestones, and budget overview. Reviewers decide on merit from this brief document.

   ~20 hrs

3. 3

   Technical presentation (if invited)

   Shortlisted applicants are invited to give a 1–2 hour technical presentation and Q&A with ARPA-H Program Managers. This is where the program manager evaluates technical depth and team credibility. More interactive than a traditional grant review.

   ~30 hrs

4. 4

   Negotiate OT agreement terms and milestones

   Successful applicants negotiate a milestone-based OT agreement with ARPA-H. Milestones are specific, measurable technical accomplishments — not progress reports. ARPA-H pays on milestone completion. Negotiation typically takes 4–12 weeks.

   ~20 hrs

Industry & certifications

NAICS codes: 541714, 541715, 339112, 325412

Deadline & timing

ARPA-H uses Innovative Solution Openings (ISOs) posted on SAM.gov and the ARPA-H website. Some ISOs are topic-specific with set deadlines (30–90 days); Mission Office ISOs are open continuously. Watch arpa-h.gov/explore-funding for new openings. ARPA-H typically issues new solicitations monthly.

Programs that stack well

• SBIR Phase I — NIH (PHS Omnibus)
• SBIR Phase II — NIH (PHS Omnibus)
• BARDA DRIVe — Division of Research, Innovation and Ventures

Related programs

Also open right now

Alternatives computed from the live GrantCompass catalog on November 1, 2026 — all 170 open grant programs · filter the database.

Explore more funding

• Healthcare & biotech grants
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