Yes. Our world is interconnected, and the most challenging health problems cannot be solved by any one country.

Yes. Each solicitation defines eligibility and requirements for non-U.S. persons and non-U.S. entities to participate. Please see the solicitations for detailed instructions.

Foreign entities are invited to submit proposals for consideration so long as participants agree to comply with federal laws and policies applicable to ARPA-H funding agreements. In no case will awards be made to entities organized under the laws of a covered foreign country* or entities suspended or debarred from business with the U.S. Government. 

*defined in the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. § 3059)] as Russia, Iran, North Korea, and China.  

The Division of International Affairs at ARPA-H is responsible for promoting and managing international collaborations, partnerships, and initiatives that advance the agency's mission of driving innovation in biomedical research. The Division of International Affairs formulates and executes ARPA-H's global collaboration strategy by identifying key international stakeholders, potential partners, and research opportunities that align with the agency's mission and enhance the impact of ARPA-H's initiatives on a global scale.  

Eligibility criteria for international funding opportunities vary. ARPA-H welcomes applications from qualified international researchers, institutions, and organizations. Specific eligibility criteria, including qualifications and project scopes, are detailed in the guidelines accompanying each program solicitation on SAM.gov. In general, like U.S. participants, international partners can participate in ARPA-H research contracts as either a “prime organization” or on a team as a “subcontractor.” Interested international partners may sign up on “teaming” pages on our website – linked from each program description page – which are provided to facilitate teaming.

International partnerships, like domestic partnerships, should advance the goals of ARPA-H programs and other funding opportunities. ARPA-H continues to solicit innovative proposals for health and health care research and development (R&D) across its four missions areas: Health Science Futures, Resilient Systems, Scalable Solutions, and Proactive Health.  

ARPA-H follows HHS financial assistance regulations and policies.  For financial assistance awards, the methodology would need to be otherwise in accordance with HHS requirements, which places an 8% cap for indirect costs reimbursed to foreign entities awarded HHS cooperative agreements.  For other transactions (OTs), there is greater latitude for negotiating costing methodologies. Proposers would need to provide their methodology to the ARPA-H Program Manager for approval, to ensure it meets the nature and needs of the project.

They will vary depending on the award type as well as the project and will not be unique to international participants. Financial assistance awards will follow regulatory requirements for reporting. However, additional reporting will be negotiated for all award types. ARPA-H Program Managers are significantly involved with performer progress; therefore, ARPA-H Programs typically follow a monthly reporting structure.

This will depend on the nature and needs of the project and is not a unique consideration for international participants. Project manager costs are not forbidden nor discouraged on ARPA-H awards, but the type, amount, and mix of labor is subject to negotiation. 

No, at this time only U.S. citizens are eligible to become Program Managers.

Non-U.S. citizens are eligible to apply. Proposals must be led by one PI under a single organization, and the composition and roles of additional team members or co-PIs are the responsibility of the proposing team. Co-PIs from other institutions are allowed. Non-U.S. companies can register for a unique entity identifier (UEI), which is required to submit a proposal. A non-U.S. company does not need to be represented by a U.S.-based organization, but they do need to make sure they are addressing how their solution will be of benefit to the U.S. taxpayers.

Like U.S. performers, all intellectual property terms are negotiated by the parties in the process of finalizing a funding agreement. 

ARPA-H requests pre-notification before Performer’s transfer of IP to a foreign entity under certain circumstances, such as sale of the Performer and all of its assets, as well as exclusive licensing.  As the transfer of IP could result in a change to the proposed and awarded project plan including the proposed technology adoption, ARPA-H reserves to right and in some cases may be required to propose alternatives or possibly terminate award if transfer involves a covered foreign entity.

There is no preference for an international entity performing as a prime contractor or subcontractor. It is dependent on the merits of the proposal and the qualifications of the proposer.