EHI Initiative FAQs

To help provide timely information about all aspects of the program, this page is updated periodically in response to questions from potential performers. For full information about the EHI Initiative and the application process, please see the solicitation.

General Questions

A project lead can submit only one solution summary as the project lead.

Yes, so long as it is not multiple proposals to EHI.

Please refer to the ISO self-certification requirements for Track 1. The Project Lead should intend to stay at the Proposing Entity for the award period.

Yes. Please refer to the ISO Section 3.3 (page 13) for track-specific eligibility criteria.

Please refer to the ISO for eligibility criteria and partnering guidance. CBO partnerships with academic researchers are generally allowable; please review section 2.3.2 of the ISO (pages 10 and 11).

No, if such a submission would not meet ISO requirements. However, a teaming application may lead to a subcontractor relationship with a potential performer.

Postdoctoral positions are considered a training position. Therefore, in most cases, they do not count toward the 10-y limitation.

ARPA-H will accept multiple proposals from the same institution.

Proposed solutions should be innovative, not iterative.

Yes, the proposing entity (company/university/organization) needs to be registered in SAM, and the project lead must hold a role at that entity. If the entity does not have a Unique Entity Identifier, they must obtain one.

For both tracks, Project Leads can be a part of only one proposal; subawardees may serve on multiple proposals.

Please refer to the ISO for the Government’s topic-specific interests.

Please refer to the relevant section in the ISO for track- and topic-specific requirements.

Community-based organizations are invited to apply to Track 2. Please refer to the ISO Section 3.3 (page 13) for track-specific eligibility criteria.

All Step 2 documents are due on April 21.

The proposing institution is required to confirm early career status only. The lead investigator will self-certify their three-year commitment.

Yes, the slide templates provided in Attachments 1 and 2 of the EHI ISO (available on SAM.gov) include specific details regarding the allowed number of slides for each topic.

In accordance with the ISO Appendices for Track 1 (p. 28) and Track 2 (p. 36), under Step 2 Section B Pitch Presentation Format and Logistics, "Two people from each team will be allowed to attend the presentation."

EHI Initiative FAQs

General Questions

May I submit multiple solution summaries to the EHI?

May I submit a solution summary to EHI even if I have another ARPA-H proposal in review?

If you know that you will switch your institution by the contract initiation date, are you not eligible to apply for that cycle?

Does the community-centered organization for Track 2 need to be a nonprofit?

Is a disease-specific patient advocacy organization considered a community-based organization? Can a community-based organization partner with an academic researcher for the application?

Does a postdoctoral fellowship count as a “first research position” or does it refer to a faculty appointment?

How many proposals can an institution submit? Can there be multiple proposals from an institution if they have different project leads (early-stage investigators)?

Should solutions be developed from scratch or adapted from existing tools?

Regarding SAM registration, do proposers need to have: 1) an entity and 2) a role at that entity?

Can performers be a part of more than one proposal or team?

Is topic 1 also open to summary statements focused on understanding age-related decline and/or injuries with the lymphatic system?

Could behavioral prevention (perhaps leading to its eradication) of a disease apply as a track 1, topic 1 intervention?

For track 2, are professors who work in ML for biomedical and health data also eligible for submitting proposals?

When are Step 2 documents due (i.e., pitch deck, biosketches, and cost proposal)?

For Track 1, does the institutional letter need to confirm investigator eligibility for three years and/or confirm early career status?

Is there a limit on the number of slides allowed for the presentation?

How many people can present the pitch?