RAPID Frequently Asked Questions

All participants will be included in presentations throughout the day. A poster session will be available for in-person participants only. Virtual participants will join through a webinar link. There will be no individual meetings for in-person or virtual participants.

In-person participants may present a poster and are encouraged to network with other event participants. Potential performers are not able to help with Proposers’ Day arrangements.

Yes, your group can also attend Proposers’ Day. The content is designed for potential technical proposers as well as collaborators in the collection and aggregation of rare disease data. An overview of the program, including Phases I and II will be provided at both events. 

Yes, you may submit a similar Solution Summary to ARPA-H for consideration, even if you have submitted it to an ARPA-H Mission Office ISO. However, the offeror must disclose that a similar Solution Summary was submitted to the Mission Office ISO to ensure transparency and avoid any duplication of effort.

As stated in the draft Program Solicitation, ARPA-H will prioritize awards to entities (organization and/or individuals) that will conduct funded work in the United States. However, non-U.S. entities may participate to the extent that such participants comply with any necessary nondisclosure agreements, security regulations, export control laws, and other governing statutes applicable under the circumstances. See the Draft Program Solicitation, specifically the section on Eligibility Information, for additional details. 

Solution Summary submission instructions will be included with the RAPID ISO that will be published on SAM.gov and the RAPID program page. 

The scientific review panel will encompass federal employees with the requisite background and expertise to readily grasp the scientific concepts stated in RAPID. The composition of the review team is confidential. Please address your proposal materials to a broad scientific audience. Specific review criteria will be included in the RAPID ISO published on SAM.gov and the RAPID program page. 

Solution summaries and other submitted documents will not be in the public domain.

The RAPID team is unable to accommodate meetings with potential proposers, or to discuss abstract feedback or potential approaches to RAPID technical areas. All solution summaries will receive feedback. 

Teams can work on an individual TA or on multiple TAs.

Teams should consist of relevant experts to accomplish the work that is proposed, though there is not a specific make-up (academic versus commercial) of these entities that is preferred. 

There is not a budget cap or expected range for each TA. Proposers are encouraged to submit their best ideas with a commensurate budget. 

ARPA-H complies with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) salary cap for Executive Level II. For Calendar Year 2024, this limit is $221,900. A cost spreadsheet is provided and encouraged.

Only the summary table provided in the Solution Summary template is requested for the BOE. 

ARPA-H funds a group for the completion of a specific project and goal outlined in the solicitation, funding is dependent on the successful completion of specific milestones and metrics. Funding is allocated through an Other Transaction (OT) vehicle, and does not own a stake in company or product developed.

Although proposals should address a TA in its entirety, there is opportunity for teaming to contribute features of a solution as part of a larger team or proposal. Please refer to the teaming page for more information.

RAPID is open to either approach, however solutions will need to be completed to within the timeframe of the program and will need to meet the yearly metrics outlined in the solicitation.