Solicitation
Systems for Phenotypic Evaluation, Clinical Trajectories, Response, and Agency (SPECTRA)
Department of Health and Human Services · National Institutes of Health
AI summaryThe Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) is seeking research proposals for SPECTRA (Systems for Phenotypic Evaluation, Clinical Trajectories, Response, and Agency), a program to identify and act on autism trajectories across the lifespan (solicitation ARPA-H-SOL-26-163). The program is split into technical areas (TAs), and Amendment 2 adds solution summary requirements for TA1 and TA2 and proposal templates for TA4. SAM.gov lists the response due date as December 2, 2026, 3:00 PM Eastern; Amendment 1 updated the due dates for all TAs. More in the summary
AI summary Beta
Some details are in the notice's attachments, which this summary didn't read. Check the attachments on SAM.gov.
The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) is seeking research proposals for SPECTRA (Systems for Phenotypic Evaluation, Clinical Trajectories, Response, and Agency), a program to identify and act on autism trajectories across the lifespan (solicitation ARPA-H-SOL-26-163). The program is split into technical areas (TAs), and Amendment 2 adds solution summary requirements for TA1 and TA2 and proposal templates for TA4. SAM.gov lists the response due date as December 2, 2026, 3:00 PM Eastern; Amendment 1 updated the due dates for all TAs.
Things to watch
From the version posted Oct 29, 2026.
- Worth checking: Possible solution summary step first. TA1 and TA2 have solution summary requirements, which may be an earlier step before full proposals; check the ISO for whether it is required.
- Worth checking: Advanced research program. ARPA-H programs fund ambitious health research, so bidders need strong scientific teams and research credentials.
- Minor: Many changes in Amendment 2. Amendment 2 changed several ISO parts and three TAs, so earlier drafts may no longer match the rules.
Read from the notice text only.
Full summary
What they want
- Research on how genetic, biological, behavioral, iatrogenic (medical) and environmental factors interact to shape autism and co-occurring conditions over time
- Tracking developmental paths from the prenatal period through aging
- Technologies that extend reliable assessment beyond the clinic while improving everyday communication, function and quality of life
- Solution summaries for TA1 and TA2 (Attachments A2 and A3)
- Proposals for TA4 using Attachment B1's requirements and volume templates
- Place of performance
- USA
- Estimated value
- Not stated
- Offers due
- Dec 2, 2026, 3:00 PM Eastern
What to include when you submit
- TA1: follow Attachment A2, Solution Summary Requirements
- TA2: follow Attachment A3, Solution Summary Requirements
- TA4: follow Attachment B1, Proposal Requirements and Proposal Volume Templates
- Read the updated Innovative Solutions Opening (ISO) Parts I, II, III and VI from Amendment 2
Not in the notice text
- The ISO and its attachments on SAM.gov hold the technical areas, eligibility, evaluation and due dates per TA; the notice text doesn't give them.
- What TA3 covers and its requirements
- Award type (contract, other transaction or cooperative agreement) and funding amounts
- Whether solution summaries are required before full proposals
- Where and how to submit
Eligibility and how to respond
- No set-aside: any business, large or small, can bid unless the notice says otherwise.
- How and where to submit is in the notice text and its attachments on SAM.gov.
Notice details
- Posted
- Oct 29, 2026
- Notice type
- Solicitation
- Office
- Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), Washington, DC
- Product/service code
- AN13 · Health R&D Services; Health Care Services; Experimental Development
- Business type
- Engineering, architecture & research (FedReady's grouping, from NAICS 541715)
- Versions
3 versions have been posted, newest first.
- Oct 29, 2026 · Amendment 0002 (this version)Due Dec 2, 2026 (changed)
- Oct 14, 2026 · Amendment 0001Due Oct 21, 2026 (changed)
- Sep 17, 2026 · SolicitationDue Oct 18, 2026
- Related notices
Other notices that name this solicitation, or that this one names.
- SURPASS Webinar and Proposers' Day Information · ARPA-H-SN-26-164Posted earlier Sep 30, 2026 · Due Oct 12, 2026
- Attachments
Past awards and competition
Who has won work like this before, the likely incumbent, and what similar contracts paid, from USAspending.gov.
Before you respond
- How to respond to a solicitation (8 steps)
- How to read a government solicitation
- How to price a government contract
Terms on this notice: Solicitation