This program announcement must be read in conjunction with the General Application Instructions, version CD26_01.

Program Announcement for the Defense Health Agency

Autism Research Program Idea Development Award

Funding Opportunity Number: HT942526ARPIDA

Pre-Application Due: July 27, 2026

Application Due: October 22, 2026 https://ebrap.org/eBRAP/public/gai.htm?version=CD26_01

FY26 Autism Idea Development Award 2

Content

Before You Begin 3

Basic Information Summarizes the funding opportunity, funding details, submission deadlines and review dates

Eligibility Details eligibility factors for the applicant organization and Principal Investigator

Program Description Describes the program mission and intent of the Idea Development Award; provides key award information and considerations; and outlines funding details

Application Contents Presents the two-step application process and instructions for preparing a pre-application and full application

Submission Requirements Provides locations for application packages, instructions for submitting pre-applications and full applications, and describes application verification

Application Review Information Outlines the processes for application compliance review, pre-application and full application selection/notification, and risk assessment. Also, details the review criteria for pre-application screening and both tiers of the CDMRP application review process – Peer Review and Programmatic Review

Federal Award Notices Outlines what a successful applicant can expect if recommended for funding

Post-Award Requirements References policy requirements for funded research; outlines reporting requirements and restrictions related to Principal Investigator changes and institutional award transfers

Other Information Outlines criteria for administrative actions including application rejection, modification, withdrawal and withhold

Appendix 1 Includes a checklist for all full application components to facilitate application submission

Appendix 2 Acronym List

FY26 Autism Idea Development Award 3

Before You Begin

• Active SAM.gov, eBRAP.org and Grants.gov registrations are required for application submission. User registration for each of these websites can take several weeks or longer.

Each applicant must ensure their registrations are active and up to date prior to application preparation.

• Read this funding opportunity announcement in the order it is written before beginning to prepare application materials. It is the responsibility of the applicant to determine whether the proposed research meets the intent of this funding opportunity and that all parties meet eligibility requirements.

• To support application preparation, additional resources are available including an application process FAQ, a Guide for Intragovernmental & Intramural Applicants and a CDMRP Video Series detailing the application process.

Who to Contact for Support

This document uses internal links; you can go back to where you were by pressing the Alt + left arrow keys (Windows) or command + left arrow keys (Macintosh) on your keyboard.

Click to be taken to additional guidance and instructions within the General Application Instructions (GAI).

eBRAP Help Desk

301-682-5507 help@eBRAP.org

Questions regarding funding opportunity submission requirements, as well as technical assistance related to pre-application or intramural application submission.

Grants.gov Support Center

800-518-4726 International: 1-606-545-5035 support@grants.gov

Questions regarding Grants.gov registration and Workspace.

https://sam.gov/ https://ebrap.org/eBRAP/public/index.htm https://grants.gov/register https://cdmrp.health.mil/#:~:text=Frequently%20Asked%20Questions%20%C2%BB https://cdmrp.health.mil/#:~:text=Guide%20for%20Intragovernmental%20%26%20Intramural%20Applicants https://ebrap.org/eBRAP/public/Program.htm#:~:text=Journey%20of%20an,Tier%20Review%20Process mailto:help@eBRAP.org mailto:support@grants.gov https://ebrap.org/eBRAP/public/gai.htm?version=CD26_01

Section Shortcuts Basic Information | Eligibility | Program Description | Application Contents and Format | Submission Requirements

Application Review Information | Federal Award Notices | Post-Award Requirements | Other Information

FY26 Autism Idea Development Award 4

1. Basic Information About the Funding Opportunity

Summary: The fiscal year 2026 (FY26) Autism Research Program (ARP) Idea Development Award supports the development of innovative, high-risk/high-reward research that could lead to critical discoveries or major advancements that will accelerate progress in improving outcomes for Autistic individuals. This award mechanism is designed to support innovative ideas with the potential to yield impactful data and new avenues of investigation.

Distinctive Features: Applications are strongly encouraged to address one of the FY26 ARP Idea Development Award Areas of Interest or provide justification that the proposed research addresses a critical problem, question, or need in autism.

Partnering Principal Investigator (PI) Option: The Partnering PI Option is structured so that two investigators, each of whom will be designated as a PI, will work synergistically on a single project. The results of this partnering project should significantly advance the research beyond what would be possible through individual efforts.

Funding Details: The Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) expects to allot roughly $2.25 million (M) to fund approximately three Idea Development Award applications with total cost caps of $0.75M per award. The maximum period of performance is 3 years. It is anticipated that awards made from this FY26 funding opportunity will be funded with FY26 funds, which will expire for use on September 30, 2032. Awards supported with FY26 funds will be made no later than September 30, 2027.

Submission and Review Dates and Times

• Pre-Application (Preproposal) Submission Deadline: 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET), July 27, 2026

• Invitation to Submit an Application: August 28, 2026

• Application Submission Deadline: 11:59 p.m. ET, October 22, 2026

• End of Application Verification Period: 5:00 p.m. ET, October 27, 2026

• Peer Review: December 2026

• Programmatic Review: February 2027

Announcement Type: Initial

Funding Opportunity Number: HT942526ARPIDA

Assistance Listing Number: 12.420

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2. Eligibility Information

2.1. Eligible Applicants

2.1.1. Organization

Extramural and intramural U.S. Department of War (DOW) organizations are eligible to apply, including foreign and domestic organizations, for-profit and nonprofit organizations, and public or private entities.

2.1.2. Principal Investigator

Independent investigators affiliated with an eligible organization are eligible to be named PI on the application, regardless of ethnicity, nationality or citizenship status.

PIs must be at or above the level of Assistant Professor (or equivalent).

Partnering PI Option: Up to two investigators may collaborate on a single application, each of whom will be recognized as a PI and receive a separate award

2.2. Cost Sharing

Cost sharing is not an eligibility requirement.

2.3. Other

Awards are made to eligible organizations, not to individuals. Refer to the GAI for additional recipient qualification requirements.

https://ebrap.org/eBRAP/public/gai.htm?version=CD26_01#_Content_Form_Full_App_Submission:~:text=pre%2Dapplication%20submission.-,Extramural%20Organization%3A,-A%20foreign%20or https://ebrap.org/eBRAP/public/gai.htm?version=CD26_01#_Definition_List:~:text=Intramural%20DOW%20Organization%3A%20A%20subset%20of%20intragovernmental%20organizations%3B%20refers%20specifically%20to%20DOW%20organizations%2C%20including%20DOW%20laboratories%2C%20DOW%20military%20treatment%20facilities%2C%20and/or%20DOW%20activities%20embedded%20within%20a%20civilian%20medical%20center.

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3. Program Description

The Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity (DHACA) is soliciting applications to this funding opportunity using delegated authority provided by United States Code, Title 10, Section 4001 (10 USC 4001). The CDMRP is the program office managing this FY26 funding opportunity as part of the Autism Research Program (ARP). The CDMRP is located within the Defense Health Agency Research and Development (DHA R&D), which is a part of the Department of Defense, DOD, herein referred to using the secondary title Department of War, DOW. Congress initiated the ARP in 2007 to provide support for research of high potential impact and exceptional scientific merit. Appropriations for the ARP from FY07 through FY25 totaled $164.4 million (M). The FY26 appropriation is $8.0M.

The ARP’s vision is to improve the lives of individuals with autism and their families, now and in their future.

Research funded by the FY26 ARP should be responsive to the needs of people with autism, their families, and/or caregivers. Researchers are therefore encouraged to establish and utilize effective collaborations and partnerships with community members to maximize the translational and impact potential of the proposed research.

3.1. Award History

The ARP Idea Development Award mechanism was first offered in FY07. Since then, 883 Idea Development Award applications were received, and 108 were recommended for funding.

3.2. Intent of the Idea Development Award

The Idea Development Award (IDA) supports the development of innovative, high-risk/high-reward research that could lead to critical discoveries or major advancements that will accelerate progress in improving outcomes for Autistic individuals.

3.2.1. Areas of Interest for the IDA

To meet the intent of the funding opportunity, the ARP encourages applications that address critical needs of the autism community in one or more of the FY26 ARP Idea Development Award areas of interest:

• Assessment of novel therapeutics using valid preclinical models

• Create tools and strategies to increase the speed of the dissemination/implementation of evidence-based practices and interventions in community-based settings

• Determinates of diagnosis, treatment efficacy and service delivery

• Development of health care provider-focused training or tools to improve health care delivery for Autistic individuals across the life span and the continuum of care (i.e., primary care, urgent/emergent care and disaster relief)

• Environmental risk factors

• Factors impacting quality of life for current and former military families

• Factors promoting success in key life transitions of Autistic individuals over their lifespan

• Improve diagnosis and access to services across the lifespan

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• Long-term treatment outcomes from previous clinical trials for the core symptoms of autism or to alleviate co-occurring conditions

• Mechanistic studies focused on:

○ Heterogeneous clinical expression of autism

○ Underlying conditions co-occurring with autism (e.g., pain, sleep disturbances, gastrointestinal issues, inflammation, aggression, depression, anxiety, attention deficit and seizures)

○ Sex differences in autism (i.e., prevalence, biological mechanisms, phenotypic expression, core and comorbid syndrome expression and outcomes, developmental trajectories, diagnosis and treatment response)

3.2.2. Key Elements for the IDA

• Impact: The proposed research is expected to make an important and original contribution to advancing the understanding of autism and ultimately lead to improved outcomes for Autistic individuals and their families/caregivers. The project’s impact on both autism research and autism care should be articulated even if clinical impact is not an immediate outcome. A statistical plan is an important aspect of the FY26 ARP Idea Development Award to demonstrate the significance of any research outcomes or findings.

• Innovation: Research deemed innovative may represent a new paradigm, challenge existing paradigms, look at existing problems from new perspectives, or exhibit other highly creative qualities. Research may be innovative in study concept, research methods or technology, or adaptations of existing methods or technologies. Research that represents an incremental advance on previously published work is not considered innovative.

• Personnel: Personnel are considered a crucial element of the FY26 ARP Idea Development Award. The study team should have experience in autism research. Inclusion of a biostatistician in the study team is encouraged.

• Preliminary data: Although the proposed research must have direct relevance to autism, the required preliminary data, which may include unpublished results from the laboratory of the PI(s), research team, or collaborators named on the application, may be from outside the autism research field. Research should also be based on a sound scientific rationale that is established through logical reasoning and critical review and analysis of the literature.

Partnering PI Option: The FY26 ARP supports collaborative research to bring a new perspective to autism research and/or facilitate progress in the field by combined efforts.

Therefore, the Idea Development Award includes an option for more than one PI. One PI will be identified as the Initiating PI and will be responsible for the majority of the administrative tasks associated with application submission. The other PI will be identified as a Partnering PI. Both PIs should collaborate to develop a synergistic project addressing one or more of the FY26 ARP Idea Development Award Areas of Interest or another critical problem, question, or need in autism. Applications submitted by a mentor and trainee as Initiating PI and Partnering PI do not meet the intent of the Partnering PI Option. If recommended for funding, each PI will be named on separate awards to the recipient organization(s). Each award will be subject to separate reporting, regulatory, and administrative requirements. For individual submission requirements for the Initiating and Partnering PI(s), refer to Section 5.3, Submission Instructions. Multidisciplinary and multi-organizational projects are allowed.

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3.2.3. Other Important Considerations for the IDA

Clinical trials are not allowed within this funding opportunity.

For the purposes of this funding opportunity, research that meets the definition of a clinical trial is distinct from clinical research.

In accordance with the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026, Section 732, CDMRP does not support the conduct of painful research (U.S. Department of Agriculture pain category D or E) involving domestic cats or dogs, except for studies relating to military or service animals.

All projects should adhere to a core set of standards for rigorous study design and reporting to maximize the reproducibility and translational potential of clinical and preclinical research, such as those described in the STROBE, CONSORT, SPIRIT and ARRIVE 2.0 guidelines.

Applications from investigators within the DOW and applications involving multidisciplinary collaborations among academia, industry, the DOW, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and other federal government agencies are highly encouraged. These relationships can leverage knowledge, infrastructure and access to unique clinical populations that the collaborators bring to the research effort, ultimately advancing research that is of significance to Service Members, Veterans, their Families and the American Public. If the proposed research relies on access to unique resources or databases, the application must describe the access at the time of submission and include a plan for maintaining access as needed throughout the proposed research.

3.3. Funding Instrument

The funding instrument for awards made under the program announcement will be grants

(31 USC 6304).

3.4. Funding Details

Period of Performance: The maximum period of performance is 3 years.

Cost Cap: The application’s total costs budgeted for the entire period of performance should not exceed $750,000. If indirect cost rates have been negotiated, indirect costs are to be budgeted in accordance with the organization’s negotiated rate. Collaborating organizations should budget associated indirect costs in accordance with each organization’s negotiated rate.

All direct and indirect costs of any subaward or contract must be included in the direct costs of the primary award.

The applicant may request the entire maximum funding amount for a project that may have a period of performance less than the maximum 3 years.

The appropriateness of the budget for the proposed research will be assessed during peer review.

Application submissions with the Partnering PI Option:

The combined total costs budgeted for the entire period of performance in the applications of the Initiating PI and the Partnering PI should not exceed $750,000.

A separate award will be made to each PI’s organization.

https://ebrap.org/eBRAP/public/gai.htm?version=CD26_01#_Definition_List:~:text=or%20hardware%20procurement.-,Clinical%20Trial%3A,-As%20defined%20in https://ebrap.org/eBRAP/public/gai.htm?version=CD26_01#_Definition_List:~:text=considered%20clinical%20trials.-,Clinical%20Research%3A,-For%20the%20purposes https://www.strobe-statement.org/ https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-025-03635-5#:~:text=SPIRIT%20and%20CONSORT%20are%20evidence,relevant%20empirical%20evidence%20where%20possible https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-025-03668-w?fromPaywallRec=false https://arriveguidelines.org/arrive-guidelines https://ebrap.org/eBRAP/public/gai.htm?version=CD26_01#_Recipient_Qualification_Restriction_Info:~:text=Period%20of%20Performance%3A%20The%20time%20interval%20between%20the%20start%20of%20a%20federal%20award%20and%20the%20planned%20end%20date.

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FY26 Autism Idea Development Award 9

The PIs are expected to be partners in the research, and direct cost funding should be divided accordingly unless otherwise warranted and clearly justified.

Direct Cost Restrictions: For this award mechanism, direct costs:

Must be requested for:

• Travel in support of multi-institutional collaborations.

• Costs for one investigator to travel to one scientific/technical meeting per year. The intent of travel to scientific/technical meetings should be to present project information or disseminate project results from the ARP Idea Development Award.

Must not be requested for:

• Costs for travel to scientific/technical meeting(s) beyond the limits stated above.

• Clinical trial costs.

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4. Application Contents and Format

4.1. Application Overview

Application submission is a two-step process requiring both a pre-application submitted via the Electronic Biomedical Research Application Portal (eBRAP) and a full application submitted through eBRAP or Grants.gov. Depending on the submission portal, certain aspects of the application will differ.

Intramural DOW organizations submitting a full application should follow instructions for submission through eBRAP.

Extramural organizations submitting a full application must follow instructions for submission through Grants.gov.

4.2. Pre-Application Components

The Initiating PI must submit the following pre-application components.

Upload documents as individual PDF files unless otherwise noted. Files must comply with the formatting guidelines listed in the GAI.

• Preproposal Narrative (two-page limit): The Preproposal Narrative page limit applies to text and non-text elements (e.g., figures, tables, graphs, photographs, diagrams, chemical structures, drawings) used to describe the project. Inclusion of URLs that provide additional information to expand the Preproposal Narrative and could confer an unfair competitive advantage is prohibited and may result in administrative withdrawal of the pre-application.

The Preproposal Narrative should include the following:

○ Research Idea: State the hypothesis to be tested or the objective(s) to be reached.

State the FY26 ARP Idea Development Award Area(s) of Interest that will be addressed.

If the proposed project does not address one of the Idea Development Award areas of interest, provide justification that the proposed research addresses a critical problem, question or need in autism. Detail the ideas and rationale on which the proposed project is based. Concisely state the specific aims and provide a brief overview of the study design, including a well-defined population (if applicable) and details of the methods to be used. This award cannot be used to conduct clinical trials or proof-of-concept intervention studies on human subjects.

○ Impact: Describe the potential impact, both short- and long-term, of this study on the outcomes of Autistic individuals, their families/caregivers and/or the understanding of autism.

○ Innovation: Describe how the proposed project is innovative and how the research represents more than an incremental advance on published data.

○ Personnel: Clearly describe the autism expertise of the proposed research team and how this will factor into the team’s ability to successfully complete the project.

• Pre-Application Supporting Documentation: The items to be included as supporting documentation for the pre-application must be uploaded as individual files and are limited to the following:

https://ebrap.org/eBRAP/public/index.htm https://ebrap.org/eBRAP/public/gai.htm?version=CD26_01#Appendix2:~:text=APPENDIX%202.%0AFORMATTING%20GUIDELINES https://ebrap.org/eBRAP/public/gai.htm?version=CD26_01#_Full_App_Submission_Grants:~:text=IV.%C2%A0%C2%A0%C2%A0%C2%A0%C2%A0%C2%A0%C2%A0%20FULL%20APPLICATION%20SUBMISSION%20THROUGH%20GRANTS.GOV https://ebrap.org/eBRAP/public/gai.htm?version=CD26_01#_Full_App_Submission_eBRAP:~:text=V.%C2%A0%C2%A0%C2%A0%C2%A0%C2%A0%C2%A0%C2%A0%C2%A0%C2%A0%20FULL%20APPLICATION%20SUBMISSION%20THROUGH%20eBRAP

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○ References Cited (one-page limit): List the references cited (including URLs if available) in the Preproposal Narrative using a standard reference format that includes the full citation (i.e., author[s], year published, reference title, and reference source, including volume, chapter, page numbers, and publisher, as appropriate).

○ List of Abbreviations, Acronyms, and Symbols: Provide a list of abbreviations, acronyms, and symbols used in the Preproposal Narrative.

○ Key Personnel Biographical Sketches: All biographical sketches should be uploaded as a single combined file. Biographical sketches should be used to demonstrate background and expertise through education, positions, publications, and previous work accomplished.

4.3. Full Application Components

Applicants must receive an invitation to submit a full application. Uninvited full application submissions will be rejected.

Partnering PI Option: The CDMRP requires separate full application package submissions for the Initiating PI and each Partnering PI, even if the PIs are located within the same organization.

The application submission process for the Partnering PI uses an abbreviated full application package.

4.3.1. Full Application Components for the PI or Initiating PI

Each application submission must include the completed full application package for this program announcement. See Appendix 1 for a checklist of the full application components.

(a) SF424 Research & Related Application for Federal Assistance Form (Grants.gov submissions only):

IMPORTANT: When completing the SF424 R&R, enter the eBRAP log number assigned during pre-application submission into Block 4a – Federal Identifier.

(b) Attachments:

○ Each attachment of the full application components must be uploaded as an individual file in the format specified and in accordance with the formatting guidelines in the GAI. Attachment 1: Project Narrative (eight-page limit): Upload as “ProjectNarrative.pdf”.

Background: Present the ideas and reasoning behind the proposed research and include relevant literature citations. Describe and show the preliminary data to justify the rationale for the proposed project.

Hypothesis or Objective: State the hypothesis to be tested or the objective to be reached. Describe how the project addresses one or more of the FY26 ARP Idea Development Award Areas of Interest or another critical problem or question in autism.

Specific Aims: Concisely explain the project’s specific aims supported by this application. If this application is part of a larger study, present only tasks that this award would fund.

Research Strategy: Describe the experimental design, methods, and analyses, with appropriate controls, in sufficient detail for assessment. Address potential problems https://ebrap.org/eBRAP/public/gai.htm?version=CD26_01#_Recipient_Qualification_Restriction_Info:~:text=APPENDIX%202.%0AFORMATTING%20GUIDELINES https://ebrap.org/eBRAP/public/gai.htm?version=CD26_01#_Recipient_Qualification_Restriction_Info:~:text=APPENDIX%202.%0AFORMATTING%20GUIDELINES https://ebrap.org/eBRAP/public/gai.htm?version=CD26_01#_Recipient_Qualification_Restriction_Info:~:text=(a)%C2%A0%C2%A0%C2%A0%C2%A0%C2%A0%C2%A0%20SF424%20(R%26R)%20%E2%80%93%20Application%20for%20Federal%20Assistance%20Form https://ebrap.org/eBRAP/public/gai.htm?version=CD26_01#_Recipient_Qualification_Restriction_Info:~:text=%C2%B7-,Project%20Narrative%3A,-Attach%20as%20%E2%80%9CProjectNarrative https://ebrap.org/eBRAP/public/gai.htm?version=CD26_01#_Content_Form_Full_App_Submission:~:text=eBRAP%20User%20Name-,Biographical%20Sketch,-%3A%20This%20file

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FY26 Autism Idea Development Award 12 and present alternative methods and approaches. If animal studies are proposed, the applicant is required to submit an Animal Research Plan (Attachment 11). If human subjects or human biological samples will be used, include a detailed plan for the recruitment of subjects or the acquisition of samples. Where relevant, describe the availability of, and access to, tissue, data, or human subjects.

Partnering PI Option: Describe how the research project is supported and strengthened by the proposed synergistic collaboration. If the project is multi-organizational, describe plans for communication between investigators at each organization.

Statistical Plan: Clearly describe the statistical plan and the rationale for the statistical methodology as well as an appropriate power analysis. Describe in detail how the statistical plan is appropriate for the experimental methodology being used.

If applicable, describe how the human subject population is appropriate for the study and provide assurance that there is clear access to the designated population.

Inclusion of a biostatistician on the study team is encouraged.

For all applications proposing clinical research describe the strategy for the inclusion of women and minorities appropriate to the objectives of the study, including a description of the composition of the proposed study population in terms of sex, racial, and ethnic group, and an accompanying rationale for the selection of subjects. Studies utilizing human biospecimens or datasets that cannot be linked to a specific individual, ethnicity, or race (typically classified as exempt from Institutional Review Board [IRB] review) are exempt from this requirement. Anticipated enrollment table(s) with the proposed enrollment distributed on the basis of sex, race, and ethnicity should be provided as Attachment 10.

If the proposed research involves access to military and/or VA patient populations and/or DOW or VA resources or databases, describe the access at the time of submission and include a plan for maintaining access as needed throughout the proposed research. Also include a plan for obtaining any required data sharing, memorandum of understanding or other agreements required to access and publish data. Refer to the GAI, Appendix 4, for additional considerations.

○ Attachment 2: Supporting Documentation: Combine and upload as a single file named “Support.pdf”.

There are no page limits for these components unless otherwise noted. Include only components described below; inclusion of items not requested or viewed as an extension of the Project Narrative will result in the removal of those items or may result in administrative withdrawal of the application.

References Cited: List the references cited in the Project Narrative using a standard reference format (include URLs, if available).

List of Abbreviations, Acronyms and Symbols: Provide a list of abbreviations, acronyms and symbols.

Facilities, Existing Equipment and Other Resources: Describe the facilities and equipment available for performance of the proposed project; include any additional facilities or equipment proposed for acquisition at no cost to the award. Indicate whether government-furnished facilities or equipment are proposed for use. If so, reference the original or present government award under which the facilities or https://ebrap.org/eBRAP/public/gai.htm?version=CD26_01#_Use_Of_DOW_Dept_Veterans_Affairs_Resource https://ebrap.org/eBRAP/public/gai.htm?version=CD26_01#_Recipient_Qualification_Restriction_Info:~:text=%C2%B7-,Supporting%20Documentation%3A,-Combine%20and%20attach

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FY26 Autism Idea Development Award 13 equipment items are now accountable. There is not a standardized form for this information.

Publications and/or Patents: Include a list of relevant publication URLs and/or patent abstracts. If articles are not publicly available, then copies of up to five published manuscripts may be included in Attachment 2. Extra items will not be reviewed.

Letters of Support (two-page limit per letter is recommended): Provide individual letters signed by collaborating individuals and/or organizational officials demonstrating that the PI has the support and resources necessary for the proposed work. Letters from the PI’s Department Chair, or appropriate organization official, should also confirm that the PI(s) meet eligibility criteria. If applicable, provide a letter of support, signed by the lowest-ranking person with approval authority, confirming participation of intramural DOW collaborator(s) and/or access to military populations, databases or DOW resources. If applicable, provide a letter of support signed by the VA Facility Director(s), or an individual designated by the VA Facility Director(s), confirming access to VA patients, resources and/or VA research space.

Letters of Collaboration (if applicable): Provide a signed letter from each collaborating individual and/or organization demonstrating that the PI(s) has the support and resources necessary for the proposed work. If an investigator at an intramural DOD organization is named as a collaborator on a full application submitted through an extramural organization, the application must include a letter from the collaborator’s commander or commanding officer at the intramural DOD organization authorizing the collaborator’s involvement.

Sex as a Biological Variable (SABV) Strategy (two-page limit is recommended):

Describe the strategy for how sex will be considered as a biological variable. This strategy should include a brief discussion of what is currently known regarding sex differences in the applicable research area. Clearly articulate how sex as a biological variable will be factored into the data analysis plan and how data will be collected and disaggregated by sex. If needed, provide a strong rationale for proposing a single-sex study, based on justification from scientific literature, preliminary data or other relevant considerations. Refer to the CDMRP Directive on Sex as a Biological Variable in Research for additional information.

Intellectual and Material Property Plan (if applicable): Provide a plan for resolving intellectual and material property issues among participating organizations.

Research Sharing Plan: Describe the type of data or research resources (e.g., bio-specimen, analysis tool/software, training material) to be made publicly available as a result of the proposed work. Describe the mechanism (e.g., direct sharing, repository, mixed mode) by which data and resources generated during the period of performance will be shared with the research community and other affected communities, including clinical research participants. Include the name of the repository(ies) where scientific data and resources arising from the proposed study will be archived, if applicable. Identify and provide the rationale for any data or resources that will not be shared (e.g. for intellectual property, feasibility, cost, or other considerations). The plan should also protect participant privacy, confidential and proprietary data, and performer/third-party intellectual property. Provide a milestone plan for disseminating data/results including when data and resources will be made available to other users. In cases where the study participant could potentially derive medical or other benefit from the information, explain whether the https://cdmrp.health.mil/pubs/pdf/CDMRP%20SABV%20Directive_Revised_MAR2025_signed.pdf https://cdmrp.health.mil/pubs/pdf/CDMRP%20SABV%20Directive_Revised_MAR2025_signed.pdf

Basic Information | Eligibility | Program Description | Application Contents and Format | Submission Requirements

Application Review Information | Federal Award Notices | Post-Award Requirements | Other Information

FY26 Autism Idea Development Award 14 results of screening and/or study participation will be shared with the participant or their primary care provider, including results from any screening or diagnostic tests performed as part of the study.

Do not submit a copy of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Data Management and Sharing Plan or duplicate the Data Management Plan which will be requested only after a recommendation for funding is made.

Refer to the CDMRP Directive on Sharing Data and Research Resources for more information about the CDMRP’s expectations for making data and research resources publicly available.

○ Attachment 3: Technical Abstract (one-page limit): Upload as “TechAbs.pdf”.

Write the technical abstract using the outline below. Clarity and completeness within the space limits are highly important.

Background: Present the scientific rationale behind the proposed research project.

Identify the FY26 ARP Idea Development Award Area(s) of Interest or provide justification that the proposed research addresses another critical problem, question, or need in autism that will be addressed by the proposed research project.

Hypothesis/Objective(s): State the hypothesis to be tested and/or objective(s) to be reached.

Specific Aims: State the specific aims of the study.

Study Design: Describe the study design, including appropriate controls.

Impact: Summarize how the proposed project is relevant to and will have an impact on the outcomes of Autistic individuals, their families/caregivers and/or the understanding of autism. Describe the impact on the specified population, if applicable.

Innovation: Briefly describe how the proposed project uses innovation to yield critical discoveries, new avenues of investigation, or major advancements to improve the understanding of autism and ultimately to improve outcomes of Autistic individuals.

Military Relevance: Describe how the study is relevant to military health.

○ Attachment 4: Lay Abstract (one-page limit): Upload as “LayAbs.pdf”.

The lay abstract should address the points outlined below in a manner that is readily understood by readers without a background in science or medicine. Avoid overuse of scientific jargon, acronyms and abbreviations. Do not duplicate the technical abstract.

– Summarize the objectives and rationale for the proposed research.

– What population will the research help, and how will it help them?

– What are the potential applications, benefits and risks of the anticipated outcomes?

– What are the likely contributions of the proposed research project to advancing research, patient care and/or quality of life?

– What is the potential benefit of the proposed study and the anticipated outcomes to Service Members, Veterans and/or their Families.

https://ebrap.org/eBRAP/public/Program.htm#:~:text=Directive%20on%20Sharing%20Data%20and%20Research%20Resources https://ebrap.org/eBRAP/public/gai.htm?version=CD26_01#_Recipient_Qualification_Restriction_Info:~:text=%C2%B7-,Lay%20Abstract%3A,-Attach%20as%20%E2%80%9CLayAbs https://ebrap.org/eBRAP/public/gai.htm?version=CD26_01#_Recipient_Qualification_Restriction_Info:~:text=%C2%B7-,Technical%20Abstract%3A,-Attach%20as%20%E2%80%9CTechAbs

Basic Information | Eligibility | Program Description | Application Contents and Format | Submission Requirements

Application Review Information | Federal Award Notices | Post-Award Requirements | Other Information

FY26 Autism Idea Development Award 15

○ Attachment 5: Statement of Work (three-page limit): Upload as “SOW.pdf”.

Refer to eBRAP for the Suggested SOW Format.

For guidance on preparing the SOW, refer to either the Example: Assembling a Clinical Research and/or Clinical Trial Statement of Work or Example: Assembling a Generic Statement of Work, whichever is most appropriate for the proposed effort. Include milestones for data or research resource(s) sharing.

Partnering PI Option: Each PI must submit an identical copy of a jointly created SOW.

The specific contributions of the Initiating PI and the Partnering PI should be clearly noted for each task.

○ Attachment 6: Impact Statement (one-page limit): Upload as “Impact.pdf”.

Describe how the proposed research is relevant to autism now. Detail the anticipated outcome(s)/product(s) and/or improved understanding of autism that will be directly attributed to the results of the proposed research project (near-term impact). Explain the anticipated long-term impact from the proposed research project, including details on how this work will have a real-world impact on the autism community. If applicable, compare the anticipated outcomes from the proposed project to currently available autism information, products or treatments. If applicable, describe how the anticipated outcomes of the proposed study will make an impact in understanding health differences between sexes.

Researchers are encouraged to establish and utilize effective collaborations and partnerships with community members to maximize the translational and impact potential of the proposed research.

○ Attachment 7: Innovation Statement (one-page limit): Upload as “Innovation.pdf”.

Summarize how the proposed research is innovative. State how the research challenges existing paradigms or provides new paradigms, technologies, evidence-based diagnoses and/or applications for autism. Investigating the next logical step or an incremental advancement of published data is not considered innovative.

○ Attachment 8: Accomplishments Statement (four-page limit): Upload as “Accomplishments.pdf”. Provide autism or other developmental disorder(s) research accomplishments of the Initiating PI and Partnering PI based on the outline below:

Past and current autism or other developmental disorders research support from both federal and non-federal sources (as applicable) from the past five years

Any honoraria, awards or other distinctions received for work in autism or other developmental disorders research from the past five years

Any patents or other autism or other developmental disorders research accomplishments from the past five years

○ Attachment 9: Research Outcomes Plan: (one-page limit): Upload as “Outcomes.pdf”. Describe the anticipated research outcomes including knowledge products, clinical products for development, etc. Describe the methods and strategies proposed to move the anticipated research outcomes to the next phase of development or clinical application after successful completion of the project. Detail the funding strategy to transition to the next level of investigation, development and/or commercialization (e.g., partners, applications for internal/external funding opportunities).

https://ebrap.org/eBRAP/public/Program.htm#:~:text=Suggested%20SOW%20Format https://ebrap.org/eBRAP/public/Program.htm#:~:text=Example%3A%20Assembling%20a%20Clinical%20Research%20and/or%20Clinical%20Trial%20Statement%20of%20Work https://ebrap.org/eBRAP/public/Program.htm#:~:text=Example%3A%20Assembling%20a%20Clinical%20Research%20and/or%20Clinical%20Trial%20Statement%20of%20Work https://ebrap.org/eBRAP/public/Program.htm#:~:text=Example%3A%20Assembling%20a%20Generic%20Statement%20of%20Work https://ebrap.org/eBRAP/public/Program.htm#:~:text=Example%3A%20Assembling%20a%20Generic%20Statement%20of%20Work https://ebrap.org/eBRAP/public/gai.htm?version=CD26_01#_Recipient_Qualification_Restriction_Info:~:text=%C2%B7-,Statement%20of%20Work%3A,-Attach%20as%20%E2%80%9CSOW

Basic Information | Eligibility | Program Description | Application Contents and Format | Submission Requirements

Application Review Information | Federal Award Notices | Post-Award Requirements | Other Information

FY26 Autism Idea Development Award 16

○ Attachment 10: Inclusion Enrollment Report: Upload as “Enrollment.pdf”.

(Attachment 10 is only applicable and required for applications proposing clinical research studies).

Provide an anticipated enrollment table(s) for the inclusion of women and minorities using the “Public Health Service (PHS) Inclusion Enrollment Report”, a three-page fillable PDF form, that can be downloaded from eBRAP. The enrollment table(s) should be appropriate to the objectives of the study with the proposed enrollment distributed on the basis of sex, race, and ethnicity. Studies utilizing human biospecimens or datasets that cannot be linked to a specific individual, ethnicity, or race (typically classified as exempt from IRB review) are exempt from this requirement.

○ Attachment 11: Animal Research Plan (three-page limit): Upload as “AnimalResPlan.pdf”. (Attachment 11 is only applicable and required for applications proposing animal studies.)

If the proposed study involves animals, a summary describing the animal research that will be conducted must be included in the application. Consult the ARRIVE guidelines

2.0 (Animal Research: Reporting In Vivo Experiments) to ensure relevant aspects of rigorous animal research are adequately planned for and, ultimately, reported. Consult the ARRIVE guidelines 2.0 (Animal Research: Reporting In Vivo Experiments) to ensure relevant aspects of rigorous animal research are adequately planned for and, ultimately, reported. The Animal Research Plan may not be an exact replica of the protocol(s) submitted to the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). The Animal Research Plan should address the following points to achieve reproducible and rigorous results for each proposed animal study:

Briefly describe the research objective(s) of the animal study. Explain how and why the animal species, strain, and model(s) being used can address the scientific objectives and, where appropriate, the study’s relevance to human biology.

Summarize the procedures to be conducted. Describe how the study will be controlled.

Describe the randomization and blinding procedures for the study, and any other measures to be taken to minimize the effects of subjective bias during animal treatment and assessment of results. If randomization and/or blinding will not be utilized, provide justification.

Provide a sample size estimate for each study arm and the method by which it was derived, including power analysis calculations.

Describe how data will be handled, including rules for stopping data collection, criteria for inclusion and exclusion of data, how outliers will be defined and handled, statistical methods for data analysis and identification of the primary endpoint(s).

○ Attachment 12: Representations (Grants.gov submissions only): Upload as “RequiredReps.pdf”. All extramural applicants must complete and submit the Required Representations document available on eBRAP.

○ Attachment 13: Suggested Intragovernmental/Intramural Budget Form (if applicable): Upload as “IGBudget.pdf”. If an intramural DOW organization will be a collaborator in the performance of the project, complete a separate budget for that organization using the Suggested Intragovernmental/Intramural Budget form available on eBRAP.

https://ebrap.org/eBRAP/public/Program.htm#:~:text=Statement%20of%20Work-,Public%20Health%20Service%20Inclusion%20Enrollment%20Report,-n/a https://arriveguidelines.org/arrive-guidelines https://ebrap.org/eBRAP/public/Program.htm#:~:text=Required%20Representations https://ebrap.org/eBRAP/public/gai.htm?version=CD26_01#_Definition_List:~:text=Intramural%20DOW%20Organization%3A%20A%20subset%20of%20intragovernmental%20organizations%3B%20refers%20specifically%20to%20DOW%20organizations%2C%20including%20DOW%20laboratories%2C%20DOW%20military%20treatment%20facilities%2C%20and/or%20DOW%20activities%20embedded%20within%20a%20civilian%20medical%20center.

https://ebrap.org/eBRAP/public/Program.htm#:~:text=Suggested%20Intragovernmental/Intramural%20Budget https://ebrap.org/eBRAP/public/gai.htm?version=CD26_01#_Recipient_Qualification_Restriction_Info:~:text=B.%C2%A0%C2%A0%C2%A0%C2%A0%C2%A0%C2%A0%C2%A0%C2%A0%20Representations https://ebrap.org/eBRAP/public/gai.htm?version=CD26_01#_Recipient_Qualification_Restriction_Info:~:text=Suggested%20Intragovernmental/Intramural%20Budget%20Form%2C%20if%20applicable%3A

Basic Information | Eligibility | Program Description | Application Contents and Format | Submission Requirements

Application Review Information | Federal Award Notices | Post-Award Requirements | Other Information

FY26 Autism Idea Development Award 17

(c) Additional Application Materials:

The following are additional forms for application submission. Follow the instructions specific to the submission portal, as found within the GAI.

i. Research & Related Senior/Key Person Profile (Expanded)

○ Biographical Sketch

○ Current/Pending Support

Intragovernmental applicants must include their internally supported research and development programs.

ii. Research & Related Budget

Initiating and Partnering PIs must have a separate budget and justification specific to their distinct portions of the effort that the applicant organization will submit as separate Grants.gov or eBRAP application packages. The Initiating PI should not include budget information for Partnering PI(s), or vice versa, even if they are located within the same organization. Refer to Section 3.4, Funding Details, for detailed budget information.

iii. Project/Performance Site Location(s)

iv. Research & Related Subaward Budget Attachment(s) (if applicable, Grants.gov submissions only)

4.3.2. Full Application Components for the Partnering PI

Refer to the equivalent attachment above for details specific to each of the following application components. See Appendix 1 for a checklist of the full application components required for the Partnering PI.

(a) SF424 Research & Related Application for Federal Assistance Form (Grants.gov Submissions Only):

(b) Attachments:

○ Attachment 5: Statement of Work (three-page limit): Upload as “SOW.pdf”. Each PI must submit an identical copy of a jointly created SOW.

○ Attachment 12: Representations (Grants.gov submissions only): Upload as “RequiredReps.pdf”.

○ Attachment 13: Suggested Intragovernmental/Intramural Budget Form: Upload as “IGBudget.pdf”.

(c) Additional Application Materials:

The following are additional application materials for application submission. Follow the instructions specific to the submission portal found within the GAI.

External Link to the GAI

Grants.gov

External Link to the GAI eBRAP.org https://ebrap.org/eBRAP/public/gai.htm?version=CD26_01#_Additional_App_Materials_IV:~:text=C.-,Additional%20Application%20Materials,-The%20following%20are…