Fast Assessment of Solutions, Therapeutics, Pharmaceuticals, and SupplieS (FASTPASS) Innovative Solutions Opening

The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) seeks proposals to develop a near real-time, non-destructive, AI-enabled system for screening pharmaceutical products and inputs through their packaging at ports of entry and supply-chain nodes, with full proposals due November 10, 2026 at 4:00 PM ET. The solicitation (ARPA-H-SOL-26-160, amended October 21, 2026) uses multiple Other Transaction Agreements and is unrestricted as to set-aside category.

Place of performance is Washington, DC. The program, titled Fast Assessment of Solutions, Therapeutics, Pharmaceuticals, and SupplieS (FASTPASS), comprises three consecutive 18-month phases with down-selection at each phase; only best-performing individual performers advance from Phase 1 to Phase 2, and only best teams proceed to Phase 3. Work is structured around two technical areas: TA1 addresses next-generation through-packaging sensing technologies (nuclear magnetic resonance, Raman spectroscopy, terahertz, x-ray fluorescence, x-ray diffraction, hyperspectral imaging, or other non-destructive modalities); TA2 addresses advanced machine learning models and signal processing. Proposers may address a single TA or both; TA1 performers are encouraged to partner with TA2 groups.

Eligible proposers include universities, non-profit organizations, small businesses, and commercial entities. FFRDCs and government entities are prohibited as prime or sub-performers unless they possess unique, unavailable capabilities, documented in proposal. Foreign entities may participate if compliant with security regulations and export control laws. Proposers must be registered in SAM.gov with a valid Unique Entity Identifier at submission and through award.

A mandatory two-step submission process applies: Solution Summary slide presentations are due September 21, 2026 at 4:00 PM ET (required to be eligible for full proposal submission), with virtual feedback from the FASTPASS team; questions and answers are due November 3, 2026 at 4:00 PM ET. A Proposers' Day occurs September 10, 2026. ARPA-H will not reimburse response costs. Proposals are evaluated on overall scientific and technical merit (highest weight), proposer capabilities and related experience, potential contribution to ARPA-H mission and user experience, and reasonableness of proposed cost. ARPA-H intends to respond within 60 calendar days of proposal receipt. NAICS code is 541715; PSC code is AN13.