POSEIDON (Platform Optimizing SynBio for Early Intervention and Detection in ONcology)

17 JAN: The POSEIDON notice is updated to provide Amendment 3, which allows eligible entities to request an extension of up to 3 business days due to impacts from the wildfires in California. No other changes have been made to the terms and conditions of the solicitation.

9 DEC: The POSEIDON notice is updated as follows:

The POSEIDON ISO is amended with all changes written in green. The substantive changes relate to specifying the POSEIDON Program is for adults (i.e., persons 18 and older), to emphasize the commercial entity requirements as those of the Commercialization Partner, and to include a sample Letter of Intent (LOI) for use by proposers intending to negotiate a Multi-Party Teaming Agreement (MPTA) pre-award.

Eligible proposers are reminded conforming full proposal submissions will include all elements described in Appendix C of the ISO (e.g., an accurately completed Appendix A is mandatory for conformance); Proposers are encouraged to continue checking the Questions and Answers (i.e., FAQs) at the link provided below. The full proposal due date, for eligible proposers, remains 22 JAN 2025 at 5:00pm EST. 19 NOV: The POSEIDON notice is updated as follows:

Four attachments are uploaded to support submission of full proposals from eligible proposers. Eligible proposers are those who submitted a conforming Solution Summary and received feedback of either Encourage or Discourage. The four attachments are mandatory and are the Cost Proposal Spreadsheet, Solution Pitch Deck format, SOW format, and Schedule and Milestones format.

The required template/format for Volume III Administrative and Policy Requirements Submission is the format provided in Appendix C (i.e., there is no separate template/attachment). Eligible proposers are reminded that conforming full proposal submissions will include all elements described in Appendix C of the ISO (e.g., an accurately completed Appendix A is mandatory for conformance).

Full proposals, due 22 JAN 2025 at 5:00pm EST, shall assume a project start date of 15 August 2025. This date will likely be revised prior to award based on the actual timeline required for evaluation, selection, and negotiations required for award(s). Eligible proposers should continue to use the POSEIDON@arpa-h.gov email box for questions. The Government will post broadly applicable answers to the POSEIDON FAQs at the link below.

Questions that are specific to a particular solution/proposer will be addressed directly via email. ARPA-H does not anticipate responding to ineligible proposers; in terms of full proposal Solution submissions and/or questions to the POSEIDON email box. As a reminder, eligible proposers are those who submitted a Conforming Solution Summary and received feedback in the form of either Encourage or Discourage.

For interested entities who are not eligible, please consider one of ARPA-H’s other funding opportunities at https://arpa-h.gov/engage-and-transition/open-funding-opportunities as a way to work with ARPA-H to accelerate better health outcomes for all.

04 NOV: The POSEIDON ISO is amended to extend the closing date of the solicitation from 12:00pm EST to 3:00pm EST. No other changes have been made to the ISO.

01 NOV: The POSEIDON posting is updated to provide two additional proposer inquiries with responses. No changes have been made to the ISO. Further, proposers are again encouraged to review all POSEIDON frequently asked questions (FAQs) at the link below if they have a question.

Question 3: Does the DHHS Salary Cap apply to ARPA-H proposals?

Response 1: The DHHS Salary Cap applies to proposals/awards received in response to ARPA-H solicitations in the same circumstances where it would apply to other DHHS solicitations/awards. The Government does not anticipate the salary cap will apply to proposals/awards received in response to the POSEIDON ISO. This is based on the anticipated contract types (e.g., Fixed Price) and the information requested from proposers (i.e., the Government does not anticipate requesting direct labor rates as part of the Cost Volume in full proposals).

Question 4: Who needs to submit a Solution? Is it the PI?

Response 4: There are no requirements related to who registers in the ARPA-H Solution Submission System to upload a Solution.

15 OCT: The POSEIDON posting is updated to provide an optional Solution Summary submission aid and two proposer inquiries with responses. No changes have been made to the ISO.

Question 1: We are a proposer outside of the United States and do not have an address in the USA, so we do not have zip code or state for the dropdown menu. How should we enter our address in the system?

Response 1: Until the system is updated to accurately allow for non-domestic firms, please use New York, NY 10001 as your address.

Question 2: Is the Teaming included or excluded from the two-page Solution Summary?

Response 2: The only exclusions from the Solution Summary page limit of 2 pages are the Cover Page (paragraph B), the Basis of Estimate (paragraph E Rough Order Magnitude (ROM)), and References. All other Solution Summary information must be provided within 2 pages (i.e., paragraphs C Proposed Work and D Team Organization and Capabilities). Proposers may consider using the Solution Summary Submission aid as an optional tool to assist them in submitting compliant Solution Summary packages.

20 SEP: The POSEIDON posting is updated to provide the link to the Proposers' Day recording (see below in the links/attachments section). No other changes have been made to the posting.

9 SEP: The POSEIDON posting is updated to provide the formal/final ISO. All previous DRAFT versions are null and void as the published final ISO is binding. The posting is also updated to clarify the posting on 9 AUG to emphasize the SAM.gov fill-in for DATE OFFERS DUE represents the Solicitation/ISO’s closing date (9 NOV 2024), which is the last date for submission of Solution Summaries. Notably, and as described in the ISO, the Government may elect to consider only those Solution Summaries received by the Priority Submission date (16 OCT 2024).

9 AUG 2024: The POSEIDON posting is amended to update the DATE OFFERS DUE to November 6, 2024, which is the closing date of the solicitation, and thus the final date to submit Solution Summaries. The posting is also amended to update the DRAFT ISO to reflect the change in the PRIORITY SUBMISSION DATE to October 16, 2024, and the TABLE OF CONTENTS.

7 AUG 2024: The POSEIDON posting is updated to include a DRAFT ISO (i.e., Solicitation). The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) is initiating this Solicitation Notice to alert the potential proposer community to the Platform Optimizing SynBio for Early Intervention and Detection in Oncology (POSEIDON) Program. The POSEIDON team anticipates releasing a DRAFT Innovative Solutions Opening (ISO, i.e., solicitation) by mid-August and a final ISO by the end of August.

At this time, the POSEIDON team invites potential proposers to review the attached Special Notice (ARPA-H-SN-24-110) that provides information related to the POSEIDON Proposers’ Day on 4 September 2024. The in-person event (Baltimore, MD) is intended to facilitate teaming and foster a greater understanding of the POSEIDON Program and upcoming ISO. After reviewing the attached Proposers’ Day information, interested parties are encouraged to register at the link below.