Is this funding opportunity open to academics or do only companies qualify?

It is open to academia, industry, and other organization types as long as the respondents meet all the requirements described in the EZ-BAA solicitation.

Any eligible entity can submit a proposal via the BDR portal (see section D page 4 of the EZ-BAA).

Yes. Applicants from outside of the United States may apply, unless stated otherwise in the respecting Area of Interest.

Duplicate submissions across more than one Area of Interest (AOI) topic or multiple submissions to the same AOI topic with little-to-no material differences are discouraged and may be rejected.

After reviewing our programs (located under the R&D or Ecosystem menus), please contact the email address listed for the relevant program to get in touch with the program team.

An AOI may be on pause for any number of reasons. For example, the program may decide to pause an AOI to consider edits to the strategic description, the volume of submissions may exceed existing resources, or, in some cases, the availability of funds may be in flux. All interested parties are encouraged to request a Market Research Call and engage with the team during this time.

Do academic institutions need to provide a resource contribution?

Yes. Abstract submissions should include a resource contribution. The proposed Resource Contribution by the Respondent must be quantified and reflect at least 30-50% of the proposed project value. Resource Contributions may be in-kind or cash contributions. It is up to the applicant to ensure the applicant receives their contribution toward the proposed project. Many organizations offer to cover Overhead or Fringe Benefits. Some also offer pro-bono labor hours or sponsored equipment, materials, or subcontractor costs. A combination of all of the above could be acceptable. A submission would need to indicate what constitutes a Resource Contribution. To qualify for no Resource Contributions under an EZ-BAA award, a respondent must show that there is "no probability that the respondent will receive present or future benefits from participation as described in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 16.303." Examples of present or future benefits include increased technical know-how, training for employees, acquisition of goods or services, development of a commercially viable product that can be sold in the commercial market, and use of background knowledge in future contracts.

When submitting your abstract, it is essential to use a narrative format when describing supporting data due to the abstract brevity. We strongly encourage Respondents succinctly convey supporting data without the use of figures, links, or references. While you can upload supplemental documents, it is important to remember that these will not be considered as part of the official proposal and may not be reviewed as part of your organization’s submission.

References must be included in the Respondent’s technical description section but can be provided as a text link to a compiled list of references. Additionally, a PMID can be provided instead of the full reference.

This may include establishing partnerships with appropriate device fabricators/manufacturers, addressing the potential to scale, intellectual property and the means to address adoption in hospitals or other clinical settings. Individual AOI topics may contain additional information requirements and should be reviewed thoroughly before applying.

What are the data-sharing requirements of this program?

Projects funded under this program have data-sharing requirements with the U.S. government consistent with government regulation (FAR 52.227-14 Rights in Data). The program requires that you share all data (including raw data) generated under the project for government use that is consistent with the regulation, except Personally Identifiable Information (PII).

Projects completed under EZ-BAA funding are NOT guaranteed additional funding from any government source. If a technology demonstrates significant potential, additional funding opportunities may be available for advanced development through the DRIVE EZ-BAA +, BARDA BAA, and other funding vehicles.

The vast majority of the awards typically result in a Firm fixed-price contract (FFP). An FFP contract provides for a price that remains stable and is not subject to adjustment based on the contractor’s cost experience in performing the contract. Under an FFP, the proposed work must be written in a technically feasible manner for the proposed schedule and cost.

A FFP contract allows payment on the basis that each deliverable conforms to the cost, schedule, and performance outlined in the contract and SOW. The COR and CO will inspect and accept each deliverable in accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulations clause 52.246-7. If a deliverable cannot be met or is found nonconforming, the COR or CO may enter a price reduction for the portion of the contract not delivered.

Is this funding opportunity open to academics or do only companies qualify?

It is open to academia, industry, and other organization types as long as the respondents meet all the requirements described in the EZ-BAA solicitation.

Any eligible entity can submit a proposal via the BDR portal (see section D page 4 of the EZ-BAA).

Yes. Applicants from outside of the United States may apply, unless stated otherwise in the respecting Area of Interest.

Duplicate submissions across more than one Area of Interest (AOI) topic or multiple submissions to the same AOI topic with little-to-no material differences are discouraged and may be rejected.

After reviewing our programs (located under the R&D or Ecosystem menus), please contact the email address listed for the relevant program to get in touch with the program team.

An AOI may be on pause for any number of reasons. For example, the program may decide to pause an AOI to consider edits to the strategic description, the volume of submissions may exceed existing resources, or, in some cases, the availability of funds may be in flux. All interested parties are encouraged to request a Market Research Call and engage with the team during this time

Do academic institutions need to provide a resource contribution?

Yes. Abstract submissions should include a resource contribution. The proposed Resource Contribution by the Respondent must be quantified and reflect at least 30-50% of the proposed project value. Resource Contributions may be in-kind or cash contributions. It is up to the applicant to ensure the applicant receives their contribution toward the proposed project. Many organizations offer to cover Overhead or Fringe Benefits. Some also offer pro-bono labor hours or sponsored equipment, materials, or subcontractor costs. A combination of all of the above could be acceptable. A submission would need to indicate what constitutes a Resource Contribution. To qualify for no Resource Contributions under an EZ-BAA award, a respondent must show that there is "no probability that the respondent will receive present or future benefits from participation as described in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 16.303." Examples of present or future benefits include increased technical know-how, training for employees, acquisition of goods or services, development of a commercially viable product that can be sold in the commercial market, and use of background knowledge in future contracts.

When submitting your abstract, it is essential to use a narrative format when describing supporting data due to the abstract brevity. We strongly encourage Respondents succinctly convey supporting data without the use of figures, links, or references. While you can upload supplemental documents, it is important to remember that these will not be considered as part of the official proposal and may not be reviewed as part of your organization’s submission.

References must be included in the Respondent’s technical description section but can be provided as a text link to a compiled list of references. Additionally, a PMID can be provided instead of the full reference.

This may include establishing partnerships with appropriate device fabricators/manufacturers, addressing the potential to scale, intellectual property and the means to address adoption in hospitals or other clinical settings. Individual AOI topics may contain additional information requirements and should be reviewed thoroughly before applying.

What are the data-sharing requirements of this program?

Projects funded under this program have data-sharing requirements with the U.S. government consistent with government regulation (FAR 52.227-14 Rights in Data). The program requires that you share all data (including raw data) generated under the project for government use that is consistent with the regulation, except Personally Identifiable Information (PII).

Projects completed under EZ-BAA funding are NOT guaranteed additional funding from any government source. If a technology demonstrates significant potential, additional funding opportunities may be available for advanced development through the DRIVE EZ-BAA +, BARDA BAA, and other funding vehicles.

The vast majority of the awards typically result in a Firm fixed-price contract (FFP). An FFP contract provides for a price that remains stable and is not subject to adjustment based on the contractor’s cost experience in performing the contract. Under an FFP, the proposed work must be written in a technically feasible manner for the proposed schedule and cost.

A FFP contract allows payment on the basis that each deliverable conforms to the cost, schedule, and performance outlined in the contract and SOW. The COR and CO will inspect and accept each deliverable in accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulations clause 52.246-7. If a deliverable cannot be met or is found nonconforming, the COR or CO may enter a price reduction for the portion of the contract not delivered.

If you have additional questions, please contact the individual program’s inbox (addresses are found on the programs’ respective webpages). Respondents interested in proposing a submission may schedule a market research call with a program representative to discuss their general technology and alignment with programmatic priorities.

For General Inquiries : drive@hhs.gov