BARDA Division of Research, Innovation and Ventures (DRIVe) Accelerator Network | EP IDS 18 001

Opportunity Information: Apply for EP IDS 18 001

The BARDA Division of Research, Innovation and Ventures (DRIVe) Accelerator Network opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number: EP IDS 18 001) is a federal funding announcement from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, aimed at strengthening national health security by building or expanding a connected, nationwide network of accelerators. Through this effort, BARDA DRIVe is looking for organizations that can work alongside the government to help move promising medical innovations faster from early proof-of-concept stages toward more mature, clinic-ready candidates. The core idea is to stimulate innovation that serves the public good by creating stronger pathways for high-impact health security products and technologies to advance through research, development, and regulatory milestones.

The opportunity is focused on “health security products and technologies,” which BARDA DRIVe defines broadly to include therapies, vaccines, diagnostics, medical devices, and enabling tools or platforms that improve the nation’s ability to prepare for and respond to 21st century health threats. Rather than funding only individual products, this program targets the infrastructure and support system needed to repeatedly generate, mature, and de-risk new candidates. The accelerators selected under this announcement would become members of the DRIVe Accelerator Network and would be expected to actively support BARDA DRIVe’s Research and Development (R and D) portfolio by providing hands-on guidance and practical resources that help innovators overcome common barriers to progress.

A major expectation for awardees is the delivery of “wrap-around services” that make it easier for startups, researchers, and technology developers to advance their work. These services can include technical expertise, business and commercialization guidance, mentorship, access to specialized facilities or incubator space, and integration services that connect teams with the right partners, capabilities, and advisors. In addition to supporting projects already within BARDA DRIVe’s pipeline, the accelerator network is also intended to identify and foster emerging innovations at early stages, helping to surface new ideas and teams that could become future BARDA-relevant candidates.

Geography and connectivity are central to the program’s design. BARDA DRIVe envisions leveraging established regional hubs across the United States where biotech, life science research, and medical innovation activity is already concentrated, while also helping to expand growth potential in other regions. By linking accelerators together into a coordinated network, the program aims to create a more integrated national ecosystem where innovators can be matched quickly with domain experts, facilities, funders, regulatory know-how, and other critical resources. In practical terms, this means accelerators are not operating in isolation; they are expected to be “physically networked” and to make connections across regions to strengthen the overall national innovation base for health security.

The end goal is pipeline acceleration: taking early concepts and turning them into mature clinical candidates that are strong enough to attract later-stage funding outside the accelerator network for clinical development and commercialization. BARDA DRIVe’s intent is for this accelerator network to help populate and continuously refresh its R and D pipeline with better-prepared candidates, ultimately improving U.S. readiness and response capacity during public health emergencies and other national health security challenges. This funding announcement is categorized under Disaster Prevention and Relief and Health, and it uses a cooperative agreement model, signaling that awardees should expect close collaboration with the government rather than a hands-off grant relationship.

From an eligibility standpoint, the opportunity is open to a wide range of applicant types, including public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (other than universities), for-profit organizations (including those other than small businesses), and small businesses. The program anticipated making around 15 awards. The published award ceiling is listed as 100,000. Key dates included a creation date of April 18, 2018, with an original closing date of May 17, 2018. The program is associated with CFDA number 93.360, tying it to federal assistance aimed at preparedness and response priorities.

• The Department of Health and Human Services, Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response in the disaster prevention and relief, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "BARDA Division of Research, Innovation and Ventures (DRIVe) Accelerator Network" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.360.
• This funding opportunity was created on Apr 18, 2018.
• Applicants must submit their applications by May 17, 2018 No Explanation. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $100,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 15 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses.

Apply for EP IDS 18 001

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