The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) has released its modernized Broad Agency Announcement (BAA-23-100-SOL-00004, Amendment 7), creating a flexible, multi-year pathway for industry to partner with the U.S. Government on advanced medical countermeasures (MCMs) for CBRN, pandemic influenza, and emerging infectious disease threats to the U.S. civilian population. For government contractors, this BAA functions as BARDA’s flagship vehicle for moving late-stage products and platforms toward FDA approval, licensure, or clearance and into the national health security enterprise.
Technical Objectives and Capability Areas
BARDA’s modernized BAA is focused on advanced development rather than early-stage basic research. The agency is seeking products and platforms that can credibly advance through pivotal studies, scale manufacturing, and support deployment during public health emergencies.
The solicitation identifies multiple Areas of Interest (AOIs) spanning BARDA’s full mission space:
- CBRN vaccines, antivirals, antitoxins, and antimicrobials, focusing interest on high-consequence threats and antimicrobial resistance
- Radiological and nuclear threat medical countermeasures, including therapeutics and enabling technologies for radiation injury
- Chemical medical countermeasures for pulmonary agents, pharmaceutical-based agents such as opioids, vesicants, and other threats, with a preference for repurposed or late-stage assets
- Burn and blast medical countermeasures for nuclear detonation and mass-casualty scenarios, including diagnostics, hemorrhage control, imaging, and trauma tools
- Diagnostics supporting biothreat, AMR, pandemic influenza, and emerging infectious disease response
- Emerging infectious disease vaccines and therapeutics, ImmuneChip+ for accurate modelling of human tissues, and Flexible and Strategic Therapeutics (FASTx)
Across these AOIs, BARDA requires specified Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs), manufacturing scalability, regulatory planning, and public health utility. Contractors that can show a clear path from current maturity to licensure, while demonstrating scalable production and credible program management, will be more competitive.
Submission Process
BARDA uses a three-stage process intended to reduce proposal burden and improve alignment before a full proposal is developed. The agency strongly encourages prospective offerors to begin with a Stage 1 pre-submission call with the relevant AOI technical point of contact before committing substantial proposal resources.
- Stage 1 – Pre-Submission TechWatch Call: May be requested at any time during the open period of the BAA, with acknowledgment typically provided within one week.
- Stage 2 – Quad Chart and Market Research Abstract: May be submitted up to September 25, 2028, at 4:30 PM ET, unless an AOI states otherwise. BARDA aims to respond within 120 days.
- Stage 3 – Full Proposal: May also be submitted during the open period of the BAA, with the same September 25, 2028, 4:30 PM ET deadline unless superseded by AOI-specific instructions. BARDA again targets a 120-day response window.
All Stage 2 and Stage 3 submissions must be made through the BARDA Digital Resources (BDR) Portal.
Funding Overview
BARDA anticipates multiple awards of varying values under this BAA, subject to congressional appropriations, program priorities, scientific merit, and available funds. Awards may be structured with base and option periods tied to discrete work segments and Go/No-Go milestones, reinforcing the milestone-driven nature of BARDA-backed development programs.
EverGlade Perspective
For firms considering BARDA for the first time or re-engaging with the agency, the modernized BAA creates a meaningful opportunity to enter a mission-critical federal market through a vehicle specifically designed for advanced MCM development.
EverGlade helps organizations find, win, and manage federal funding across agencies including BARDA, ARPA-H, NIH, DTRA, JPEO, DoD, DIU, DOE, and DARPA. For contractors pursuing BARDA opportunities, that can include AOI fit analysis, all-stage engagement strategy, quad chart and abstract development, full proposal support, and post-award management.
If your company is developing a countermeasure or platform that could strengthen national preparedness, BARDA’s modernized BAA may be the right entry point into the agency’s portfolio. Additional information is available through MedicalCountermeasures.gov and through EverGlade at www.EverGlade.com.
