The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), through its Biological Technologies Office (BTO), has released Program Solicitation DARPA-PS-26-124 for the Resuscitation and Prevention of Ischemia-Induced Dysfunction (RAPIID) program. RAPIID aims to develop a deployable blood analog system capable of providing the life-saving functions of stored whole blood without requiring cold-chain storage or donor logistics. This solicitation requests proposals addressing ONLY Phase 1 of Task Area (TA)-1 and/or TA-2.
RAPIID builds on DARPA’s prior investments to address potential blood shortages in austere settings (such as the FSHARP program). This next phase of development focuses on advancing previously de-risked technologies toward clinically validated, manufacturable, and operationally deployable systems for military and civilian trauma care in austere and distributed operational environments.
Technical Focus Areas
The RAPIID program aims to accelerate the development of potential blood analog components in human trials and the development of technologies to support field administration (such as ruggedized packaging, point of care diagnostics to inform administration, clinical practice guidelines, etc). This effort is composed of four Technical Areas (TAs) across two phases; DARPA is currently accepting proposals for Phase 1 of TA-1 and/or TA-2, which are described further below:
TA-1: Individual Blood Analog Components
TA-1 focuses on development of:
- Oxygen carriers
- Platelet-derived products, shelf-stable platelets, or platelet-like particles
- Dried plasma
As part of selection, Performers must demonstrate GMP readiness. Early in RAPIID, each TA-1 performer will demonstrate safety, efficacy, and shelf stability of their design-locked product in functional tests and preclinical models. DARPA is seeking technologies with a minimum Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 3, ideally closer to TRL 4.
TA-2: Blood Analog System (BAS) Fielding Technologies
TA-2 focuses on technologies that support operational deployment of the BAS, including:
- Point-of-care diagnostics for blood analog detection and coagulation assessment
- Ruggedized packaging and delivery systems
TA-3: Regulatory Advancement and Program Infrastructure*
TA-4: Commercialization and Sustainment*
*In addition to TA-1 and TA-2 technical objectives, RAPIID will support the development of a program transition strategy (clinical, regulatory, and commercialization) to ensure accessibility of the technology beyond the DARPA effort. This development will be primarily addressed by TA-3 and TA-4, which are not covered in this solicitation. As it is expected that performers in TA-1 and TA-2 will coordinate with performers in TA-3 and TA-4 to develop clinical, regulatory, and commercialization strategies for individual blood analog components, the complete blood analog, and fielding technologies, the anticipated objectives for TA-3 and TA-4 are outlined in the solicitation; they are subject to change. Organizations awarded under TA-1 or TA-2 are not eligible for future TA-3 or TA-4 awards
The overall RAPIID effort is structured as a 36-month program consisting of a 12-month Phase 1 and an anticipated 24-month Phase 2 focused on clinical validation, GMP manufacturing scale-up, and regulatory advancement. During Phase 1, Performers will demonstrate safety and efficacy of their prototype blood analog components and auxiliary fielding technologies. Evaluations for blood analog components will include pre-clinical in vivo models of traumatic hemorrhage and studies to support FDA regulatory filings. Performance against identified technical metrics identified will be used to identify technologies invited to proceed to RAPIID Phase 2.
Key Dates
RAPIID has released the following deadlines:
- Questions Due: June 3, 2026 by 4:00 PM ET
- Proposal Due Date: June 24, 2026 by 4:00 PM ET
Strategic Implications for Trauma Care
RAPIID reflects DARPA’s continued investment in next-generation trauma care technologies designed for environments where traditional blood products are unavailable or impractical. If successful, the program could significantly improve survivability in military operations, disaster response, and civilian trauma settings while reducing dependence on refrigerated blood supply chains.
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