Small Molecule Approaches for Rapid and Robust Treatment (SMART) Antiviral Prize

Small Molecule Approaches for Rapid and Robust Treatment (SMART) Antiviral Prize is sponsored by Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA). This opportunity supports mission-aligned projects and measurable outcomes.

Smart Antiviral Prize 2026 – VITAL Hub Funding Expanded! Increased prize pool and Stage 1 opportunities – creating more pathways for teams to advance.

Join an Upcoming Info Session → $100M SMART Antiviral Prize to Advance Novel Antiviral Therapies The SMART Antiviral Prize is focused on identifying safe and effective broad-spectrum small molecules that have the potential to advance into clinical trials and achieve U.S. regulatory approval.

The goal of this competition is to advance the development of novel antivirals that strengthen the therapeutic pipeline and address gaps in strategic preparedness in partnership with innovators offering creative solutions.

Desired Product Attributes Seeking Novel Therapeutic Solutions for Emerging Viral Diseases for Which No The SMART Antiviral Prize focuses on supporting the development of antivirals with broad-spectrum activity against members of the Togaviridae and/or Flaviviridae families. There are currently no FDA-approved broad-spectrum antivirals for any viruses within these families—which include dengue, Zika, West Nile, and Chikungunya.

These viruses collectively cause millions of infections each year, including increasing numbers of cases in the United States. Up to 8 prizes, $2. 5M each No longer accepting applications Up to 7 prizes, $7.

5M each Now with Increased Funding! The Concept Stage application period for the SMART Antiviral Prize is now closed. Our review panel is currently evaluating submissions from innovators developing next-generation broad-spectrum antiviral approaches.

Stage 1: Hit-to-Lead is expected to open this summer and will support teams advancing promising antiviral candidates through early optimization and validation milestones. Additional details, eligibility information, and timelines will be announced soon.

Desired Product Attributes This document outlines the Desired Product Attributes that applicants may find useful when shaping antiviral concepts for submission to the SMART Antiviral Prize. Evaluation Process & Criteria The SMART Antiviral Prize uses a two-stage review process. This document outlines the Evaluation Process & Evaluation Criteria for the Concept Stage.

Review frequently asked questions, program stage overviews, and general resources for the SMART Antiviral program Concept Stage engagement and application. Apply now to submit your Concept Stage antiviral innovation tor funding and support through the SMART Antiviral Prize.

Turning Breakthrough Science Into Life-Saving Antiviral Therapies The SMART Antiviral Prize is more than a competition – it’s a call to advance bold ideas and move promising science forward. Rewarding Translational Scientific Breakthroughs Using a Tiered, Sequenced Prize Design Participation in the SMART Antiviral Prize is subject to official Terms & Conditions .

The SMART Antiviral Prize is focused on identifying safe and effective broad-spectrum small molecules that have the potential to advance into clinical trials and achieve U.S. regulatory approval. The goal of this competition is to advance the development of novel antivirals that strengthen the therapeutic pipeline and address gaps in strategic preparedness in partnership with innovators offering creative solutions.

A Multi-Stage Competition The SMART Antiviral Prize is a multi-stage competition designed to move candidates from idea to IND readiness through clear, stage-specific milestones and published evaluation criteria.

It begins with a Concept Stage that prioritizes a well-defined technical and development approach (not extensive data), with later stages requiring progressively deeper technical submissions and evidence of broad-spectrum activity and product attributes—while allowing multiple entry points as candidates advance.

If you or your organization would like to explore collaborations with other innovators for potential joint collaborative applications, please visit the SMART Antiviral Prize Teaming Page. Upcoming Info Sessions & Webinars Have questions about the SMART Antiviral Prize? Join one of our upcoming info sessions to learn more about the challenge, the application process, and what we’re looking for.

You’ll also have the opportunity to engage directly with the VITAL team during a live Q&A. Call for Antiviral Testing Partners Do you have capabilities in running live-virus, cell-based antiviral potency assays for Dengue and Chikungunya and are interested in serving as a reference facility for the SMART Antiviral Prize? All information provided within is preliminary and subject to change.

Specific criteria and requirements are currently being refined. In the event of any inconsistency, the official SMART Antiviral Prize Terms & Conditions supersede this information. Objectives for Each Stage of the SMART Antiviral Prize Describe development plans to discover or advance broad-spectrum small molecule antivirals for Flaviviridae and/or Togaviridae families.

Identify at least one promising chemical series with reproducible cell-based antiviral activity and an early SAR that supports rational optimization. Build an initial “go/no-go” dataset for each series—basic ADME/PK, key developability flags, and early safety/DDI triage—to justify moving into lead optimization.

Stage 2: Lead Optimization Optimize potency, selectivity, and exposure to produce a well-characterized lead and backup, with a clear plan to mitigate remaining liabilities. Demonstrate in vivo proof-of-concept efficacy in a relevant animal model and nominate an IND candidate (and backup where feasible) suitable for IND-enabling studies.

Complete the nonclinical package required for first-in-human dosing, including GLP toxicology/safety pharmacology and definitive ADME/DDI studies, plus manufacturing/CMC readiness (quality, stability, and formulation appropriate for clinical use). Conduct appropriate FDA interactions and assemble an IND-ready submission package suitable for filing to initiate clinical trials.

A Multi-Stage Model to Accelerate Antiviral Innovation The SMART Antiviral Prize offers up to $100M in awards to support innovators across four progressive stages – from early concept through IND readiness. Each stage builds upon prior success, rewarding the most promising candidates for achieving ambitious yet attainable milestones on an accelerated timeline. Stage Launch & Declaration of Intent Up to seven – up to $7.

5M each Stage Launch & Declaration of Intent Stage 2: Lead Optimization Stage Launch & Declaration of Intent Stage Launch & Declaration of Intent Award Allocation across Concept Stage and Stage 1: Hit-to-Lead The SMART Antiviral Prize fosters the growth of early-stage innovators by providing seed funding at the Concept Stage, and by reserving two awards in Stage 1 for Concept Stage winners.

Teams with candidates already in preclinical development can enter Stage 1 without having participated in the Concept Stage. Up to eight awards will be made after a merit-based review of all proposals. Submissions will be reviewed as a batch after the solicitation period is closed.

Applications will be accepted starting in early February 2026. Concept Stage award decisions are anticipated in Q3 2026. The evaluation process and accompanying criteria are outlined below.

Awards for Stage 1: Hit-to-Lead Up to seven awards will be made in total. Up to three (3) of the seven awards are reserved exclusively for Concept Stage winners that meet the Optimal or Essential Success Criteria within the specified submission window. * All applicants must submit a Declaration of Intent and receive approval before their submissions can be reviewed.

Rolling Review (First-to-Finish)*: Data packages may be submitted at any time during the submission window (anticipated to open in early 2027). Submissions will be reviewed in the order received, and awards will be made on a first-to-finish basis, subject to validation of the data.

Two-Success Criteria Tracks: Data packages may be submitted against one of two success criteria: Optimal Success Criteria or Essential Success Criteria, as defined in the Target Compound Profile . Optimal Track: Awards for Optimal submissions will be made on a rolling basis as soon as the data are reviewed and validated, until all available prizes for Stage 1 (that have not been reserved for Concept Stage winners) are awarded.

Essential Track: Submissions that meet only the Essential Success Criteria will be held and considered at the end of the submission period. Essential awards will be made only if funding remains after all Optimal awards have been issued. Reserved Awards for Concept Stage Winners: The three reserved awards are available only to eligible Concept Stage winners and may be earned at any time during the submission window.

These reserved awards will be issued to the first three Concept Stage winners whose data packages meet the Optimal Success Criteria. If none of the Concept Stage winners meet the Optimal Success Criteria, the reserved awards will be issued to the first three Concept Stage winners to meet the Essential Success Criteria during the submission window. Up to eight awards will be made after a merit-based review of all proposals.

Submissions will be reviewed as a batch after the solicitation period is closed. Applications will be accepted starting in early February 2026. Concept Stage award decisions are anticipated in Q3 2026.

The evaluation process and accompanying criteria are outlined below. Awards for Stage 1: Hit-to-Lead Up to six awards will be made in total. Up to two (2) of the six awards are reserved exclusively for Concept Stage winners that meet the Optimal or Essential Success Criteria within the specified submission window.

*All applicants must submit a Declaration of Intent and receive approval before their submissions can be reviewed. Rolling review “first-to-finish” Data packages may be submitted at any time during the submission window (anticipated to open in early 2027). Submissions will be reviewed in the order received, and awards will be made on a first-to-finish basis, subject to validation of the data.

“Reserved awards” for Concept Stage winners The two reserved awards are available only to eligible Concept Stage winners and may be earned at any time during the submission window. These reserved awards will be issued to the first two Concept Stage winners whose data packages meet the Optimal Success Criteria.

If none of the Concept Stage winners meet the Optimal Success Criteria, the reserved awards will be issued to the first two Concept Stage winners to meet the Essential Success Criteria during the submission window. Two success- criteria tracks Data packages may be submitted against one of two success criteria: Optimal Success Criteria or Essential Success Criteria, as defined in the Target Compound Profile.

Awards for Optimal submissions will be made on a rolling basis as soon as the data are reviewed and validated, until all available prizes for Stage 1 (that have not been reserved for Concept Stage winners) are awarded. Submissions that meet only the Essential Success Criteria will be held and considered at the end of the submission period. Essential awards will be made only if funding remains after all Optimal awards have been issued.

Rolling review “first-to-finish” Data packages may be submitted at any time during the submission window (anticipated to open in early 2027). Submissions will be reviewed in the order received, and awards will be made on a first-to-finish basis, subject to validation of the data.

Two success- criteria tracks Data packages may be submitted against one of two success criteria: Optimal Success Criteria or Essential Success Criteria, as defined in the Target Compound Profile. Awards for Optimal submissions will be made on a rolling basis as soon as the data are reviewed and validated, until all available prizes for Stage 1 (that have not been reserved for Concept Stage winners) are awarded.

Submissions that meet only the Essential Success Criteria will be held and considered at the end of the submission period. Essential awards will be made only if funding remains after all Optimal awards have been issued. “Reserved awards” for Concept Stage winners The two reserved awards are available only to eligible Concept Stage winners and may be earned at any time during the submission window.

These reserved awards will be issued to the first two Concept Stage winners whose data packages meet the Optimal Success Criteria. If none of the Concept Stage winners meet the Optimal Success Criteria, the reserved awards will be issued to the first two Concept Stage winners to meet the Essential Success Criteria during the submission window.

Concept Stage Evaluation Process & Criteria The SMART Antiviral Prize uses a two-stage review process: Written Submission Review Written Submission Review and Virtual Presentation (Pitch Call) Stage 1: Written Submission Review An expert judging panel will review, score, and rank all Concept Stage written submissions using the published evaluation criteria.

Scores and rankings will be based solely on the information provided in the written submission at the time of submission. Stage 2: Virtual Presentations (“Pitch Calls”) Based on rankings from Stage 1, the highest-scoring applicants will be invited to participate in a virtual presentation (“Pitch Call”) with the judging panel. The Administrator expects to invite fifteen (15) applicants.

To support a balanced portfolio, the Prize Administrator intends to invite at least two (2) applicants targeting each prioritized viral family ( Togaviridae and Flaviviridae ). Prize Award Recommendations Following Pitch Calls, judges will submit results—reflecting final scoring and prize recommendations—to Start2 for decision.

Consistent with the stated evaluation criteria and eligibility requirements, the final recommendations will support selection of eight (8) winners with at least one (1) winner from each prioritized viral family ( Togaviridae and Flaviviridae ). The submissions will be reviewed using the following evaluation criteria.

Scientific rationale and antiviral target strategy Judges will assess how clearly the submission explains its antiviral concept, including the proposed mechanism of action, relevance to broad-spectrum activity within one or more prioritized viral families, and strength of the supporting evidence (e.g., literature, public data, or preliminary in silico/experimental findings) that the target or pathway is essential, druggable, resistant to development of viral escape, and plausibly conserved across multiple viruses.

Development and regulatory strategy Judges will consider how well the submission lays out a realistic, coherent path from the current state of the program toward a Phase 1–ready small-molecule antiviral candidate, including key preclinical activities and milestones, anticipated regulatory needs, and a thoughtful approach to identifying and mitigating major technical, regulatory, and operational risks over the anticipated prize stages.

Capabilities, partnerships, and execution feasibility Judges will evaluate whether the entrant and any proposed partners have the expertise, resources, and collaborations needed to execute the plan, including relevant scientific and development capabilities, access to required infrastructure and IP/freedom to operate, and an overall program management approach that makes timely, high-quality delivery of the proposed work feasible.

In Stage 2 of the evaluation process, in addition to the written submission, judges will consider the following factors during the Pitch Call: Consistency with the written submission Clarity regarding key risks and proposed mitigation strategies Feasibility of near-term milestones Responsiveness to judges’ questions Target Compound Profile Measuring Success in Stage 1: Hit-to-Lead The SMART Antiviral Prize has outlined the set of target criteria for eligible entrants to reach by the end of Stage 1.

Applicants applying for Concept Stage funding should design a credible development plan with these milestones in mind to address early risks and reach the project goals within the data submission period. All information provided within is preliminary and subject to change. Specific criteria and requirements are currently being refined.

In the event of any inconsistency, the official SMART Antiviral Prize Terms & Conditions supersede this information. Desired Product Attributes for Small Molecule Broad-spectrum Antivirals This document outlines Desired Product Attributes that applicants may find useful when shaping antiviral concepts for submission to the SMART Antiviral Prize.

These attributes are provided as a draft and are subject to change as the prize design is further refined.

Treatment of acute, laboratory-confirmed infection caused by viruses within the Flaviviridae and/or Togaviridae family Treatment and prophylaxis Family wide label supported by bridging across a prespecified breadth panel Direct-acting antiviral (targets highly conserved viral factors) or indirect acting antiviral (targets host factors required for viral entry, replication, and/or persistence) Antiviral Activity (Breadth and EC50 ≤1 µM across all viruses in a predefined breadth panel Documented, acceptable level of resistance development with understanding of potential resistance across viral species EC50 ≤100 nM across all viruses in a predefined breadth panel; EC50 ≤1 µM across ALL pathogenic viruses within the family No evidence of emergence of resistance in clinical trials All populations, e.g., pediatrics (incl.

neonates), adults, older adults, pregnant/lactating, immunocompromised Contraindications, Use, Adverse Acceptable adverse event rate vs. benefit; manageable toxicity No black box warning or major precautions Some contraindications tolerated No severe interactions with routine drugs; monitor CYP pathway; may need dose adjustment with other medications Compatible with potential standard of care (SOC) options Well tolerated, mild or no side effects No significant contraindications or DDIs; compatible with most therapies Clinically meaningful improvement in time to symptom resolution for acute infections when compared to untreated patients Clinically meaningful reduction in symptom severity/progression to severe disease or hospitalization and strong prevention of progression or transmission, if applicable Prevention of chronic symptoms/post-viral sequelae Safety and tolerability profile supports evaluation for prophylactic indications Defined PK/PD; dosing maintains EC90 in target tissue(s) Antiviral activity (e.g., protein- adjusted 90% effective concentration pa-EC90)) supporting a PK/PD Index (PDI) ≥3 (e.g., predicted Ctrough/pa- EC90) Predictable and consistent PK/PD in all sub-populations; long half-life Dosing maintains 3x EC90 in target tissue(s) Antiviral activity supporting PDI≥10 where feasible Small molecule (at or below 900 daltons) Within 48 hours from symptom onset Maintains effectiveness when started 5 days from symptom onset; effective even with delayed diagnosis Suitable for treatment with extended protection providing sustained viral clearance for persistent infections 3 doses/day for up to 14 days, or as needed based on disease i Multiple routes, including oral and parenteral ≥ 2 years at 2-8˚C and/or RT, stable in field conditions ≥ 3 years at controlled RT, compatible with pandemic deployment Regulatory Path, Registration i Persistent infections caused by Chikungunya lead to prolonged viral presence (up to 28 days) and may need longer duration of treatment for sustained viral clearance.

Target Compound Profile Measuring Success in Stage 1: Hit-to-Lead The SMART Antiviral Prize has outlined the set of target criteria for eligible entrants to reach by the end of Stage 1. Applicants applying for Concept Stage funding should design a credible development plan with these milestones in mind to address early risks and reach the project goals within the data submission period.

All information provided within is preliminary and subject to change. Specific criteria and requirements are currently being refined. In the event of any inconsistency, the official SMART Antiviral Prize Terms & Conditions supersede this information.

Thank you for your interest in the SMART Antiviral Prize. During the Concept Stage of the prize, teaming collaborations between diverse innovators were encouraged to help accelerate the development of broad-spectrum, small molecule antiviral therapies. Team formation activities for the Concept Stage have now concluded, and submissions for this stage are closed.

As a result, participant profiles and teaming services are no longer publicly available at this time. Please check back for updates, resources, and future collaboration opportunities related to upcoming stages of the SMART Antiviral Prize.

Organization Type ▾ CRO (Contract Research Organization) CMO (Contract Manufacturing Organization) CDMO (Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization) Other Clear Country ▾ United States Clear Expertise ▾ Discovery & Design AI / ML Virology & Infection Models Development / ADME / Safety CMC / Formulation Manufacturing Clinical / Regulatory Clear Waltham, MA, United States CRO (Contract Research Organization) X-Chem, Inc. is a drug discovery partner specializing in small molecule research and DNA-encoded library (DEL) technology.

We provide integrated discovery services including DEL screening, medicinal chemistry, computational chemistry, cheminformatics, and data analytics to support hit identification, lead optimization, and early-stage therapeutic development.

Through our Chemomics platform, X-Chem helps pharmaceutical and biotechnology partners generate actionable discovery insights and accelerate drug discovery programs through data-driven chemistry solutions and collaborative research models. All information provided within is preliminary and subject to change. Specific criteria and requirements are currently being refined.

In the event of any inconsistency, the official SMART Antiviral Prize Terms & Conditions supersede this information. Program Overview and Rationale BARDA currently supports multiple efforts to develop therapeutics against several biological threats.

One consistent limitation in current medical countermeasure (MCM) preparedness efforts is the lack of successful processes and approaches available to improve the early-stage pipeline for small molecule therapeutics. This aspect of MCM preparedness is particularly challenging given that traditional approaches have not worked well for these types of therapeutics.

Therefore, the goal of this effort is to identify new technical approaches that can address this critical gap in preparedness. Under this effort, approaches are sought that can produce new, safe, and effective small molecules active against a broad range of viruses within one or more viral families.

The SMART Antiviral Prize will be composed of four stages, with success in the final stage culminating in an IND-ready candidate prepared to progress to Phase I clinical trials. What are the main goals of the SMART Antiviral Prize?

We seek to award new innovators and new breakthrough approaches, while encouraging participation from both traditional and non-traditional innovators in order to expand the pool of creative and feasible solutions.

The goals of the SMART Antiviral Prize are to address gaps in the current pipeline of therapeutics that can advance into the clinic, as well as identify promising approaches to small molecule development that could be rapidly applied to future threats. Why is BARDA using a prize competition structure to support innovative small molecule antiviral development?

As outlined in the Program Overview and Rationale section, BARDA recognizes the importance of broad-spectrum small molecule antiviral approaches that strengthen the therapeutic pipeline and address critical preparedness gaps. The prize competition model encourages participation from both traditional and non-traditional innovators, expanding the pool of creative and feasible solutions.

Scientific Scope & Eligibility What specific types of antivirals are allowed? The SMART Antiviral Prize is limited to traditional small molecule drugs—organic compounds with a molecular weight at or below 900 Daltons that can be chemically synthesized or isolated from natural sources (e.g., plants, animals, minerals).

The following are not permitted : biologics (including peptide-based products and antibody–drug conjugates) and nucleic acid-based drugs. Nucleotide and nucleoside analogs are allowed and considered traditional small molecule drugs for the purposes of this prize competition. What mechanisms of action are allowed?

Proposed antivirals must directly target highly conserved viral factors ( direct-acting antivirals ) or proviral host factors required for viral entry, replication, or persistence ( indirect-acting antivirals ). Products without measurable antiviral activity will not be considered. “Measurable antiviral activity” refers to demonstrated inhibition of viral replication or reduction in viral load in relevant in vitro and in vivo models.

Products that act solely through immunomodulatory or symptomatic mechanisms without directly impacting the viral lifecycle will not be considered. Are clinical-stage compounds eligible? No. Compounds that have been tested in humans at any stage of clinical development (Phase I–IV) are not eligible for this prize.

This includes FDA-approved drugs, repurposed clinical-stage compounds, and reformulations of approved or previously clinical-stage drugs. Chemical derivatives of such would be eligible if they are New Chemical Entities, with substantive molecular modification beyond reformulation, and applicants must demonstrate appropriate freedom to operate (FTO) when leveraging proprietary compounds as starting points.

Developers with more advanced products are encouraged to review open solicitations to identify potential alternative opportunities to apply for BARDA funding. What viral families are within scope? The SMART Antiviral Prize focuses on identifying antivirals with broad-spectrum activity against the Togaviridae and/or Flaviviridae families.

Both viral families are prioritized by the Public Health Emergency Medical Countermeasures Enterprise (PHEMCE) due to their potential to emerge as novel, high-consequence pathogens capable of causing a U.S. public health emergency. In addition, these viral families were selected based on alignment with BARDA’s published Emerging Infectious Diseases (EID) strategy ( Johnson et al. 2025 ) and prioritization frameworks ( White et al.

2025 ; White et al. 2025 ). Specifically, BARDA’s prioritization framework emphasizes factors such as public health impact, outbreak size and frequency, technical feasibility of development, and readiness of countermeasure approval pathways.

Is it expected that high-containment viruses must be tested? No. Preclinical results are expected to be confirmed using live, non-attenuated viruses or strains, which may include BSL-3 and/or select agents. BSL-4 viruses or strains will not be required due to facility access limitations.

What is the primary indication for use? The antiviral candidate should be suitable for treatment of acute, laboratory-confirmed infection caused by viruses within the Flaviviridae and/or Togaviridae families. Is oral administration absolutely required?

Can an entrant focus on developing an antiviral for other routes of administration? The SMART Antiviral Prize is intended to advance orally deliverable antiviral candidates toward the clinic. At the Concept Stage, entrants are not required to provide oral exposure or dosing data.

However, the development plan should describe how the candidate could be advanced toward oral administration, including any work needed to improve oral bioavailability and related properties. Feasibility data supporting oral exposure and dosing are expected in later stages of the prize. Refer to the Desired Products Attributes for additional information.

Can an entrant propose a combination therapy for the SMART Antiviral Prize? No, combination therapy is out of scope and will be ineligible. If an entrant has a molecule with promising preclinical data, but it has not yet been tested against togaviruses or flaviviruses, are they still eligible to apply for the Concept Stage?

Yes. Applicants may apply to the Concept Stage even if their molecule has not yet been specifically tested against togaviruses or flaviviruses, provided they otherwise meet the applicable eligibility requirements for the prize. Applicants should review the eligibility criteria carefully and ensure their submission aligns with all Concept Stage requirements.

Eligibility and Participation Rules Who is eligible to apply? The Primary Entrant must be a U.S.-based Concern at the time the Notice of Intent is submitted and remain a U.S.-based Concern through the issuance of prize awards.

“U.S.-based Concern” means: (i) incorporated in the United States (including a U.S.-incorporated subsidiary even if the parent is foreign based), or (ii) unincorporated with its principal place of business in the United States. Principal place of business is defined as the primary location where management directs, controls, or coordinates the entity’s activities.

Note: Components of the work may be performed by a team consisting of subcontractors, consultants, CROs, or partner organizations, however, the Primary Entrant must retain responsibility for substantively leading the technical effort. See the Terms & Conditions here . Does an applicant need to be at a certain stage of development to be eligible for the Concept Stage?

Eligibility requirements can be found in the section above. Concept Stage application details can be found on the Prize Details page. There is no minimum Technology Readiness Level requirement.

Is participation in a prior stage(s) required to be eligible for entry into a subsequent stage? No. Stages beyond the Concept Stage will be open to previous entrants, prior prize winners, and new entrants. If an entrant applies to—but does not receive the prize for—a given stage, are they eligible to apply for a subsequent stage?

Yes. An entrant may enter or re-enter the prize competition at any subsequent stage, provided they meet the eligibility criteria for that stage. For Stages 1–3, entrants must also submit and receive approval of a Declaration of Intent to be eligible for prize awards.

Can an entrant submit more than one submission for the same stage? Yes. However, an entrant may only be selected as the prime awardee for one award per stage.

What are the submission review criteria? Submission review criteria will be published at the opening of each stage. Submission review criteria for the Concept Stage can be found here .

What are the reporting requirements? Reporting requirements specific to each prize stage will be released at the opening of each stage.

For the Concept Stage, winners will have quarterly meetings with VITAL, in which the winner will provide updates on the following topics as they pertain to the proposal: progress on development toward the goals of the proposal, technical achievements and milestones, technical troubleshooting, risks and mitigation planning, intellectual property, regulatory strategy and planning, changes in personnel and cybersecurity updates.

Quarterly meetings will follow a template, which will be provided to the winners. Do I need a SAM. gov registration?

Are federal government (USG) employees and USG support contractors eligible to participate in submissions? No. USG employees and support contractors are not eligible to be part of a submission in any capacity – whether as primary submitters, team members, collaborators, advisors, or any other role, and whether paid or unpaid. Are foreign subcontracts/collaborators permitted?

The primary applicant/award recipient must be a U.S. based concern. Foreign subcontractors and teaming partners may be included, provided they comply with the eligibility requirements. See the Terms & Conditions here .

Does an applicant already need to be a U.S. based entity at the time of submitting the concept stage application? Yes. The primary applicant/award recipient must be a U.S. based concern at the time of concept stage application.

May a primary entrant submit more than one application for the same stage, and can more than one award be made to the same primary entrant? Yes. A primary entrant may submit more than one application for the same stage, and each application will be evaluated independently.

For entrants other than academic institutions, however, only one award may be made per stage to the same primary entrant. If multiple submissions from the same non-academic primary entrant are among the highest-evaluated submissions, only the highest-evaluated submission will be selected for award.

Separate teams, laboratories, business units, or investigators within the same non-academic organization will not be treated as separate primary entrants for purposes of award selection. A limited exception applies to academic institutions.

Multiple applications from different Principal Investigators (PIs) at the same academic institution may be considered for, and may receive, award in the same stage, even though the institution is the legal entity that would receive and administer the funds, provided that each application represents a distinct and independent effort.

Each such application must reflect a clearly different scientific approach, separate team, and distinct supporting resources, and must not overlap in personnel, scope, or underlying solution. This exception recognizes that, in academia, the institution is often the legal recipient of funds, while the scientific work may be independently developed and led by different PIs or research groups.

The primary entrant identified in the application may not be changed after submission. Note the primary entrant must also be a legal entity (such as a non-profit, for-profit, or academic institution). See the Concept Stage Evaluation Process & Criteria here .

Is the SMART Antiviral Prize funding intended to cover all project costs, or only direct costs? The prize is a fixed award provided to competitors who are selected as winners under the