How to bid on Restorative and health-Enhancing Sleep Time (REST) for NIH

What the NIH is buying and why it matters

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is seeking research proposals for its Restorative and health-Enhancing Sleep Time (REST) program. This initiative aims to develop new home-based technologies that can objectively measure and improve sleep quality.

This is an opportunity for firms to contribute to a new generation of sleep health technologies that are objective, personalized, and designed to improve long-term health outcomes on a large scale.

Key dates and what happens at the deadline

This solicitation was published on July 16, 2026. Proposals are due by August 12, 2026, at 12:00 PM ET. All submissions must be completed by this deadline.

There have been several amendments to the solicitation, with the latest on July 16, 2026, modifying success metrics. Vendors should review all amendments carefully.

Who this opportunity suits

This opportunity is suitable for research institutions, technology developers, and professional service firms with expertise in sleep science, health technology, and home-based monitoring solutions. The focus is on advanced research and development for health technologies.

Firms specializing in objective, closed-loop technologies that detect and respond to health-relevant sleep microstructures in real time would be particularly well-suited.

How to respond to this solicitation

To access the full solicitation, click “View original source” on the portal. If the first click leads to the homepage, click it again to go directly to the bid.

You may need to create a free account on the portal to view all associated documents. However, for many bids, documents are accessible without an account.

Tips for preparing a competitive response

Carefully read all sections of the Request for Proposals (RFP), paying close attention to the technical requirements and success metrics outlined in Section 3.2.1 TA1. Ensure your proposal directly addresses these points.

Highlight your firm's experience with home-based technology development and any prior work related to sleep measurement or intervention. Clearly articulate how your proposed solution is innovative and scalable. Provide a detailed plan for how your technology will detect and respond to sleep microstructures in real time.

Since there have been multiple amendments, ensure you are working with the most current version of the solicitation and have incorporated all updates into your proposal.