[maliker]

I've received an ARPA-E award. So a similar process and competition level.

First you submit a 5 page concept paper, and if that's acceptable you write a 20 page full proposal (answering the Heielmeier Catechism in detail[0]). If you're selected (around 1-5% acceptance rates) you go through a contracting process--overall it takes about 1 year from initial concept paper to final contract.

Once everything's signed you're executing on a 2-3 year and $1-5 million project where you have to hit technical milestones each quarter. And if you're in the top 10% of projects that were funded by the agency that year you can except follow-on funding at about the same level.

[0] https://www.darpa.mil/work-with-us/heilmeier-catechism