diff --git a/src/controllers/bountyController.ts b/src/controllers/bountyController.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..1138e943
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/controllers/bountyController.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+import { Request, Response } from 'express';
+import Bounty from '../models/Bounty';
+import Submission from '../models/Submission';
+
+export const createBounty = async (req: Request, res: Response) => {
+  try {
+    const bounty = new Bounty({ ...req.body, postedBy: req.user.id });
+    await bounty.save();
+    res.status(201).json(bounty);
+  } catch (error: any) {
+    res.status(400).json({ error: error.message });
+  }
+};
+
+export const getBounties = async (req: Request, res: Response) => {
+  try {
+    const bounties = await Bounty.find({ status: 'open' });
+    res.json(bounties);
+  } catch (error: any) {
+    res.status(500).json({ error: error.message });
+  }
+};
+
+export const submitProposal = async (req: Request, res: Response) => {
+  try {
+    const submission = new Submission({
+      bountyId: req.params.id,
+      submittedBy: req.user.id,
+      ...req.body
+    });
+    await submission.save();
+    res.status(201).json(submission);
+  } catch (error: any) {
+    res.status(400).json({ error: error.message });
+  }
+};
diff --git a/src/models/Bounty.ts b/src/models/Bounty.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..da168c25
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/models/Bounty.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+import { Schema, model, Document } from 'mongoose';
+
+export interface IBounty extends Document {
+  title: string;
+  description: string;
+  scientificContext: string;
+  deliverables: string[];
+  evaluationCriteria: string;
+  timeline: Date;
+  prizeAmount: number;
+  payoutSchedule: string;
+  isPublic: boolean;
+  status: 'open' | 'in_review' | 'completed' | 'cancelled';
+  postedBy: Schema.Types.ObjectId;
+  createdAt: Date;
+  updatedAt: Date;
+}
+
+const bountySchema = new Schema<IBounty>({
+  title: { type: String, required: true },
+  description: { type: String, required: true },
+  scientificContext: { type: String, required: true },
+  deliverables: [{ type: String }],
+  evaluationCriteria: { type: String, required: true },
+  timeline: { type: Date, required: true },
+  prizeAmount: { type: Number, required: true },
+  payoutSchedule: { type: String, required: true },
+  isPublic: { type: Boolean, default: true },
+  status: { type: String, enum: ['open', 'in_review', 'completed', 'cancelled'], default: 'open' },
+  postedBy: { type: Schema.Types.ObjectId, ref: 'User', required: true }
+}, { timestamps: true });
+
+export default model<IBounty>('Bounty', bountySchema);
diff --git a/src/models/Submission.ts b/src/models/Submission.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6affc610
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/models/Submission.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+import { Schema, model, Document } from 'mongoose';
+
+export interface ISubmission extends Document {
+  bountyId: Schema.Types.ObjectId;
+  submittedBy: Schema.Types.ObjectId;
+  proposal: string;
+  deliverablesManifest: string[];
+  status: 'submitted' | 'under_review' | 'accepted' | 'rejected';
+  isAnonymous: boolean;
+  createdAt: Date;
+  updatedAt: Date;
+}
+
+const submissionSchema = new Schema<ISubmission>({
+  bountyId: { type: Schema.Types.ObjectId, ref: 'Bounty', required: true },
+  submittedBy: { type: Schema.Types.ObjectId, ref: 'User', required: true },
+  proposal: { type: String, required: true },
+  deliverablesManifest: [{ type: String }],
+  status: { type: String, enum: ['submitted', 'under_review', 'accepted', 'rejected'], default: 'submitted' },
+  isAnonymous: { type: Boolean, default: false }
+}, { timestamps: true });
+
+export default model<ISubmission>('Submission', submissionSchema);
diff --git a/src/routes/bountyRoutes.ts b/src/routes/bountyRoutes.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..354cd8ae
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/routes/bountyRoutes.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+import { Router } from 'express';
+import { createBounty, getBounties, submitProposal } from '../controllers/bountyController';
+import { authenticate } from '../middleware/auth';
+
+const router = Router();
+
+router.post('/', authenticate, createBounty);
+router.get('/', getBounties);
+router.post('/:id/submit', authenticate, submitProposal);
+
+export default router;