Assay Development Consultant Support Services

Solicitation 75N95025Q00058 is a combined synopsis and request for quotes issued by the National Institutes of Health Nida under the Department of Health and Human Services. This total small business set-aside contract seeks senior-level industry consulting support for assay development to benefit the HEAL Initiative, Blueprint Neurotherapeutics Network, and other neuroscience drug development programs. The scope of work involves providing expert guidance on assay evaluation, optimization, and validation, as well as support for pharmaceutics, formulation, CMC, and in vivo assay interpretation to advance lead optimization, IND enabling, and clinical studies. The contract is structured as a labor-hour purchase order with options, with a base period of performance and a pricing model that includes fully burdened labor rates and other direct costs, subject to HHS salary rate limitations. Selection will be based on a best-value source selection process, evaluating technical factors such as personnel qualifications, education, and collaborative experience, alongside price reasonableness and past performance. Performance will take place in Bethesda, Maryland, and the contractor must adhere to standard FAR commercial product and service terms, including specific invoice and payment procedures via the Invoice Processing Platform.