Biomedical Research Application Evaluation Support (BRAES) Services

The United States Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA) is issuing a Notice of Intent under the Authority FAR 52.217-8 Option to Extend Services for a modification to Contract W81XWH-16-D-0010 for a (6) month extension to the period of performance with SRA International to begin 17 May 2021, this modification will provide biomedical research application evaluation support services in support of the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP). The modification shall provide peer review support services for up to 36 research programs while the follow-on Contract is being competed. The U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command (USAMRDC), located at Fort Detrick, MD, manages assistance agreements and contracts for intramural and extramural targeted medical research initiatives. In January 2014, the CDMRP was assigned as the lead office to consolidate all execution management for the USAMRDC. The USAMRDC currently utilizes a two-tier review process to evaluate research application and proposals in order to determine scientific merit and programmatic relevance. The first tier of the review process is peer review, which is a criteria-based process where applications are evaluated based on their scientific discipline, specialty area, or award mechanism by scientific, technical, and consumer reviews. The second tier of the review process is programmatic review, where applications are reviewed by members of Programmatic Panels. Programmatic review is a comparison-based process in which applications from multiple research areas compete in a common pool, where the potential outcomes and risks of scientifically meritorious applications/proposals are balanced. Programmatic review is conducted under a wholly separate contract than peer review, and information provided regarding programmatic review is provided only as background information. The primary objective of this contract is to provide the administrative, technological, and logistical support, to encompass electronic receipt of pre- and full applications, application compliance, scientific peer review, and maintaining/enhancing the Government owned - Electronic Biomedical Research Application Portal (eBRAP). To support the tasks required, the interested party shall have an experienced and cohesive team of scientific, technical, and administrative personnel who can demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the requirements to provide biomedical research application evaluation and support, produce acceptable deliverables within the required timelines while meeting cost, schedule and performance requirements upon expiration of the current award, 16 May 2021. THIS NOTICE OF INTENT IS NOT A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE QUOTATIONS. Responsible, interested parties may identify their interest by submitting capability information by Thursday, 19 March 2021 at 2:00 p.m. EST in order to establish the ability of the responder to meet this requirement. A determination by the government not to compete the proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. Capability statements shall be submitted by email only as a Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF attachment. The Government will not be responsible for any costs associated with responses to this notification. All inquiries must be submitted via e-mail to courtney.f.chase.civ@mail.mil. Telephonic inquiries shall not be accepted.