Collaborative Research Partnership (Partnering PI Option)

This contract establishes a collaborative research partnership where a Partnering Principal Investigator from an external institution will co-lead the research effort alongside the primary team, sharing equal responsibility for scientific direction, project management, and deliverables. Funding is jointly allocated between the participating institutions, ensuring aligned resources and mutual accountability for outcomes, with the work focused on health-related research under the Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity. The initiative falls under NAICS code 541711, indicating it is within the scientific research and development sector, and is structured as a subcontract to support integrated, multi-institutional innovation. The opportunity was posted on June 18, 2026, with a deadline for responses set for September 28, 2026, providing potential partners a defined window to submit proposals. The partnership is expected to be conducted in alignment with the mission of the Department of Defense, addressing critical health priorities through joint scientific leadership. There is no set-aside designation specified, meaning eligibility is open to qualified institutions regardless of size or status, and no specific location is designated for performance, allowing flexibility in where the research activities are carried out as long as the objectives are met collaboratively.