NIH Medical Support Assistants

The National Institutes of Health, through its Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, is seeking qualified 8(a) certified small businesses to provide Medical Support Assistant staffing services under solicitation RFP-NIH-OD-26-000008, with a final proposal due date of May 28, 2026. This labor-hour IDIQ contract will support the Nursing Department and Patient Support Services Department (PSSD) by supplying General Clerk III positions and a full-time, onsite Program Manager responsible for health and welfare oversight. Performance is required exclusively at the NIH Clinical Center, Building 10, with a base period running from June 1, 2026, to May 31, 2028, and two optional one-year extensions through May 31, 2030. The estimated total contract ceiling is $25 million over the five-year potential period, with pricing to be submitted via Attachment 3 and evaluated under a best value trade-off methodology, where technical merit—specifically management infrastructure and recruitment and retention plans—holds the highest weight at 50 points. Offerors must be registered in SAM.gov with a valid UEI and CAGE code, certified in the SBA’s 8(a) program, and meet the $7.5 million revenue size standard under NAICS 561110. All proposals must include both a technical and business volume, with technical submissions split into two tasks and submitted electronically and in hard copy via 3-ring binder, while the business proposal is submitted electronically only. Proposals must comply with strict requirements around privacy, including adherence to the Privacy Act, mandatory completion of NIH Non-Disclosure Agreements, and full implementation of HHS security protocols requiring an Authority to Operate within three months of award. Background checks, including fingerprints, are mandatory for all personnel, alongside medical requirements such as vaccinations and drug screening. Key personnel changes require 30 days’ advance notice and written approval, and all contractors must follow HHS Enterprise Performance Life Cycle standards. The Contracting Officer’s Representative will be appointed post-award and is responsible for performance monitoring. Payments are due monthly by the 10th, based on fully burdened rates under Service Contract Act Wage Determination #2015-4269, and all deliverables must be submitted electronically, using sustainable paper standards, and adhere to Section 508 accessibility requirements. Government officials retain unannounced access for audits and