Notice: NIH Scientific Initiatives Project Management Support Contract

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, through the Office of the Director at the National Institutes of Health, is conducting market research via a Sources Sought Notice for Scientific Initiatives Project Management Support under solicitation number 75N98026R00096, categorized under NAICS code 541690 for Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services. This notice is exclusively for gathering information on the availability and capabilities of small business sources, including HUBZone, service-disabled veteran-owned, 8(a), veteran-owned, woman-owned, and small disadvantaged businesses, to determine if a set-aside acquisition is viable. Respondents must be small businesses under the specified NAICS code and are required to submit detailed responses in outline format addressing how their capabilities meet or exceed the project requirements, accompanied by capability statements, white papers, or product literature, and must fully respond to the technical questions in Attachment 1. All submissions must include organizational details such as DUNS number, business size and type, and contact information for both technical and administrative points of contact, submitted electronically to Nicholas Niefeld at nicholas.niefeld@hhs.gov no later than June 22, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time. No payment or reimbursement will be provided for response costs, and submissions are not proposals or quotes—no award will result from this notice. The contract, if awarded, will provide expert-level project management and scientific coordination support to NIH’s multi-institute initiatives, including tasking in research program planning, funding cycle management, performance analytics, meeting coordination, document preparation, dashboard development, GANTT chart management, and 508-compliant content creation. Performance will be primarily based at NIH facilities in Bethesda, Maryland, though work at the contractor’s facility may be permitted. The anticipated contract period is a one-year base with two optional one-year extensions, extending possible performance through July 26, 2029. The contractor must have demonstrated experience working across NIH Institutes and Centers, advising senior leadership on high-visibility programs, and navigating the full lifecycle of NIH funding mechanisms. The contract prohibits personal services under FAR 37.1, requiring all work direction to flow through the Contracting Officer’s Representative to the contractor’s project manager without direct government supervision. Respondents must comply with organizational conflict of interest provisions under FAR Subpart 9.5, safeguard confidential government and third-party information, and ensure personnel receive appropriate