NIMH Public Inquiry Support Services

The National Institutes of Health National Institute of Mental Health is awarding a firm-fixed-price task order under the PICS III IDIQ vehicle to IQ Solutions, Inc. for Public Inquiry Support Services. This contract, identified by solicitation number 75N98026R00054, is designated as an exception to fair opportunity due to an urgent need for service continuity. The performance period runs from April 19, 2026, through February 18, 2027, with the place of performance located in Bethesda, Maryland. The contractor is responsible for operating the NIMH Information Resource Center, which serves as the primary contact point for disseminating mental health research and information. Key duties include screening, tracking, and responding to approximately 9,000 annual inquiries via phone, email, and mail from the public, healthcare providers, and researchers. A critical component of the scope is the implementation and testing of a telephone system with IVR to route callers to crisis resources, such as the 988 Lifeline, while adhering to strict protocols that prohibit the contractor from following up on transferred crisis calls. The award was justified based on the incumbent's unique institutional knowledge and the potential for public detriment should a lapse in these sensitive public health services occur.