Preclinical Validation of Behavioral Economic Methods for Abuse Potential Assessment

The contract solicits proposals for the preclinical validation of behavioral economic methods to assess the abuse potential of substances, focusing on developing and refining quantitative models that predict human drug-taking behavior through non-human animal studies. This initiative, issued by the FDA Office of Acquisition and Grant Services under the Department of Health and Human Services, is designated as an 8(a) sole source opportunity, indicating that the award will be made to a small, socially and economically disadvantaged business certified under the Small Business Administration’s 8(a) program. The work is intended to support regulatory science by establishing reliable, translatable preclinical tools that can inform the FDA’s evaluation of new pharmaceuticals and other psychoactive compounds for their potential for misuse or dependence. Proposals must be submitted by August 4, 2026, and the project is classified under NAICS code 541990 for other scientific and technical consulting services. The performance location is not specified, but the contracting office is based in Rockville, Maryland. Telisha Wilson serves as the primary point of contact for inquiries and can be reached via email or phone. The solicitation is posted as a combined synopsis and request for proposal, meaning firms may submit both technical and pricing elements in a single response. This effort aims to advance public health by improving the scientific foundation for assessing substance abuse risk before human trials, potentially influencing labeling, scheduling, and risk mitigation strategies for controlled substances.