Studies, Reports, and Activities Relevant to Biomedical Sciences

THIS IS A NOTICE OF INTENT, NOT A REQUEST FOR A PROPOSAL. The National Institutes of Health (NIH), Office of Science Policy (OSP), intends to award a contract on a sole-source basis to the National Academy of Sciences (NAS), 500 Fifth St., NW, Washington, DC 20001, for the purpose of performing in-depth, high level consensus committees, studies, and reports which focus on issues of topical interest or long-range concerns of the biomedical research community and will result in specific findings and recommendations to the NIH, The NIH intends to award an NIH-wide IDIQ Task Order contract for a five (5) year period (one base and four one-year options) to NAS under the authority of FAR 6.302. The task orders issued under this contract will be cost reimbursable as federal statute requires NAS contract vehicles to be cost reimbursable (no fee/profit). The previous contracts N01-OD-4-2139 (September 1994 through February 2012), HHSN263201200074I (August 2012 through February 2018), and HHSN263201800029I (August 2018 through January 2024) were awarded under Other than Full and Open Competition to NAS. Long-standing, well-established Forums, Roundtables, Boards, and core support essential to the NIH mission continue to operate under NAS's leadership and guidance. This proposed procurement will include three main categories of requirements to be awarded through individual task orders: The Director of the NIH and its Institutes and Centers often have a need for the expertise of NAS, utilizing its six major program units for study of biomedical issues specified in each task order Statement of Work (SOW) and its terms and conditions. Congress frequently expressly requires, in statute, a NIH procurement be made to NAS. These are included in this proposed procurement. An honorific society of distinguished scholars engaged in scientific and engineering research, NAS has gathered and led the highest caliber scientists and leaders in related fields together to discuss and evaluate issues and programs of interest for NIH and the scientific community at large in Forums, Roundtables, and Boards. These may be ongoing and may last many years. NAS was established by an Act of Congress signed by President Lincoln in March 1863 which calls upon the NAS to "investigate, examine, experiment, and report upon any subject of science or art" whenever called upon to do so by any department of the Government. It has special standing discussed in FAR 6.302-5. NAS's independence and objectivity are essential to providing unbiased study findings and recommendations that have a high likelihood of being accepted by the public and the scientific community, generally without question. NAS has proven to be capable of handling NIH's high volume of work. An IDIQ contract with NAS helps NIH to procure congressional mandates, other scientific studies, and symposia in a timely fashion. Interested persons may identify their interest and capability to respond and perform all aspects of this requirement. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. However, all capability statements received within 15 days after date of publication of this synopsis will be considered by the Government. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. Responders shall submit their capability statement directly to Mary Taneyhill (Re: NIH-OD-OA-OLAO-NOI-23-333), National Institutes of Health, Office of Acquisitions to: mary.taneyhill@nih.gov. ALL INFORMATION MUST BE RECEIVED ELECTRONICALLY VIA EMAIL by 5:00 pm (1700) Eastern 29 November 2023. Note: This synopsis follows Sources Sought Notice, HHS-NIH-OD-OLAO-OA-SS-23-272, released on September 30, 2023. Contracting Office Address: OLAO, Branch 3 6701 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7786 Bethesda, Maryland 20892 Primary Point of Contact: Mary Taneyhill, Contracting Officer acting as Contract Specialist for this procurement. mary.taneyhill@nih.gov Phone: 301-480-6719