Office of Extramural Programs, Office of Extramural Research

The Office of Extramural Programs within the National Institutes of Health oversees the procurement of scientific and technical services that support extramural research initiatives across the biomedical and life sciences landscape. As a central hub for awarding grants and contracts to external research institutions and service providers, this office ensures that federal funding is strategically allocated to advance public health through innovative research. Its contracting activities primarily involve non-construction services aligned with NIH’s mission to foster discovery, including study design, data analysis, clinical trial support, and laboratory research services. The office operates under federal acquisition regulations to maintain transparency, competition, and compliance in its procurement processes. While no specific contractor relationships are currently identifiable in the dataset, the office routinely engages with a broad ecosystem of professional service providers, including academic research centers, independent scientific consultants, and private-sector firms delivering R&D support. Partnerships are typically established through competitive solicitations under indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) mechanisms and task order contracts, emphasizing technical merit, past performance, and compliance with NIH-specific requirements. The office demonstrates a strong preference for open competition, with 83.3% of awards issued without set-aside designations. However, it maintains a consistent commitment to small business participation, allocating 16.7% of its contracting activity to Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5, reflecting a deliberate effort to expand opportunities for small businesses in the scientific services sector. Primary procurement activity centers on NAICS 541990 (All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services), encompassing a wide array of research support functions, and NAICS 541712 (Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences), highlighting expertise in biomedical, engineering, and life sciences R&D. The office procures services including preclinical testing, bioinformatics, statistical modeling, and regulatory compliance support, underscoring its technical focus on advancing evidence-based health outcomes.