NIH opens the bidding for $3B professional services recompete

The National Institutes of Health is now ready for industry to start working on and submitting proposals for a potential $3 billion, multiple-award professional services recompete contract focused on supporting intramural and vaccine research.

NIH’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases uses the contract to acquire industry help in scientific, management, administrative and technical activities. Known as PSTSS, the Professional Scientific and Technical Support Services vehicle is primarily focused on activities at the Division of Intramural Research and Vaccine Research Center.

Bids for the five-year PSTSS contract are due to NIH by 3 p.m. Eastern time on April 27, NIH said in a Thursday notice to release the final solicitation.

NIH has obligated $531.4 million in task order volume to-date against the current contract, which was awarded in 2018.

GovTribe data pegs Guidehouse as the leading incumbent with having booked 45% of the work, followed by Axle Informatics at 26% and Gap Solutions next at 15%. Guidehouse inherited its incumbency through the acquisition of Dovel Technologies in 2021.

For the recompete, NIH is breaking out the evaluation criteria into technical factors and cost/price factors. The technical aspects of proposals cover recruitment capability, retention capability, management approach and corporate experience.

NIH is particularly interested in working with companies that have professional expertise in microbiology, molecular biology, biochemistry, infectious diseases, immunology, bioinformatics and vaccine research.

The scope of work also includes support for NIH’s international research efforts and the agency’s participation in responses to health crises around the world. This can include clinical trials, basic and applied research, and other efforts aimed at expanding the world’s base of biomedical knowledge.