NIH Scientific & Technical Expertise & Acquisition Management (STEAM)

SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE NIH SCIENTIFIC & TECHNICAL EXPERTISE ACQUISITION & MANAGEMENT (STEAM) Sources Sought Reference Number: 75N98027R00012 Proposed NAICS Code and Size Standard: 541990 - All Other Professional, Scientific and Technical Services; $19.5 million in average annual receipts Sources Sought Notice Information Introduction This is a Small Business Sources Sought notice. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding: (1) the availability and capability of qualified small business sources; (2) their small business and applicable socioeconomic status, including HUBZone, service-disabled veteran-owned, veteran-owned, 8(a), woman-owned, and small disadvantaged business status; and (3) their size classification relative to the proposed North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code. Responses will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method, including whether a full or partial small business set-aside is appropriate. Interested small businesses may respond for Task Area A (Professional Services), Task Area B (Highly Specialized Scientific Services), or both. Respondents should identify their ability to perform as a prime contractor, joint venture, or subcontracting team, distinguish their own capability from that of team members, and identify limitations within each task area addressed. NIH will assess capability separately for each area. Capability in both areas is not required to respond. The Government has not made a final set-aside determination. Background The National Institutes of Health (NIH) conducts and supports biomedical and behavioral research to advance scientific knowledge and improve health. NIH requires professional, scientific, and technical contractor support for current and emerging research priorities, ongoing research activities, and related program operations. Changes in research programs and scientific methods create a continuing need for flexible service delivery and specialized expertise. Scientific & Technical Expertise Acquisition & Management (STEAM) will acquire contractor-provided services and expertise to accomplish varied project-based requirements across NIH. Individual task orders will define project objectives, tasks, deliverables or milestones, performance periods, required expertise, and resource needs. Contractors must furnish and manage the resources needed to perform multiple concurrent projects at substantial volume and adjust those resources as authorized project requirements change. NIH anticipates using cost-reimbursement contracting approximately 20 percent of the time. The actual mix will depend on individual requirements. Firms should describe their experience and ability to support this component, including any preparation needed. Existing cost-reimbursement capability or a prior Government accounting-system approval is not a mandatory condition of responding to this notice. Applicable requirements, including accounting-system adequacy, would need to be satisfied before award of a cost-reimbursement order. Purpose and Objectives The purpose of STEAM is to provide professional, scientific, and technical support for NIH research and related activities. Support includes basic, translational, and clinical research; vaccine research; general and specialized laboratory research; veterinary and animal research support; bioinformatics; computational biology; and related professional and technical services. The contractor will furnish and manage qualified resources to accomplish each statement of work (SOW), including responsibility for recruiting, verifying qualifications, retaining its personnel, and maintaining continuity of performance. Services will be furnished under individual funded, project-based task orders. The contractor will furnish resources, including personnel with expertise corresponding to the applicable labor categories, to accomplish the SOW and deliver the required project outcomes and milestones. The contractor will retain responsibility for employing, supervising, and managing its personnel. Services will not include inherently governmental functions or unauthorized personal services. Each task order will identify the applicable task area, project scope, qualifications, location, performance schedule, and security and safety requirements. Project Requirements Services may involve expertise in microbiology, molecular biology, biochemistry, infectious diseases, immunology, clinical research, bioinformatics, genomic sequencing, proteomics, image analysis, computational and systems biology, and scientific data analysis. Related requirements may include clinical trials support, laboratory operations, veterinary services, program management, and other professional or technical support within the authorized scope. Qualifications range from positions without a degree requirement to licensed practitioners and highly specialized doctoral-level professionals. The contractor must be able to furnish qualified resources within the task area or areas addressed and manage a substantial volume of concurrent project requirements. Primary anticipated locations include Bethesda and Rockville, Maryland; other locations in the Washington, DC metropolitan area; and Hamilton, Montana. Other domestic locations, overseas support, travel, or remote work may be authorized by individual orders. NIH-wide demand for task orders and contractor support fluctuates across projects, locations, and time. This notice does not provide a fixed annual volume estimate or guarantee a minimum workload. Routine task orders will establish mobilization, onboarding, and performance start schedules. Under certain circumstances, an urgent or unforeseen NIH need may require the contractor to begin authorized performance within 48 hours. For an expedited request, NIH will identify the applicable timeframe and the event from which it is measured. Respondents should describe their ability to accommodate these requests, identify the categories and locations they could support, and explain any limitations or prerequisites. Contractors must ensure that their personnel have the qualifications and relevant experience required for the assigned work and complete applicable training, competency verification, occupational health requirements, and facility-specific access approvals before beginning restricted work. For assignments involving regulated select agents or toxins, applicable individual access approvals, security risk assessments, and required training must be completed before access. Prior experience at another laboratory does not establish authorization at the receiving NIH facility. An expedited task-order request does not waive these prerequisites. The following 156 labor-category families are organized into two task areas. Each family appears once. Categories encompass applicable levels and specialties; task orders will specify required duties and qualifications. Numbered levels are not automatically equivalent to Junior, Mid-Level, or Senior designations. The task-area structure supports market research and does not establish the final award structure. Task Area A - Professional Services This area covers general professional, management, administrative, business, IT, and technical support for NIH projects, including project coordination, financial analysis, enterprise systems, and related operational services. Scientific versions of otherwise general roles are assigned to Task Area B. Accessibility Specialist Accounting Technician Administration Administrative Support Administrative Support Assistant (Administrative Support) Advisor Agile Consultant Analytics Specialist BMC Administrator BMC Remedy Administrator Budget Analyst Business Process Consultant Business Systems Analyst Communications Specialist Computer Systems Analyst Consultant (Professional) Data Analyst Data Architect Database ...