Specialized and Strategic Services to Support the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Intramural Research Program (IRP) (S4)

This ANNOUNCEMENT is a SPECIAL NOTICE of Intent to increase the contract ceiling on an existing contract and is NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), Intramural Research Program (IRP), Office of Logistics and Acquisitions Operations (OLAO), hereby provides notice, in accordance with FAR 5.201(b)(1)(ii), of its intent to modify and increase the contract ceiling for “Specialized and Strategic Services to Support the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Intramural Research Program (IRP) (S4)” for the NIH, IRP (known as “The S4 Contract”). The current Contractor, Guidehouse Digital, LLC is providing services through an Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract, #75N98020D00086, awarded on July 27, 2020. The contract was awarded for a base period of twelve months, and three twelve-month option periods under PCS Code: R499, and NAICS Code 541990. The contract will expire on January 27, 2025.

The services provided under the contract are trans-NIH, intramurally focused, and require highly qualified and experienced personnel capable of providing a full range of specialized, strategic, technical, and operational services. Guidehouse Digital LLC provides critical support to a broad range of NIH intramural biomedical and clinical research activities in-process, planned and unanticipated (due to new or re-emerging health threats and science advances).

The contract is slightly over three years into a four-year term, with approximately 74% of current ceiling obligated. NIH requires Guidehouse Digital LLC to perform Task Orders (TOs) that represent critical continuation of work currently performed under the contract. Guidehouse Digital LLC possesses the unique combination of demonstrated experience and expertise required to successfully fulfill the work requirements. Due to an unforeseen high demand among the NIH Institutes/Centers/Offices (ICOs) to acquire these unique services, the contract has experienced an accelerated burn rate of current ceiling. Raising the ceiling is necessary for continued support for mission-critical activities across the Intramural Research Program (IRP).

The modification will increase the current ceiling by $49,000,000.00 from $105,000,000.00 to $154,000,000.00. The ceiling increase is necessary to complete a remaining set of Task Orders (TOs) and to accommodate additional work within scope of the contract. It is critical to maintain continuity of this contract vehicle during a challenging time of public health. It is in the best interest of the Government to have the contractor continue to provide uninterrupted specialized services during the full award term of the contract.

This is not a request for competitive proposal and no solicitation is available.

The Government seeks to avoid substantial duplication of cost that is not expected to be recovered through competition and to avoid any potential interruption in continuation of support.

This Special Notice for award modification to Contract No. 75N98020D00086 will be posted for fifteen (15) calendar days to verify that no other sources can meet this requirement. The Government seeks to avoid substaintial duplication of cost that is not expected to be recovered through competition. This 15-calendar day notice shall expire on November 05, 2024 at 12:00 PM Eastern Standard Time. The information received will be considered solely for market research purposes. This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response.

However, if interested Contractors believe that they can meet the requirements of the Statement of Work, for Market Research purposes. Interested individuals may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirement by submitting in writing their name, address, telephone number, email, and a statement regarding capability to provide the specified requirement. Responses shall be limited to five (5) pages or less, including all attachments. Interested parties will be considered only if they respnd to this notice with clear and convincing evidence that competition would be advantageous to the Government.

All capbility statements received prior to the expiration date and time will be considered by the Government. The Government will not be responsible for any cost incurred by responding to this notice. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract modification based upon responses to thsi notice is solely with the discretion of the Government. Information received will be considered sole for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement.

If no interested parties inquire about this Special Notice to the Government, a modification to increase the ceiling for Contract No. 75N98020D00086 will be awarded to Guidehouse Digital LLC, previously MSC.

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this requirement is 541990 with a size standard of $15.0 million.

The proposed modification to Contract No. 75N98020D00086 will support a continuation of critical, uninterrupted, specialized and strategic services for which the Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source under the authority at FAR Part 6.302-1(b)(1)(i): "Uniques supplies or services available from only one source or only one supplier with unique capabilities."

This SPECIAL NOTICE is not a request for competitive proposals.

Disclaimer and Important Notes.

This is not a solicitation for competitive proposals. It is empahsized that responses to this Notice are not considered offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract.

Confidentiality - No proprietary, classified, condifdential, or sensitive information should be included in your response.

The total estimated value of this requirement is $154,000,000.00.

For specific questions please contact the Contract Specialist, Tednette White, via email tednette.white@nih.gov. All questions shall be submitted in writing.