Optimizing Scientific and Organizational Operations of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to Improve Efficiency and to Enhance the Health and Well-Being of all Americans

NIH was tasked with an urgent and compelling requirement to comply with Executive Order 14212 (Establishing the President’s Make America Healthy Again Commission). NIH required analytical, research, technology and operations support services to develop and recommend technical, and scientific solutions and implementation strategies to help achieve the goals set forth in the Executive Order. NIH sought in house subject matter experts for feasibility on how to proceed. GSA Supply Schedules were reviewed. Contracts having similar task types were reviewed as well. Due to the urgent and compelling nature required for complying with President Donald J. Trump’s Executive Order 14212 (Establishing the President’s Make America Healthy Again Commission) the Government did not have sufficient time to request capability statements, gather & evaluate quotes and provide opportunities for competition for this requirement. This acquisition is conducted under the authority of 41 United States Code (U.S.C.) 253(c) (1) as set forth in Federal Acquisition Regulation 8.405-6(a)(1)(i)(A). Additionally, time constraints and complexity of the requirement brought challenges to contract type. As a result of these constraints, it is not possible to accurately estimate the extent of costs with any reasonable degree of confidence canceling the normal contract type Fixed Price. Therefore, a Time and Materials type task award on a GSA contract was considered the best value to the Government. GSA pricing has already been determined fair and reasonable to the government. NIH is committed to competing acquisitions to the maximum extent possible. If a follow-on requirement is required, thorough market research will be conducted regarding potential sources through the Federal Supply Schedule.