The NIEHS is offering for competition to eligible 8(a) concerns the acquisition entitled "Bio-Defense Administrative Support for the Office of Management for New Initiatives (OMNI) for the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)." The North American Industry Classification System Code for this acquisition is 541612 - Human resources and executive search consulting services. The contractor shall provide administrative support to the OMNI for NIAID's organizational expansion related to the Bio-Defense research program in such areas as recruitment, staffing support, publications, and other administrative support areas that may be identified at a later date. Award of one time and materials contract on approximately June 1, 2003 is contemplated as a result of this solicitation. The estimated level of effort is 50,000 labor hours for the base contract and 150,000 labor hours for all options. The estimated period of performance for the base contract is one year and will be four years if all options are exercised. The contractor shall have an office within local commuting distance of the NIAID facility in Rockville, MD because of the need for frequent meetings between NIAID officials and contractor staff to discuss emerging contract related issues and to accommodate recruitment related interactions between NIAID staff and the contractor. Interested 8(a) firms are encouraged to request a copy of the solicitation as expeditiously as possible since the solicitation will be issued without further notice upon SBA acceptance of the requirement for the section 8(a) program. Requests for the solicitation should reference RFP NIH-ES-03-08 and be requested from Mr. David Sedgley, Procurement Technician at (919) 541-4027 or by e-mail request to
[email protected] . All eligible 8(a) firms may submit a proposal which shall be considered by the Agency. Expected release date of the RFP is December 19, 2002 with proposals due January 22, 2003. See Numbered Note 26.Competitive 8(a)Set-aside.