Notice Number: NOT-AI-18-018

Key Dates
Release Date: February 15, 2018

Issued by
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

Purpose

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) supports research related to the basic understanding of microbiology and immunology leading to the development of vaccines, therapeutics, and medical diagnostics for the prevention, treatment, and diagnosis of infectious and immune-mediated diseases.

NIAID will solicit proposals to identify novel adjuvant candidates that can be used to augment the efficacy of human vaccines. Research solicited will contribute to the pipeline of new adjuvant leads that either: (a) exploit the natural capacity of the innate immune system to initiate and sustain effective T and B cell responses and to induce long term immune memory, or (b) act directly on cells of the adaptive immune system to enhance their response to pathogen-derived antigens.

Studies must include testing of adjuvant candidates with experimental or FDA approved preventative or therapeutic vaccines in relevant animal models to determine the potential efficacy of the vaccine against one or more pathogens relevant to human disease. In addition, when reagents are not available for vaccine antigens, model antigens may be used for limited studies to examine mechanisms of action of the candidate adjuvants.

It is anticipated that multiple cost-reimbursement, completion type contracts will be awarded for a 12-month period of performance beginning on or about July 15, 2019. NIAID estimates the average annual total cost per award (direct and indirect costs) will be $2M. Total cost for the award(s) may vary depending upon the scope of the project and the technical objectives of the award(s). The length of time for which funding is requested should be consistent with the nature and complexity of the proposed research. In no event shall the period of performance proposed by an offeror exceed 5 years.

The research will be solicited through a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA). The BAA will only be available electronically on or about February 5, 2018 through the Government wide point of entry (GPE): FedBizOpps.gov (www.fbo.gov). Printed copies of the announcement will not be distributed. Updates or corrections to the announcement will be posted to the GPE. This notice does not commit the Government to award a contract. Collect calls will not be accepted. Facsimile transmissions will not be accepted.

The BAA is governed by Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 6.102(d)(2) and FAR 35.016, as well as the NIH Policy Manual, Manual Chapter 6035, Broad Agency Announcements. A BAA may be used as a solicitation mechanism for basic and applied research directed toward advancing the state-of-the-art or increasing knowledge or understanding and that part of development not related to the development of a specific system or hardware procurement. BAAs are general in nature, identifying areas of research interest, and shall only be used when meaningful proposals with varying technical/scientific approaches can be reasonably anticipated. Offers submitted in response to this BAA will be required to present separate detailed technical and business proposals designed to meet the Technical Objectives described for each Research Area proposed. The Statement of Work (SOW), including the specific technical requirements and performance specifications, shall be developed and proposed by the Offeror, not the Government.

Submission of Proposals:

All responsible sources may submit a proposal. For this solicitation, the NIAID requires proposals be submitted only online via the NIAID electronic Contract Proposal Submission (eCPS) website at https://ecps.nih.gov/NIAID. Submission of proposals by facsimile or e-mail is not acceptable. For directions on using eCPS, go to the eCPS website and click on "How to Submit."

Inquiries

Please direct all inquiries to:
George Ralis<
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Telephone: 240-669-5146
Email: ralisg@niaid.nih.gov