Public Information and Communications Services II (PICS II)

The Public Information and Communications Services II (PICS II) is a multiple-award indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract vehicle issued by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Logistics and Acquisition Operations. The vehicle enables federal health agencies to procure a comprehensive range of public information, communication, strategic marketing, and outreach services. Primary offerings include communications support, media production, web content development, conference management, public relations, advertising campaign development, research translation, and technical communications services for health and scientific research initiatives.

Task orders under this IDIQ consistently demonstrate high-value, time-and-materials or firm fixed-price contracts ranging from approximately $30,000 to over $422 million. Key prime contractors include IQ Solutions (a minority/woman-owned small business), Palladian Partners (a for-profit communications firm), Fors Marsh Group (a certified B Corporation), and Scientific Consulting Group. Typical funding agencies are NIH component institutes such as the National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institute of Aging, National Cancer Institute, and National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Most task orders have performance periods between one and five years, with work predominantly executed in Maryland locations like Rockville, Bethesda, and Silver Spring. Notably, these task orders do not typically utilize small business set-aside designations, despite many prime contractors being small or minority-owned businesses.