Amendment 1.pdf

AMENDMENT 1

The purpose of this modification is to revise the number of anticipated award up to five (5), and address questions that have been received.

1. The solicitation lists November 5, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. ET as the deadline for both questions and quotations. Please confirm the intended deadline for questions. If responses are issued close to the quotation deadline, will the Government consider extending the quotation due date?

The Questions are due by November 5, 2026 at 1:00 pm ET and quotations are due on November 9, 2026 at 1:00 PM ET.

2. Attachment 5 is titled for the NIH HEAL Initiative and evaluates “Pharmaceutical Development and Pain Expertise” and “Bioactivity Assay Development.” However, the SOW describes small-molecule drug discovery expertise in chemistry and/or pharmacology for the BPN External Oversight Committee and does not identify pain expertise as a requirement. Please confirm:

(a) whether Attachment 5 will be revised;

Please see the attached update to the Technical Evaluation factors.

(b) whether pain expertise is required or will be evaluated; and See above

(c) which criteria quoters should address in the Key Personnel narrative. See above

3. The solicitation anticipates a fixed-price purchase order, while the SOW describes a labor-hour purchase order. Please confirm the intended contract type and whether invoices will be based on actual hours performed. This will be a fixed price purchase order.

The pricing template has been updated to reflect the revised number of hours with 50 hr./year WITH NO ADDITIONAL HOURS (see revised price schedule).

4. The SOW states that the Contractor must not store, process, or transmit project data on non- Government equipment. Elsewhere, it establishes security requirements for Contractor computers, including FIPS 140-2 encryption, backups, and auditing. Will NIH provide Government-furnished equipment or system access, or may an advisor use Contractor-owned equipment that satisfies the stated controls?

The government will not provide GFE.

5. Attachment 2 does not identify any selected provisions. Please confirm which representations and certifications must be submitted with the quotation or whether an active SAM registration is sufficient. Please also confirm whether the quotation must include a statement of compliance with Section 508. An active SAM registration is sufficient. Table 12-2 has been updated.

6. If two advisors are proposed, does the two-page limit for the Key Personnel narrative apply to both advisors combined or separately to each advisor? Please also confirm whether past performance references should identify the Contracting Officer as the point of contact, as stated in Attachment 5, or the program point of contact, as stated in the solicitation.

Either point of contact is acceptable.

7. The estimated Period of Performance is revised as follows:.

AMENDMENT 1

The purpose of this modification is to revise the number of anticipated award up to five (5), and address questions that have been received.

Base Period: November 13, 2026 – November 14, 2025 Option Period 1: November 13, 2027 – November 14, 2028 Option Period 2: November 13, 2029 – November 14, 2029

8. Questions: Key Personnel Employment Status. The solicitation requires proposed Key Personnel to be employed by the Quoter no later than the start of the period of performance, while Attachment 4 references the number of consultants proposed. Please confirm whether Key Personnel must be W-2 employees of the Quoter, or whether a consultant engaged under a written agreement with the Quoter would satisfy this requirement.

Answer: The Key Personnel does not have to be a W-2 employee. This is a small business set aside and 50% of the work must be completed by a small business entity(ies). The Key Personnel should be available on the first day of the period of performance.

9. Table 12-3 has been updated