AN41--R&D Placebo DEHA/PG Rx Study

The Department of Veterans Affairs Network Contracting Office (NCO) 6 at Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center has issued a Special Notice announcing their intent to enter into a sole source procurement with Campbell University for research and development services. The notice pertains to a contract for over-encapsulation and analytic testing of study medication and placebo for a clinical research trial. The procurement falls under NAICS code 541715 for Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences and is classified as an Advisory and Assistance contract. The government intends to negotiate with Campbell University under FAR 13.501 authority without conducting a competitive procurement process. This represents a sole source procurement opportunity rather than an open competitive solicitation.

The primary objective of this procurement is to support a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical research trial designed to evaluate the efficacy of pregnenolone versus placebo in improving symptoms of anxiety and depression among Iraq/Afghanistan-era Veterans. The contractor will be responsible for manufacturing and delivering both the study medication and matching placebo to the Durham VA Health Care System. The proposed contract includes a one-year base period of performance with four additional one-year option periods. Interested parties may submit capability statements and express their interest by emailing Keicha.Passley@va.gov no later than 8:00 AM EST on July 8, 2025, with all information to be provided at no cost to the government. The government retains sole discretion in determining whether to proceed with the proposed contract based on any responses received, and this notice explicitly states that no solicitation will be made available and telephone inquiries will not be accepted.