Assay Development Consultant Support Services

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is seeking senior-level assay development consultants to provide technical guidance for critical drug discovery and development programs. The procurement targets industry-experienced professionals with expertise in assay development to support the NIH Helping to End Addiction Long-term (HEAL) Initiative, which focuses on developing non-addictive therapies for pain treatment, the Blueprint Neurotherapeutics Program (BPN), and other neuroscience-focused drug development initiatives. Consultants must possess a minimum of 15 years of assay development experience, advanced scientific degrees, and expertise in automated technologies and cellular techniques. The evaluation will be conducted by a Technical Evaluation Panel assessing three primary factors: professional experience and expertise in drug discovery and development, educational degrees and certifications, and collaborative team experience, with technical factors weighted significantly more than price and past performance. Quotes are due by 12:00 PM Eastern Time on August 22, 2025, with submissions required electronically to the Contracting Officer.

This opportunity is set aside exclusively for small businesses under the Total Small Business designation, with no incumbent contractors identified in the solicitation materials. The contract structure is a Labor-Hour Purchase Order with options, featuring an anticipated one-year base period from September 20, 2025, to September 19, 2026, with an annual ceiling of 800 hours per consultant and a minimum guaranteed 20 hours of support. The contract includes provisions for up to $1,500 in annual travel expense reimbursement within the contiguous United States, with consultant rates subject to the HHS Salary Rate Limitation tied to Executive Schedule Level II. Services will be performed primarily in Bethesda, Maryland, where consultants will participate in Lead Development Team meetings, evaluate bioactivity assays, recommend optimization strategies, and collaborate on investigative studies across preclinical and initial clinical development stages. The procurement falls under NAICS code 541690 for Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services, reflecting the specialized nature of the required pharmaceutical industry expertise.