Innovations in functional b cell epitope discovery

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.  The NIAID Division of Allergy, Immunology, and Transplantation (DAIT) promotes and supports research to enhance the understanding of basic immunology, and the etiology, treatment and prevention of immune-mediated diseases.

This program will support discovery and validation of novel human B cell epitopes that elicit antibodies associated with: antibody-mediated protection or pathogenesis in the context of infectious agents or vaccines against them including pathogens with pandemic potential (e.g. prototype pathogens, see link for list of prototype pathogens); host B cell epitopes associated with autoimmune diseases; B cell epitopes associated with allergens; and HLA epitopes associated with cell/organ/tissue transplant rejection or tolerance. This program also supports application, development or improvement of methods for unbiased, high throughput discovery of novel B cell epitopes.

It is anticipated that research teams will minimally include immunologists and subject matter experts with appropriate expertise in the target pathogen(s), autoimmune disease(s), allergic condition(s) or transplantation immunology, as appropriate.

It is anticipated that two to four cost reimbursement, completion type contracts will be awarded for a five-year period of performance beginning on or about September 1, 2024.     

NIAID estimates that the average annual total cost (direct and indirect costs combined) is $1.5M per contract. However, it is anticipated that the 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 five years.

Any responsible offeror may submit a proposal which shall be considered by the Agency.  This BAA will be available electronically on/about May 23, 2023, and may be accessed through SAM.gov.  This notice does not commit the Government to award a contract.  No collect calls will be accepted.  No facsimile transmissions will be accepted.

For this solicitation, the NIAID requires proposals to be submitted via the NIAID electronic Contract Proposal Submission (eCPS) website. Submission of proposals by facsimile or e-mail is not acceptable.

For directions on using eCPS, go to the website https://ecps.nih.gov/ and then click on "How to Submit."