SMART IRB Governance, Administration, and Operations Support (GAOS)

NIH's National Center for Translational Sciences (NCATS) seeks a partner for governance, administration, and operations support of the SMART IRB program through a combined synopsis/solicitation, with responses due November 13, 2026 at 12:00 pm Eastern. The notice lists the National Institute on Drug Abuse as the agency of record. The procurement is full and open with no set-aside used. It is a commercial services acquisition conducted under FAR Subpart 13.5 and FAR Part 12, and the notice states it is expected to exceed the simplified acquisition threshold.

Place of performance is Maryland. The contractor will facilitate user administration, process and workflow improvements, content development and moderation, requirements gathering, and dissemination across three systems: the SMARTIRB.org website, Joinder (institutional enrollment and Authorization Agreement signing), and the Online Reliance System (study-by-study IRB reliance documentation). Additional responsibilities include developing governance models with diverse stakeholders, harmonizing institutional sIRB processes, delivering education and training through webinars and workshops, operating a helpdesk, and reporting quarterly metrics on platform usage and institutional participation.

The base period runs January 1, 2027 through December 31, 2027, with four option periods extending through June 30, 2031. Evaluation totals 100 points: Management Approach and Technical Capabilities (40 points), Personnel Qualifications (30 points), and Organizational Experience (30 points). The NAICS code is 541990, with a small business size standard of $19.5 million, and the PSC is R499. Non-small business offerors must submit an HHS Small Business Subcontracting Plan. Responses must include pricing, Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), business size certification, and active SAM.gov registration, submitted by email to polina.klimenkova@nih.gov.