Postmortem Human Brain Collection:Non

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This document is a Request for Quotation (RFQ) for Postmortem Human Brain Collection services. The period of performance is from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027.

• Postmortem Human Brain Collection services.

• The solicitation incorporates several Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) clauses, including:

  • FAR 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors Commercial Items
  • FAR 52.212-2 Evaluation Commercial Items
  • FAR 52.212-3 Offeror Representations and Certifications Commercial Items
  • FAR 52.212-4 Contract Terms and Conditions Commercial Items
  • FAR 52.212-5 Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders Commercial Items

• It also includes FAR 52.217-8 Option to Extend Services, FAR 52.204-13 System for Award Management Maintenance, FAR 52.204-18 Commercial and Government Entity Code Maintenance, and HHSAR 352.222-70 Contractor Cooperation in Equal Employment Opportunity Investigations.

• The contract type is not explicitly stated, but it is an RFQ for commercial items.

• Period of Performance: 07/01/2026 to 06/30/2027.

• Quotations must be submitted to the issuing office (National Institutes of Health, Office of Logistics and Office of Administration) by close of business on June 19, 2026, at 12:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time.

• The document states that "quotations furnished are not offers."

• The "IS NOT A SMALL BUSINESS SET-ASIDE" box is checked, indicating it is not set aside for small businesses.

• This is a request for information and quotations.

• The Government is not committed to pay any costs incurred in the preparation of the submission.

• Supplies are of domestic origin unless otherwise indicated by the quoter.

• Any attached representations and certifications must be completed.

Statement of Work (SOW) / Performance Work Statement (PWS)

This document outlines the technical evaluation criteria for the NIH Postmortem Human Brain Collection requirement. The government will award a contract or purchase order based on a best-value tradeoff, where technical factors are considered more important than price.

• Factor 1: Technical Approach

  • Evaluated on the contractor's understanding of the SOW and skill level. Key considerations include:
    • Estimated annual volume of referrals (higher volume is more valuable).
    • Regulatory approvals and permits for organ donation.
    • Appropriateness and availability of laboratory facilities and equipment.
    • Quality of specimens, including timely provision after death (within 12 hours of extraction, no later than 48 hours after death).
    • Identification and proposed solutions for potential issues.

• Factor 2: Personnel Qualifications

  • Assessed based on the demonstrated qualifications, availability, and experience of proposed professional and technical personnel.

• Factor 3: Past Performance

  • Requires at least two past performance references detailing the contractor's relevant skills and experience. References must include organization name, description of responsibilities, and contact information.

Technical proposals will be rated using the following adjectival ratings:

• Excellent: Exceptional merit, clearly superior attainment, very low risk.
• Good: Expected to meet requirements, advantageous characteristics, low risk.
• Acceptable: Capable of meeting requirements, balanced advantages/disadvantages, moderate risk.
• Marginal: May not meet requirements, disadvantages outweigh advantages, high risk.
• Unacceptable: Very high risk, unlikely to meet requirements, very high risk.

Statement of Work (SOW)

To acquire donor specimens for the Human Brain Collection Core (HBCC) at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) for research purposes. The contractor will procure human postmortem brain tissue and other specimens, and provide associated death investigation and medical/toxicological information.

• Review case documents daily to determine eligibility for HBCC research.

• Acquire human postmortem brain tissue, blood, and other specified specimens.

• Obtain basic clinical histories and collateral information related to the donor.

• Provide information from death investigation reports and medical/toxicological data.

• Prepare and ship specimens to NIMH within strict timeframes (within 48 hours of death, and within 12 hours of extraction).

• Specimens must be received by NIMH within 48 hours of death, with a preference for a much shorter time period to minimize tissue degradation.

• Extraction and preparation must occur promptly upon notification of approval from NIMH, generally within 24 hours of death.

• Contractor must provide a report on the Cause of Death as soon as generated.

• Contractor will receive a neuropathological report and H&E slides from HBCC within 60 days of specimen delivery.

• Period of Performance: One 12-month base year with four 12-month option years (07/01/2026 - 06/30/2031).

• Geographic Radius: Brains from within a 150-mile radius from NIH Bethesda are eligible.

• Delivery Address: NIH/NIMH – 10 Center Drive BLDG 10 RM 4N218B Bethesda, MD 20892.

• Inclusion Criteria: Individuals with a history of neuropsychiatric disorders (schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, suicide, bipolar disorder, depression) or healthy controls.

• Exclusion Criteria: Exclusive history of substance use disorders (unless concomitant with a psychiatric disorder), well-documented long-lasting seizure disorder, infections affecting the brain (except HIV/COVID-19), decomposed bodies (unless processing is possible within 48 hours), obvious brain damage from trauma, brain infarcts/hemorrhages/tumors/stroke, or prolonged ventilator use (>12 hours), Alzheimer's disease and other dementias.

• Key Personnel: Medical Examiner or Pathologist, Autopsy Technician.

• Reporting: Submit Technical Progress Reports, Annual Reports (detailing referrals and donations), and a Final Report.

• Data Rights: NIMH has unlimited rights to data and deliverables.

• Security: Communicate sensitive personal data securely (phone call or secure email); no access to federal information systems required.

• Compliance: Adhere to Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act if applicable.

• Confidentiality: Handle all sensitive information securely and consult with authorized government employees prior to release.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items to procure postmortem human brain collection services. The National Institutes of Health (NIH), specifically the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), seeks to award a firm-fixed price purchase order for the Human Brain Collection Core (HBCC). The HBCC is dedicated to acquiring and distributing brain and associated tissue to advance research into neurological and psychiatric disorders, aiming to improve diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.

• Source(s) capable of providing donor specimens on an on-going basis.

• Specimens to be sourced from licensed Medical Examiner's Offices or other sources such as hospitals.

• Detailed requirements are further outlined in the Statement of Work (SOW).

• Contract type: Firm-fixed price purchase order.

• Period of Performance: Not explicitly stated, but Q&A amendment is scheduled for June 15, 2026, and proposals are due June 19, 2026.

• Estimated Value: Not expected to exceed the simplified acquisition threshold.

• Proposals must include unit and total price, shipping and handling costs, delivery timeframe, delivery terms, F.O.B. point, product/catalog numbers (if applicable), and product/service description.

• Additional evaluation considerations include past performance, warranty, lifecycle cost, maintenance availability, and environmental/energy efficiency.

• Evaluation will be based on best value, considering technical factors (Technical Approach, Personnel Qualifications, Past Performance) and price. Technical factors are considered more important than price.

• Full details of technical evaluation criteria are in a separate attachment.

• Proposals must include Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), and business size certification.

• Offerors must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM).

• Key Deadlines:

  • Questions/Clarifications: June 8-12, 2026
  • Q&A Amendments: June 15, 2026
  • Proposal Submission: June 19, 2026, 12 noon EST

• NAICS Code: 621991 – Blood and Organ Banks

• Small Business Size Standard: $40 million

• This requirement is not set aside for small business.

• This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; no separate written solicitation will be issued.

• FAR Subpart 12.6 and FAR 52.212-1, -2, -3, -4, and -5 apply.

• DPAS is not applicable.