Pentagon Releases Draft RFP for $500M Medical Research Contract

The Department of Defense released a draft request for proposal (DRFP) for medical research and development support on November 13. Based on the incumbent value, Bloomberg Government estimates the potential value of this contract at about $500 million.

The DRFP is for the Defense Health Agency’s Omnibus IV Medical Research and Development contract. The contract will cover a wide range of medical research activities which fall into four broad market segments: research and development, research and development support services, regulatory processes, and translation science support and services. The support services segment includes administrative, information technology, facilities, logistics, supplies and medical support activities. Some of the specific medical areas to be covered include medical simulation technologies, infectious disease, radiation effects, rehabilitation and others.

Just like the predecessor, Omnibus IV will be an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity, multiple-award contract. The small business size standard for this work is 1,000 employees. The base period of performance for this contract will be five years with a five year option. The work is expected to begin in Jul. 2021. It may be performed in the United States as well as overseas including infectious disease field surveys field surveys in locations such as Peru, Egypt, Cambodia, Italy, Singapore and Thailand.

The incumbent contract, Navy Medicine Omnibus III , was awarded in 2012 and has generated about $445 million in obligations to 21 companies. The top company is Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Co. which has received about $100 million in obligations. Although the incumbent contract is administered by the Navy, the Air Force has obligated about $101 million and the Army about $34 million on this contract.

Responses to the DRFP are due Nov. 30.

To contact the analyst on this story: Robert Levinson in Washington, D.C. at rlevinson@bgov.com

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Daniel Snyder at dsnyder@bgov.com