NIH Gateway to Research Opportunities for the Workforce (GROW) Program

Quick Summary

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is conducting a Sources Sought notice for market research purposes for the NIH Gateway to Research Opportunities for the Workforce (GROW) Program. This program aims to fund contracted sites to implement a two-year program preparing high school students from American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities or undergraduate students from Resource Limited Institutions (RLIs) for future research training. Responses are due April 6, 2026, at 8:00 A.M. EST.

Scope of Work

The NIH GROW Program has two distinct tracks:

• High School Track: For students from AI/AN communities.
• Undergraduate Track: For students from RLIs.

Contracted sites will design and implement a two-year program including a 7-8 week summer program and academic year enrichment activities. Key components include:

• Hands-on research experience: Basic and clinical laboratory skills, data analysis, scientific literature review.
• Research seminars and journal clubs: Engagement with faculty, exploration of scientific fields. High school track must include a Traditional Knowledge component; undergraduate track must include community health discussions.
• Professional development and academic support: Mentorship, career readiness seminars (e.g., scientific writing, resume building, applying to research programs).

Contractors are expected to host a cohort of 10-15 students annually and tailor the curriculum to their student population and institutional resources. Only in-person or hybrid programs will be considered.

Eligibility & Requirements

• High School Track: Contractors must be near AI/AN communities, have extensive experience working with these communities, and demonstrate ongoing relationships with Tribal communities.
• Undergraduate Track: Contractors must award biomedical science degrees, have received less than $6 million/year in NIH R01 support in the last three fiscal years, and have at least 25% Pell Grant-supported undergraduate students. They must also have extensive experience working with RLI students and demonstrate ongoing relationships.

Deliverables include identifying key personnel, defining supplies, coordinating recruitment, creating curricula, providing enrichment activities, coordinating facilities, submitting program materials for approval, conducting evaluations, and tracking participant academic progression for 2-4 years.

Contract & Timeline

• Type: Sources Sought (market research only, not a solicitation).
• Anticipated Contract Type: Firm-Fixed Price (FFP).
• Anticipated Duration: One 12-month base period and one 12-month option period.
• Response Due: April 6, 2026, 8:00 A.M. EST.
• Published: March 23, 2026.

Capability Statement Requirements

Interested small businesses must submit a capability statement addressing each project requirement, including:

• Total number of employees.
• Professional qualifications of personnel.
• Any applicable GSA Schedule contracts or GWACs.
• Company Name, UEI, Physical Address, Point of Contact Information.
• Type of business (e.g., 8(a), HubZone), applicable NAICS code, and size standards.

The response is limited to ten (10) pages (excluding cover page, executive summary, or references) and must be in Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF format. Submissions must be sent electronically to Rieka Plugge at rieka.plugge@nih.gov.

Additional Notes

This notice is for information and research purposes only and does not obligate the Government to issue a solicitation or award a contract. Respondents will not be reimbursed for costs incurred. No proprietary or confidential business data should be submitted.