NIH Gateway to Research Opportunities for the Workforce (GROW) Program
Overview
Buyer
Place of Performance
NAICS
PSC
Set Aside
Original Source
Timeline
Qualification Details
Fit reasons
- NAICS alignment with historical contract wins in similar service areas.
- Scope strongly matches core technical capabilities and delivery model.
Risks
- Past performance thresholds may require one additional teaming partner.
- Potential clarification needed on staffing minimums before bid/no-bid.
Next steps
Validate eligibility requirements, assign capture owner, and schedule partner outreach to confirm teaming strategy before submission planning.
Quick Summary
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has issued a Pre-Solicitation Announcement for the NIH Gateway to Research Opportunities for the Workforce (GROW) Program. This is NOT a Request for Proposals (RFP) or Request for Quotations (RFQ). An RFQ (No. 75N98026Q00122) is anticipated to be issued on or about June 17, 2026, with an anticipated close date of June 26, 2026. The program aims to prepare students for research training programs at research-intensive institutions.
Scope of Work
The NIH GROW Program is a research capacity-building initiative with two distinct tracks, for which offerors may only quote one:
- High School Track: Prepares high school students from American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities for future summer research training programs, aiming to increase AI/AN professionals in the biomedical workforce. Eligible institutions must be near AI/AN communities and have established relationships with them. Programs should be 7-8 weeks in summer, with fall/spring enrichment, promoting mentor/mentee relationships and networking. Curriculum includes clinical/basic research, biology (neuroscience, mental health), professional development, and a Traditional Knowledge component by a Native American community member.
- Undergraduate Track: Prepares college students from resource-limited institutions (RLIs) for summer research programs at research-intensive institutions. Designed for rising freshman/sophomore undergraduates with little research experience, but can include rising juniors/seniors. Eligible RLIs must award B.S./B.A. in biomedical sciences, have received less than $6M/year in NIH R01 support in the preceding three fiscal years, and enroll at least 25% Pell grant students. Programs are 7-8 weeks in summer, with fall/spring enrichment, promoting mentor/mentee relationships and networking. Curriculum includes clinical/basic research, biology (neuroscience, mental health, community health), and professional development.
Contract & Timeline
- Type: Pre-Solicitation for anticipated Fixed-Price Purchase Orders
- Duration: One 12-month base period + one 12-month option period
- Set-Aside: None specified
- Anticipated RFQ Release: On or about June 17, 2026
- Anticipated RFQ Close: On or about June 26, 2026
- Anticipated Award Date: June/July 2026
- Published: June 2, 2026
Eligibility & Requirements
Offerors must be registered with a Unique Entity ID (UEI) and active in the System for Award Management (SAM) at the time of offer submission and throughout the contract period. Processing time for SAM registration should be considered.
Additional Notes
This is a pre-solicitation notice only. The official RFQ will be available electronically on www.sam.gov. Offerors are responsible for routinely checking the website for the solicitation and any amendments; no individual notifications will be provided. All responsible sources may submit an offer.