ORS OIIT Information Technology Support Services
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 Justification for Exception to Fair Opportunity to extend current Information Technology (IT) support services for the Office of Innovation and Information Technology (OIIT) within the Office of Research Services (ORS) and the Office of Research Facilities (ORF). This 90-day extension is necessary to ensure continuity of critical operations while a bid protest on the follow-on competitive award is resolved.
Purpose & Background
The current task order (75N98022F00001) with incumbent contractor DLH (formerly GRSi) under the CIO-SP3 vehicle is set to expire on February 18, 2026. A follow-on competitive award was made, but a bid protest has been filed, staying the transition to the new contractor. The services are mission-critical, supporting operations such as real-time environmental monitoring for BSL-3/BSL-4 laboratories, access control, and emergency notification systems. A lapse in these services would pose significant risks to NIH operations and security.
Rationale for Extension
The exception is justified based on economy and efficiency, as a logical follow-on to an existing order. Transitioning to a new vendor, even temporarily, would create unacceptable risks, including a vulnerability window during credential transfers, degraded incident response times, and potential security gaps. The incumbent possesses established institutional knowledge and active personnel clearances that would take 60-90 days to replicate, making an immediate transition impractical and risky.
Contract Details
- Contracting Activity: Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Office of Acquisitions (OA), Office of Research Services (ORS).
- Sponsoring Organization: ORS, OIIT.
- Current Task Order: 75N98022F00001 (CIO-SP3 Contract HHSN316201200145W) with DLH (GRSi).
- Extension Period: 90 days, from February 18, 2026.
- Contract Type: Firm-fixed-price.
- Requirement Type: Enterprise IT support services.
- Product Service Code: DA01 (Support Services for Application Development and Support).
Impact on Bidders
This notice is not a solicitation for new proposals. It is a justification for extending an existing contract. The original acquisition for these services was competed under the CIO-SP3 Small Business GWAC, and the follow-on contract will also be awarded through the CIO-SP3 small business vehicle once the bid protest is resolved. Interested parties should monitor future solicitations under the CIO-SP3 vehicle for similar opportunities.