Screening of Investigational Therapeutics to Treat, Modify or Prevent Epilepsy for the NINDS Epilepsy Therapy Screening Program (ETSP)

Quick Summary

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has issued a Sources Sought notice for Research and Development (R&D) services. This notice seeks information on qualified sources capable of performing preclinical screening of investigational therapeutics to treat, modify, or prevent epilepsy for the NINDS Epilepsy Therapy Screening Program (ETSP). Responses are due by April 7, 2026, at 9:00 A.M. Eastern Standard Time.

Scope of Work

The contractor will perform preclinical pharmacological evaluations of potential new therapeutic agents (small molecules, natural products, synthetic peptides, biologics, and potentially biomedical devices) for epilepsy and related disorders. Key performance areas include:

• Established Workflow for Drug Resistant Epilepsy: Implementing acute and chronic seizure assays (e.g., 6 Hz electrical stimulation, maximal electroshock, corneal kindling, various kainate-induced models) and behavioral tolerability screens. This includes new approaches like human-focused preclinical methods and ancillary drug-resistant epilepsy assays (e.g., Dravet syndrome, lithium-pilocarpine, TMEV models).
• Models of Disease Prevention and Modification: Implementing models to identify compounds that prevent epilepsy development or are disease-modifying, primarily using post-kainic acid status epilepticus and mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (mTLE) models.
• Pharmacokinetic Studies: Conducting pharmacokinetic testing to determine plasma and brain levels of investigational compounds in rat and mouse models.
• Ancillary Studies: Potentially including models for epilepsy co-morbidities and ADME studies.

Contract & Timeline

• Type: Sources Sought (R&D)
• Anticipated Period of Performance: One 12-month base period (January 1, 2027 – December 31, 2027), with an anticipated minimum of four, up to a maximum of nine, 12-month option periods.
• Set-Aside: None specified (market research for all qualified sources, including small businesses).
• Response Due: April 7, 2026, 9:00 A.M. EST
• Published: March 24, 2026

Requirements & Submission

Interested small business concerns must submit a capability statement specifically addressing each project requirement. The statement should include total employees, professional qualifications, GSA Schedule/GWACs (if applicable), company name, UEI, physical address, and point of contact information. Respondents must also identify their business type, applicable NAICS code (AN12 - Health R&D Services; Health Care Services; Applied Research), and size standards.

Animal Care Requirements: The contractor and any subcontractors must be AAALAC International accredited, have an approved Animal Welfare Assurance for OLAW, comply with PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, and have IACUC approval for all animal procedures.

Submissions must be in Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF format, 11- or 12-point font, 8.5" x 11" paper, with 1" margins, single or double spacing. The response is limited to ten (10) pages, excluding cover page, executive summary, or references. Responses must be submitted electronically via email to the Contracting Officer.

Additional Notes

This is a Sources Sought notice for market research purposes only and is not a solicitation for proposals. The Government will not pay for information provided and reserves the right to use non-proprietary technical information in future solicitations. No award will be made as a result of this notice.