US-FED-00000395118 - TRAVEL SERVICES FOR NON-FEDERAL PEER REVIEWERS - Deadline October 7,2026

IntroductionThis is a Small Business Sources Sought notice. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding: (1) the availability and capability of qualified small business sources; (2) whether they are small businesses; HUBZone small businesses; service–disabled, veteran–owned small businesses; 8(a) small businesses; veteran–owned small businesses; woman–owned small businesses; or small disadvantaged businesses; and (3) their size classification relative to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for the proposed acquisition. Your responses to the information requested will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method, including whether a set–aside is possible. An organization that is not considered a small business under the applicable NAICS code should not submit a response to this notice. The applicable NAICS code for this acquisition is 561510 Travel Agencies, with a small business size standard of $22.0M.BackgroundThe National Institutes of Health (NIH) is one of the world`s largest biomedical research organizations and is the focal point for funding medical research. The Center for Scientific Review (CSR) is the portal for NIH grant applications and is the central receipt point for most Public Health Service applications. As such, CSR is responsible for assigning applications it receives to scientific review groups for scientific review to funding components for award considerations. CSR also carries out peer review for the majority of research and research training applications submitted to NIH.The Scientific Review Evaluation Activity (SREA) Management and Service Center (MSC) coordinates review activities for the Center for Scientific Review (CSR). The SREA MSC is a key component of the NIH extramural biomedical research program, providing centralized administrative and operational support for the scientific peer review process. This support includes coordinating approximately 1,700 peer review meetings annually, supporting the review of approximately 92,000 grant applications each year, and providing administrative and travel support for approximately 28,000 domestic and foreign scientific non–federal reviewers annually.Because grant applications must be processed within very specific time frames, to avoid missed funding opportunities by researchers, flexibility in travel support services is essential. Travel tickets and travel support services must meet the NIH timeframes and coincide with the high demand of volume.Purpose and ObjectivesThe specific objective of this requirement is to provide a range of travel support services to the NIH Scientific Review Evaluation Activities Management and Service Center (SREA MSC), which supports the centralized NIH peer review process through the Center for Scientific Review (CSR). These services include, but are not limited to, issuing airline, bus, and train tickets and providing reporting, invoicing, and billing services in accordance with SREA and NIH requirements.Project requirementsThe Government requires travel management support services for Non–Federal Peer Reviewers participating in NIH grant application review meetings, facilitated by the Center for Scientific Review (CSR) and the Scientific Review and Evaluation Award (SREA) Meeting Support Contract (MSC).The Contractor shall provide comprehensive transportation and ticketing support, including but not limited to the following capabilities:Volume and ScopeProcess an estimated average of 4,240 travel transactions per month (based on peer review Council Round cycles), including airline, rail, and bus tickets.Arrange and issue coach–class, non–refundable, direct round–trip electronic tickets at the lowest available fare, in compliance with applicable NIH/SREA travel guidelines and the Fly America Act for international travel.Financial CapacityMaintain a minimum line of credit of $12,000,000 with corporate banks to sustain travel costs without use of a government credit card, and to carry receivables beyond 90 days pending Government reimbursement.Service ContinuityDemonstrate the ability to provide uninterrupted, 24/7 continuity of service, including after–hours and emergency support (e.g., power outages, national emergencies, weather events), for travelers en route or within 12 hours of scheduled departure.Roster Management and Data SecuritySecurely receive and process daily authorization rosters transmitted via secure FTP from NIH`s electronic Research Administration (eRA) system.