NIH agency tests waters with hybrid procurement

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences is seeking ideas for a hybrid performance-based contract, in which a contractor potentially could provide enterprise IT services through a variety of procurement approaches.

In a request of information, NIEHS, part of the National Institutes of Health, is asking potential bidders to identify which services could best be provided through which type of award, such as firm-fixed price, award or incentive, cost-reimbursable or other.

The RFI also asks potential bidders to suggest incentives (or disincentives) that the agency should provide.

Agency officials are particularly interested in determining which approaches would encourage a contractor to provide the agency with innovation and thought leadership, according to the document.

The NIEHS Enterprise IT Services programs covers seven main areas: CIO support, critical infrastructure protection, digital government, green IT, IT infrastructure operations, service desk operations, scientific support, research and studies and software development.

NIEHS expects to issue a request for proposals in spring 2011 with the award in the fall.