The Department of Health and Human Services, specifically the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is seeking to award a contract for the services of an Immunology and Hereditary Autoinflammatory Diseases Scientist from Edwan LLC. The procurement aims to secure a scientist with extensive expertise in innate immunology and hereditary autoinflammatory diseases to support ongoing research at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), focusing on the interplay between atherogenesis and metabolic syndrome. This contract is critical for advancing research on complex metabolic disorders and will be awarded on a non-competitive basis, with a performance period starting January 20, 2026, and ending January 19, 2027. Interested parties must respond by January 13, 2026, to Kimesha Leake at Kimesha.leake@nih.gov, providing their capabilities and relevant details.

**INTRODUCTION**

THIS IS A PRE-SOLICITATION NON-COMPETITIVE (NOTICE OF INTENT) TO AWARD A CONTRACT OR PURCHASE ORDER WITHOUT PROVIDING FULL OR OPEN COMPETITION (INCLUDING BRAND-NAME).

The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), Office of Acquisitions (OA) on behalf of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) intends to award a purchase order without providing for full and open competition for Immunology and Hereditary Autoinflammatory Diseases Scientist from Edwan LLC.

**NORTH AMERICAN INDUSTRY CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (NAICS) CODE**

The intended procurement is classified under NAICS code 541715 with a Size Standard of 1000 employees*.*

**REGULATORY AUTHORITY**

The resultant contract will include all applicable provisions and clauses in effect through the Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2025-06 effective October 1, 2025.

This acquisition is conducted under the procedures as prescribed in FAR Subpart 13.106-1(b).

**STATUTORY AUTHORITY**

This acquisition is conducted under the authority of 41 U.S.C. 1901 – Simplified Acquisition Procedures.

**DESCRIPTION OF REQUIREMENT**

**BACKGROUND**

The Biomedical and Metabolic Imaging Branch (BMIB) focuses on developing noninvasive imaging approaches with high spatial (micro-millimeter) and temporal (milliseconds) resolution that allow multi-organ evaluation and analysis to better understand the interplay between atherogenesis and metabolic syndrome in humans. Patients with rare genetic mutations such as hyper immunoglobulin E (Job's) syndrome (immune system and coronary arteries), Turner's syndrome (genetics and vascular disease), lipodystrophy (metabolic dysfunction and cardiovascular disease), or HIV infection (inflammation and coronary disease), share many of the metabolic and immunological dysregulations encountered in multi-organ disease subjects inclusive of atherogenesis.  The goal has been to isolate and understand the effects of these defects and the early events that signal atherosclerosis.

In order to accomplish the goals of this program, The National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), BMIB has a requirement to obtain services of a scientist with extensive expertise in innate immunology and hereditary autoinflammatory diseases with demonstrated understanding of, and ability to apply principles, concepts, practices and standards associated with patient sample testing in a laboratory setting. The scientist must demonstrate experience and understanding of techniques directly applicable to the Biomedical and Metabolic Imaging Branch research (tissue culture, molecular and cellular biological techniques such as PCR, flow cytometry, IHC, etc.) and must be self-motivated and driven to achieve milestones and exceed goals with minimal direction. Furthermore, they must possess a PhD with 15+ years of demonstrated expertise in immunology and/or inflammation research.

**CONTRACTOR REQUIREMENTS**

The contractor must have:

* PhD with 15+ years of directly relevant experience in immunology, or inflammation.
* Proficiency in T cell culture, multicolor Flow Cytometry, RNA-seq, western blotting, q-PCR, multiplex ELISA, mRNA isolation, T cell isolation, cell assay development, mouse handling/ organ isolation is required.
* Expertise in lentiviral production, synthetic biology, lentiviral vector design desired.
* Expertise in exosome purification and characterization.
* Knowledge of standard Human T cell isolation & in vitro culture techniques is required.
* Possess experience using autoimmune and inflammatory disease mouse and rabbit models.
* Good understanding of immune signaling pathways and interest in metabolomics.
* Ability to contribute creatively and strategically to in vitro assay design, optimization and derive actionable biological conclusions.
* Ability to define and implement critical studies needed to support hypothesis-based research.
* Ability to write protocols and study reports, produce and maintain accurate records.
* Expertise with data analysis software such as Excel and Graphpad Prism
* Strong verbal and written communication skills.
* Ability to synthesize complex scientific problems into a strategy and tactics.
* Familiarity with both Microsoft and Mac operating systems, including PowerPoint, Excel, Word, Adobe Photoshop and Access.
* Excellent interpersonal, analytical, organizational and time management skills.

The contractor shall deliver scientific data and results and implement the following:

* Tissue processing and purification of immune cells, in vitro cell based bioassay development, tissue cell culture (primary mouse and human cells and cell lines)
* Multicolor flow cytometry (FACS), and ELISA assays
* Basic molecular biology techniques (cloning, viral tranductions, etc.)
* Analyze biological data using FlowJo, Microsoft Excel, and GraphPad Prism
* Interpret, analyze and present data; work in fast-paced, result oriented research environment
* Contribute to project advancement by developing new methods or technologies and troubleshooting existing protocol
* Write protocols and study reports, produce and maintain accurate records
* Prepare manuscripts for journal publications

The contractor shall:

* Drive discovery and translational research aimed at identifying, characterizing, and interpreting results for novel diagnosis for inflammatory diseases. The candidate must be able to create their own research plans with minimum support from the principal investigator. The candidate must be able to run research plans independently. Weekly/as needed meetings shall be held to evaluate the work and provide directions for next steps.

* Define and implement critical studies needed to support hypothesis-based research. The candidate’s progress shall be parodically evaluated and the candidate shall be provided with feedback and directions.

* Make contributions to scientific literature and conferences through publication and presentation of research results. The candidate shall be evaluated based on preparing manuscripts and abstracts for scientific publications.

* Identify and evaluate a wide variety of in vitro assays to test immunological, metabolic, and various disease mechanisms.

* Contribute creatively and strategically to in vitro assay design, optimization, and derive actionable biological conclusions.

* Perform assay development, qualification and validations as needed.

* Conduct cell-based assays including, but not limited to, ELISA and Flow Cytometry.

* Separate, isolate and cryopreserve primary cells peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs).

* Organize data prior to scientific publication submission. The data shall be reviewed and evaluated by the principal investigator.

* Ensure lab maintenance activities and equipment calibration are performed according to schedule.

* Ensure lab maintenance activities and maintain a clean and safe lab environment.

**ORDER TYPE**

This purchase order will be a firm fixed price.

**PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE AND PAYMENT BREAKDOWN**

The period of performance for this order is:

Base period:        1/20/2026 to 1/19/2027

Option period 1: 1/20/2027 to 1/19/2028

Payment shall be made monthly in arrears.

The contractor shall work 40 hours per week, Monday through Friday, totaling 2080 hours per year.

**CLOSING STATEMENT**

Extensive expertise in innate immunology and hereditary autoinflammatory diseases is vital to the study of the relationship between atherosclerosis and obesity and other metabolic disorders. This is an ongoing project, with several ongoing experiments. All of these experiments are highly complex in nature and require great attention to technical details.

Edwan LLC possesses extensive expertise in innate immunology and hereditary autoinflammatory diseases, which is vital to the study of the relationship between atherosclerosis and obesity and other metabolic disorders. The Biomedical and Metabolic Imaging Branch has been unable to locate on the market other vendors with this expertise and knowledge. In addition, this is an ongoing project that requires specific knowledge of the history of the development of each experiment and the thought process that led to each conclusion. Thus, these unique capabilities can’t be easily replicated in other vendors.

This is not a request for competitive proposals.  However, interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to this notice.  Responses to this notice shall contain sufficient information to establish the interested parties’ bona-fide capabilities for fulfilling the requirement and include: unit price, list price, shipping and handling costs, the delivery period after contract award, the prompt payment discount terms, the F.O.B. Point (Destination or Origin), the Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), and the certification of business size. All offerors must have an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) www.sam.gov.

A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government.  The information received will be considered solely for the purposes of determining whether to proceed on a non-competitive basis or to conduct a competitive procurement.

All responses must be received by Tuesday, January 13, 2026 at 12:00 PM EST. Responses must be submitted via email to Kimesha Leake, Contracting Officer at Kimesha.leake@nih.gov

All responsible sources may submit a bid, proposal, or quotation which shall be considered by the agency.

Total Small Business Set-Aside (FAR 19.5)

Buyer

NAICS

PSC

Set Aside

Original Source