How to bid on Newborn Screening Evidence Review IDIQ and Task Order 1 for HRSA/MCHB

What HRSA/MCHB is buying and why it matters

The Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau (HRSA/MCHB) is looking to establish a pool of three to five Indefinite-Delivery, Indefinite-Quantity (IDIQ) contracts. These contracts will provide highly specialized scientific methodologies, systematic clinical evidence reviews, and core programmatic support for the Newborn Screening Recommended Uniform Screening Panel (RUSP).

The master IDIQ contracts will have a five-year ordering period, consisting of a 12-month base period and four 12-month option periods. The combined ceiling value for this contract pool is $15,111,361. Concurrently, the government will award a firm-fixed-price Task Order 1 for evidence reviews and newborn screening processes and reports. This is a significant opportunity for firms specializing in scientific and clinical evidence review.

Key dates and what happens at the deadline

All technical, administrative, or pricing questions must be submitted via email no later than Wednesday, September 9, 2026, at 3:00 PM EDT. You must use Attachment 4 – Q&A Submission Template (Excel format) for your inquiries.

Final proposals must be submitted electronically via email no later than Tuesday, September 22, 2026, at 5:00 PM EDT. The government intends to evaluate proposals and award the Master IDIQ contracts and Task Order 1 based strictly on initial proposals received, without formal negotiations. Therefore, it is crucial to submit your most competitive technical approaches and binding ceiling pricing in your initial submission.

Who this opportunity suits

This opportunity is open to all qualified commercial, academic, non-profit, or public entities. Firms with expertise in scientific methodologies, systematic clinical evidence reviews, and program support related to public health, particularly maternal and child health or newborn screening, will find this solicitation relevant. Given the nature of the work, organizations with a strong background in research, data analysis, and health policy support are well-suited.

How to respond to this solicitation

To access the solicitation documents, click “View original source” on the portal. If you land on the portal’s homepage, click the link again to go directly to the bid. You may need a free account to view the documents.

Proposals must consist of three separate volumes: Volume I – Technical Proposal (limited to 25 pages, excluding resumes and letters of commitment), Volume II – Past Performance (three prime or major subcontractor references), and Volume III – Price Proposal (using the mandatory Government-provided Excel template to establish binding ceiling rates).

Tips for preparing a competitive response

Carefully review all attachments, especially Attachment 1 (IDIQ Statement of Work), Attachment 1c (Task Order 1 Statement of Work), and Attachment 2 (Instructions to Offerors and Evaluation Factors for Award). These documents will provide critical details on the scope of work and how your proposal will be judged.

Since the government intends to award without negotiations for the initial IDIQ contracts and Task Order 1, ensure your initial proposal is as strong and complete as possible. Pay close attention to the page limits for the technical proposal and use the specified templates for pricing and past performance. Clearly demonstrate your firm's specialized scientific methodologies and experience with systematic clinical evidence reviews.