RFI No: A030551
Date: 11 May 2026
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)
SERVICES/SUBJECT
This RFI is for non-personal / non-severable research & development support services under NAICS Code 541715-Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) and PSC AN42, R&D- Medical: Health Services (Applied Research/Exploratory Development).
THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) OR A REQUEST FOR QUOTATIONS (RFQ). IT IS STRICTLY A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI). NEITHER UNSOLICITED PROPOSALS NOR ANY OTHER KINDS OF OFFERS WILL BE CONSIDERED IN RESPONSE TO THIS RFI. NO CONTRACT WILL BE AWARDED PURSUANT TO THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.
A. DISCLAIMER
IN ACCORDANCE WITH FAR 15.201(E}, RESPONSES TO THIS NOTICE ARE NOT OFFERS AND CANNOT BE ACCEPTED BY THE GOVERNMENT TO FORM A BINDING CONTRACT. THIS RFI IS ISSUED SOLELY FOR INFORMATION AND PLANNING PURPOSES AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A SOLICITATION. NEITHER UNSOLICITED PROPOSALS NOR ANY OTHER KIND OF OFFERS WILL BE CONSIDERED IN RESPONSE TO THIS RFI. RESPONSES TO THIS NOTICE ARE NOT OFFERS AND WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED BY THE GOVERNMENT TO FORM A BINDING CONTRACT. ALL INFORMATION RECEIVED IN RESPONSE TO THIS RFI THAT IS MARKED PROPRIETARY WILL BE HANDLED ACCORDINGLY. RESPONSES TO THE RFI WILL NOT BE RETURNED. AT THIS TIME, QUESTIONS CONCERNING THE COMPOSITION AND REQUIREMENTS FOR FUTURE RFPs WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.
B. BACKGROUND
The U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit SOUTH (NAMRU SOUTH) mission is to ensure the operational readiness and health of U.S. Service members and our Peruvian national partners through health sciences research, infectious disease surveillance, medical countermeasure testing and evaluation, and health security cooperation. We will strive for excellence in accomplishing our mission and continue building upon our stellar reputation not only as the U.S. Naval's premier and largest oversea laboratory, but also as the United States of America's front-line scientific ambassadors to Central and South America.
The vision of NAMRU SOUTH is to enhance the bio-security of the United States and the Region by detecting diseases of military and public health significance throughout the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility. This action is accomplished through the use of epidemiologic research studies and strengthening of partner nations' disease surveillance activities along with the development and testing of new strategies and products, including diagnostics, medicines, vaccines, and vector control measures, to mitigate bio-security threats.
NAMRU SOUTH conducts research studies in support of the readiness and Force Health Protection (FHP) of US military personnel. In addition, NAMRU SOUTH conducts basic research and provides sustainable infectious disease research support to the host nation Ministry of Health, military, and universities through field studies, infectious diseases surveillance, vaccine and drug clinical trials, test & evaluation of new infectious diseases detection/diagnosis technologies and training. NAMRU SOUTH also conducts field/medical entomology, epidemiologic studies and disease bio-surveillance of a wide range of infectious diseases of military and/or public health significance in the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) area of responsibility.
NAMRU SOUTH ensures that, when feasible, host nation investigators are included in the planning, performance, and publication of NAMRU SOUTH research, thereby providing the most effective sustainable improvement in infectious disease research.
C. SCOPE/OBJECTIVE
The Contractor will provide all managerial, administrative, direct labor personnel, materials, transportation, and other pertinent services that are necessary to accomplish all work required. For contractor at NAMRU SOUTH sites in Iquitos and Lima and at other specified locations, NAMRU SOUTH may provide office supplies, cleaning supplies, printing supplies, office furniture, communications device and government furnished equipment (GFE) to accomplish the work. At more remote study sites, these items will be provided by the contractor as ODCs. The GFE provided will be delineated at the task order level.
The Contractor shall support research such as (but not limited to) a) vaccine trials b) drug studies c) test and evaluation of new technology, d) epidemiologic studies and bio-surveillance of infectious diseases, surveillance of vectors, e) development / evaluation of devices and therapeutic countermeasures for malaria, bacterial causes of infectious diarrhea, emerging viral pathogens (e.g., dengue, chikungunya, Zika), influenza viruses, leishmaniasis, and multi-drug resistant bacteria. The contractor shall support the collection of data and support regulated studies. The Contractor shall provide support in maintaining FDA regulatory standards to conduct clinical studies in accordance with Good Clinical Practices (GCP) and the International Conference on Harmonization (ICH).
D. LOCATION OF PERFORMANCE
NAMRU SOUTH is headquartered in Lima, Peru with a Naval Laboratory in Iquitos (Loreto), Peru, a satellite laboratory at U.S. Joint Task Force-Bravo (JTF-B) Soto Cano Air Force Base in Comayagua, Honduras.
Other locations within SOUTHCOM may require research support services. The exact locations within this area of responsibility will be delineated at the task order level.
E. TASKS
See Attachment 1 - DRAFT Performance Work Statement (PWS).
F. REQUIREMENTS
Contractors MUST have a current Federal wide Assurance (FWA) issued by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). Respondents MUST indicate whether or not they have an active and current FWA. Reference: https://www.hhs.gov/oln:p/register-irbs-and-obtain-fwas/fwas/index.html.
Also, see "Assurance Process Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)" on the left hand side of the screen.
G. REPONSE INSTRUCTIONS
Respondents MUST include the following documents/information in your response to the Government:
- A cover letter on company letterhead including the company name, point of contact with phone number, email address as well as company DUNS and Cage Code.
- Capabilities statement MUST address the following:
- Contractor's clear understanding and ability to perform the ENTIRE scope of this requirement.
- Contractor's clear understanding and ability to perform ALL the tasks described within the PWS.
- Contractor's confirmation whether or not they have a current/active Federal Wide Assurance (FWA) and date of expiration.
- Contractor's confirmation that the company is deemed "responsible" in accordance with FAR 9. 104-1
- Contractor's confirmation of current/active registration in SAM.gov.
NOTE: Contractors who can only perform a portion of this work will NOT be considered for award should this requirement be solicited.
All information regarding "capabilities" and/or proprietary information relative to this RFI MUST be submitted as follows:
RESPONSES & SUMBISSION DEADLINE:
The deadline for responses to this Request for Information Notice is no later than 5:00 P.M. ET, 26 May 2026. All responses under this Request for Information Notice shall be emailed to Dakota Laughlin dakota.w.laughlin.civ@us.navy.mil.
(end of RFI)
Background
The U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit SOUTH (NAMRU SOUTH) is dedicated to ensuring the operational readiness and health of U.S. Service members and Peruvian national partners through health sciences research, infectious disease surveillance, medical countermeasure testing, and health security cooperation.
NAMRU SOUTH aims to enhance bio-security by detecting diseases of military and public health significance in the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility. The unit conducts various research studies to support the readiness and Force Health Protection (FHP) of military personnel while providing sustainable infectious disease research support to host nations.
Work Details
The Contractor will provide managerial, administrative, direct labor personnel, materials, transportation, and other services necessary for research support at NAMRU SOUTH sites in Iquitos and Lima, Peru, as well as other specified locations.
The Contractor shall support research including but not limited to:
- Vaccine trials
- Drug studies
- Evaluation of new technology
- Epidemiologic studies
- Bio-surveillance of infectious diseases
- Development/evaluation of devices for malaria and other pathogens
- Collection of data for regulated studies
- Maintaining FDA regulatory standards in accordance with Good Clinical Practices (GCP) and International Conference on Harmonization (ICH).
Specific tasks include supporting various scientific departments such as Bacteriology, Entomology, Parasitology, Veterinary Services, Virology, Clinical Trials Department, and Research Administration Program. The contractor must ensure compliance with ethical standards for human research participants and provide high-quality care for research animals.
Place of Performance
The primary locations for performance are Lima and Iquitos in Peru, with additional locations potentially within the Southern Command area of responsibility.
Incumbent Analysis (see Incumbents section for more detail)
This opportunity appears to have a confirmed incumbent based on prior NAMRU research and administrative support awards under contract N6264520D5005, with Vysnova Partners as the awardee. The prior work includes research and administrative support services for NAMRU-6 in Lima, Peru, focused on infectious disease research, and a related task order (N6264520D5005-N0018924FZ267) for “Research and Administrative Support Services” during 04/03/24–03/30/26. The current requirement’s emphasis on managerial/administrative support and research support functions at NAMRU SOUTH sites in Peru (including infectious disease surveillance and regulated research support) appears to be a continuation of the same type of operational support needed to sustain ongoing infectious disease research activities.
