The Acquisition Planning and Specifications Branch (APSB), Division of Simplified Acquisition Policy and Services offers their services to any NIH ordering official/activity through a multifaceted approach that includes every acquisition phase from the planning stage through the source/contractor selection phase. Our office will assist program officials in establishing the most effective and expedient acquisition plans that will meet their mission objectives and their day-to-day operational needs. Your planning request may be as simple as the need for assistance in completing the acquisition request documents. No request is too small – we are here to serve you! By getting this office involved during the planning stage, the specifications/ statement of work or the JOFOC can be developed before the requirement goes to the proper purchasing/ contracting function. This will save valuable acquisition processing time and create a healthy rapport between the program official and the acquisition personnel. An Equipment Specialist will be assigned to work with you. For further information, contact any of the COR's listed in the table under Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) Support.

Helpline (301) 496-5212

• NIH-Wide BPA List, January 2013 (PDF file)
• BPA Commodity List, January 2013 (PDF file)
• Strategic Sourcing Preferred Listing, January 2013 (PDF file)

Helpline (301) 496-0400

• Delegated Acquisition Reference Guide, September 2008 (draft) (PDF require Acrobat Reader. Click here to download).

The Equipment Specialists in the Acquisition Planning and Specifications Branch (APSB) assists program offices/personnel with all phases of the acquisition process.

• Requirement Development
• Assist with Commercial Market Research
• Perform analysis for appropriate sources
• Develop minimum specifications and/or work statements
• Develop objectives, measures, and standards for performance based contracts
• Assemble and refine acquisition documents
• Team with Program Officials for JOFOC preparation, as necessary
• Provide any and all support to program officials during the solicitation phase
• Provide evaluations of bids/proposals
• Assist with best value determinations
• Offer COR services for interested Program Offices, monitor progress of the requirement fulfillment
• COR Support for various NIH-wide, Multi-Agency and GWAC contracts. The services provided via these contracts include equipment/system delivery orders, maintenance, and repair. A broad range of capabilities is available. For further information, contact any of the COR's listed in the table under COR Support.

The entire Federal Government is implementing a Performance Based Contracting initiative. The Acquisition Planning & Specifications Branch, Division of Simplified Acquisition Policy & Services assists in converting and creating Statements of Work into Performance Based Contracting format. For further information, contact any of the COR's listed in the table under COR Support.

The Acquisition Planning & Specifications Branch (APSB), Division of Simplified Acquisition Policy & Services (DSAPS) will work with the research community in preparing specifications designed to meet the scientific community's minimum needs. Great care must be taken to be non-restrictive, thus inviting protests from unsuccessful bidders.

APSB will evaluate the bids on specifications written by APSB to look for technical non-compliance. For further information, contact any of the COR's listed in the table under COR Support.

Helpline (301) 435-6606

The Acquisition Planning and Specifications Branch (APSB), Division of Simplified Acquisition Policy & Services (DSAPS) assists all owners/users of scientific equipment in solving quality related performance and service problems with equipment contractors. The APSB can provide assistance in motivating the contractor to support/maintain the instrument. If for some reason an alternate source for maintenance is required, APSB can provide other sources.

For further information, contact any of the COR's listed in the table under COR Support.

Reverse auctions are secure, web-based, “downward price” auctions during which pre/post-qualified suppliers lower their prices real-time to provide for Government products. Vendors are allowed to bid as often as they wish during the auctioning period. There should be three or more vendors participating in a reverse auction. Reverse auctions are relatively new to the Federal Government. This procurement, bidding, and e-Gov tool appears best suited to buying a large volume of simple, well-defined, or standardized commodities. However, reverse auctions are consistent and compatible in making “best value” awards. During an auction, bidders are aware of when the prices change, however, they do not know the names of their competitors. The dynamic competition inherent in reverse auctions has resulted in pricing that is closer to that of the true market. On average, reverse auctions result in a 10% to 24% price reduction over that of traditional pricing methods.

It is important to remember that a reverse auction is only a pricing tool . It does not preclude any other aspect of the acquisition process. It is simply a technique to capture the best pricing available at auction time.

The Office of Acquisition Management & Policy (OAMP) has the expertise in assisting or performing all aspects of the reverse auction process for your organization. The expertise is available to your organization and can be used in full or to supplement your existing staff and resources. For further information, contact any of the COR's listed in the table under COR Support.

Equipment Specialists in APSB are Technical Project Officers for one or more NIH wide and GWAC Contracts. Below is a list showing the Contract Number, Company, and the Equipment Specialist. Please call 301-496-4814 for any questions on the following contracts.