Senior Advisor Subject Matter Expert (SME) with Pharmaceutical Development and Pain Expertise for the NINDS
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF.OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR ADMINISTRATION (ASA).ASA OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR ADMINISTRATION · Response deadline: Mon, 02 Nov 2026
What the government is buying
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), part of the National Institutes of Health within HHS, is seeking a Senior Advisor Subject Matter Expert with specialized knowledge in pharmaceutical development and pain expertise. This professional services contract calls for expert-level advisory support to help guide NINDS research and program priorities at the intersection of drug development and pain neuroscience.
Work under NAICS 541690—Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services—typically involves providing specialized expertise that informs federal research planning, technology assessment, and program evaluation rather than performing bench research directly. A pharmaceutical development SME with pain expertise would likely advise on translational research strategies, help evaluate research proposals or therapeutic approaches, and provide technical guidance on pain-related drug development pipelines.
Key facts
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Agency | Health and Human Services, Department of; Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration (ASA); ASA Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration |
| Notice type | Combined Synopsis/Solicitation |
| Solicitation number | 7571PSQ00007 |
| NAICS | 541690 |
| Set-aside | Small Business Set Aside - Total |
| Response deadline | November 2, 2026 at 1:00 PM ET |
| Place of performance | Bethesda, MD |
Who can bid
This opportunity is set aside exclusively for small businesses under the Small Business Set Aside - Total program. To qualify, your firm must meet SBA size standards for NAICS 541690, which carries a $16.5 million annual receipts threshold. You must also be registered in SAM.gov with active status and appropriate NAICS codes.
Given the highly specialized nature of this requirement—senior-level expertise spanning both pharmaceutical development and pain science—eligible bidders should anticipate demonstrating relevant personnel qualifications. Firms with established relationships to the NIH intramural research ecosystem or experience supporting federal biomedical research programs may have competitive advantages. Joint ventures and mentor-protégé arrangements are permissible under SBA rules if structured correctly, but the prime contractor must be a qualifying small business.
How to put together a competitive bid
Personnel credentials are paramount. The government's evaluation will likely center on the proposed individual's depth of experience. Prepare detailed resumes showing: pharmaceutical development track record (industry or regulatory experience preferred); peer-recognized pain research expertise; and senior advisory experience with federal or executive-level stakeholders. Document publications, patents, prior NIH service, or FDA interaction history if applicable.
Demonstrate NINDS-specific awareness. Competitive bidders should reference familiarity with NINDS's pain research portfolio, the NIH HEAL Initiative, or related translational neuroscience programs. Show understanding of how pain pharmaceutical development differs from other therapeutic areas—regulatory complexity, biomarker challenges, and patient-reported outcome considerations.
Address Bethesda-based performance. Since work occurs in Bethesda, Maryland, present clear plans for onsite availability, security clearance eligibility if required, and local logistical readiness. If proposing remote hybrid arrangements, explicitly address how you'll satisfy any anticipated in-person requirements.
Small business differentiation. Emphasize agility, direct principal involvement, and specialized focus that larger consultancies cannot replicate. Consider past performance references from similar HHS or NIH advisory contracts.
Next steps
Read the full solicitation on SAM.gov using solicitation number 7571PSQ00007. The response deadline is November 2, 2026 at 1:00 PM Eastern Time—note this is a short turnaround posted October 30, requiring rapid action. The combined synopsis-solicitation format means this notice constitutes the full solicitation document; review requirements for proposal format, evaluation criteria, and any SAM.gov attachments carefully given the compressed timeline.
View the official notice on SAM.gov →