Data Access Program

The mission of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute on Aging (NIA) is to “support and conduct…clinical, behavioral, social, and economic research on aging” and to “foster the development of research and clinician scientists in aging.” As part of its efforts, the NIA provides research resources by supporting data collection and distribution. These data are made available to approved researchers to analyze; the researchers disseminate information about health, economic, and social resources in aging. To leverage investment in these high-quality datasets and high- visibility research areas, the NIA looks for ways to enhance data utility for multidisciplinary research. Providing access to linked Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) data to NIA-funded researchers maximizes the value of current NIA investments.

Administrative data alone (e.g., CMS data) and/or adding administrative data to demographic, health, social studies, and clinical studies that are supported by the NIA enhances value and utility of data by facilitating research on health care utilization, health outcomes, and health expenditures, all of which can inform policy and programs and provide insight on older adult health.

NIA’s Strategic Plan/Goal G highlights the need to “support the infrastructure and resources needed to promote high-quality research,” particularly access to CMS claims data and for longitudinal, NIA-funded studies that are linked to CMS claims data. In response to this review, NIA funded the second iteration of the Data Access Program in 2021.

To date, the Data Access Program has offered NIA grantees access to CMS-linked datasets for research purposes. The current requirement seeks to expand the user base of the program, improve user experience within the Data Access Program, incorporate linkage to additional Federal datasets, and host NIA funded studies with sensitive data for research purposes, including those studies that are seeking centralized means for data storage and sharing.

Purpose and Objectives: The primary objectives of this requirement are to (1) receive and review requests for CMS linked datasets from Studies (2) obtain CMS data, conduct data linkage (3) process and create and research files and distribute linked datasets (4) produce and maintain data documentation and data updates (5) facilitate federated data services for standalone studies which does not use CMS data (6) establish and maintain a website to relay program information and resources to the public; (7) deliver technical assistance, support and training to data users; and, (8) Provide a Government-Owned, Contractor-Operated (GOCO) federated enclave for the storage, analysis, and distribution of linked and unlinked study datasets.

With respect to supporting the current portfolio of studies, the Data Access Program will provide services to NIH-supported studies and eligible researchers that link their data sets with CMS data or other federal and non-federal data for research purposes. If studies are willing to distribute their linked datasets, eligible researchers may access study datasets in the Enclave. For more information, visit the following website: Access or Share LINKAGE Data | National Institute on Aging (https://www.nia.nih.gov/research/dbsr/nia-data-linkage-program-linkage/access-or-share-linkage-data).

Moving forward, the NIH intends to expand the Data Access Program to serve all NIH institutes and centers. Expanding the Data Access Program involves accepting NIH-funded studies that are seeking to use the enclave for data sharing purposes and when data are transferred to NIH at the end of the study period (i.e., materials transfer agreement executed by NIH). Studies in this category may or may not require updated data linkage services.   In anticipation of expanding the number and types of datasets to include more than data from the CMS, the NIH seeks support to design and implement scalable, automated solutions for acquiring, ingesting, linking, and managing a range of data sources. Solutions should include standardized, repeatable workflows; automated quality checks and linkage validation; and enable efficient integration of federal, non-federal, and private datasets. All systems and services must operate within FISMA Moderate compliant environments and adhere to Zero Trust security principles, ensuring secure access control, identity assurance level 2 (IAL2) verification, and continuous monitoring. The contractor will support the development and maintenance of technical infrastructure to enable high-throughput, interoperable data processing that aligns with NIH’s broader data governance, privacy, and compliance objectives.

Capable Offerors must demonstrate their experience and ability to accomplish the following items in support of the required Task Order areas:

• Developing and maintaining a secure cloud-based enclave to catalog, analyze, store, and distribute linked and non-linked datasets;
• Supporting master and metadata cataloging to enable high-performance and robust variable-level searchability and discoverability of available datasets;
• Implementing cloud-based infrastructure- and platform-as-a-service (IaaS and PaaS) technologies, including services such as AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud, for example;
• Provisioning enclave user areas or accounts in the enclave;
• Establishing and verifying researcher identities and data use agreements for studies;
• Reviewing data access requests;
• Conducting data linkages using automation to enhance efficiency and scalability;
• Processing and creating research files (raw, annual, and longitudinal files);
• Implementing validation protocols to ensure data quality and integrity;
• Maintaining and updating data documentation;
• Facilitating federated data services for studies that are not linked to CMS or other federal data sources;
• Providing end-user technical support for both the enclave environment and the linkage process;
• Supporting procurement of public or private real-world data;
• Facilitating expert panel meetings.
• Developing and implementing automated privacy-preserving record linkage methodology;
• Maintaining a robust security posture in alignment and compliance with Zero Trust principles and FedRAMP Moderate Baseline requirements.
• Integrating software-as-a-service (SaaS) solutions that support operations of the Data Access Program;
• Monitoring program operations for quality improvement opportunities, proposing opportunities for improvement, and executing program improvement initiatives; and
• Administering the program successfully in consultation with and at the direction of the COR.

Offerors shall demonstrate their experience in data access programs, similar as those described above, and must be able to demonstrate that they are a leader in the field of data enclave, data linkage, program operations and privacy preserving record linkage automation. Finally, Offerors shall have a developed infrastructure to support restricted use to data through a variety of practices depending on data sensitivity, ranging from experience with restricted access to possession of the necessary infrastructure to support a virtual data enclave.

NIA anticipates the award of one indefinite delivery indefinite quantity contract using both time & materials and firm-fixed-price task orders issued, with an ordering period of five years. In addition, option quantities may be considered.

RFP No. 75N95023R00003 is expected to be available electronically on or about January 26, 2026. You can access the RFP through SAM.gov. All information required for the submission of a proposal will be contained in or accessible through the RFP package. Responses to the RFP will be due 45 days from the release date. NIA will consider proposals submitted by any responsible offeror. This advertisement does not commit the Government to award a contract.

Disclaimer and Important Notes: This is not a solicitation or a request for proposals.  This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response.

Confidentiality: No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation(s).