The Defense Health Agency (DHA) is preparing to release the solicitation for the OMNIBUS IV Small Business On-Ramp, a multiple-award IDIQ supporting defense health research, medical R&D, and translational science with a $10B cumulative ceiling. OMNIBUS IV has been active since June 2022 and runs through 2032, with the on-ramp designed to bring new contractors onto the vehicle for the remaining performance period. Proposals will be submitted through the Procurement Integrated Enterprise Environment (PIEE).
In 2026, the government released a series of updates to this opportunity: confirming the on-ramp as an 8(a)-only set-aside, publishing significantly expanded task order activity data, and pushing the solicitation date to late May 2026. The additional time allows for compliance with the recently issued FAR Overhaul guidance for DoD.
OPPORTUNITY SNAPSHOT
- Opportunity: OMNIBUS IV – Small Business On-Ramp
- Agency: Defense Health Agency (DHA), Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity (DHACA)
- Estimated Value: $10B (cumulative ceiling, existing vehicle)
- Anticipated Solicitation: May 2026
- Anticipated Award: August 2026
- Contract Type: Multiple-award IDIQ
- Duration: Remaining performance period through June 2032 (base period runs through June 2027 and there is one 5-year option period)
- Set-Aside: 8(a) Small Business
- Competition: Multiple awards anticipated
- Primary NAICS: 541714 – Research and Development in Biotechnology
- Submission: PIEE (Procurement Integrated Enterprise Environment)
- Place of Performance: CONUS and OCONUS
WHAT CHANGED IN 2026
Set-Aside Confirmed as 8(a) Only
The on-ramp solicitation is set aside exclusively for firms certified under the SBA’s 8(a) Program. Earlier planning described a broad small business on-ramp open to all socioeconomic categories, but the updated acquisition strategy narrows eligibility to 8(a) participants only. Firms that are not 8(a) certified cannot compete as a prime on this on-ramp. Their only path onto the vehicle is teaming with an 8(a) prime as a subcontractor.
One important note under the FAR Overhaul: contract holders will be able to rely on their size and status representation at the IDIQ level when proposing on task orders set aside for small businesses, even if they have since graduated out of the 8(a) program or grown beyond small business size. This makes getting on the vehicle now strategically valuable beyond just the on-ramp award itself.
Task Order Activity Has Grown Significantly
When OST last covered OMNIBUS IV, approximately $118M had been obligated with roughly $400M in task orders released. The updated figures show over $600M across 51 task orders, with 94% of those task orders issued from FY2024–2026. Of the 51 task orders, 33 have been awarded to small businesses, and 8 have been set aside specifically for 8(a) contractors. The volume and pace of task order activity has increased each fiscal year, and the pool of ordering agencies continues to grow. Now it includes DHACA, the Naval Supply Systems Command, and the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences.
Solicitation Timeline Slipped to Late May 2026
The solicitation was originally anticipated in Q1 FY2026, then revised to late February 2026. The March 4, 2026 amendment pushed the date again to late May 2026, citing the need to ensure compliance with FAR Overhaul guidance issued for DoD adoption starting February 1, 2026. The RFP and all amendments will be posted through the Solicitation module in PIEE, which automatically posts a notice to SAM.gov upon release.
SCOPE — 4 MARKET SEGMENTS
OMNIBUS IV awards are made by market segment, though task orders may span more than one segment:
- Market Segment 1 — Research and Development: Direct management and performance of medical R&D aligned to DoD priority capability gaps. Includes collaborations in DoD medical research, transitioning programs through the funding continuum (RDT&E funds 6.1–6.7), biosurety and quality standards, and FDA/DoD regulatory compliance for research deliverables. Firms in this segment may operate as university affiliated research centers, contract research organizations (CROs), or entities capable of self-directed or contracted R&D.
- Market Segment 2 — R&D Support Services: Support for research activities rather than direct research performance. Includes administrative and acquisition support, IT support services, scientific and technical support, facilities support, medical non-personal services for clinical and research protocols, logistics, and supplies and equipment lifecycle support.
- Market Segment 3 — Regulatory Processes: Support and expertise in regulations protecting the welfare and rights of humans and animals in medical research. Includes animal use programs and vivaria, human subjects research compliance, DoD use of investigational products, FDA IND applications, federal and DoD privacy requirements, and technology transfer support.
- Market Segment 4 — Translational Science Support and Services: Support for moving research discoveries from the laboratory into clinical or field use. Includes pre-transition and transition support, evidence-based solution development, dissemination and implementation strategies, and evaluation planning and execution.
Program areas spanning all four segments include Medical Simulation Technologies, Infectious Diseases, Military Health Performance and Recovery, Joint Battlefield Healthcare, Radiation Health Effects, Clinical and Rehabilitative Medicine, Chemical and Biological Readiness, Clinical Investigations and Graduate Health Science Education, Genomics and Omics-Based Science, and Emerging Science and Technology.
WHO SHOULD CONSIDER OMNIBUS IV
The on-ramp is open only to 8(a)-certified small businesses. 8(a) firms with relevant capabilities should evaluate this opportunity if they have experience in one or more of the following areas:
- Medical research and development, including CRO or self-directed R&D capabilities
- Biotechnology, life sciences, or translational science
- Regulatory science, human subjects compliance, or FDA process support
- Clinical or pre-clinical research services
- Defense health or federal health research program support
- R&D support services including IT, program management, scientific or administrative support
HOW OST CAN HELP
OST has already successfully supported two companies through the original OMNIBUS IV on-ramp and is actively supporting firms preparing for this on-ramp. We understand the evaluation structure, the market segment framework, and what it takes to build a successful submission for a defense health R&D vehicle.
We support clients with:
- Teaming strategy: For 8(a) firms looking to expand technical coverage, and for non-8(a) firms seeking to join a competitive team as a subcontractor, OST’s teaming portal has 200+ partners who can provide complementary R&D, regulatory, and translational science capabilities
- Capability and gap analysis: Evaluating your market segment alignment and identifying where past performance is strong and where teaming would strengthen the submission
- Capture strategy: Developing win themes and positioning aligned to DHA priorities and the growing task order base
- Proposal development: Technical approach, past performance narratives, and compliance for IDIQ submissions through PIEE
- Pricing strategy: Developing competitive rates aligned to defense health R&D market conditions
If this interests you, please book a call with OST Partner and President Bill Schalik via the button below.
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