About Us
Established in the late 1980s, the Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) Program at the National Institutes of Health creates NIH-wide ordering mechanisms for the delegated/ simplified acquisition community via establishment of BPAs. BPA Calls or the purchase card are used to place orders for anticipated repetitive needs for supplies and services at a pre-negotiated rate.
A blanket purchase agreement is not a contract, but a simplified method of filling anticipated repetitive needs for supplies or services by establishing “charge accounts” within the qualified sources of supply (FAR 13.03-1). The BPAs have a 12-month ordering period and are reviewed for possible renewal each year.
Currently, there are over 60 categories that are covered under the program and include biological materials, chemicals, laboratory supplies, specialized information technology not covered under NIH’s Information Technology Acquisition Assessment Center (NITAAC), short-term temporary help, shredding, and laboratory testing.
To be considered for a BPA under the program, potential vendors must at minimum: 1) be active in the System for Award Management (SAM); 2) have recent NIH past performance; and 3) be open to negotiating discounts and able to commit to the negotiated pricing for 12 months.
We welcome your feedback! The BPA Program staff is dedicated to improving program resources and expand the portfolio of BPAs. If your Institute/Center has a recurring need for specific commercial products or services or you would like us to consider a particular category, please send your recommendations through the BPA Program’s Helpdesk at BPAProgramBranch@od.nih.gov
