Equity and Inclusion: The NIH podcast about contracting with HBCUs and MSIs

Currently, there are four Historically Black Colleges and Universities with accredited medical schools. Howard University, Meharry Medical College, the Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, and Morehouse School of Medicine.

But many more HBCUs have state-of the-art research facilities where they are tackling health issues, and their efforts are contributing to healthcare equity in America. Today’s podcast is for all of you.

Every American should have access to cutting-edge healthcare innovations. So, this epsode features an agency designed to accelerate better health outcomes for everyone … the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health known as ARPA-H.

For more than 150 years, Historically Black Colleges and Universities have made a significant impact on advancing public health. From graduating overwhelming percentages of African-Americans into medical practice, to conducting breakthrough research in everything from heart disease to cancer, HBCUs’ ongoing contribution to American public health is undeniable.

HBCUs are vital to the National Institutes of Health. That’s why the world's largest biomedical research organization is encouraging all HBCUs to pursue a share of the $9 billion that this agency awards in contracts annually. This episode, hosted by Annette Owens-Scarboro, Program Manager and HBCU Coordinator for the National Institutes of Health’s Small Business Program Office, highlights strategic partnerships that the National Cancer Institute has with two HBCUs: The Morehouse School of Medicine and Jackson State University.

Co-host is Crystal Canja. She is the HBCU/MSI Program Manager at the Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, which is a government-owned, contractor-operated scientific enterprise. Guests include: Dr. James Lillard, Senior Associate Dean for Research, Innovation, & Commercialization, Morehouse School of Medicine and Dr. Almesha L. Campbell, Assistant Vice President for Research and Economic Development, Jackson State University.

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) competing for government contracts have incredible capabilities. And partnering with a business could give them a competitive edge, particularly if they have mastered the best practices for teaming. Teaming allows HBCUs and other Minority Serving Institutions to break into and expand their foothold in the federal arena, a place where past performance, experienced professional employees, and large-scale technical capabilities can prove critical to securing a contract.

In this episode, Annette Owens-Scarboro, Program Manager and HBCU Coordinator for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Small Business Program Office, addresses how the NIH PEI Initiative supports teaming between HBCUs and their small business partners. Joining the program as co-host is Marcia Richard, the Small Business Liaison for the NIH PEI Initiative.

Guests include: Bret Jones is the CEO of Supreme Solutions, Inc. an 8(a) contractor who provides administrative, management, and technical support to the NIH PEI Initiative; Omonike Olaleye, Ph.D., the Senior Associate Vice President for Research and Innovation at Texas Southern University; and Wanda Gamble, the Chief Business Development Officer at Oak Ridge Associated Universities, a valuable business partner to several HBCUs in the PEI 2.0 cohort.

Each episode of the Equity and Inclusion podcast provides some useful information to help HBCU administrators, faculty and staff become more proficient in navigating the government contracting lifecycle. The lesson for this segment focuses on joint capability statements.

Annette Owens-Scarboro, the Small Business and HBCU Program Manager for the National Institutes of Health Small Business Program Office (SBPO) is joined by co-host Darnese Wilkerson, the Director of the Office of Acquisitions within the Office of Logistics and Acquisition Operations (OLAO).

Guests include Diane J. Frasier, Head of the Contracting Activity and Director of the NIH Office of Acquisition and Logistic Management (OALM), and Pamela Clarke, Director of Research Development at Howard University.

With 27 institutes and centers supported by 10 Consolidated Operations Acquisition Centers (COACs), the NIH is the world's largest biomedical research organization. Ms. Frasier discusses how HBCUs, MSIs, and their business partners can leverage their capabilities to secure a share of the $9 billion in contracts awarded annually to support the agency's mission. She also explains why NIH created the Path to Excellence and Innovation (PEI) Initiative to assist HBCUs in building their infrastructure to sustain contracting activity.

Howard University has participated in the PEI Initiative since the inception of the pilot program. Ms. Clarke shares her experiences and the benefit to Howard University.

Each episode of the Equity and Inclusion podcast provides some useful information to help HBCU administrators, faculty and staff become more proficient in navigating the government contracting lifecycle. The lesson for this segment focuses on understanding the difference between program officers and contracting officers, as well as who to contact and when.