SPECIAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD A SOLE SOURCE CONTRACT
Agency: Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Office: Center for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (CARD)
Notice Type: Special Notice
Notice Number: NIH-NOI-26-PCA-NIA-01205
Title: Notice of Intent to Sole Source iNDI FA13.1J Cell Lines Expansion and Distribution for the iPSC Neurodegenerative Disease Initiative (iNDI) Project
NAICS Code: 325414 Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing
PSC: 6550 In Vitro Diagnostic Substances, Reagents, Test Kits and Sets
Description
This is a notice of intent to award a sole source contract and is not a request for competitive quotations, proposals, or bids. The National Institute on Aging (NIA), Center for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (CARD), intends to negotiate and award a firm-fixed-price contract to:
The Jackson Laboratory
600 Main Street
Bar Harbor, ME 04609
UEI: XR6LMXNKDJJ1
for iNDI FA13.1J Cell Lines Expansion and Distribution for the iPSC Neurodegenerative Disease Initiative (iNDI) Project.
The anticipated contract will provide for the expansion, quality control, curation, biobanking, and distribution of up to 936 isogenic Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines in support of the iPSC Neurodegenerative Disease Initiative (iNDI). The requirement includes:
- FA13.1J female SNV lines totaling 486 iPSC lines;
- 25 high-priority SNV trios across six additional iPSC lines totaling 450 iPSC lines;
- expansion and quality control in accordance with current iNDI protocols;
- product and web content creation for each iPSC line; and
- public distribution of cell lines through an established contractor-hosted website/platform.
The statutory authority for this acquisition is 41 U.S.C. 1901, as implemented by FAR 13.501(a)(1)(ii), based on the circumstances described in FAR 6.302-1, Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements.
The Government's market research included review of the prior sources sought notice posted on SAM.gov under Notice ID 75N95025Q00209-SBSS, review of prior NIH awards for similar iNDI requirements, and review of commercially available information regarding potential sources. Based on that market research, The Jackson Laboratory is the only known source capable of providing the specific iNDI FA13.1J iPSC cell lines and associated expansion, quality control, curation, and distribution services required for this acquisition. The Jackson Laboratory also maintains the existing iNDI distribution infrastructure and has successfully performed prior related iNDI requirements for NIH.
Period of Performance
- Base Year: September 1, 2026 August 31, 2027
- Option Year 1: September 1, 2027 August 31, 2028
- Option Year 2: September 1, 2028 August 31, 2029
- Option Year 3: September 1, 2029 August 31, 2030
Place of Performance
The principal place of performance is the contractor's facility.
Responses
This notice is not a solicitation. However, any responsible source that believes it can satisfy the Government's requirement may submit a capability statement for the Government's consideration. Capability statements shall clearly demonstrate the ability to provide:
- the specific iNDI FA13.1J cell lines and associated iNDI lines required under this acquisition;
- expansion and quality control in accordance with current iNDI protocols;
- product and web content creation for each iPSC line;
- public distribution through an established contractor-hosted platform; and
- continuity sufficient to preserve comparability with existing iNDI resources and prior work.
Responses shall include, at a minimum:
- Company name
- UEI and CAGE Code, if applicable
- Business size and socioeconomic status
- Technical point of contact, including name, title, telephone number, and email address
- Narrative capability statement addressing the requirements above
- Relevant past performance information for similar efforts
Responses must be submitted electronically to the point(s) of contact below no later than June 23, 2026, 11:00 am EST. Responses received after the stated deadline may not be considered.
The Government will review all timely responses solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. A determination by the Government not to compete this requirement, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the Government. The Government will not be responsible for any costs incurred by respondents in preparing or submitting a response.
Point(s) of Contact
Primary Point of Contact: Linda Smith, Contracting Officer, linda.smith2@nih.gov
Secondary Point of Contact: Danielle Tines, Procurement Technician, danielle.tines@nih.gov
Background
The National Institute on Aging (NIA), part of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is issuing a sole source contract to The Jackson Laboratory for the iNDI FA13.1J Cell Lines Expansion and Distribution project. This initiative aims to support research in Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) by providing a collection of isogenic induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines. The Jackson Laboratory is uniquely qualified to fulfill this requirement due to its established infrastructure and previous successful performance in related projects.
Work Details
The contract will involve the expansion, quality control, curation, biobanking, and distribution of up to 936 isogenic Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) iPSC lines. Specific deliverables include:
- FA13.1J female SNV lines totaling 486 iPSC lines;
- 25 high-priority SNV trios across six additional iPSC lines totaling 450 iPSC lines;
- Expansion and quality control in accordance with current iNDI protocols using CRISPR-Cas12a technology;
- Product and web content creation for each iPSC line;
- Public distribution of cell lines through an established contractor-hosted website/platform. Quality control procedures will include assessments for viability, non-viral agent testing, viral testing, yeast and fungal testing, bacterial testing, and confirmation of gene edits.
Period of Performance
Base Year: September 1, 2026 – August 31, 2027; Option Year 1: September 1, 2027 – August 31, 2028; Option Year 2: September 1, 2028 – August 31, 2029; Option Year 3: September 1, 2029 – August 31, 2030.
Place of Performance
The principal place of performance is at The Jackson Laboratory's facility located at 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor, ME.
Bidder Requirements
The contractor must demonstrate the ability to provide specific iNDI FA13.1J cell lines and associated services required under this acquisition. This includes having the capability for expansion and quality control in accordance with current iNDI protocols, product creation for each iPSC line, public distribution through an established platform, and continuity with existing iNDI resources.
Incumbent Analysis (see Incumbents section for more detail)
The Jackson Laboratory is the confirmed incumbent for prior iNDI cell line expansion and distribution efforts under NIH/NIA contracts 75N95025P00265 (08/01/25–07/31/26, $1,530,320) for ALFATAG cell lines and 75N95024P00305 (09/01/24–08/31/25, $1,393,264) for REVERTANT cell lines. These awards appear to be a continuation of the same iPSC neurodegenerative disease initiative work—expanding and preparing specific iPSC line sets for iNDI use—now extending to additional FA13.1J isogenic ADRD lines with associated quality control, curation/biobanking, and public distribution. A closely related prior contract (75N95020P00621, 09/21/20–09/20/23, $4,879,794) for INDI-PLUS additional alleles further supports continuity in allele/cell line generation for the iNDI program.
