65--RECOMBINANT HUMAN PROTEINS FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Posted Date: August 15, 2025

Procurement Office:

Department of the Interior (DOI)
Interior Business Center (IBC)
Acquisition Services Directorate (AQD)

Response Due Date:

August 22, 2025 by 10AM EST

NOTICE OF INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE/SYNOPSIS
DOI/IBC/AQD on behalf of NIH/NCATS intends to award a Purchase Order to Research and Diagnostic Systems Inc. on a sole source basis. The intended procurement is classified under North American Industry Classification System code (NAICS) Code 325414 Biological Product Manufacturing (Size Standard 1,250 Employees).

This is a sole source procurement under the authority of FAR Part 13.106-1(b) Soliciting from a single source.
(1) For purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold.
(i) Contracting officers may solicit from one source if the contracting officer determines that the circumstances of the contract action deem only one source reasonably available
This acquisition is conducted under the procedures described in FAR Part 13 Simplified Acquisition Procedures and Part 12 Acquisition of Commercial Products and Commercial Services.

Description

Recombinant Human NT-3 Protein; Neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) is a member of the NGF family of neurotrophic factors (also named neurotrophins) that are required for the differentiation and survival of specific neuronal subpopulations in both the central as well as the peripheral nervous systems.

Glial Cell Line-derived Neurotrophic Factor (GDNF) is a neurotrophic factor that has been shown to promote the survival of various neuronal subpopulations in both the central as well as the peripheral nervous systems at different stages of their development. Neuronal subpopulations that have been shown to be affected by GDNF include motoneurons, midbrain dopaminergic neurons, Purkinje cells and sympathetic neurons.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a member of the NGF family of neurotrophic factors (also named neurotrophins) that are required for the differentiation and survival of specific neuronal subpopulations in both the central as well as the peripheral nervous system.

LIF (leukemia inhibitory factor) is a widely expressed, highly and variably glycosylated, 32 62 kDa, monomeric, pleiotropic cytokine in the IL 6 family of helical cytokines (1 4).

L-Ascorbic acid is an inhibitor of Cav3.2 channels that enhances the generation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from mouse and human somatic cells by increasing reprogramming efficiency.

Jagged 1 is a 180 kDa type I transmembrane glycoprotein and a member of the Delta-Serrate-Lag-2 (DSL) family of ligands that activate LIN12/Notch proteins. Jagged 1 is a 180 kDa type I transmembrane glycoprotein and a member of the Delta-Serrate-Lag-2 (DSL) family of ligands that activate LIN12/Notch proteins.

Ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) is a polypeptide initially purified from chick embryo ocular tissue and identified as a trophic factor for embryonic chick ciliary parasympathetic neurons in culture. Subsequent studies have demonstrated that CNTF is a survival factor for additional neuronal cell types including dorsal root ganglion sensory neurons, sympathetic ganglion neurons, embryonic motor neurons, major pelvic ganglion neurons, and hippocampal neurons. CNTF has also been shown to prevent the degeneration of motor axons after axotomy.

XAV 939 is a potent tankyrase (TNKS) inhibitor used in neuronal differentiation protocols.

Justification Rationale

Numerous batches of cells have been treated using these specific small molecules and the result was consistent, predictable, growth resulting in successful assays performed at NIH NCATS. NCATS has used R&D small molecules for the majority of cells used in our assays since its inception. Re-optimization of all existing assays would need to be performed if another manufacturer’s molecules were to be introduced, and would therefore incur tremendous costs, time, and material resources to the government.

NCATS CRM performed rigorous internal tests of a variety of small molecules from several vendors and concluded that R&D small molecules meet our specific requirements, including stem cell pluripotency maintenance, multi-lineage differentiation, and 3-D culture. To provide consistent cell growth and viability we have to be consistent with the molecules we use in our research projects. The above list of small molecules and proteins meets the specifications.

Delivery Period: Upon issuance of Purchase Order

This notice of intent to award a sole source Purchase Order is NOT A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE QUOTES. A SOLICITATION WILL NOT BE ISSUED.
However, all responsible sources that feel they can meet the Government's requirements detailed above may submit a capability statement, which shall be considered by the agency. Responses to this notice shall contain sufficient information to establish the interested parties' bona-fide capabilities for fulfilling the requirements and include: the Unique Entity ID (UEI) and the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN). All Offerors must have an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) www.sam.gov.

Please be advised that this announcement may constitute the only notice that will be posted for this acquisition, based on any responses to this notice. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed Purchase Order based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. The information received will be retained as Market Research.

All responses must be received by August 22, 2025 by 10AM EST and must reference
number 140D0425Q0494.

Responses may be submitted via e-mail to:

William_Galvin@ibc.doi.gov and David_Whitby@ibc.doi.gov