The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) awarded a $74,223.27 firm fixed-price contract to Eppendorf North America, Inc. for maintenance and repair services of a Bioflo 610 bioreactor located at the National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) in Ames, Iowa. The contract, awarded on September 17, 2025, with an ultimate completion date of September 16, 2028, was awarded as a sole-source procurement under FAR 13.106-1(b) based on Eppendorf's status as the exclusive manufacturer of the bioreactor. The maintenance services encompass all parts, labor, travel costs, bearing housing overhaul, service calls, and preventive maintenance visits required to keep the bioreactor operational for NVSL's critical role in producing raw materials for worldwide reagent production.
This contract reflects APHIS's reliance on specialized scientific equipment maintenance to support its veterinary diagnostic and research mission. Eppendorf North America, a subsidiary of the global Eppendorf Group, provides high-precision laboratory equipment and services to federal agencies across multiple departments, including extensive support through larger contract vehicles such as a $10 million Blanket Purchase Agreement with HHS and a $24.7 million Indefinite Delivery Contract with the Department of Veterans Affairs. The award involved no set-aside designation, consistent with Eppendorf's status as a large, foreign-owned business. The procurement represents a straightforward maintenance arrangement for mission-critical equipment that requires manufacturer-authorized service and expertise.