2_JA 2109862 Speed Biosystems.docx

Justification for Other than Full and Open Competition at or Below the Simplified Acquisition Threshold Project Title: HIV/SARS-CoV-2 Pseudovirus production

Identification of the agency and contracting activity

DHHS, NIH, NIAID, VRC, VL, SBS-SBIS

Address of the requesting lab/office: 40 Convent Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892

Description of the project and supplies required to meet the agency’s needs The Vaccine Research Center is developing vaccines for HIV-1 and SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses. Production of various wild-type and mutant viral proteins and anti-viral antibodies is critical in vaccine development. Making different mutations of viral proteins and expressing antibodies against such proteins is critical for vaccine development. To make these proteins in the transient transfection method, transfection reagent is critical to the success of protein and antibody productions.

To make these proteins in transient transfection method, transfection reagent is critical to the success of protein and antibody productions and Turbo 293 provides straightforward and experimental protocols that can be replicated for substantiated scientific research.

Description of the supplies or services to be purchased:

Catalog number: Turbo293 Transfection Reagent (20mL,) Catalog #PXX1002, QTY 50

Identification of the statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition ☒ 41 USC 253(c)(1) and FAR Part 6.302-1: Only one responsible source

Name and address of the proposed contractor SPEED BioSystems, LLC 900 Clopper Road, Suite 130 Gaithersburg, MD 20878 888-716-6502

Demonstration that the proposed contractor unique qualifications and who only the requested brand name will meet the government’s needs The goal of the VRC is to translate basic research into concrete vaccine products that can be rapidly deployed to protect public health. The Virology Core Lab is intensively working with immunogens and antibodies for HIV and current SARS-2 Covid vaccine studies using transient transfection method and quoted transfection reagent is needed in our protein production. The VL makes protein immunogens and antibodies for vaccine studies using transient transfection method. The transfection reagent is needed in a regular basis to satisfy daily protein production requests. The Turbo293 Transfection Reagent for HEK293 Cells from SPEED Biosystems LLC is the only reagent that performs well in our protein production protocol. It’s the only reagent that meets our protocol producing recombinant antibody and HIV timer immunogens in HEK293 system. The Turbo293 Transfection Reagent for HEK293 Cells is our essential reagent to make HIV env immunogens regularly in the lab. To keep our research results consistent, we need this reagent for ongoing projects.