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This document is a Justification & Approval (J&A) for a Limited Source Justification for the acquisition of a Cytek Aurora 5-laser flow cytometry system. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) intends to purchase one Cytek Aurora system with 5 laser channels (UB/V/B/YG/R) for its Rocky Mountain Laboratories facility in Hamilton, Montana, through a sole source award to Government Scientific Source, Inc. for $525,894.46, with a performance period from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026.

The acquisition is critical for maintaining continuity in scientific research, ensuring data integrity, and upholding experimental compatibility across multiple research sites. The Cytek Aurora system will enhance the capabilities of the BSL-3 lab, supporting research in influenza and viral pathogenesis. The system offers advanced multiparameter analysis, high-throughput capabilities, and exceptional sensitivity for studying complex cellular interactions, particularly in research involving tonsil and lung organoids, human airway organoids, and brain organoids. The procurement will be awarded as a firm-fixed-price contract, with the vendor selected based on being the only authorized reseller of the specific Cytek Aurora system meeting the agency's unique research requirements.