REQUEST FOR INFORMATION - CBC Aptamers.docx

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)

U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center (DEVCOM CBC) Approved for Public Release; Distribution Unlimited

GENERAL INFORMATION:

· Type: Request for Information (RFI)

· Response Date: 31 July 2026

· Classification Code: North American Industry Classification Code (NAICS): 541715 (Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology))

· Contracting Office Address: Army Contracting Command Aberdeen Proving Ground (ACC-APG) Edgewood Contracting Division (ECD), 8456 Brigade Street, BLDG E4215, Aberdeen Proving Ground MD 21010-5401

THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY:

This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes – it does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue an RFP in the future. Solicitations are not available at this time. Requests for a solicitation will not receive a response and documents submitted in response to this RFI will not be returned. This notice does not constitute a commitment by the United States Government to contract for any supply or service whatsoever. All information submitted in response to this announcement is voluntary; the United States Government will not pay for information requested nor will it compensate any respondent for any cost incurred in developing information provided to the United States Government. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future RFP. If a solicitation is released, it will be announced separately through the System for Award Management (SAM) at SAM.gov.

ELIGIBILITY:

The U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, Chemical Biological Center (DEVCOM CBC) invites participation from all organizations, including commercial industry, non-profits, and academic institutions, engaged in the synthesis and supply of custom biological reagents. The ACC ECD, on behalf of DEVCOM CBC, is requesting information on the commercial procurement of aptamers. This RFI is to facilitate the Contracting Officer's review of the market base for acquisition planning, size determination, and procurement strategy.

BACKGROUND:

The Department of War (DoW) requires a stable, rapid, and scalable supply chain for specific biological reagents to support unclassified research, diagnostic assay development, and mission-support platforms. Specifically, this requirement targets aptamers that are custom synthesized to meet DoD application specifications. This RFI seeks to identify qualified vendors capable of providing all necessary labor, materials, and equipment for the synthesis, quality control, packaging, and delivery of custom aptamers.

PLACE OF PERFORMANCE:

· % On-Site Government: 0%

· % Off-Site Contractor: 100% The primary delivery location will be: 8567 Ricketts Pt Rd Bldg E3549, Bay 4, Gunpowder, MD 21010.

THE GOVERNMENT REQUESTS THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:

1. Company Profile: Provide your company’s Name, address, Unique Entity ID (UEI) number, CAGE Code, and business size status (e.g., Small Business, 8(a), HUBZone, Woman-Owned Small Business, etc.).

2. Technical Approach: Describe your approach (technical, management, and logistical) to meeting the scope, including your capabilities for synthesizing or sourcing various aptamer types (DNA, RNA, peptide) with or without chemical modifications.

3. Experience and Capabilities: Provide a summary of your company's experience and performance records covering the past 5 years. Identify all Department of War (DoW), other government, or commercial experience relevant to this RFI. All respondents shall provide evidence/information that supports the experience below for consideration for the Government’s acquisition strategy. If your company cannot support or provide evidence for ALL of the requirements listed below, please do not respond to this RFI. Please provide supporting evidence for the following capabilities:

a. Capability to synthesize and deliver unique aptamer sequences in quantities ranging from 10 nmol to 1,000 nmol per sequence

b. Standard procedures for internal quality control, including sequence verification and purity analysis (e.g., via HPLC or Mass Spectrometry). Please provide an example of a standard Certificate of Analysis (CoA) your company provides.

c. Describe your standard process for packaging and shipping lyophilized products to ensure stability and integrity during transit at ambient temperatures.

4. Quality Management: Discuss your experience and/or certification with quality management systems (e.g., ISO 9001:2015) for manufacturing and testing facilities.

5. Prime Contractor Intent: Upon any eventual release of a Request for Proposal (RFP), is your organization’s intent to submit a proposal as the Prime Contractor?

6. For Small Business Respondents: Please estimate the maximum percentage of the overall requirement that your organization could perform with in-house resources, considering the guidelines in FAR 52.219-14(c) — Limitations on Subcontracting.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:

Please provide a capabilities statement or brief narrative addressing the questions above. The requested information should be submitted electronically. There is no page limit for responses. All responses to this RFI may be submitted via email to the points of contact listed below.

QUESTIONS OR REQUESTS FOR CLARIFICATION:

No telephone calls regarding this RFI will be accepted. Written questions and requests for clarification shall be submitted electronically to the following email addresses no later than 3:00 PM Eastern Standard Time (EST) on 31 July 2026.

· Contract Specialist: sammy.b.solo.civ@army.mil

· Contracting Officer: nicholas.granata.civ@army.mil