BioIVT Indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) Contract

This notice announces the intent by the U.S. Army Medical Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA), 820 Chandler St, Fort Detrick, Maryland, 21702, to award a sole source 5 year IDIQ contract to BioIVT LLC under the statutory authority 6.302-1. This contract is for the purchase of Male Rhesus Monkey Cryoplateable Hepatocytes and male human cryoplateable hepatocytes for the Experimental Therapeutics (ET) Division at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR).

The Plasmodium cynomolgi assay at WRAIR is the only one of its kind in the world, and has been validated using the certified cryoplatable monkey (Rhesus/Cynomolgus)/human hepatocytes.  These lots of primary hepatocytes are specifically chosen based on their ability to support a malarial infection.  High infection rates are paramount to the success and reproducibility of the P. cynomolgi assay.  The hepatocytes are one of many components of the assay that need to work perfectly together for a successful determination of anti-malarial activity in hypnozoites.  If we use sub-par hepatocytes that have not been validated, the assay would not work and would come at a great financial cost. Sub-par hepatocytes in this case would be defined as hepatocytes that do not have the ability to be used with cryoplates. BIOIVT has shown that the hepatocytes are viable when placed within a cryoplate for at least 2 weeks.  Sub-par hepatocytes are also hepatocytes that are not from the correct species of monkey, Rhesus and/or cynomolgus, as these are the species of monkey that are used in malaria research. Not all primary hepatocytes are capable of supporting malarial infection, and each lot must be tested for this and reserved for this requirement. Any other lot of hepatocytes that do not meet these requirements could not be used in the P. cynomolgi assay, and would result in the waste of >$40,000. If sub-par hepatocytes are used the experiment is ruined, and all the related regents are also lost.

An award will be issued on a sole source basis. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) for this requirement is 325413 and the size standard is 1,250. 

This announcement fulfills the synopsis requirements under FAR 5.102(a)(6) and 5.203(a). USAMRAA intends to award a 5 year IDIQ no sooner than 15 days after publishing this synopsis. This Special Request for Information is not a request for competitive quotes. Information received in response to this notice will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether a competitive procurement is in the best interest of the Government. If no written responses are received by the expiration date listed in this notice, which reflects at least fifteen (15) days after the publication of this notice, the award will be issued as sole source. All questions and responses concerning this notice shall be emailed to Mr. Christopher L. Cook  at christopher.l.cook68.civ@mail.mil.