Genetic-Based Test Kits for NMFS OLE

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Marine Fisheries Service Office of Law Enforcement seeks research, development, and field deployment of rapid, genetic-based test kits to identify seafood species, with quotes due August 28 at 10:00 AM Eastern Time and questions due August 17. This is a total small business set-aside under a Single Award, Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity contract with an estimated price range of $4 million to $5 million.

The NAICS code is 541715 (Research and Development in Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences), with a 1,000-employee size standard. The base period runs from September 18, 2026, through September 17, 2031, with optional extension up to six months.

Work is performed at the contractor's facility. The procurement requires development of CRISPR or similar rapid genetic identification platforms producing visually interpretable colorimetric results within approximately 30 minutes, shelf-stable at ambient temperature for a minimum of three months, requiring no specialized equipment or refrigeration. Initial development covers Pacific white shrimp and four tuna species (Atlantic bluefin, bigeye, yellowfin, and either Pacific bluefin or albacore). Stage 1 requires sequence analysis within nine months; Stage 2 requires assay development within six months; Stage 3 requires field optimization and production within nine months, initially yielding 1,000 test strips and a minimum of 12 multi-use field kits. Optional species work runs September 30, 2028 through September 29, 2030; full-scale production runs September 30, 2028 through September 29, 2033, with minimum annual orders of 2,000 strips. Field demonstrations are required at Newark, New Jersey and/or Long Beach, California ports. Contractor must register in CPARS within 30 days of award and complete mandatory NOAA training. Evaluation criteria are technical approach and capability, price competitiveness and reasonableness, and past performance, weighted equally. Amendment 0001, effective August 19, incorporates FAR 52.227-14 Rights in Data and revises Attachment A Section 8 on Intellectual Property Rights dated August 19, 2026; offerors must acknowledge receipt by the deadline.