Mechanistic Tumor Microbiota Program – gentleMACS™ Dissociator with Heaters (G3) and Perfusion System

The National Institutes of Health National Cancer Institute intends to award a purchase order for a gentleMACS™ Dissociator with Heaters (G3) and Perfusion System to Miltenyi Biotec as a sole-source acquisition under FAR 6.302-1, with capability statements due by 9:00 a.m. EDT on September 25, 2026.

The Government justifies sole-source award on the basis that Miltenyi Biotec is the only responsible source capable of providing the integrated hardware-and-consumables ecosystem required. The required system must deliver automated tissue dissociation, homogenization, and perfusion in an integrated closed-system format with specific capabilities: automated generation of single-cell and single-nucleus suspensions using proprietary gentleMACS C Tubes; automated tissue homogenization using gentleMACS M Tubes; integrated heating functionality for controlled tissue-dissociation workflows; compatibility with cooling modules such as the gentleMACS Octo Cooler; processing capacity for up to eight samples using the Octo configuration; and digital interface with custom protocol functionality for complex tissue applications including liver and heart perfusion, organoid dissociation, and customized tissue-processing workflows.

Earlier gentleMACS versions lack the required combination of perfusion functionality, integrated heating, cooling compatibility, digital interface, and automated processing capabilities. The system must maintain compatibility with proprietary gentleMACS Perfusers, Perfusers 2, C Tubes, M Tubes, and Octo Cooler components.

Interested parties may submit capability statements to Daniel T. at danielt@mail.nih.gov addressing automated tissue dissociation, homogenization, perfusion, closed-system processing, integrated heating and cooling, multi-sample processing, digital and customized protocol functionality, and compatibility with specified processing tubes and perfusion components. Award is anticipated approximately five days after the closing date.