MERSCOPE Gene Panels and Associated Unique Reagents

The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), part of the Department of Health and Human Services, is seeking to procure MERSCOPE Gene Panels and Associated Unique Reagents through a sole source contract. These proprietary reagents are specifically designed for the MERSCOPE platform and are essential for spatial transcriptomics research being conducted in collaboration with the National Institute on Aging (NIA). The procurement is intended to be awarded non-competitively to Vizgen Inc. of Cambridge, MA, as the original equipment manufacturer of these specialized reagents that are not available through third-party suppliers. The government has indicated that interested parties may submit capability statements to demonstrate alternative sources by September 4, 2025, at 9:00 AM Eastern time. Based on responses received, the government reserves the right to determine whether to proceed on a non-competitive or competitive basis for the final solicitation.

This procurement does not utilize any set-aside designations and falls under NAICS code 334516 (Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing) with a size standard of 1,000 employees. Vizgen Inc. of Cambridge, MA is identified as the intended sole source contractor due to their exclusive manufacturing of the required reagents. The contract will be conducted using Simplified Acquisition Procedures with a threshold not exceeding $250,000. The procurement supports a collaborative research effort where NIA researchers will perform assays and bioinformatics analyses using the MERSCOPE platform. The contract is classified under PSC code 6515 for Medical and Surgical Instruments, Equipment, and Supplies. The reagents procured will enable spatial transcriptomics research capabilities that are critical to the ongoing scientific collaboration between NICHD and NIA.