Notice of Intent to Sole Source – Lease of Avatar™ Odyssey Instruments (Xcell Biosciences)
Closed Pre-Solicitation Posted
- Solicitation number
- 26-004627
- Agency
-
Office of Logisitics and Acquisition Operations
National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services
- Responses due
- Set-aside
- No set-aside
Opportunity facts
- Place of performance
- Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
- Points of contact
Notice details come from SAM.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, Clinical Center is procuring a lease for Avatar Odyssey laboratory instruments to support cellular engineering research and development activities. The NIH intends to award this contract on a sole source basis to Xcell Biosciences, Inc., citing that only one source is reasonably available under FAR 13.106-1(b)(1). The instruments are essential for the Center for Cellular Engineering to conduct process development activities that evaluate and optimize cell therapy manufacturing processes by enabling precise control of cellular microenvironment conditions, including oxygen tension, pressure, and temperature. While the instruments are designated for research use only and will not be used for clinical manufacturing, the data generated will inform future acquisition of GMP-compliant systems and support the development of investigational cell-based therapies in compliance with Current Good Manufacturing Practice requirements. The Notice of Intent was posted on April 1, 2026, with a deadline of April 10, 2026, though this notice is for informational purposes only and no formal solicitation or request for quotations will be issued.
This procurement carries no set-aside designation and will be awarded directly to the identified incumbent, Xcell Biosciences, Inc., located at 455 Mission Bay Boulevard, Suite 124, San Francisco, California. The contract will involve the lease of four Avatar Odyssey instruments for a period of six months, supporting operations within the CCE laboratories at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. The procurement is classified under NAICS code 532490 (Other Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment Rental and Leasing) and PSC code W066 (Lease or Rental of Equipment – Laboratory Equipment). No specific award value or budget range is disclosed in this Notice of Intent, though the firm-fixed-price contract structure indicates costs will be clearly defined between the parties. This sole source acquisition reflects the specialized nature of the Avatar Odyssey instruments and their critical role in supporting advanced cell therapy development initiatives at the NIH.
Notice text
Notice of Intent to Sole Source – Lease of Avatar™ Odyssey Instruments (Xcell Biosciences)
NAICS Code: 532490 – Other Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment Rental and Leasing
Product Service Code (PSC):W066 – Lease or Rental of Equipment – Laboratory Equipment
Description:
This is a Notice of Intent, not a request for quotations. A solicitation will not be issued, and quotations will not be requested. This notice is for informational purposes only.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Clinical Center (CC), Office of Purchasing and Contracts, on behalf of the Center for Cellular Engineering (CCE), intends to award a firm-fixed-price contract on a sole source basis to:
Xcell Biosciences, Inc.
455 Mission Bay Blvd Suite 124
San Francisco, California 94158-2159
Requirement:
The purpose of this acquisition is to lease four (4) Avatar™ Odyssey instruments for a period of six (6) months to support process development activities within the CCE laboratories located at the NIH Clinical Center, Bethesda, Maryland.
These instruments enable precise control of cellular microenvironment conditions, including oxygen tension (hypoxia to normoxia), pressure, and temperature, which are critical for evaluating and optimizing cell therapy manufacturing processes.
The Center for Cellular Engineering develops and manufactures investigational cell-based therapies for patients with limited or no remaining standard treatment options, in compliance with Current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) requirements (21 CFR Parts 210, 211, 600, and 1271).
Although the instruments are designated for research use only and will not be used for clinical manufacturing, they are essential for generating data that will inform process optimization, improve cell phenotype and function, and support future acquisition of GMP-compliant systems.
Authority:
FAR 13.106-1(b)(1) – Soliciting from a single source when only one source is reasonably available.
Justification for Sole Source:
Market research conducted by the Government determined that Xcell Biosciences, Inc. is the only responsible source capable of providing the required Avatar™ Odyssey system.
The Avatar Odyssey platform is the only commercially available system that integrates programmable control of both oxygen tension and pressure within a single system suitable for cell therapy process development.
No other vendors were identified that can meet these requirements or provide data that is transferable to future GMP-compliant systems.
Period of Performance:
Six (6) months from date of award
Place of Performance:
National Institutes of Health
Clinical Center
10 Center Drive
Bethesda, MD 20892
Response Information:
Interested parties may submit a capability statement demonstrating their ability to meet this requirement. Responses must be received within 10 calendar days of this notice.
Point of Contact:
Team Leader: Shasheshe Goolsby
Email: shasheshe.goolsby@nih
Office of Acquisitions and Logistics Management (OALM)
Disclaimer:
This notice is not a request for competitive quotes.
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