Repository of Mouse Models for Down Syndrome

The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) is seeking a contractor to establish and maintain a Repository of Mouse Models for Down Syndrome through a one-year cost-reimbursement contract. The contractor must produce, maintain, and distribute specialized mouse models for cytogenetic research, focusing on specific strains including Ts65Dn, Dup(16)Yey, TcMAC21, and Ts66Yah that serve as models for human trisomy 21 (Down syndrome). Key requirements include breeding and maintaining at least 30 breeding pairs of mice, cryopreserving embryos, distributing mice to approved federal investigators, conducting pathogen testing, characterizing clinical and neurobehavioral phenotypes, and convening a quarterly Scientific Advisory Board. Proposals will be evaluated based on technical merit, cost factors, and past performance capabilities. The solicitation response deadline is July 11, 2025, at 4:30 PM Eastern Standard Time, with technical proposals limited to 40 pages.

This opportunity does not utilize any set-aside designation and appears to be targeted toward The Jackson Laboratory as the incumbent contractor, given their unique position as the developer of the standard Ts65Dn mouse model and the only known source for these specialized mice in the United States. The contract is estimated to support the annual distribution of approximately 800-1,100 mice to federal investigators conducting Down syndrome research. The performance period runs from September 22, 2025, through September 21, 2026, with potential for four additional option periods extending the total contract duration. The solicitation falls under NAICS code 541714 (Research and Development in Biotechnology) with a small business size standard of 1,000 employees. While the total contract value is not specified, the government anticipates making a single award to the offeror providing the best overall value, with work likely performed at specialized laboratory facilities capable of maintaining genetically characterized mouse breeding colonies.