Selection, Production, Characterization and Distribution of Cultured Cells and DNA for Research on Aging

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), a component of the National Institutes of Health within the Department of Health and Human Services, is seeking a contractor to operate the Aging Cell Repository. The primary objectives include selecting, producing, characterizing, and distributing cultured cells and DNA for research on aging. The contractor must maintain current cell stocks, establish new cell lines, isolate DNA, conduct quality controls, distribute materials, maintain databases and bibliographies, and promote the repository to the scientific community. Proposals must be submitted electronically via the NIH electronic Contract Proposal Submission (eCPS) website by June 17, 2024, with separate technical and business proposals. The evaluation will likely focus on the contractor's ability to provide high-quality, uncontaminated cell lines and comprehensive research support services.

The contract is a cost-plus-fixed-fee type with an initial base period of performance from February 1, 2025, through January 31, 2026, with potential for up to four additional option periods. There are no specific set-aside designations for this solicitation, making it open to all qualified contractors. The place of performance will be in Maryland, and the contract falls under the NAICS category 541715 for Research and Development in Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences. While specific budget details are not fully disclosed, the solicitation indicates an estimated cost for the base period with a fixed fee. The contract aims to provide a critical resource for gerontological researchers by supplying well-characterized, biologically and clinically documented cell lines to scientific investigators studying aging processes.