CEM Holdings Corporation

CEM Holdings Corporation, doing business as CEM Instruments, is a for-profit manufacturer headquartered in Matthews, North Carolina, that specializes in providing advanced microwave-based analytical and laboratory equipment to federal agencies. The company is structured as a parent entity with subsidiaries operating under the CEM Corporation name and has maintained federal contracting registration since September 2016. CEM Holdings Corporation serves as a prime contractor to the U.S. federal government, supplying specialized scientific instrumentation and support services across civilian and defense agencies through its General Services Administration Multiple Award Schedule contract and direct purchase orders.

CEM Holdings Corporation has delivered a diverse range of microwave-based analytical equipment and related services through numerous federal contract awards spanning from 2021 through 2025. Core products include microwave digestion systems such as the MARS 6 and MARS 5 models, microwave synthesizers including the Discover 2.0 and Liberty Blue 2.0 systems, automated extraction systems like the Edge model, peptide synthesizers and cleavage systems, protein analyzers, and moisture analyzers. The company has also provided extensive customer care plans, maintenance agreements, installation and training services, and technical support for its equipment across multiple-year contracts. Funding agencies have included the U.S. Army Research Laboratory, Naval Sea Systems Command, Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Agriculture (USDA Agricultural Research Service, Agricultural Marketing Service, and National Resources Conservation Service), National Institute of Standards and Technology, Food and Drug Administration, National Institutes of Health (including NIDDK and NICHD), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Geological Survey, Defense Health Agency, Office of Naval Research, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The company received awards across both small business set-aside contracts and unrestricted competitive procurements, demonstrating its ability to compete across multiple acquisition channels. Contract values have ranged from approximately $2,600 for specialized repair services to over $142,000 for comprehensive equipment systems with accessories and services. No subcontractors were identified in the award documentation, indicating that CEM Holdings Corporation performed these contracts as prime contractors directly.

CEM Holdings Corporation holds a General Services Administration Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) contract, designated as GS-07F-274BA, which serves as the primary contracting vehicle for its federal sales activities. Under this GSA MAS contract, CEM has received numerous delivery orders and task orders from multiple federal agencies, including the USDA's Agricultural Research Service, Agricultural Marketing Service, and National Resources Conservation Service; the Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Research and Development and Regional offices; the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; the Food and Drug Administration; the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; the U.S. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base; and the U.S. Geological Survey. Additionally, CEM Corporation has held Blanket Purchase Agreements with the NRCS for customer care plan services. The GSA MAS contract has enabled the company to offer its full portfolio of microwave-based analytical systems, specialized laboratory equipment, and associated maintenance and support services to federal agencies on an indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity basis, allowing agencies to issue individual task orders for specific equipment acquisitions and service contracts as operational needs arise. This contracting vehicle has proven highly effective, generating the majority of CEM's federal contract awards documented in recent years and providing a streamlined procurement mechanism for agencies across the federal government.