J. Craig Venter Institute, Inc.

J. Craig Venter Institute, Inc. (JCVI), a tax-exempt nonprofit research organization headquartered in La Jolla, California, performs genomics research, synthetic biology development, infectious disease characterization, and platform biotechnology services for federal agencies primarily as a prime grant recipient and prime contractor, with 78% of recent awards held as prime positions. The Institute does not compete under SBA set-aside categories and operates in a full-and-open posture across NIH, NSF, USDA, and Department of Defense customer agencies.

JCVI's federal footprint centers on investigator-initiated and collaborative basic research in genomics, microbiology, and synthetic biology. Representative prime work includes a $3.6 million purchase order from CDC Pittsburgh (effective September 2023 through September 2028) for rapid synthesis of plasmids and mutagenesis; a $529 thousand NIAID project grant (obligated June 2026, completing May 2028) to engineer a bacteriophage therapeutic targeting Burkholderia cepacia complex infections in cystic fibrosis patients; a $556 thousand NIAID project grant (awarded July 2025, completing June 2027) to identify molecular determinants governing thermoadaptation in Histoplasma capsulatum through comparative genomic analysis; and a $900 thousand NSF Geosciences project grant (May 2024 through April 2027) characterizing a novel blue copper ferritin protein in marine phytoplankton and developing K-8 educational modules on biogeochemical cycling. JCVI also carries a substantial portfolio in NSF-funded synthetic biology, including a $2.1 million project grant on genome transplantation for non-mycoplasma bacteria (completed May 2025) and an NSF Global Centers award under its CIRCLE program addressing waste-stream valorization and circular economy applications across international partnerships.

Customer concentration is distributed across research agencies rather than concentrated in volume or dollars. The top four customers by award count—NIAID (47 awards), NSF (30 awards), HHS NIH (17 awards), and USDA Agricultural Research Service (16 awards)—account for 53% of the award count. By potential value, DARPA leads with six awards and $5.2 million combined potential, followed by NASA Shared Services Center (15 awards, $3.8 million) and Navy Office of Naval Research (three awards, $185 thousand), but these represent only 2% of combined potential value across the institute's portfolio, reflecting JCVI's heavy weighting toward basic research grants over high-dollar defense and space contracts.

JCVI operates as a subcontractor to university-led research consortia across infectious disease, vaccine development, and synthetic biology projects. Named prime grantees include the University of Pennsylvania (mammalian artificial chromosome construction), Washington University (pan-coronavirus vaccine development, microbial biocontainment strategies), University of Illinois (quantitative cell biology modeling), and UC San Diego (ecosystem controls in coastal upwelling, metatranscriptomics services). On the prime contracting side, JCVI subcontracts to Digital Infuzion, LLC for NIAID Centers of Excellence for Influenza Research data systems maintenance and to La Jolla Institute for Immunology for epitope identification and validation across viral pathogens with pandemic potential. The institute's sub-award activity pattern indicates heavy engagement in multi-investigator federal research programs rather than commercial service subcontracting.

SCI-reported federal service contract invoicing totaled $212 thousand in FY2024 across 0.4 prime FTEs, with historical SCI records showing 1.6 FTEs in FY2024 (including subcontractor positions) and 5.7 FTEs in FY2022. Government-paid hourly rates on SCI-reportable prime work averaged $249.82/hour across the available records. This limited SCI footprint reflects JCVI's positioning as a research grant recipient and project-specific contractor rather than as a provider of time-and-materials or labor-hour federal services. The Institute carries a named subsidiary, Biorentis Inc., though the source does not specify its operational role or capability focus. Recent grant activity shows steady volume with 24 awards in FY2024 and 12 in FY2025, with eight awards reaching ultimate completion within the next twenty-four months (recompete exposure window).