Notice of Intent to Sole Source - Chemistry Center for Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria (CC4CARB)
Overview
Buyer
Place of Performance
NAICS
PSC
Set Aside
Original Source
Timeline
Qualification Details
Fit reasons
- NAICS alignment with historical contract wins in similar service areas.
- Scope strongly matches core technical capabilities and delivery model.
Risks
- Past performance thresholds may require one additional teaming partner.
- Potential clarification needed on staffing minimums before bid/no-bid.
Next steps
Validate eligibility requirements, assign capture owner, and schedule partner outreach to confirm teaming strategy before submission planning.
Quick Summary
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has issued a Notice of Intent to Sole Source for the continuation of the Chemistry Center for Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria (CC4CARB) program. While the government intends to award to RTI International due to unique capabilities, any responsible offeror may submit a proposal for consideration. This effort focuses on the design, synthesis, in vitro testing, and distribution of chemical libraries targeting Gram-negative bacterial pathogens and other antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Proposals are due May 08, 2026.
Scope of Work
The CC4CARB program requires coordination and execution across four key areas:
- Library Design: Development of chemical libraries.
- Compound Synthesis: Production of approximately 80 compounds per library, with flexibility for unanticipated chemistry.
- Compound Testing: In vitro testing of synthesized compounds.
- Compound Management: Distribution and management of chemical libraries. This includes project management across all requirements. Deliverables include Individual Library Production Plans (ILPPs), various reports (ILPP-R, SSR, CTR, Monthly, Annual, Final), and adherence to NIH policies on reproducibility and public access.
Contract & Timeline
- Type: Negotiated Fixed-Price Research and Development Contract.
- Anticipated Value: Estimated $28,000,000 over 8 years (base + options).
- Period of Performance: Base period from February 1, 2027, to January 31, 2028, with option periods extending through January 31, 2035.
- Set-Aside: This requirement is not set-aside for small business.
- NAICS Code: 541714 (Small Business Size Standard: 1000 employees).
- RFP Availability: April 08, 2026, on SAM.gov.
- Proposal Due: May 08, 2026, at 7:00 PM ET.
- Published: April 09, 2026.
Submission & Evaluation
Proposals must be submitted electronically via the NIAID electronic Contract Proposal Submission (eCPS) website (https://ecps.nih.gov/). Evaluation factors include:
- Technical Plan/Approach: 50%
- Technical Personnel: 20%
- Project Management: 20%
- Facilities, Equipment, Resources: 10% Price, Past Performance, and Subcontracting Program Evaluation Criteria will also be considered. Offerors must comply with Section 508 accessibility standards.
Additional Notes
The Justification and Approval (J&A) document cites RTI International as the sole source due to their established infrastructure, network of collaborators, and the significant costs and delays ($3.6M and 9-12 months) associated with transitioning the program. However, the agency will consider proposals from any responsible offeror. For inquiries, contact Ignacio Reyes at ignacio.reyes@nih.gov or Jonathan Bryan at jonathan.bryan@nih.gov.