NOI - MERSCOPE Kits and Gene Panels
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 Health Hospital Laboratory Support Service (NIHHLS), on behalf of the National Institute on Aging (NIA), has issued a Pre-Solicitation Non-Competitive Notice of Intent (NOI) to award a purchase order to Vizgen, Inc. for MERSCOPE Kits and Gene Panels. This acquisition aims to support spatial transcriptomic experiments on ovary sections using the MERSCOPE platform. Responses from interested parties are due by April 3, 2026, at 4:00 pm EST.
Scope of Work
The requirement is for MERSCOPE kits and gene panels to enable the NIA's Experimental Gerontology Section (EGS) to perform spatial transcriptomic experiments on ovary sections. These reagents are essential for analyzing gene expression within individual cells in fresh frozen sections, particularly for samples collected as part of the ongoing SenNet study. The kits and panels must be compatible with the existing Vizgen MERSCOPE instrument available at the Computational Biology and Genomics Core (CBGC) at NIA.
Contract & Timeline
- Type: Pre-Solicitation Non-Competitive (Notice of Intent to Sole Source)
- Intended Awardee: Vizgen, Inc.
- Set-Aside: This acquisition is NOT set aside for small businesses.
- Response Due: April 3, 2026, 4:00 pm EST
- Published: March 20, 2026
- Authority: FAR Subpart 13.5 (Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items) and FAR 6.302-1 (Only one responsible source).
Sole Source Justification
Market research indicates that Vizgen, Inc. is the sole vendor capable of providing the required proprietary MERSCOPE kits and gene panels. These products are manufactured exclusively by Vizgen, Inc., and no alternative or generic products exist that meet the stringent compatibility and performance requirements of the MERSCOPE platform. Use of non-authorized kits would compromise experimental data integrity and may void manufacturer warranties.
Response Instructions
This synopsis is not a request for competitive proposals. However, responsible sources may submit a capability statement, proposal, or quotation to challenge the sole-source determination. Responses should include unit price, list price, shipping/handling costs, delivery period, prompt payment discount terms, F.O.B. Point, DUNS, TIN, and business size certification. All offerors must have an active SAM.gov registration. Responses must reference solicitation number PCA-NIA-01370 and be submitted electronically to Elaine Estrella (elaine.estrella@nih.gov) or Brian Lind (brian.lind@nih.gov) by the deadline.