Notice of Intent to Sole Source – Cepheid
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 Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical Center (CC) Department of Laboratory Medicine (DLM) intends to award a fixed-price purchase order on a sole source basis to Cepheid for the continued provision of clinical testing kits. This procurement supports existing GeneXpert instrumentation at the NIH in Bethesda, MD. Interested parties must respond by March 3, 2026.
Scope of Work
This procurement is for testing kits essential for the continued provision of clinical testing at the NIH CC DLM. These kits are used with existing Cepheid GeneXpert 4-drawer and 12-drawer instruments, which enable rapid, efficient, and sensitive detection of nucleic acid (DNA) from clinical samples for timely identification of infectious agents and treatment. Cepheid is identified as the sole manufacturer and vendor for these specific instruments and associated testing kits.
Contract & Timeline
- Type: Fixed-Price Purchase Order (Sole Source)
- Set-Aside: None (Sole Source)
- NAICS Code: 339112 – Surgical and Medical Instrument Manufacturing
- Product Service Code: 6515 – Medical Instruments, Equipment, and Supplies
- Place of Performance: Bethesda, MD 20892 USA
- Response Due: March 3, 2026, by 11 AM EST
- Published: February 24, 2026
Evaluation
This acquisition is being conducted under FAR Part 13 – Simplified Acquisition Procedures, Subpart 13.106-1(b)(1), which allows for solicitation from a single source when the contracting officer determines only one source is reasonably available. The government has determined Cepheid is the sole developer and manufacturer of the required instruments and kits.
Additional Notes
This is a notice of intent to award a sole source contract, not a request for quotation. A solicitation document will not be issued. However, interested parties may identify their interest and capabilities in response to this posting. The government's decision not to compete the requirement based on responses is at its sole discretion. Comments should be submitted to Kristin Nagashima via email.