Notice of Intent to Sole Source – Lease of Avatar™ Odyssey Instruments (Xcell Biosciences)
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), on behalf of the Center for Cellular Engineering (CCE), has issued a Notice of Intent to Sole Source. NIH intends to award a firm-fixed-price contract to Xcell Biosciences, Inc. for the lease of four Avatar™ Odyssey instruments. This notice is for informational purposes only, and a solicitation will not be issued. Interested parties may submit capability statements within 10 calendar days of this notice.
Scope of Requirement
The requirement is to lease four Avatar™ Odyssey instruments for a six-month period to support process development activities at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, MD. These instruments provide precise control over cellular microenvironment conditions, including oxygen tension, pressure, and temperature, which are critical for evaluating and optimizing cell therapy manufacturing processes. Although designated for research use, they are essential for generating data to inform process optimization, improve cell phenotype and function, and support future acquisition of GMP-compliant systems.
Contract & Timeline
- Type: Notice of Intent to Sole Source (Firm-Fixed-Price contract intended)
- Duration: Six (6) months from date of award
- Set-Aside: None (Sole Source Justification)
- Capability Statement Due: April 10, 2026
- Published: April 1, 2026
- Place of Performance: NIH Clinical Center, Bethesda, MD
Justification for Sole Source
Market research by the Government determined that Xcell Biosciences, Inc. is the only responsible source. Their Avatar™ Odyssey platform is the sole commercially available system that integrates programmable control of both oxygen tension and pressure within a single system suitable for cell therapy process development. No other vendors were identified that can meet these specific requirements or provide data transferable to future GMP-compliant systems. The authority cited is FAR 13.106-1(b)(1).
Additional Notes
This notice is not a request for competitive quotes.