A -- Human Genetic Cell Repository

The National Institute on General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) at the NIH plans to negotiate a continuation of its existing contract with the Coriell Institute for Medical Research for an additional five years. This contract supports the operation of a specialized and extensive project focused on the management of a large human genetic cell repository. The project involves maintaining approximately 4,000 cell lines annually and acquiring 600 to potentially 1,000 new cell lines per year, along with preparing between 200 and 800 DNA samples each year. The scope of work requires specialized expertise in culturing, preserving, characterizing, and distributing human fibroblast, lymphoblast, and rodent-human somatic cell lines, as well as the collection of samples and clinical documentation from investigators. This contract extension is justified under the authority of federal acquisition regulations that recognize the unique capabilities of the Coriell Institute as the sole source provider capable of fulfilling NIGMS’s specific needs for this repository. The project’s complexity and the institute’s distinct expertise in handling high-quality DNA and cell lines make continued partnership essential. These activities support important biomedical research by enabling access to well-characterized genetic materials necessary for scientific investigations.