Emerging Technologies Opportunity Program (ETOP) 2026 - Development of an automated system for plant tissue culture and transformation

The University of California, on behalf of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, is soliciting proposals under RFP PTC-ETOP-2026 for the development of an automated system to perform plant tissue culture and transformation, targeting key DOE biomass crops such as sorghum, switchgrass, and miscanthus. The system must automate at least 80% of procedural steps including identification, selection, and transfer of embryogenic calluses, with a minimum 75% regeneration rate demonstrated on at least one additional plant species. Proposals must demonstrate scalability to handle 10,000 calluses per day during the two-year performance period, with a roadmap toward scaling to 50,000–500,000 calluses daily. The solicitation requires submission of three distinct volumes: a one-page cover letter, a technical volume with no page limit, and a business volume containing a cost/price proposal in Excel format with active formulas. Offerors must comply with FAR clauses including Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action, and Rights in Data—General, and are required to certify compliance with federal cost accounting standards under 2 CFR 200, maintain adequate timekeeping and purchasing systems, and submit proof of financial resources. The contract has an estimated ceiling value of $2,000,000 and uses a best-value trade-off methodology, not lowest price technically acceptable, with award based on technical merit, transferability to JGI, level of automation, and non-technical compliance factors. Proposals must be submitted by June 1, 2026, at 12 p.m. PDT via email to Ashley Loper at asloper@lbl.gov, with an optional mailed submission option. All offerors must provide a Unique Entity ID, certify their small business status under the 1,000-employee NAICS 541714 standard, and complete required representations including E-Verify enrollment, Buy American Act compliance, and affirmation that no covered telecommunications equipment is used without justification. Subcontractors must adhere to UC and California sustainability standards, avoiding foam and single-use plastics, and must label any government property with LBNL/DOE stickers and applicable barcodes. Delivery is to occur at LBNL’s Berkeley location under FOB Destination or DDP terms, and invoices must be sent as PDF, Word, or RTF files to APInvoice@lbl.gov, with no spreadsheets accepted. Performance must meet