In vitro testing services for small-molecule drug candidates

The National Institutes of Health, through the Office of the Director of the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare under the Department of Health and Human Services, intends to award a sole-source Firm-Fixed-Price Purchase Order to Cyprotex US LLC for in vitro testing services supporting the Developmental Therapeutics Program of the National Cancer Institute. The scope of work involves performing in vitro assays using cells, tissues, and enzymes to evaluate small-molecule drug candidates with the goal of identifying compounds exhibiting demonstrable anticancer activity, optimizing their physical, chemical, and biological properties during early discovery screening, and informing the nomination of lead or clinical candidates. The services will be performed at the designated place of performance in Bethesda, Maryland, with established logistics in place for compound shipping and data reporting. The procurement is being conducted under FAR Part 6.302-1 as the government has determined Cyprotex US LLC is the only responsible source capable of meeting the technical requirements, eliminating the need for competitive solicitation. The solicitation number is 75N98026Q00482, with a NAICS code of 541380 and no set-aside provisions applied. The posted date was May 29, 2026, and the deadline for submission of capability statements from other potential offerors is June 8, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. EDT, with responses required to be emailed to david.shen@nih.gov. Although the total contract value is not disclosed, it is based on a cost estimate provided by Cyprotex for all required assays. No formal evaluation factors, contract clauses, deliverable schedules, or detailed inspection and acceptance criteria are included in the notice, and administrative details such as payment terms or contracting officer's representative information have not been specified.