Measuring mouse body composition

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases is seeking to acquire a Whole Body Composition Analyzer designed to measure fat mass, lean mass, and body water in live mice. This new system will replace an outdated analyzer that has been in use for over 17 years and is no longer functioning. The instrument must provide rapid, non-invasive measurements on conscious mice without the need for anesthesia, which is essential for producing accurate and reproducible data while maintaining sympathetic tone and avoiding alterations in metabolic readings caused by anesthetics. The device will be utilized across multiple laboratories to support research focused on obesity, diabetes, and metabolic disorders. Key requirements for the analyzer include a quick scan time of approximately 1 to 2 minutes per mouse, high precision and reproducibility for fat and lean mass measurements, minimal operator variability, longitudinal measurement capability, and validation through peer-reviewed metabolic research. The contract is set aside exclusively for small businesses under SBA guidelines and falls under the NAICS code 334516. The solicitation number is 75N98026Q00471, with a response deadline of June 9, 2026. The purchase will be managed by the National Institutes of Health’s Department of Health and Human Services office in Bethesda, Maryland, with John Burton serving as the primary contact for the opportunity.