NOI - Dynamic Genome: CHIP

The National Institutes of Health, Office of the Director, Office of Acquisitions, intends to award a firm-fixed-price purchase order without full and open competition to Vanderbilt University Medical Center for specialized computational analysis services to identify clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) in longitudinal whole genome sequencing datasets from the Framingham Heart Study. This solicitation, numbered 75N98026Q00362, is issued as a Notice of Intent under FAR Part 12.603 as a streamlined commercial item acquisition, leveraging statutory authority under 41 U.S.C. 1901 and FAR 6.302-3(a)(2)(ii) to justify non-competitive award based on the necessity for continuity with the incumbent vendor. The work involves recalibrating historical sequencing data collected over a decade, detecting somatic mutations using validated bioinformatics pipelines, and ensuring reproducibility across timepoints to support research into age-related heart, lung, and blood diseases. Performance is to be conducted at Vanderbilt’s facility in Nashville, Tennessee, with all data accessed remotely via NIH-managed platforms dbGaP and TOPMed Data Exchange, under strict human subject data security protocols prohibiting local storage or transfer of raw genomic data. The contract has a defined period of performance from June 1, 2026, to September 30, 2026, with an incorporated option under FAR 52.217-8 to extend services subject to funding and mutual agreement. Evaluation will be based on non-price factors including past performance, methodological consistency, and capability to maintain continuity with prior analytical workflows, as the government prioritizes reproducibility over cost minimization. Proposals must be submitted electronically by May 29, 2026, to Nicholas Capobianco at NIH, and must include evidence of valid SAM.gov registration, Unique Entity Identifier, Taxpayer Identification Number, and demonstrated expertise in CHIP analysis and longitudinal whole genome sequencing. Invoicing must be submitted exclusively through the Department of Treasury’s Invoice Processing Platform and copied to NHLBIContractsBranchB@mail.nih.gov. The government retains responsibility for inspection and acceptance, with quality control limited to gender matching and verification against known control samples. No packaging, marking, or DPAS requirements apply, and the solicitation does not include set-asides, though offerors must self-certify their size status under NAICS code 541990. All contract clauses are incorporated by