Notice of Intent to issue a Sole Source Award for Research and Development of 10,000 lateral flow devices for pre-clinical and clinical studies to rapidly detect HIV

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, through its Division of HIV Prevention, intends to award a sole-source firm fixed price purchase order to Beacon Scientific INC for the manufacture of 10,000 lateral flow devices designed to rapidly detect HIV antiretroviral usage in point-of-care settings. These devices will support pre-clinical and clinical studies evaluating their performance and utility in real-world healthcare environments. The procurement is classified as a commercial service under FAR 12.102-1, with the NAICS code 541714 for Research and Development in Biotechnology, and is being conducted as a total small business set-aside. Beacon Scientific is identified as the only qualified vendor due to its proprietary nanoparticle technology, which delivers superior outcomes compared to other lateral flow assay manufacturers, making competition technically infeasible. The contract action is part of a presolicitation notice issued on May 19, 2026, with an official response deadline of June 3, 2026. While the government is not seeking competitive bids, any quotations received within 15 days of the notice may be considered to determine if a competitive procurement should be pursued, though the decision to proceed with the sole-source award rests entirely at the government’s discretion. The performance location is in San Diego, California, while the contracting office is based in Atlanta, Georgia, under the Department of Health and Human Services. Primary point of contact for submissions and inquiries is Eugene L. Gutierrez Jr. at zvm0@cdc.gov, with secondary support available through Liubov Kriel. Responses must be emailed by the deadline and no formal bid solicitation is underway.