REGARDS DNA Extraction and Quantification
Contract Overview
Solicitation details, issuing organization, response deadlines, documents, and interested companies for this government contract opportunity.
AI Contract Overview
The Department of Health and Human Services, through the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and specifically the National Institute on Aging (NIA) Center for Alzheimer’s and Related Dementias (CARD), intends to award a sole source firm-fixed-price contract to the University of Vermont Laboratory for Clinical Biochemistry Research for specialized laboratory services related to the REGARDS project. The contract, anticipated to run from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2029, involves DNA extraction, quantification, repository handling, preparation, and shipment of approximately 12,000 biospecimens to support a genome-wide association study. Services include evaluating sample availability, performing manual DNA extraction and quantification, maintaining inventory tracking, preparing cryovials with specific concentration requirements, and shipping samples to CARD facilities, with documentation of results and identification of any failures in extraction. This sole source award is justified because the University of Vermont laboratory uniquely manages and maintains the proprietary REGARDS biosample repository and possesses exclusive access to the non-replaceable participant biospecimens essential for meeting the government’s requirements. No other commercial laboratories are known to have the necessary access or proprietary materials to perform these tasks. While this notice is not a solicitation, interested responsible parties capable of providing access to the REGARDS biospecimens and required services may submit capability statements by the specified deadline for government consideration. The government reserves sole discretion over whether to pursue competition based on such responses, and no reimbursement will be provided for submission costs.
General Info
Agency
NAICS
Place of Performance
Colchester, VT, 05446, USASet-Aside
Timeline
Response Deadline
Organization & Contact Information
Full Description
Title: Notice of Intent to Sole Source – REGARDS DNA Extraction and Quantification
Notice ID: NIH-NOI-PCA-NIA-01601
Department/Ind. Agency: HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF
Sub-tier: NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH
Office: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON AGING
Active Contract Opportunity
Notice Type: Special Notice
Original Published Date: June 11, 2026
Original Response Date: June 23, 2026, 11:00 AM Eastern Time
Initiative: None
Classification
Original Set Aside: N/A
Product Service Code: 6550 – In Vitro Diagnostic Substances, Reagents, Test Kits and Sets
NAICS Code: 541380 – Testing Laboratories and Services
Place of Performance
Primary Place of Performance:
University of Vermont Laboratory for Clinical Biochemistry Research
Colchester Research Facility
360 South Park Drive, Room 224
Colchester, VT 05446
United States
Description
This is a Notice of Intent to Sole Source and is not a request for competitive proposals, quotations, or bids.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute on Aging (NIA), Center for Alzheimer’s and Related Dementias (CARD), intends to negotiate and award a sole source firm-fixed-price contract to:
University of Vermont Laboratory for Clinical Biochemistry Research
Colchester Research Facility
360 South Park Drive, Room 224
Colchester, VT 05446
The purpose of this requirement is to obtain specialized laboratory support services for the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Difference in Stroke (REGARDS) project. The contractor shall perform DNA extraction, DNA quantification, repository handling, preparation, and shipment of extracted DNA samples for approximately 12,000 REGARDS participant biospecimens in support of a genome-wide association study (GWAS).
The contractor shall:
- Evaluate frozen packed cell sample availability in the REGARDS repository;
- Select and pull samples from the repository in batches;
- Perform manual DNA extraction using the Qiagen Puregene DNA Purification Kit;
- Perform DNA quantification using PicoGreen;
- Create cryovials of DNA for the REGARDS repository;
- Create and maintain tracking inventory for extracted DNA samples;
- Prepare 1 ug or more DNA per sample at a concentration of 50 ng/uL or greater;
- Ship extracted DNA samples to CARD facilities;
- Provide DNA quantification results to the Government; and
- Identify any samples for which extraction failed.
The anticipated period of performance is July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2029.
The statutory authority for this sole source acquisition is 41 U.S.C. 3304(a)(1), as implemented by FAR 6.302-1, Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements.
The University of Vermont Laboratory for Clinical Biochemistry Research is the only known source capable of meeting the Government’s requirement because it designed and led the biosample collection effort for the REGARDS study, maintains the REGARDS biosample repository, serves as the REGARDS central analysis laboratory, and has custody of and access to the proprietary, unique, and non-replaceable REGARDS participant biospecimens required for this effort. Although other commercial laboratories may provide general DNA extraction and quantification services, no other source is known to possess the proprietary REGARDS starting samples or repository access required to perform this requirement.
This notice is not a solicitation. However, any responsible source that believes it is capable of meeting the Government’s requirement may submit a capability statement demonstrating its ability to satisfy the requirement described herein. Responses must clearly demonstrate the offeror’s capability to provide access to the proprietary REGARDS biospecimens and repository services, as well as the required DNA extraction, quantification, handling, and shipment services.
All capability statements received by the response date and time will be considered by the Government. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed action based on responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government.
No solicitation document is available. The Government will not reimburse respondents for any costs associated with submission of capability statements.
Attachments/Links
None at this time.
Contact Information
Primary Point of Contact
Linda Smith
Contracting Officer
linda.smith2@nih.gov
Secondary Point of Contact
Danielle Tines
Procurement Technician
danielle.tines@nih.gov