The following roundup is based on recently awarded federal contracts or official notices of intent to issue an award. We selectively cover acquisition activities for laboratory, medical and CBRN equipment and services for insight into the mission priorities of organizations as well as the competitive landscape for suppliers.
Avon Protection Award for CBRN Masks
Avon Protection Systems, Cadillac, Michigan, was awarded a $13,700,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, multi-year sustainment contract for the M53 Joint Service General Purpose Mask. Funding and work location will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 13, 2019. One bid was solicited, with one received. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Michigan, is the contracting activity (W56HZV-14-D-0132).
BARDA Award to Sanofi for Pandemic Flu Preparedness
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) has awarded $42,372,250 to Sanofi Pasteur, Inc. under a solicitation for Year-Round Access to Embryonated Eggs for Pandemic Flu Vaccine.
Emergent BioSolutions Award for Anthrax Vaccine
Emergent BioSolutions Inc. has signed a contract with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), to develop a dry formulation of NuThraxTM (Anthrax Vaccine Adsorbed with CPG 7909 Adjuvant), also known as AV7909, the company’s next generation anthrax vaccine candidate.
This five-year contract, valued at up to $29 million, provides funding for manufacturing and non-clinical activities through the preparation of an Investigational New Drug application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The dry formulation of NuThrax is intended to increase stability of the vaccine candidate at ambient and higher temperatures, with the objective of eliminating the need for cold chain during shipping and storage.
FBI Award for Chemical/Explosives Analyzer
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) intends to negotiate a sole source contract with Thermo Electron North America LLC of West Palm Beach, Florida.
The FBI has a mission to perform examinations as a significant part of counterterrorism exploitation. The FBI currently has the requirement for a Nicolet iS50 Analytical Flex FTIR Spectrometer to support chemical analysis of explosives and explosive residues of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) from around the world. Wider scope analyses include other materials of forensic interest. This is critical for trending to obtain viable and useful intelligence.
The Thermo Fisher Scientific Nicolet iS50 Analytical Flex FTIR Spectrometer will support the FBI’s analysis capability by allowing teams to expedite current production levels. FBI analytical methods were developed by protocols validated on current instruments. New equipment must be integrated seamlessly with no disruption to standard operating procedures or casework continuity. This is critical in maintaining analytical consistency within the FBI Laboratory. This capability supports continued operations, avoids incompatibility issues, unnecessary costs and enhances FBI capabilities. No other device matches the compatibility necessary for the FBI.
Thermo Electron North America, LLC is the sole manufacturer and proprietor of the Thermo Fisher Scientific Nicolet iS50Analytical Flex FTIR Spectrometer with the specified protocols and is the only vendor that can meet the needs of the FBI of for this procurement. The Thermo Fisher Scientific Nicolet iS50 Analytical Flex FTIR Spectrometer is a requirement of the FBI to ensure full utilization of all IED exploitation results.
DoD Award for Genomics Data Software
The United States Armed Forces Medical Examiners Services (AFMES) and Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory (AFDIL) procured a user-friendly software package known as the CLC BIO, LLC’s Genomics Factory Platform for analyzing, comparing, and visualizing NGS data.
The contractor will provide customized bioinformatics solution for AFDIL that will help the organization work more effectively by using existing tools when possible. CLC BIO, LLC will work with AFDIL to employ a scientifically valid toolset supporting AFDIL workflow and IT requirements, including the options to lock down workflows for routine analysis, yet having the possibility to change parameters when needed.
Though the software is currently capable of performing useful analyses, the highly-specialized analyses necessary to ensure conformity to the strict quality standards required for forensic data are cumbersome and time-consuming. Moreover, adherence to forensic conventions and guidelines for data reporting is of utmost importance but currently impossible within the current version of the software. This customization project would not only incorporate automation of routine, repetitive tasks required for quality control but also create new functionality geared at forensic-specific interpretation of the data. No other vendor supports this COTS application.
CDC Award for Study of Marine Toxins
The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, Procurement and Grants Office (PGO) intend to award a sole source contract to the School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Science, The University of New South Wales of Sydney, Australia.
The contractor will develop reference materials for assessing human exposure to cylindrospermopsin and related marine toxins such as microcystin, BMAA and ciguatoxins. Final reference materials will be identified and all information on clinical significance, proper sample processing and handling, and how to incorporate the new reference materials into the current mass spectrometry (MS) based methods will be transferred to the CDC in the form of written reports.
NIAID Award to King’s College
The National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIH/NIAID) in support of the Division of Vaccine Research Center (VRC) intends to negotiate on a sole source basis for sample analysis research collaboration for 864 subjects genotyped on the Infinium HumanOmni2.5-8Exome v1.0DNA Analysis beadchip with King’s College London.
The purpose of this contract is to genotype cells using a 1.2million single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) chip similar to the chips that are currently used for sample analysis in the lab and throughout the VRC. The vendor will then deliver SNP data and small subsets of the sequence to the VRC, NIAID, where the genotype will be correlated with the results of phenotyping performed at the VRC.
NIAID Award for Biodefense Vaccines
The National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) has awarded the following contracts under a NIAID BAA for Rugged Biodefense Vaccines:
- Emergent BioSolutions $29,184,146
- PharmAthene, Inc. $28,119,635
The objective of this contract is to support the advanced development of candidate products, which consist of a vaccine component in combination with a dry formulation technology (also referred to as solid vaccine formulations), that increase duration of stability and minimize cold chain or preservative requirements.
These products will likely be used to minimize the need for preservatives for in post-event settings following the intentional release of NIAID Category A, B and C Priority Pathogens or in response to naturally occurring outbreaks of infectious diseases caused by NIAID Category A, B and C Priority Pathogens.
BARDA Award for Multiplexed Influenza Diagnostic System
The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) has awarded $7,943,512 to InDevR, Inc., under BARDA-BAA-12-100-SOL-00018.
The purpose of this contract is for the advanced development of the FluChip-8G assay. InDevR will complete development and validation, conduct clinical studies, and pursue FDA clearance for InDevR’s FluChip-8G (FC8G) microarray-based molecular assay.
This is a two-year cost plus fixed fee contract with two options to extend the term of the contract up to a total of four years. If all options are exercised, the estimated value of this contract is $14,698,025.
Advanced Development of Medical Countermeasures for Pandemic Influenza
The Biological Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) has awarded $1,595,520 to New York Medical College for High Yield (High Growth) Reassortant Seed Influenza Viruses under a Broad Agency Announcement for Advanced Development of Medical Countermeasures for Pandemic Influenza.
Air Force Expeditionary Medical Supplies Award to CACI-ISS
CACI-ISS, Inc., Chantilly, Virginia, was awarded a $14,816,251 modification to contract W81K04-13-F-0013, a follow-on requirement for medical logistics non-personal services in support of the Air Force Expeditionary/Contingency Medical Materiel Program performed at Department of Defense and Air Reserve/Guard installations within the continental United States and in the Pacific theater of operations.
A small portion of these services supports Army prepositioned stock (APS) and unit deployment package requirements on Air Force installations. Fiscal 2015 operations and maintenance (Army) funds in the amount of $14,816,251 were obligated at the time of the award. Estimated completion date is Sept. 30, 2015.
Work will be performed at Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina; Langley Air Force Base, Virginia; Hurlburt Field, Florida; McChord Air Force Base, Washington; March Air Force Base, California; Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico; McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey; Kelly Consolidated War Reserve Materiel Storage and Deployment Center, San Antonio, Texas; Charleston, South Carolina; Fort Detrick, Maryland; Scott Air Force Base, Illinois; Eglin Air Force Base, Florida; Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada; Moody Air Force Base, Georgia; Travis Air Force Base, California; Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona; Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland; Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi; MacDill Air Force Base, Florida; Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio; Alpena, Michigan; Topeka Air National Guard, Kansas; Willow Grove, Pennsylvania; Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington; and Charleston APS, South Carolina. Army Medical Command, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, is the contracting activity.
AFDIL Award to Biodiscovery LLC
The United States Army Medical Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA) in support of the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System (AFMES), Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory (AFDIL) intends to negotiate a sole source contract with Biodiscovery LLC of Ann Arbor, MI for custom target enrichment kits of custom molecular baits, probes and oligonucleotides for DNA analysis.
The contract will include a one-year base period with four one-year option periods.
To increase the ability of the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory to make (AFDIL) DNA identifications in support of the past accounting mission and to provide novel methods for recovering DNA sequence data from aged & highly degraded forensic specimens, the AFDIL is currently validating a fixed (locked) next generation sequencing protocol, that has been optimized to generate forensically reproducible, robust and reliable next generation sequencing results.
This protocol includes previously optimized DNA preparation steps that maximize the quantity of target DNA in the sample (enrichment) and have successfully recovered DNA data from specimens that previously had yielded no DNA sequence data with AFDIL’s currently validated DNA preparation, amplification, sequencing and capillary electrophoresis analysis methods. Enriching for the mitochondrial and/or nuclear DNA sequences of interest reduces the quantity of non-specific (and uninformative) sequence data produced, and greatly reduces the cost of producing useful DNA forensic sequencing data.
Through extensive pre-testing, AFDIL has developed and optimized a reproducible, robust and reliable method that is being validated according to the Federal Bureau of Investigations Quality Assurance Standards and the International Standards Organization (ISO) 17025 DNA forensic laboratory standards.
Alterations to the fixed (locked) protocol will significantly delay the validation and implementation of the optimized procedure. This defined method results in higher throughput and more cost-effective laboratory workflow. In order to validate the existing optimized and defined next generation DNA sequencing preparation methods required for AFDIL’s applications, custom target enrichment kits produced by a previously qualified vendor are required. These kits, which selectively capture defined regions of human genomic DNA through the use of thousands of DNA probes suspended in solution, are compatible with the Illumina MiSeq instrument and the raw data can be assembled and analyzed in the CLCbio software.
In order to validate the existing optimized and defined next generation DNA sequencing preparation methods required for AFDIL’s applications, custom target enrichment kits produced by a previously qualified vendor are required. These kits, which selectively capture defined regions of human genomic DNA through the use of thousands of DNA probes suspended in solution, are compatible with the Illumina MiSeq instrument and the raw data can be assembled and analyzed in the CLCbio software.
USAMRICD Award to TSI, Inc.
The U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA), Fort Detrick, MD intends to issue a sole source award to TSI, Inc. for its Aerodynamic Particle Sizer Spectrometer and its Optical Particle Sizer for use at the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense (USAMRICD).
USAMRICD requires an aerodynamic particle sizer and an optical particle sizer that is compliant with their current TSI software, TSI hardware, and employee training programs. TSI software and other TSI instruments are currently in place at USAMRICD and are used to train employees.
The TSI Aerodynamic Particle Sizer Spectrometer and its Optical Particle Sizer will ensure continuity of operation across the entire activity while allowing USAMRICD to accomplish its mission. The particle sizers must be able to provide high-resolution, real-time aerodynamic measurements of particles from 0.5 to 20 m and must also to able to measure light-scattering intensity in the equivalent optical size range of 0.37 to 20 m.
DoD Award to 3M for Medical and Surgical Supplies
3M Company, St. Paul, Minnesota, has been awarded a maximum $26,042,557 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for various medical and surgical supplies.
This contract was a competitive acquisition and seven offers were received. This is a one-year base contract, with nine one-year option periods. Location of performance is Minnesota, with a Sept. 18, 2015, performance completion date. Using military services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and federal civilian agencies. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2014 war-stopper funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE2D0-14-D-0008).
Pharmaceutical Contract Award to AvKare
AvKare, Inc., of Pulaski, Tennessee, has been awarded a maximum $24,899,055 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for various pharmaceutical products. This contract was a competitive acquisition and six offers were received. This is a one-year base contract, with seven one-year option periods. Location of performance is Tennessee, with a Sept. 16, 2015, performance completion date.
Using military services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and federal civilian agencies. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2014 war stopper funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE2D0-14-D-0007).
Laboratory Testing Services for DoD
Laboratory Corp. of America, Burlington, North Carolina, was awarded a $52,365,750 modification (P00012) to firm-fixed-price contract W81K04-12-D-0017 for laboratory testing services for all military members and dependents. Funding and work location will be determined with each order. Estimated completion date is Sept. 30, 2015. Army Medical Command, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, is the contracting activity.
IED Defeat Contract Awardees
Advanced Reconnaissance Corp., Fishkill, New York; Applied Research Associates, Inc., Albuquerque, New Mexico; A-T Solutions, Inc., Fredericksburg, Virginia; CyPhy Works, Inc., Danvers, Massachusetts; EFW Inc., Ft. Worth, Texas; L-3 Communications Corp., Camden, New Jersey; NIITEK, Inc., Dulles, Virginia; Primal Innovation, LLC, Sanford, Florida; QinetiQ, Inc., Centreville, Virginia; Robo-Team NA, Inc., Bethesda, Maryland; Advanced Technology Systems Co., Inc., McLean, Virginia; Applied Research Associates, Inc., Albuquerque, New Mexico; iRobot Corp., Bedford, Massachusetts; K2 Solutions, Inc., Southern Pines, North Carolina; Lockheed Martin Procerus Technologies, L.C., Orem, Utah; QinetiQ, Inc., Centreville, Virginia; Robo-Team NA, Inc., Bethesda, Maryland; Stolar Research Corp., Rio Rancho, New Mexico; Science and Engineering Services, LLC, Columbia, Maryland; and Pearson Engineering Ltd., Newcastle Upon Tyne, Great Britain, were collectively awarded a ceiling $49,497,158 indefinite- delivery/indefinite-quantity, multi-year contract for the Army Research Lab/Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization Culvert Denial Challenge program.
The contract covers the initial task order challenge event, through possible future testing, development, and deployment. Funding and work location will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 15, 2019. Bids were solicited via the Internet, with 27 received. Army Contracting Command, Adelphi, Maryland, is the contracting activity.
Mine Detection Systems Award to Carnegie Robotics
Carnegie Robotics LLC, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was awarded a $22,783,433 cost-plus-incentive-fee contract for an autonomous mine detection system that is being developed to provide the war fighter with capability to detect, mark and neutralize explosive hazards in support of the full spectrum of military operations. Fiscal 2013 and 2014 research, development, test and evaluation (Army) funds in the amount of $14,638,737 were obligated at the time of the award.
Work will be performed in Woburn, Massachusetts ($3,236,616; 14 percent); King of Prussia, Pennsylvania ($4,113,115; 18 percent); and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania ($15,433,702; 68 percent), with an estimated completion date of March 1, 2018. Bids were solicited via the Internet, with three received. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey, is the contracting activity (W15QKN-14-C-0075).
USAISR Award – AMP Studies for Improved Wound Healing
The United States Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA), Fort Detrick, Maryland in support of the US Army Institute of Surgical Research (USAISR) is issuing this notice of intent to procure services via Sole Source through the award of a firm-fixed price, level-of-effort term contract to the University of Miami
Under the contemplated service, the University of Miami-Medical will conduct a research study to determine the effectiveness of novel antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) at reducing the biofilm load in wounds and improving healing. Specifically, the University of Miami will use its unique porcine wound model to study biofilm-impaired wound healing and to evaluate anti-biofilm treatments.
USAMRIID Award to EMD Millipore
The US Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA) in support of the US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Disease (USAMRIID) awarded a firm-fixed price commercial award to EMD Millipore Corporation, of Billerica, MA for reagent and reagent supplies.
EMD Millipore provides innovative tools, services and biological reagents that advance biomedical research as well as support the discovery and development of new pharmaceuticals. To be able to accomplish what is needed for this procurement, it is imperative that this product be compatible with Luminex xMAP technology, be able to be read with or used with Luminex xMAP technology, and be capable of being run in a 96-well, multiplex format and lastly, be a magnetic bead capture assay. Other products that would be procured would not be compatible with the equipment that is presently being used within at USAMRIID.
The estimated value of this action including shipping is $65,042.25.
Sources: FedBizOpps, Defense.gov
