Notice of Intent to Sole Source – Lease of Avatar™ Odyssey Instruments (Xcell Biosciences)

Location: Maryland
Posted: Apr 1, 2026
Due: Apr 10, 2026
Agency: HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF
Type of Government: Federal
Category:
  • W - Lease or Rental of Equipment
Solicitation No: 26-004627
Publication URL: To access bid details, please log in.
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Notice of Intent to Sole Source – Lease of Avatar™ Odyssey Instruments (Xcell Biosciences)
Active
Contract Opportunity
Notice ID
26-004627
Related Notice
Department/Ind. Agency
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF
Sub-tier
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH
Office
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH OLAO
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General Information
  • Contract Opportunity Type: Presolicitation (Original)
  • Original Published Date: Apr 01, 2026 01:35 pm EDT
  • Original Response Date: Apr 10, 2026 01:00 pm EDT
  • Inactive Policy: Manual
  • Original Inactive Date: Apr 11, 2026
  • Initiative:
    • None
Classification
  • Original Set Aside:
  • Product Service Code: W066 - LEASE OR RENTAL OF EQUIPMENT- INSTRUMENTS AND LABORATORY EQUIPMENT
  • NAICS Code:
    • 532490 - Other Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment Rental and Leasing
  • Place of Performance:
    Bethesda , MD 20892
    USA
Description

Notice of Intent to Sole Source – Lease of Avatar™ Odyssey Instruments (Xcell Biosciences)



NAICS Code: 532490 – Other Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment Rental and Leasing



Product Service Code (PSC):W066 – Lease or Rental of Equipment – Laboratory Equipment



Description:



This is a Notice of Intent, not a request for quotations. A solicitation will not be issued, and quotations will not be requested. This notice is for informational purposes only.





The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Clinical Center (CC), Office of Purchasing and Contracts, on behalf of the Center for Cellular Engineering (CCE), intends to award a firm-fixed-price contract on a sole source basis to:



Xcell Biosciences, Inc.



455 Mission Bay Blvd Suite 124



San Francisco, California 94158-2159



Requirement:



The purpose of this acquisition is to lease four (4) Avatar™ Odyssey instruments for a period of six (6) months to support process development activities within the CCE laboratories located at the NIH Clinical Center, Bethesda, Maryland.



These instruments enable precise control of cellular microenvironment conditions, including oxygen tension (hypoxia to normoxia), pressure, and temperature, which are critical for evaluating and optimizing cell therapy manufacturing processes.



The Center for Cellular Engineering develops and manufactures investigational cell-based therapies for patients with limited or no remaining standard treatment options, in compliance with Current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) requirements (21 CFR Parts 210, 211, 600, and 1271).



Although the instruments are designated for research use only and will not be used for clinical manufacturing, they are essential for generating data that will inform process optimization, improve cell phenotype and function, and support future acquisition of GMP-compliant systems.





Authority:



FAR 13.106-1(b)(1) – Soliciting from a single source when only one source is reasonably available.



Justification for Sole Source:



Market research conducted by the Government determined that Xcell Biosciences, Inc. is the only responsible source capable of providing the required Avatar™ Odyssey system.



The Avatar Odyssey platform is the only commercially available system that integrates programmable control of both oxygen tension and pressure within a single system suitable for cell therapy process development.



No other vendors were identified that can meet these requirements or provide data that is transferable to future GMP-compliant systems.



Period of Performance:



Six (6) months from date of award



Place of Performance:



National Institutes of Health



Clinical Center



10 Center Drive



Bethesda, MD 20892



Response Information:



Interested parties may submit a capability statement demonstrating their ability to meet this requirement. Responses must be received within 10 calendar days of this notice.



Point of Contact:



Team Leader: Shasheshe Goolsby



Email: shasheshe.goolsby@nih



Office of Acquisitions and Logistics Management (OALM)



Disclaimer:



This notice is not a request for competitive quotes.


Attachments/Links
Contact Information
Contracting Office Address
  • 6011 EXECUTIVE BLVD., SUITE 503L
  • BETHESDA , MD 20892
  • USA
Primary Point of Contact
Secondary Point of Contact


History
  • Apr 01, 2026 01:35 pm EDTPresolicitation (Original)
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