Sole Source - Production of ChAdOx-1 and MVA expressing mouse gp70

AMENDMENT #1:

This amendment is posted to provide an answer to a question submitted in response to this notice. 

Question: We would like to know if this is a brand new contract OR if there is (was) an incumbent performing these services.
 

Government Response: This is a new requirement.

Title: Production of ChAdOx-1 and MVA expressing mouse gp70

Document type: Combined Synopsis/Intent to Sole Source

Solicitation Number: RFQ# 75N98026Q00996

Proposed Post Date: 08/12/2026

Proposed Response Date: 08/19/2026

NAICS Code: 541714

Small Business Size Standard: 1,000
 

Contracting Office Address: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Bethesda, MD 20817 USA.

Description:

The National Cancer Center’s (NCI) Laboratory of Integrative Cancer Immunology Branch / The Immune Regulation and Vaccine Development Section intends to award a sole-source purchase order using the procedures at FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), as it has been deemed that only one source is available to meet this specific requirement to provide service of producing chimpanzee adenovirus (ChAdOx-1) vectors and MVA viral vector expressing mouse gp70.  This purchase order is intended to be awarded to Viral Vector Core at the Pandemic Institute, University of Oxford, Pandemic Science Institute - University of Oxford Old Road Campus Research Building (ORCRB), Oxford, OX3 7DQ, Oxford, OX3 7DQ. The requirements document in the form of a Statement of Work is attached to this notice.

The acquisition will be processed in accordance with Sole Source Selection procedures as stated in FAR Part 6.302-1 and 41 U.S.C. 3304(a)(1and is exempt from the requirements of FAR Part 6. The North American Industry Classification System code is 541714 “Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology)” and the business size standard is 1,000 employees.

In the development of a vaccine for glioblastoma, a high-grade brain tumor, there has been use of a combination of ChAdOx and MVA in syngeneic orthotopic mouse glioblastoma models. This has demonstrated this combination significantly prolongs the survival of tumor-bearing animals by inducing a robust population of tumor-specific CD8 T cells in the brain.  The selection of this set of viral vectors, particularly the chimpanzee adenovirus ChAdOx-1, is to overcome the issue of pre-existing immunity to human adenoviruses. As the goal of this project is to evaluate the vaccine’s efficacy in protecting against breast cancer brain metastasis, it is essential to use the same viral vector platform, the vendor currently providing chimpanzee adenovirus-based vectors.

The Contractor shall provide/perform the following, unless otherwise noted:

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Design and construction of a codon-optimized gene expression cassette encoding mouse gp70 and the mouse class II major histocompatibility complex invariant chain (Ii) for expression in mouse cells.

Production of a ChAdOx-1 viral vector encoding the gene construct.

Production of an MVA viral vector encoding the same gene construct.

Viral Vector Core at the Pandemic Institute, University of Oxford is the only known vendor

currently provide chimpanzee adenovirus-based vectors as this is the proprietary technology owned by the Viral Vector Core of the University of Oxford.

REPORTING REQUIREMENTS AND DELIVERABLES:

The period of performance shall be 6 months from the date of award. All deliverables included in the Statement of Work will be submitted to: the Contracting Officer’s Representative, Alan Peigh, and Sharon Bargo, Ph.D. The Contractor that receives the award will be provided with the complete mailing address and points of contact.

PAYMENT: Net 30 days from date of invoice. Payment shall be made after acceptance of the deliverables, and submission of invoice pursuant to the invoicing instructions, and to the address shown, in the contract/order.

Only one award will be made and will be awarded as a firm fixed price type contract.

This notice is not a request for competitive quotation. However, if any interested party, especially small businesses, believes it can meet the above requirement, it may submit a capability statement, proposal, or quotation, which shall be considered by the agency. The statement of capabilities and any other information furnished must be in writing and must contain material in sufficient detail to allow the NCI to determine if the party can perform the requirement. Responses must be received in the contracting office by 2:00PM EDT, on August 24, 2026. All responses and questions must be in writing and sent to Mary Muir, Contracting Officer, via electronic mail at mary.muir@nih.gov and Cherie Wells cherie.wells@nih.gov. No calls will be accepted. A determination by the Government not to complete this proposed requirement based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. To receive an award, American contractors must be registered and have a valid, current Entity Record, including current Representations and Certifications, in the System for Award Management (SAM) through SAM.gov. Reference RFQ# 75N98026Q00996 on all correspondence. The government will not be responsible for any costs incurred by responding to this notice.