Notice of Intent to issue a Sole Source Award to generate and optimize high-affinity nucleic acid aptamers capable of semi-quantitative detection of TFV-DP and/or TFV for use in both plate-based assays and POC platforms.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) intends to award a sole source firm-fixed-price purchase order to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to generate and optimize high-affinity nucleic acid aptamers capable of semi-quantitative detection of TFV-DP and/or TFV for use in both plate-based assays and POC platforms. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill was identified as uniquely qualified due to its role as a co-inventor of the FTC aptamer previously developed for ARV detection research, and established methodologies compatible with CDC's current assay development efforts. • The contract action is for commercial services for which the Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source under the authority of FAR 12.102-1. • The NAICS code for this opportunity is 541715, which corresponds to Medical Research and Development Laboratories or Services (except Biotechnology and Nanotechnology Research and Development). • The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is the only source reasonably available capable of performing the required work within the required timeframe and technical specifications. • Changing to another vendor's aptamer would severely impact the CDC's progress in this area, requiring a start over of the entire process of optimization and would not be compatible with the already developed, existing aptamer detecting emtricitabine.