Specialized Biomarker Lab for TRACTS

This contract awards a firm‑fixed‑price sole‑source agreement to The Johns Hopkins University’s PRECEDE Laboratory for the “LIMBIC and TRACTS Biomarker Generation and Harmonization” effort supporting the VA’s TRACTS research program. The work involves performing high‑throughput biomarker assays using Olink and Quanterix platforms, conducting mRNA, proteomic, and sequencing analyses, and delivering a harmonized dataset for up to 3,000 samples (minimum 1,250 in the first year). All laboratory work must be performed in the PRECEDE facility, leveraging proprietary pipelines that cannot be transferred to other entities. The VA justified the sole‑source award under 41 U.S.C. § 3304(a)(1) because no other source can meet the technical requirements. • Services: biomarker generation, assay execution (Olink & Quanterix), mRNA/proteomics/sequencing, data harmonization. • Scope: up to 3,000 samples; work performed entirely at Johns Hopkins (Baltimore, MD). • Funding: $624,000 award; firm‑fixed‑price, single‑award, sole‑source.