Contract · Federal · No Set aside used

Development of Light-Responsive Artificial Cells using Plant-Based Photoreceptor Systems

Agency: DEPT OF DEFENSE / DEPT OF THE ARMY
Location: Champaign, IL
Amount: Amount not listed
Posted: Jul 22, 2026
Set-aside: No Set aside used
NAICS code: 541714 - Scientific Research and Development Services (general category) look up NAICS codes
PSC code: AJ11

Timeline

Posted

Jul 22, 2026
Status

Closing soon

What contracts like this typically pay

No award history yet for this category (NAICS 541714).

What this contract is for

Agency: DEPT OF DEFENSE / DEPT OF THE ARMY
Location: Champaign, IL
Set-aside: No Set aside used
NAICS: 541714 - Scientific Research and Development Services (general category)
Scope: Federal

The United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) Construction Engineering Research Laboratory (CERL) has a requirement to research advanced foundational science in the synthetic biology domain.

The goal is to leverage high-throughput protein engineering and AI-assisted structural refinement to create programmable, pseudo-living systems responsive to environmental light stimuli.

This project will address a key challenge by integrating unique photoreceptor systems evolved in plants into artificial cell platforms.

ERDC-CERL intends to award a contract for services with competition restricted to Bioconscientia, LLC. in accordance with RFO FAR 12.102(a).

The anticipated award date is 09/30/2026.

Bioconscientia, LLC is determined to be the only source apable of fulfilling the government's requirement for highly specialized scientific and technical services required of the government research team.

The team at Bioconscientia LLC has unique technical experience and familiarity with UVR8 photoreceptor systems, and the proven ability of these systems to sense UV-B light in a distinct manner.

The Bioconscientia team possesses core knowledge of the complex foundational research and experimental data regarding UVR8, and is the only source readily able to further that research into new areas.

Replication of such expertise would require many months, if not years, of literature review and independent laboratory experimentation, which would result in significant schedule delays for performance of the government research program which is already in action.

This is a presolicitation notice posted in accordance with RFO FAR Part 5.101(a).

It is NOT a solicitation or a request for competitive quotations.

This is not a set-aside of any kind.

Any intereste...

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