Measuring mouse body composition
Overview
Buyer
Place of Performance
NAICS
PSC
Set Aside
Original Source
Timeline
Qualification Details
Fit reasons
- NAICS alignment with historical contract wins in similar service areas.
- Scope strongly matches core technical capabilities and delivery model.
Risks
- Past performance thresholds may require one additional teaming partner.
- Potential clarification needed on staffing minimums before bid/no-bid.
Next steps
Validate eligibility requirements, assign capture owner, and schedule partner outreach to confirm teaming strategy before submission planning.
Quick Summary
The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), under the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is seeking a Whole Body Composition Analyzer to measure fat mass, lean mass, and body water in live mice. This Presolicitation is designated as a Total Small Business Set-Aside. The instrument will replace an outdated system and is crucial for ongoing research in obesity, diabetes, and related metabolic disorders. Responses are due by June 9, 2026.
Scope of Work
The required Whole Body Composition Analyzer must provide rapid, non-invasive measurements in conscious animals without anesthesia. Key features and characteristics include:
- Rapid scan time (~1–2 minutes per mouse)
- No anesthesia requirement
- High precision and reproducibility for fat and lean mass
- Non-invasive, longitudinal measurement capability
- Minimal operator variability
- Validated performance in peer-reviewed metabolic research
These features are essential to maintain sympathetic tone and avoid anesthetic-induced alterations in metabolic readouts, critical for acute drug response and metabolic studies. The system will be shared across multiple laboratories at the NIH campus in Bethesda, MD.
Contract & Timeline
- Type: Presolicitation
- Set-Aside: Total Small Business Set-Aside (FAR 19.5)
- Product Service Code: 6640 (Laboratory Equipment And Supplies)
- Response Due: June 9, 2026, 1:00 PM EDT
- Published: May 29, 2026
- Place of Performance: Bethesda, MD 20892, United States
Evaluation
Bidders must ensure their proposed solutions meet all listed technical specifications and performance requirements, particularly the emphasis on non-invasive measurements in conscious animals without anesthesia, to be considered compliant.
Contact Information
For inquiries, contact John Burton at burtonjo@mail.nih.gov.