Notice of Intent to Sole Source - ACES2 proteins utilizingcryo-EM methodologies

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention intends to award sole source firm fixed price purchase order to Emory University for ACES2 protein utilizingcryo-EM methodologies. Expression and purification of sixteen (16) SARS-CoV-2 or ACE2 proteins, with a minimum yield of 1mg per protein, the determination of ten (10) structures of Spike-ACE2 complexes utilizing cryo-EM methodologies, and eighteen (18) negative stain EM images of inactivated SARS-CoV-2 virions. Entities further from the CDC would lose time in transition (shipping one day in each direction), when plasmids and proteins can be exchanged directly on the same day they are created due to the close proximity of Emory. Couple this with anticipated turn around times (TAT) of 15-days for protein expression and purification, and 4-6 weeks for solving protein structurers, and the Liang lab provides significantly faster service. Several other vendors were contacted, None of them had the capacity to even start on a new project in under 5 months, and all projected significantly longer TAT’s at each step, and much higher costs.