Development/Production - Kidney GEC-Specific AAV Vector

Updated Oct 22, 2026

Sources Sought from the Department of Veterans Affairs, for work in Columbia. Due Nov 4, 2026, 12:00 PM (UTC-5), 13 days left.

Official notice and attachments

Description

The following is a Sources Sought/Request for Information notice. This posted notice is not a Pre- Solicitation or Solicitation document. The government is not currently soliciting bids, quotes or proposals at this time; however, reserves the right to do so at a later date.

The Harry S Truman Memorial Veterans Hospital, Columbia, MO 65201 has a brand name only requirement for Development/Production- Kidney GEC- Specific AAV Vector. Statement of Work (SOW) For GEC Targeted Adeno Associated Virus Vector Development Contract Description: Development and production of a kidney glomerular endothelial cell specific AAV vector for VA preclinical research. 1.0 Scope of Work: 1.1 This requirement is a VA ORD Merit funded project (#1I21RD001234-01) to develop a kidney glomerular endothelial cell specific viral vector.

1.2 The goal of the project is to build a homing peptide enabled vector platform capable of targeting the glomerular endothelium to treat kidney injury and disease and to enhance traditional pharmacologic approaches. 1.3 The work will modify the capsid of an endothelial specific, non immunogenic viral vector by incorporating a peptide that specifically targets kidney glomerular endothelial cells (GEC), with the objective of increasing specificity, reducing off target transduction, and overcoming known limitations in vector targeting to the kidney.

2.0 Background: 2.1 This requirement in response to RD-01-PILT: ISRM Pilot Project Award I21 was selected for funding by ORD; Merit funded project (1I21RD001234-01). 2.2 Despite aggressive management of blood pressure and glycemic control, the prevalence of kidney disease continues to rise, highlighting the need for adjunctive, individualized approaches that advance precision medicine.

The project aims to build a homing peptide enabled vector platform targeting the glomerular endothelium to treat kidney injury and disease and to augment current therapeutic strategies. 2.3 Effective vector targeting of the kidney is impeded by the filtering function of the glomerulus and the risk of off target transduction, which may cause adverse effects. These challenges are compounded by the complex architecture of the kidney.

Phage enabled peptide homing provides a powerful tool to refine tissue and cell specificity. Developing a targeted vector for GECs cells central to kidney disease development has strong potential to increase selectivity and minimize off target effects. 2.4 To address this need, the requirement leverages two technologies: (1) Biopanning with phage display to select peptides that specifically target kidney glomerular endothelial cells, and (2) capsid modification of an endothelial specific, non immunogenic vector to improve specificity and reduce off target transduction.

2.5 The services required will: 2.5.1 Validate a GEC targeting peptide and incorporate it into an endothelial specific adeno associated virus (AAV) capsid to control transduction specificity. 2.5.1.1Aim 1 refines phage display selection between murine and human renal versus extra renal endothelial cells to confirm GEC selectivity, followed by incorporation into the AAV capsid 2.5.2 Test the feasibility of the GEC specific AAV vector in culture studies (binding and internalization) and in vivo (biodistribution and transduction efficacy).

2.5.1.2 Aim 2 evaluates the targeting peptide modified AAV vector in murine kidney slices and in vivo biodistribution studies, followed by ex vivo immunofluorescent validation. The vector will also be tested in a murine model of endothelial glomerular filtration barrier injury. 2.6 This requirement will overcome current limitations in kidney specific vector targeting caused by the organ s complex cellular architecture and will create a clinically translatable cell specific vector platform designed to reduce off target effects.

3.0 Technical Requirements/Tasks: 3.1 Within one year of the start date of the funding award. The contractor shall independently perform all technical tasks required to engineer, produce, and validate a kidney glomerular endothelial cell (GEC) specific viral vector. Task one will require a high level of demonstrated proficiency and efficiency to be able to complete within one year.

3.1.1 Task 1: Peptide Incorporation Into Viral Capsid 3.1.1.1 Identified targeting peptides shall be engineered by the contractor into the AAV VP1 capsid at amino acid position 588/589, a well tolerated insertion site. 3.1.1.2 Modified AAV viruses will be produced serially. 3.1.1.3 Verified GEC peptide+AAV capsid plasmids will be used to generate vectors containing an eGFP reporter for quantitative assessment of vector function.

3.1.1.4 Specificity and transduction efficiency will be evaluated across a panel of cell types using flow cytometry. 3.1.1.5 Peptide robustness will be evaluated through iterative comparisons of peptide alone versus peptide displayed on the AAV6 capsid. 3.1.1.6 Fluorescent peptide binding to a biomarker unique to GEC will be quantified (KD, IC50) to confirm specificity.

3.1.1.7 Task one will be considered complete when peptide sequencing is completed in accordance with the research protocol. Receipt of the data readout and a satisfactory progress report that outlines the data and any needed adaptations for the next tasks by end of funding period one will complete the task 3.1.2 Task 2: Will begin once there is satisfactory completion of task one.

Testing of GEC Specific Peptide Vector Binding will be performed independently by the contractor beginning at the start of the second funding period and must be complete by the end of the second year of the award 3.1.2.1 Supernatant containing the GEC peptide+vector will be incubated with cultured murine kidney tissue slices to assess binding and internalization. 3.1.2.2 Round 1 panning will use laser capture microdissection to collect GEC bound phage.

3.1.2.3 Rounds 2 and 3 will refine targeting using mixed kidney derived cell populations and control tissues. 3.1.2.4

The description continues in the official notice.

Contracting contact

• Mae McGarry · Contract Specialist · [email protected] · 814-860-2606

As published on the official notice. Ask questions in writing and before any questions deadline the notice sets.

Is your business small enough?

For NAICS 541714, a business counts as small if it has no more than 1,000 employees (SBA size standard, with exceptions in the notes). This notice is not set aside, but the size decides your small business status on it. SBA table, current as of Oct 15, 2026.

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The Department of Veterans Affairs awarded $84.2 billion in contracts in the last 12 months; its biggest suppliers were Optum Public Sector Solutions, Inc., Mckesson Corporation and Triwest Healthcare Alliance Corp. See what VA is buying now.

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