Announcement of an Exempt Purchase

A research grant was awarded from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) in the Department of War to produce food on demand from air. A major breakthrough was recently achieved in miniaturizing the system for producing food and running continuously. DARPA wants to quickly scale up this system. The work will be achieved using a highly specialized "Fermentation Perfusion & TFF Processing System" manufactured by Tanda Biotech. DARPA has approved the funding specifically for the purchase and use of this equipment for the scale-up research. The Fermentation Perfusion & TFF Processing System has the following very specific requirements and helps the bioreactor attain the following parameters. These specifications are required to satisfy the research needs. a) Retains live yeast cells with visually transparent permeate. b) Enables 3 increase in peak cell density compared to batch operation. c) Supports extended perfusion operation (multiple days or multiple reactor volume turnovers). d) Is reusable and compatible with SIP, CIP, and autoclave sterilization. e) Scales without requiring high re-circulation rates (>0.3 L/min per L bioreactor volume) or large hermetic pumps.

This purchase is exempt from the usual selection processes of the Procurement Code because the procurement expenditure is for performing sponsored research and other sponsored activities under grants and contracts funded by the sponsor or by sources other than State appropriations. (30 ILCS 500 / 1-13(b)(8)) .