1. Background and Purpose 

The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC) is a quasi-public economic development agency of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. MLSC is launching a statewide Biobank Program designed to accelerate biomedical research, translational discovery, and innovation by enabling secure, equitable, and governed access to high-quality biospecimens and associated patient data.   As part of this initiative, MLSC seeks proposals from qualified vendors to provide patient data tokenization and privacy-preserving record linkage services. The selected vendor will support secure de-identification, tokenization, and longitudinal linkage of patient data contributed by multiple participating academic medical centers and healthcare institutions.   The goal of this RFP is to identify a vendor capable of enabling cross-institutional data integration while maintaining patient privacy, regulatory compliance, and strong governance controls, thereby supporting research use cases across academia, industry, and public-private partnerships.      

2. Scope of Work 

The selected vendor will provide a scalable, secure, and compliant tokenization solution that supports the following capabilities.   

A. Patient Identity Tokenization 

• Generation of consistent, privacy-preserving tokens from identifiable patient data supplied by participating institutions. 
• Support for deterministic and probabilistic matching approaches, as appropriate. 
• Ability to tokenize data without exposing or centralizing direct identifiers.
• Clear separation of identifiable data from tokenized datasets.

 B. Privacy-Preserving Record Linkage 

• Enable longitudinal linkage of patient data across: 
• Multiple healthcare systems and collection sites 
• Multiple data types, including clinical, demographic, molecular, imaging, and longitudinal data 
• Support linking of biospecimen data to associated clinical and outcomes data over time. 
• Minimize false positives and false negatives, with transparent matching performance metrics. 

 C. Security and Compliance 

• Compliance with applicable federal and state regulations, including HIPAA and relevant Massachusetts data protection requirements. 
• Support for de-identified and limited datasets aligned with research and governance needs. 
• Encryption of data at rest and in transit. 
• Robust access controls, audit logs, and monitoring. 

 D. Integration and Interoperability 

• Ability to integrate with: 
• Institutional clinical data systems 
• Centralized biobank data storage and curation platforms 
• Support for standard data formats and interoperability frameworks where applicable. 
• Clear APIs or secure data exchange mechanisms for token generation and linkage workflows. 

 E. Governance and Controls 

• Ability to align with MLSC-defined governance frameworks, including: 
• Broad consent models 
• Data use limitations 
• Tiered access controls for different user groups 
• Support for revocation or suppression of tokens if required by consent changes or regulatory updates. 

F. Reporting and Quality Assurance 

• Regular reporting on: 
• Token generation volumes 
• Linkage success rates 
• Error rates and data quality indicators 
• Ongoing quality control and validation processes. 

 3. Vendor Qualifications   

      Proposing vendors should demonstrate: 

• Experience providing patient data tokenization and privacy-preserving record linkage services in biomedical, healthcare, or life sciences research settings. 
• Proven ability to operate in multi-institutional or consortium-based environments. 
• Experience supporting large-scale datasets and longitudinal data. 
• Strong information security practices and compliance posture. 
• Organizational stability and sufficient staffing to support a statewide initiative. 

4. Implementation and Support   

      Proposals should describe: 

• Proposed implementation approach and timeline. 
• Onboarding process for participating institutions. 
• Required inputs from MLSC and contributing sites. 
• Ongoing technical support, maintenance, and issue resolution. 
• Training or documentation provided to MLSC and participating institutions. 

 5. Proposal Submission Requirements   

       Proposals must include the following sections: 

1. Executive Summary: Overview of the proposed solution and its alignment with MLSC program goals. 
2. Technical Approach: Detailed description of tokenization methodology, linkage approach, and system architecture. 
3. Security and Compliance: Description of compliance standards, certifications, and security controls. 
4. Experience and References: Relevant prior engagements and at least two references. 
5. Implementation Plan and Timeline 
6. Pricing and Cost Structure: Clear description of pricing model, including: 

• One-time implementation costs 
• Ongoing operational costs 
• Any volume-based or usage-based fees 

      7.  Assumptions and Dependencies 

6. Evaluation Criteria 

Proposals will be evaluated based on: 

• Technical merit and robustness of the proposed solution 
• Privacy protection and regulatory compliance 
• Experience with similar multi-institutional initiatives 
• Scalability and long-term sustainability
• Ease of integration with existing and future systems 
• Cost and overall value to the program 

7. Timeline 

Deadline: 4.17.2026

Evaluation Period: Proposals will be weighted based on technical expertise, alignment with the MLSC’s needs and cost-efficiency. Finalists may be interviewed in mid/late May. A decision will be made in May/June with a tentative commencement in June. 

MLSC reserves the right to modify this timeline at its discretion. 

8. Additional Terms 

For questions regarding this RFP, contact: BioBank@masslifesciences.com 

This RFP does not constitute an obligation for the MLSC to fund any proposals. The MLSC reserves the right to modify or cancel this RFP at any time and may request further clarifications or conduct interviews as part of the selection process.

1. Background and Purpose 

The MLSC Biobank Program is a statewide, multi-institutional initiative designed to support biomedical research through secure, equitable access to high-quality biospecimens and associated data. As part of this effort, MLSC seeks qualified vendors to provide whole genome sequencing services for human biospecimens collected across participating academic medical centers.   

The objective of this RFP is to enable generation of high-quality, research-grade whole genome sequencing data that can be linked to biospecimens and clinical data under MLSC governance frameworks.   

2. Scope of Work 

A. Sample Processing and Sequencing 

• DNA quality assessment and library preparation. 
• Whole genome sequencing at research-grade coverage levels. 
• Support for blood and tissue-derived DNA. 
• Adherence to standardized sample handling and chain-of-custody procedures.

Examples include, but are not limited to: 

1. Laboratory and Quality Systems 

• CLIA certification (optional) 
• CAP accreditation (optional) 
• ISO 9001 (Quality Management) 
• ISO 20387 (Biobanking) 

      2. Data Security and Privacy 

• SOC 2 Type II 
• ISO/IEC 27001 
• Other third-party security or compliance audits 

 B. Data Generation and Quality Control 

• Generation of raw sequencing data and processed outputs. 
• Defined quality metrics and thresholds. 
• Documentation of batch effects and sequencing performance. 

 C. Data Delivery and Integration 

• Secure data transfer to MLSC-designated storage platforms. 
• Delivery of metadata and QC reports. 
• Compatibility with downstream bioinformatics and data curation pipelines. 

 D. Compliance and Security 

• Compliance with HIPAA and applicable data protection requirements, as well as MA regulations for handling human samples.
• Secure handling of human genomic data. 
• Encryption in transit and at rest. 

 3. Vendor Qualifications 

• Demonstrated experience providing WGS services for human research samples. 
• Capacity to support large-scale, multi-institutional programs. 
• Proven quality control and reproducibility practices. 

 4. Proposal Requirements 

Executive summary, technical approach, quality controls, experience and references, implementation plan, pricing, and assumptions. 

 5. Evaluation Criteria 

Technical quality, scalability, data quality, compliance, experience, and cost.   Evaluation Period: Proposals will be weighted based on technical expertise, alignment with the MLSC’s needs and cost-efficiency. Finalists may be interviewed in mid/late May. A decision will be made in May/June with a tentative commencement in June.   

MLSC reserves the right to modify this timeline at its discretion. 

 7. Additional Terms 

For questions regarding this RFP, contact: BioBank@masslifesciences.com 

This RFP does not constitute an obligation to fund any proposals. The MLSC reserves the right to modify or cancel this RFP at any time and may request further clarifications or conduct interviews as part of the selection process. 

1. Background and Purpose 

MLSC seeks proposals from qualified vendors to perform proteomics analyses on biospecimens collected through the Biobank Program. These services will support discovery, biomarker development, and translational research.   

2. Scope of Work 

A. Sample Preparation 

• Processing of plasma, serum, tissue, or other approved sample types, as well as MA regulations for handling human samples.
• Standardized protocols to minimize variability. 
• Documentation of pre-analytical variables. 

 B. Proteomics Analysis 

• High-throughput, research-grade proteomic profiling. 
• Support for discovery and targeted workflows where applicable. 
• Reproducible and validated analytical pipelines. 

 C. Data Output and QC 

• Delivery of raw and processed proteomics data. 
• Defined quality metrics and performance reporting. 
• Annotation of proteins and analytical parameters. 

D. Data Integration 

• Secure data transfer to MLSC-designated platforms. 
• Alignment with biobank metadata and clinical data. 

 3. Vendor Qualifications 

• Experience with large-scale proteomics studies. 
• Demonstrated reproducibility and analytical rigor. 
• Ability to support multi-site biobank initiatives. 

4. Proposal Requirements  

Executive summary, technical methodology, QC standards, experience, implementation plan, pricing, and assumptions.   

5. Evaluation Criteria   

Analytical rigor, scalability, data quality, integration readiness, experience, and cost.

6. Timeline

Deadline: 4.17.2026

Evaluation Period: Proposals will be weighted based on technical expertise, alignment with the MLSC’s needs and cost-efficiency. Finalists may be interviewed in mid/late May. A decision will be made in May/June with a tentative commencement in June.   

MLSC reserves the right to modify this timeline at its discretion.   

7. Additional Terms 

For questions regarding this RFP, contact: BioBank@masslifesciences.com

This RFP does not constitute an obligation to fund any proposals. The MLSC reserves the right to modify or cancel this RFP at any time and may request further clarifications or conduct interviews as part of the selection process. 

1. Background and Purpose 

The MLSC Biobank Program is a statewide, multi-institutional initiative designed to support biomedical research through secure, equitable access to high-quality biospecimens and associated data. As part of this effort, MLSC seeks qualified vendors to provide histology slide digitization services for human biospecimens collected across participating academic medical centers.   

The objective of this RFP is to enable generation of digital histology slide images that can be linked to biospecimens and clinical data under MLSC governance frameworks.   

2. Scope of Work 

A. Slide Digitization 

• High-resolution scanning of histology and pathology slides. 
• Support for common slide formats and stains. 
• Consistent image quality and resolution standards. 

 B. Image Quality and QC 

• Defined image quality metrics. 
• Procedures for rescan and quality verification. 

 C. Data Storage and Delivery 

• Secure delivery of digital images to MLSC-designated platforms. 
• Metadata capture, including slide identifiers and staining information. 
• Compatibility with downstream analysis tools. 

D. Security and Compliance 

• Secure handling of materials and data. 
• Compliance with applicable privacy and security requirements. 

 3. Vendor Qualifications 

• Experience digitizing pathology slides at scale. 
• Demonstrated image quality and consistency. 
• Capacity to support multi-institutional workflows. 

 4. Proposal Requirements 

Executive summary, digitization approach, QC standards, experience, implementation plan, pricing, and assumptions. 

 5. Evaluation Criteria 

Image quality, scalability, integration readiness, experience, and cost.   

6. Timeline 

Deadline: 4.17.2026   

Evaluation Period: Proposals will be weighted based on technical expertise, alignment with the MLSC’s needs and cost-efficiency. Finalists may be interviewed in mid/late May. A decision will be made in May/June with a tentative commencement in June.

MLSC reserves the right to modify this timeline at its discretion.   

7. Additional Terms 

 For questions regarding this RFP, contact: BioBank@masslifesciences.com      

This RFP does not constitute an obligation to fund any proposals. The MLSC reserves the right to modify or cancel this RFP at any time and may request further clarifications or conduct interviews as part of the selection process. 

1. Background and Purpose 

The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC) Biobank Program is a statewide, multi-institutional initiative designed to support biomedical research through secure, equitable access to high-quality biospecimens and associated data. As part of this effort, MLSC seeks qualified vendors to provide FFPE block processing and slide preparation services for human tissue specimens collected across participating academic medical centers.   

The objective of this RFP is to ensure standardized, high-quality FFPE block and slide preparation to support downstream molecular, histopathology, and imaging-based research applications under MLSC governance frameworks.      

2. Scope of Work 

A. FFPE Block Preparation 

• Receipt and accessioning of human tissue specimens. 
• Standardized fixation, processing, and paraffin embedding. 
• Documentation of processing parameters and conditions. 
• Adherence to chain-of-custody and biospecimen tracking requirements. 

 B. Slide Preparation 

• Sectioning of FFPE blocks at specified thicknesses. 
• Preparation of unstained and stained slides, as applicable. 
• Support for H&E and other routine histological stains, if requested. 
• Slide labeling and metadata association per MLSC standards. 

 C. Quality Control and Documentation 

• Defined quality control metrics for blocks and slides. 
• Assessment of tissue integrity and section quality. 
• Documentation of batch effects and processing variability. 

 D. Sample Delivery and Integration 

• Secure packaging and shipment of FFPE blocks and slides. 
• Delivery of associated metadata and QC documentation. 
• Compatibility with downstream digitization, molecular analysis, and data curation workflows. 

 E. Compliance and Security 

• Compliance with HIPAA and applicable human subject protections, as well as MA regulations for handling human samples. 
• Secure handling of human biospecimens and associated data. 
• Appropriate access controls and auditability. 

3. Vendor Qualifications 

• Demonstrated experience in FFPE block and slide preparation for human research samples. 
• Ability to support large-scale, multi-institutional research programs. 
• Proven quality control, reproducibility, and documentation practices. 
• Experience working with academic medical centers or biobanks preferred. 

4. Proposal Requirements  

Proposals should include an executive summary, technical approach, quality controls, relevant experience and references, implementation plan, pricing, and assumptions.    

5. Evaluation Criteria 

Proposals will be evaluated based on technical quality, standardization and reproducibility, scalability, compliance, experience, and cost. 

6. Timeline 

Deadline: 4.17.2026 

Evaluation Period: Proposals will be weighted based on technical expertise, alignment with the MLSC’s needs and cost-efficiency. Finalists may be interviewed in mid/late May. A decision will be made in May/June with a tentative commencement in June. 

MLSC reserves the right to modify this timeline at its discretion. 

7. Additional Terms 

For questions regarding this RFP, contact: BioBank@masslifesciences.com 

This RFP does not constitute an obligation to fund any proposals. The MLSC reserves the right to modify or cancel this RFP at any time and may request further clarifications or conduct interviews as part of the selection process. 

1. Background and Purpose 

The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC) Biobank Program is a statewide, multi-institutional initiative designed to support biomedical research through secure, equitable access to high-quality biospecimens and associated data. As part of this effort, MLSC seeks qualified vendors to provide spatial transcriptomics services for human tissue specimens collected across participating academic medical centers.   

The objective of this RFP is to enable generation of high-quality, research-grade spatial gene expression data from intact tissue sections, preserving spatial context and enabling downstream discovery, translational research, and data integration under MLSC governance frameworks.      

2. Scope of Work 

A. Tissue and Assay Support 

• Support for spatial transcriptomics assays performed on intact tissue sections, including FFPE and fresh frozen tissue, as applicable. 
• Clear specification of supported platforms and technologies. 
• Defined tissue input requirements and pre-analytic criteria. 
• Adherence to standardized sample handling and chain-of-custody procedures. 

 B. Data Generation and Quality Control 

• Generation of spatially resolved gene expression data. 
• Defined quality control metrics and performance thresholds. 
• Documentation of assay performance, batch effects, and technical variability. 

 C. Data Delivery and Integration 

• Secure delivery of raw and processed data outputs. 
• Delivery of associated metadata, imaging files, and QC reports. 
• Compatibility with downstream bioinformatics, visualization, and data curation pipelines designated by MLSC. 

 D. Compliance and Security 

• Compliance with HIPAA and applicable data protection requirements, as well as MA regulations for handling human samples. 
• Secure handling of human genomic and imaging data. 
• Encryption of data in transit and at rest. 

 3. Vendor Qualifications 

• Demonstrated experience providing spatial transcriptomics services for human research tissue samples. 
• Proven expertise with one or more spatial transcriptomics platforms. 
• Capacity to support large-scale, multi-institutional research programs. 
• Established quality control, reproducibility, and documentation practices. 

4. Proposal Requirements   

Proposals should include an executive summary, technical approach, quality controls, experience and references, implementation plan, pricing, and assumptions. 

5. Evaluation Criteria   

Proposals will be evaluated based on technical quality, data quality, scalability, platform suitability, compliance, experience, and cost.

6. Timeline 

Deadline: 4.17.2026 

Evaluation Period: Proposals will be weighted based on technical expertise, alignment with the MLSC’s needs and cost-efficiency. Finalists may be interviewed in mid/late May. A decision will be made in May/June with a tentative commencement in June. 

MLSC reserves the right to modify this timeline at its discretion. 

7. Additional Terms 

For questions regarding this RFP, contact: BioBank@masslifesciences.com 

This RFP does not constitute an obligation to fund any proposals. The MLSC reserves the right to modify or cancel this RFP at any time and may request further clarifications or conduct interviews as part of the selection process. 

1. Background and Purpose

The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC) Biobank Program is a statewide, multi-institutional initiative designed to support biomedical research through secure, equitable access to high-quality biospecimens and associated data. The program brings together academic medical centers across the Commonwealth to enable standardized collection, storage, stewardship, and access to human research specimens under MLSC governance frameworks.

As part of this effort, MLSC seeks qualified vendors to provide centralized, secure, and resilient biospecimen storage services, including geo-redundant, multi-site storage, to support the long-term preservation and availability of biospecimens and prepared materials.

The objective of this RFP is to establish a reliable, scalable, and risk-mitigated storage infrastructure that supports multiple temperature conditions, robust inventory management, and continuity of operations for the MLSC Biobank Program.  

2. Scope of Work 

A. Storage Infrastructure and Capacity 

• Provision of centralized biospecimen storage capacity at the following temperature conditions: 
• −80°C (ultra-low temperature storage) 
• −20°C (frozen storage) 
• 4°C (refrigerated storage) 
• Storage of biospecimen types including, but not limited to: 
• Tissue, blood, plasma, serum, and derivatives 
• Nucleic acids and molecular extracts 
• FFPE blocks and prepared slides 
• Ability to scale storage capacity over time as the biobank grows.    

B. Geo-Redundancy and Multi-Site Storage 

• Ability to support biospecimen storage across multiple physically distinct facilities. 
• Clear designation of primary and secondary storage sites, including geographic separation. 
• Defined strategies for geo-redundancy, including: 
• Replication or duplication of critical specimens, where applicable 
• Risk-based allocation of specimens across sites 
• Coordinated inventory management across all storage locations to ensure consistency, traceability, and continuity of access. 
• Business continuity planning that incorporates multi-site operations to mitigate risks related to natural disasters, power outages, equipment failure, or other disruptions. 

 C. Specimen Receipt and Accessioning 

• Secure receipt of biospecimens from multiple contributing institutions. 
• Verification of shipment condition and temperature upon receipt. 
• Accessioning, labeling, and assignment of unique identifiers in accordance with MLSC-defined standards. 
• Full chain-of-custody documentation from receipt through storage.    

D. Inventory Management and Tracking 

• Robust inventory management system with specimen-level tracking. 
• Support for linkage to associated metadata without exposing direct identifiers. 
• Real-time visibility into specimen location, storage condition, and status across sites. 
• Audit logs capturing access, movement, and retrieval events. 

 E. Environmental Monitoring and Quality Control 

• Continuous temperature monitoring for all storage units across all sites. 
• Automated alerts and escalation procedures for temperature excursions. 
• Preventive maintenance, validation, and calibration of storage equipment. 
• Backup power systems, redundancy, and disaster recovery procedures at each site.    

F. Specimen Retrieval and Distribution 

• Controlled retrieval of biospecimens and prepared materials upon authorized request. 
• Secure packaging and shipment to MLSC-designated destinations. 
• Documentation of specimen release, shipment condition, and chain-of-custody. 

G. Compliance and Security 

• Compliance with HIPAA and applicable human subject protections, as well as MA regulations for handling human samples.
• Secure handling of biospecimens and associated data. 
• Physical security controls at all storage facilities. 
• Role-based access controls, auditability, and trained personnel. 

 3. Vendor Qualifications 

• Demonstrated experience providing centralized biospecimen storage for human research samples. 
• Experience supporting large-scale, multi-institutional or biobank programs. 
• Proven environmental monitoring, redundancy, and disaster recovery practices. 
• Ability to support geo-redundant, multi-site storage operations. 
• Experience working with academic medical centers preferred.    

4. Proposal Requirements   

Proposals should include: 

• Executive summary 
• Description of storage infrastructure and geo-redundancy model 
• Specimen handling and inventory management approach 
• Environmental monitoring and continuity planning 
• Relevant experience and references 
• Implementation plan and timeline 
• Pricing structure and assumptions 

 5. Evaluation Criteria 

Proposals will be evaluated based on: 

• Technical capability and reliability 
• Storage capacity and scalability 
• Geo-redundancy and multi-site resilience strategy 
• Inventory management and traceability 
• Compliance and security practices 
• Experience and references 
• Cost and value 

6. Timeline

Deadline: 4.17.2026

Evaluation Period: Proposals will be weighted based on technical expertise, alignment with the MLSC’s needs and cost-efficiency. Finalists may be interviewed in mid/late May. A decision will be made in May/June with a tentative commencement in June.

MLSC reserves the right to modify this timeline at its discretion.  

7. Additional Terms 

For questions regarding this RFP, contact: BioBank@masslifesciences.com      

This RFP does not constitute an obligation to fund any proposals. The MLSC reserves the right to modify or cancel this RFP at any time and may request further clarifications or conduct interviews as part of the selection process. 

1. Background and Purpose

MLSC is soliciting proposals for transcriptomics services to support gene expression profiling of biospecimens collected through the Biobank Program. These data will be linked with other molecular and clinical data to enable multi-omics research. 

2. Scope of Work

A. Sample Handling 

• RNA quality assessment and preparation. 
• Support for tissue and blood-derived samples. 
• Adherence to standardized handling and storage requirements. 

 B. Transcriptomic Profiling 

• Bulk or single-cell transcriptomic workflows, as applicable. 
• Reproducible library preparation and sequencing processes. 
• Defined quality metrics. 

 C. Data Delivery 

• Secure delivery of raw and processed transcriptomic data. 
• QC reports and metadata. 
• Compatibility with MLSC bioinformatics infrastructure. 

 D. Compliance and Security 

• Compliance with human subject data protections, as well as MA regulations for handling human samples.
• Secure handling and transfer of data. 

3. Vendor Qualifications 

• Experience delivering transcriptomic services at scale. 
• Strong quality control and documentation practices. 
• Familiarity with multi-omics integration. 

4. Proposal Requirements

Executive summary, technical approach, QC and validation, experience, implementation timeline, pricing, and assumptions.   

5. Evaluation Criteria 

Technical quality, scalability, integration readiness, experience, and cost.   

6. Timeline 

Deadline: 4.17.2026   

Evaluation Period: Proposals will be weighted based on technical expertise, alignment with the MLSC’s needs and cost-efficiency. Finalists may be interviewed in mid/late May. A decision will be made in May/June with a tentative commencement in June.

MLSC reserves the right to modify this timeline at its discretion.   

7. Additional Terms 

For questions regarding this RFP, contact: BioBank@masslifesciences.com 

This RFP does not constitute an obligation to fund any proposals. The MLSC reserves the right to modify or cancel this RFP at any time and may request further clarifications or conduct interviews as part of the selection process.    

1. Background and Purpose 

The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC) Biobank Program is a statewide, multi-institutional initiative designed to support biomedical research through secure, equitable access to high-quality biospecimens and associated data. The program partners with academic medical centers across the Commonwealth to enable standardized biospecimen collection, processing, storage, and access under MLSC governance frameworks.   

As part of this effort, MLSC seeks qualified vendors to provide standardized biospecimen sample collection kits to support consistent, high-quality specimen collection across multiple institutions and clinical settings.   

The objective of this RFP is to ensure the availability of scalable, compliant, and fit-for-purpose collection kits that support standardized biospecimen acquisition, preserve sample integrity, and enable downstream research applications.      

2. Scope of Work 

A. Collection Kit Design and Components 

• Design and provision of biospecimen collection kits for research use. 
• Kits may support one or more biospecimen types, including but not limited to: 
• Whole blood, plasma, serum 
• Tissue and tissue derivatives 
• Biofluids (for example saliva or urine) 
• Stool or other specialty specimens, as applicable 
• Inclusion of all required consumables, such as: 
• Collection tubes or containers 
• Preservatives or stabilizing reagents, if applicable 
• Labels, barcodes, and documentation materials 
• Absorbent materials and secondary containment 

 B. Standardization and Usability 

• Kits designed for consistent use across multiple collection sites. 
• Clear, user-friendly instructions for clinical and research staff. 
• Compatibility with MLSC-defined SOPs and downstream workflows. 
• Ability to customize kits by biospecimen type or study need. 

 C. Labeling and Traceability 

• Support for standardized labeling and barcoding. 
• Compatibility with MLSC inventory and tracking systems. 
• Clear linkage between collected specimens and associated metadata. 

 D. Packaging and Distribution 

• Assembly, packaging, and distribution of kits to multiple participating institutions. 
• Ability to scale kit production and distribution volumes. 
• Defined processes for replenishment and inventory management. 

 E. Compliance and Quality 

• Compliance with HIPAA and applicable human subject protections, as well as MA regulations for handling human samples.
• Materials suitable for human research biospecimen collection. 
• Quality control procedures to ensure kit consistency and reliability. 

3. Vendor Qualifications 

• Demonstrated experience providing biospecimen collection kits for human research. 
• Ability to support large-scale, multi-institutional research programs. 
• Proven quality control and supply chain management practices. 
• Experience working with academic medical centers or biobanks preferred. 

4. Proposal Requirements 

Proposals should include an executive summary, kit design and components, standardization and labeling approach, distribution and scalability plan, experience and references, implementation timeline, pricing, and assumptions.      

5. Evaluation Criteria 

Proposals will be evaluated based on: 

• Technical suitability and completeness of kits 
• Standardization and usability 
• Scalability and logistics capability 
• Compliance and quality practices 
• Experience and references 
• Cost and value 

6. Timeline 

Deadline: 4.17.2026 

Evaluation Period: Proposals will be weighted based on technical expertise, alignment with the MLSC’s needs and cost-efficiency. Finalists may be interviewed in mid/late May. A decision will be made in May/June with a tentative commencement in June. 

MLSC reserves the right to modify this timeline at its discretion. 

7. Additional Terms 

For questions regarding this RFP, contact: BioBank@masslifesciences.com 

This RFP does not constitute an obligation to fund any proposals. The MLSC reserves the right to modify or cancel this RFP at any time and may request further clarifications or conduct interviews as part of the selection process. 

Program Overview

This program offers tax incentives to companies engaged in life sciences research and development, commercialization and manufacturing in Massachusetts in exchange for job creation. The primary goal of the program is to incentivize life sciences companies to create new long-term jobs in Massachusetts. 

Please view the details of the program including full list of eligibility requirements, resources available and evaluation process before submitting your application.

The application deadline is March 31st, 2026, at 2 p.m. EST.

You can save your application at any time and continue it later. To edit/update your submitted application, click the 'Open' button to the right of the application listed below under "My Applications," and then click on "Program Applications." Please note, each tab of the application will need to be completed prior to submission.

If you have any questions regarding this application, or experience any technical difficulties, please e-mail taxprogram@masslifesciences.com.

Program Overview

The MLSC is particularly seeking to enhance and/or expand training programs that address critical skills and talent supply gaps facing the sate’s life science industry. Such programs include those focused on Biomanufacturing, MedTech, Advanced Manufacturing, and other key careers in the life sciences ecosystem in Massachusetts. Applicants must have at-least one industry partnership that ensures that the program is responding to a direct hiring need.

Furthermore, the MLSC is committed to increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion within the life sciences workforce and will prioritize investments in programs that serve underrepresented populations.

Program Eligibility

Applicants must be a Massachusetts legally organized:

• Life Science company (“Company”) located in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
• and regisered to do business in Massachusetts. A Certifcate of Good Standing from
• the Massachusetts Secretary of State and Certifcate of Good Standing from the
• Massachusetts Department of Revenue are required for the submission
• Community-Based Organizations (CBOs), including CBOs relying on a fscal agent
• Community Colleges, Colleges, and Universities
• Comprehensive and Vocational High Schools, including Vocational Schools ofering an
• after-hours or Career Technical Initiative evening training program
• For-Profit Entities
• Non-Profit Entities
• Municipalities
• Workforce Development Organizations
• MassHire Workforce Investment Boards and Career Centers

Please review detailed program eligibility and application evaluation process here: Eligibility and Evaluation Process

If you have any questions regarding the application process, Email: Pathmaker@masslifesciences.com