Attachment 1 Specifications.doc

Attachment 1 - Specifications Contractor shall furnish general supplies and provide for an annual service/maintenance agreement, for codesets used in the multiplex gene expression of a nanoString nCounter Sprint Profiler device operated by the Foreign Animal Disease Research Unit.

BACKGROUND/SCOPE

These specifications describe the purchase of consumables and providing for a service contract Agreement for the use in the nCounter Sprint Profiler equipment. This effort is to place an efficient system to better understand host immune response of swine infected with African Swine Fever Virus and Classical Swine Fever Virus and foot-and-mouth disease. The final goal is to create a profile of cytokine or biological markers associated with those foreign animal diseases. For this achievement, it is necessary place orders in consumables and service contract agreement to provide maintenance and technical support services for the USDA ARS, Foreign Animal Disease Research Unit (FADRU), Plum Island Animal Disease Center or for the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility.

GENERAL SCOPE

The Foreign Animal Disease Research Unit (FADRU) from ARS relies on a robust technology that will support reliable gene expression analysis on any type of sample, well and not so well conserved, to stablish cytokine profile on new but also historical samples.

Therefore, it will be necessary to continuously purchase consumables and provide a service agreement to accomplish the cytokine and other gene profile from swine host in response to African Swine Fever, Classical Swine Fever Virus, and foot-and-mouth disease. The consumables for nCounter SPRINT Profiler, with a high-plex gene capability with molecular barcode chemistry enough to detect up to 800 genes. The acquisition of these reagents will allow the continue use the nCounter Sprint Profiler, which is robust, highly reproducible data and automated which required only 15 min hands on to prepare the samples. Acquisition of reagents will be necessary to analysis of hundred animal clinical samples, such as PBMCs, frozen or fresh tissue as well as formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue. The combination of equipment and reagents will translate to a better understanding of host immune response, critical piece to our scientific mission. Furthermore, the establishment of a disease related gene profile will help predict disease outcome-related humane endpoints, therefore, nCounter SPRINT Profiler will have a direct impact on animal welfare and we will use this equipment in daily base. Therefore, is necessary stablish a pipeline for purchase new reagents as well as provide a contract of a service contract not only ensures maintenance of the device, but also emergency repairs when needed.

CONTRACT TYPE

A requirements contract which shall provide for filling all actual requirements of designated Government activities for services during a specified contract period with time or duration to be scheduled by placing task orders with the contractor. Each task order issued against this contract shall have a separate period of performance and delivery location. Funds will be obligated under each separate task order based on actual needs.

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The Government anticipates award of a requirements contract with a five year ordering period. The exact dates will depend upon the length of time required to make award but are estimated to be 5/01/2023- 04/30/2028.

PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

The performance of this work shall be performed at contractor’s facility.

No work shall be performed outside of the United States or in any locality outside of the jurisdiction of the laws of the United States.

GOVERNMENT FURNISHED PROPRETY

Not Applicable

DELIVERY ORDER REQUIREMENTS

1. PIADC or NBAF will provide the contractor with the specific sequence that is to be synthesized custom codeSet as well as specie specific for the genes.

2. The Contractor shall provide assembling of codeSet and data showing that the sequence is correct upon time of delivery.

3. The contractor shall keep all requested sequences confidential, and not make them available to any public or private entity without approval from the PIADC or NBAF.

4. Contractor shall supply completed custom codeSet as requested by FADRU in genes that was requested. Delivery shall occur within 30 days of completion of sequencing for each task order. If delays or failed synthesis occur the contractor shall notify PIADC or NBAF and request any necessary extension of delivery date.

PLACEMENT OF DELIVERY ORDERS

Delivery Orders will placed IAW FAR 52.216-18, Ordering. Delivery Orders will be issued based on Exhibit A pricing, against the time for which the delivery order is issued. Funding will be provided separately for each individual Delivery Order.

DELIVERY REQUIREMENTS

Delivery shall be made within thirty (30) days of Delivery Order award. Delivery location will be indicated on each order. Delivery locations are expected to be Plum Island, Orient, NY and NBAF, Manhattan, KS.

PLEASE NOTE: Plum Island Warehouse is closed during lunch hours of 11:30am- 12:30pm EST.

INSPECTION AND ACEPTANCE

The work shall be inspected and accepted on a case-by-case basis by the Technical POC for each delivery/task order. Any performance issues shall be reported to the ordering CO.

CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION

The PCO is the only person authorized to approve and make modifications to contract terms and conditions on behalf of the Government. ONLY THE PCO has such authority and Contractor acts at its own peril if it performs in a manner inconsistent with contract terms and conditions at the direction or suggestion of a person or entity other than the PCO.

Delivery Orders may be placed only by the PCO or any ACO appointed after award.

Technical Point of Contact (TPOC):

Dr. Ediane Silva, VMO Phone:(631)323-3132 Email: ediane.silva@ars.usda.gov