Brand_Name_Justification-Redacted.pdf

BRAND NAME JUSTIFICATION

PR: 0040582350

1. Contracting Agency and Activity.

The Department of the Interior, United States Geological Survey plans to contract by means other than full and open competition. This document sets forth the justification and approval for award of a Brand Name requirement on a limited source basis as required by 13.106-1(b)(1).

2. Nature of Action Being Approved.

The U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, requests award of a new procurement during FY22 for a BioRad QX200 AutoDG Droplet Digital PCR System and associated accessories, reagents, and consumables.

3. Description of Supplies or Services.

The Molecular Ecology Laboratory at the Fort Collins Science Center would like to purchase a Digital Droplet PCR (ddPCR) system with an automated droplet generator. This ddPCR system will be used in environmental DNA (eDNA) studies to determine the presence/absence of species in water samples. Digital PCR is a new technological advancement that provided ultrasensitive and absolute nucleic acid quantification without the need for standard curves. It is particularly useful for low-abundance targets like is typically encountered in eDNA studies.

Having an automated droplet generator eliminates user-to-user variability and provides more consistent droplet counts across users and plates. Competition will take place among Bio-Rad resellers.

System should include:

o an automated droplet generator o droplet reader o computer o software for ddPCR analysis o plate sealer o 96-Deep Well head for a C1000 Touch Thermal Cycler.

o Set of reagents/consumables for installation/training

The automated droplet generator should:

o Generates droplets for 96 ddPCR reactions in under 45 minutes o Partition a 20 μL PCR reaction into 20,000 nanoliter-sized droplets

Can analyze both Taqman Hydrolysis Probes and EvaGreen Assays Able to process samples up to 96 samples in one run Accurately count target copies when multiple target copies are distributed in a droplet.

Droplets are singulated in the detector and each droplet is measured for the presence/absence of the target. Only droplets fitting strict QC criteria are used for concentration measurement.

Analysis software should:

o Display fluorescence amplitude values per droplet o Show multiplex data for up to two targets per fluorophore, with up to two fluorophores o Compute concentration (copies/ μL and copies/20 μL reaction o Calculate copy number for target of interest o Be able to merge results from replicate wells o Allow data to be exported as a .csv file

4. Estimated Dollar Value.

5. Statutory Authority. The proposed action may be awarded on a sole source basis under the authority FAR 13.106-1(b)(1).

6. Rationale Supporting Use of Citation in No. 5.

The QX200 from BioRad is the only droplet system on the market. Droplets are singulated in the detector and each droplet is measured for the presence/absence of the target. Only droplets fitting strict QX criteria are used for concentration measurement. Other digital PCR systems use nanoplates to partition the reactions. There is no way to tell if the chamber is partially or fully filled causing some data to be missed.

7. Other Information. See #6 above.

8. The Efforts to Identify Additional Sources Including the Market Research Conducted.

Market research included contacting other companies that make digital PCR systems. Other digital PCR systems use nanoplates to partition the reactions. With that technology there is no way to tell if the chamber is partially or fully filled causing some data to be missed. BioRad is the only company that makes a digital droplet PCR system. Competition will be sought among BioRad resellers.

9. Actions to Overcome Barriers to Competition.

In the near future, consumables and reagents could be purchased competitively. However, future requirements for same/similar items will undergo market research and be competed to the maximum extent practical.

10. Recommendation and Certification from Program Office

Based on the above, I recommend this acquisition be conducted on a limited source basis. I certify that technical data which form a basis for this justification, that are the responsibility of technical or requirements personnel are complete and accurate.

Signature Date

11. Certifications and Approval from the Contracting Officer:

a. Price reasonableness will be determined through competition among resellers.

b. This justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

12. Approvals

Lisa D. Williams, Contracting Officer Date

Annie M. Howard, Chief of the Contracting Office Date

Jennifer Kelley, Bureau Competition Advocate Date

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) considers employee signatures to be Personal Protected Information, and therefore all employee signatures have been redacted. By posting this document, the Contracting Officer attests all appropriate signatures have been obtained.