FBO_4_LifeTech_Exome_ION_Chef_Kits_FY25_1.docx

DESCRIPTION: The National Institutes of Health - NIAAA intends to procure TXOME reagents and ION Kits. The kits will be used for DNA analysis of samples collected from ongoing studies. This is the method used for previous samples and will allow the Lab to combine the results of previous work. According to the LNG Lab, the reagents are “required to genetically characterize newly enrolled study subjects into the NIAAA clinical protocols as part of long-term genetic analyses. The data will be combined with genotypes previously generated on study enrollees from preceding years…”

This proposed procurement is for products and services for which the government intends to solicit and negotiate on a sole source basis with Life Technologies Corp. In order to comply with the requirements in this Solicitation/Special Notice, the responses should be based on our interpretation of the general requirements provided below.

Life Technologies is the manufacturer and sole distributor of the Exome sequencing that is compatible with existing ION Chef and ION GeneStudio S5 Sequencer used at the collaborating LNG laboratory processing the samples. No comparable reagents and Exome sequencing is available from any other source that is compatible with existing processing systems or analytical software.

The Ion Chef and Ion GeneStudio S5 Sequencer are Life Technologies machines (Exome sequencing system) and are used for the ION Analysis. The products needed for this requirement are:

*ION 550 Chef Kit x 4

* ION Xpress Barcodes x 1

* ION 550 Chip Kit x 4and 8 Pks *ION Ampliseq Exome Ready Kit x 2

* ION Library Taqman Quantitation Kit (x 24) x 4

The proposed contract action is for Exome kits and reagents that would allow the sequencing services which the Lab has been performing in their research. It is also a continuation of previous services for which the Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source under the authority of FAR 6.302. Interested vendors may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirement and/or submit quotations. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotes. However, all quotes received within the time and date of publication of this "Special Notice" will be considered by the Government. A determination by the Government not to compete with this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a future competitive procurement.

HOW TO RESPOND: In order to compete for this project, interested parties must be registered in the Central Contracting Registration and submit a price quotation by 11 am, ET, June 23, 2025. Offerors should submit one copy of the quote to MOE FILALI via email. Electronic transmissions to Moe.Filali@nih.gov are preferable but must be timely. It is the responsibility of the Offeror to ensure the proposal is received by the date and time shown above. All questions should be directed earlier.

Background and Lab’s Justification for specific Life Tech’s TXPME, Taqman and ION Kits.

“The aim of the project is to identify potentially clinically relevant genetic variants and it is therefore imperative that all subjects be screened using the same exome sequencing product to avoid the introduction of technical artifacts that can arise when different exome sequence enrichment products are utilized, which arise due to differences in the target regions enriched and due to differing enrichment profiles of common regions. Currently approximately 45% of the cohort have previously been sequenced using the AmpliSeq Exome product requested on the Ion Proton sequencers currently installed at the Laboratory of Neurogenesis. Different sequencer platforms have differing profiles for technical artifacts introduced by the sequencing chemistries, and differing abilities to detect variants, and so it is important that all subjects be sequenced using the same sequencing platform. “ The AmpliSeq exome reagents compatible with the Ion Protons previously used in this project are proprietary and can only be sourced from the manufacturer, Thermo Fisher Scientific, parent company for Life Technologies.

These kits will be used for DNA analysis of samples collected from ongoing studies. This is the method used for previous samples and will allow the Lab to combine results of previous work.

The proposed contract action is for which the Government does not intend to solicit and negotiate with only one source under the authority of FAR 6.302. Instead, interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirement and submit quotations. This notice is a request for competitive quotes and all quotes received within the time and date of publication of this Notice will be considered by the Government. A determination by the Government not to compete with this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a future competitive procurement.

HOW TO RESPOND: In order to compete for this project, interested parties must be registered in the Central Contracting Registration/SAM and submit a price quotation by 11:00 am, ET, June 23rd 2025. Offerors should submit one copy of the quote to MOE FILALI via email. Electronic transmissions to Moe.Filali@nih.gov are preferable but must be timely. It is the responsibility of the Offeror to ensure the proposal is received by the date and time shown above.

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in FAR 12.6 as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation and a separate written solicitation will not be issued. The solicitation/contract will include all applicable provisions and clauses in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2019-05.

The offeror must include a completed copy of the provision of FAR Clause 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications – Commercial Items with its offer. The provisions of FAR Clause 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors – Commercial Items; FAR Clause 52.212-2, Evaluation – Commercial Items; FAR Clause 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions – Commercial Items; and FAR 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders – Commercial Items – Deviation for Simplified Acquisitions applies to this acquisition. FAR Clause 52.204-24, Representation Regarding Certain Telecommunication and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment; FAR Clause 52.204-25, Prohibition on Contracting for Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment; FAR Clause 52.213-4 to reflect the changes in FAC 2019-05 and FAR Clause 52.244-6 to reflect the changes in FAC 2019-05. The offeror must include their Dun & Bradstreet Number (DUNS), the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), and the certification of business size. The clauses are available in full text at http://www.arnet.gov/far. Interested vendors capable of providing the Government with the equipment specified in this synopsis should submit their quotation to the below address. All responsible sources may submit a quotation, which if timely received, shall be considered by the agency. Quotations must be submitted by email to Moe.filali@nih.gov.

The following Federal Acquisition Regulations clauses are incorporated by reference: FAR 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications-Commercial Items (Mar 2005), 52.212-4 (Sept 2005), 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes of Executive Orders-Commercial Items (Aug 2006). (6)(i) 52.222-26, Equal Opportunity (Apr 2002) (E.O. 11246). (18) 52.222-35, Equal Opportunity for Special Disabled Veterans, Veterans of the Vietnam Era, and Other Eligible Veterans (Dec 2001) (38 U.S.C. 4212). (19) 52.222-36, Affirmative Action for Workers with Disabilities (Jun 1998) (29 U.S.C. 793). (20) 52.222-37, Employment Reports on Special Disabled Veterans, Veterans of the Vietnam Era, and Other Eligible Veterans (Dec 2001) (38 U.S.C. 4212). (31) 52.232-33, Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer-Central Contractor Registration (Oct 2003) (31 U.S.C. 3332).