GridIONJOFOC-1-2.pdf

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

FAR 6.302-1

1. WRAIR-Europe-Middle East recommend the Embassy Tbilisi use other than full and open competition for the acquisition of an Oxford Nanopore Technologies GridION used by the WRAIR-Europe-Middle East laboratory with the Richard Lugar Center for Public Health. Estimated cost will be $87,000.

2. Nature and/or description of the action being approved.

This would be the purchase of GridION, via sole source to Ox-Gen, LLC. The device is critical to several ongoing projects for WRAIR-Europe-Middle East. The GridION device is designed to run up to five nanopore experiments in parallel with fully integrated, high-performance compute. The GridION Project Pack enables users to get started with GridION with a consumable budget. The pack includes sequencing kits, flow cells and software licence and warranty. A remote installation support call (Assurance) is set up to ensure users devices are correctly installed and ready to use in providing syndromic panel results for the detection of respiratory and gastrointestinal pathogens. It enables WRAIR-Europe-Middle East to meet its biotechnology-based requirements associated with its force health protection surveillance / collaboration mission. This device is critical for our pathogen discovery efforts that are used to protect the Warfighter.

3. A description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency’s needs.

Acquisition of an Oxford Nanopore Technologies GridION from Ox-Gen, LLC. used by the WRAIR-Europe-Middle East laboratory with the Lugar Center. Estimated cost is $87,000.

4. An identification of the statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition.

The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition is 10 USC 3204(a)(1)) as implemented by the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 6.302- 1 entitled, “Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.”

5. A demonstration that the proposed contractor’s unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition requires use of the authority cited (for sole source acquisitions; also required for unusual and compelling urgency where more than one offer will not be solicited).

Only Oxford Nanopore Technologies platforms can run Oxford Nanopore Technologies reagents. They are the only company and platform that enables the long-read sequencing technology needed to support our ongoing work. There is no other company that can be utilized for this technology.

6. A description of efforts made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as is practicable. The description should include whether a FedBizOpps notice was or will be publicized, as required by FAR 5.2The requirement shall be publicized on www.sam.gov

7. A determination by the Contracting Officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable.

The Contracting Officer determines that the anticipated price(s) will be fair and reasonable based on preceding contract prices by the vendor. Any other company chosen would need to acquire this equipment from Oxford Nanopore Technologies.

8. A description of the market survey conducted and the results or a statement of the reasons a market survey was not conducted.

The vendor recommended is the only known source for the requested technology/equipment (https://store.nanoporetech.com/us/gridion.html ) Any other company chosen would need to acquire this equipment from Oxford Nanopore Technologies.

9. Any other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition.

N/a

10. A listing of sources, if any that expressed, in writing, an interest in the acquisition.

N/a

11. A statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition before any subsequent acquisition for the supplies or services required.

N/a http://www.sam.gov/