JA Sole Source Far Part 13.5 - Redacted.pdf

Control No:

Contractor: Oxford Nanopore Technologies Inc

Supply/Service: Long-read DNA sequencing PromethION 24

FAR Part 13 Justification and Approval Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items

1. Requiring Activity: U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL), Army Research Directorate, Biological & Biotechnology Sciences Division

2. Contracting Activity: Army Contracting Command (ACC) Adelphi – Aberdeen Proving Ground (ACC-APG), Adelphi Contracting Division (CCAP-MDI), 2800 Powder Mill Road, Adelphi, MD 20783.

3. Description of Action: The United States (U.S.) Army Research Laboratory (ARL), Army Research Directorate (ARD), Biological & Biotechnology Sciences Division (BBSD) requests a firm-fixed-price(FFP) contract with Oxford Nanopore Technologies Inc located at 101 Avenue of the Americas, New York City, New York 10013 (CAGE Code: 73DG3; Large Business) for long-read DNA sequencer PromethION 24. The Government projects award for September 2025 and fiscal year (FY) 2024-2025, Army (Congressional) Research, Development, Test & Evaluation (RDT&E) funds will be used.

_X_ An acquisition plan is not required because this procurement either does not meet the threshold at Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) 207.103(d)(i), or is an R&D acquisition and does not meet the definition of services in 10 U.S.C. 2330(c)(2).

4. Description of Supplies/Services: The Government requires one (1) long-read DNA sequencer PromethION 24. The proposed contract action is for a sole-source Firm Fixed Price (FFP) award to Oxford Nanopore Technolgies.

Delivery Date: October 2025

Delivery Location:

Biological & Biotechnology Sciences Division - Biolabs DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory 2800 Powder Mill Rd.

Adelphi, MD 20783

Total Value: $540,000.00

5. Authority Cited: 41 U.S.C. 1901(e)(2), implemented by FAR 13.501(a)(1)(ii) -- Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements.

6. Reason for Authority Cited: As described at FAR 13.501(a), when the supplies or services required by the agency are available only from one responsible source, or for Department of Defense (DoD), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Coast Guard, from only one or a limited number of responsible sources, and no other types of supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements, full and open competition need not be provided for.

This device will be used in conjunction with an existing laboratory equipment to support electromagnetic (EM) Bioeffects, Synthetic Biology, and TRANSFORME essential research program (ERP) research efforts. It is imperative for continuity of research to procure this device to support the current DNA Sequencer GridION (awarded under contract number:

Supply/Service: Long-read DNA sequencing PromethION 24

W911QX20P0073) utilized in the above research efforts. This additional device is required to support expanded research efforts in EM Bioeffects that will involve processing of thousands of samples per year for which the current instrument (GridION) is not sufficient. The procurement of this additional DNA sequencer PromethION will process samples five (5) times faster, provide data to researchers to drive changes to experiment parameters for the next iteriation, and shorten the time from when the experiment is performed and the data is available for analysis, from 42 weeks to two (2) weeks.

Oxford Nanopore Technolgies is the sole manufacturer of this device and is the only company available to provide a long-read DNA sequncer that generates data that is compatible with the existing device. The samples will need to run through the instrument up to 20 times to generate enough data to perform the required analysis. Data must be fully compatible with all other data produced by Oxford's proprietary technology to perform DNA sequencing. Data generated by DNA sequencers made by other companies researched include PacBio, however the data generated by this DNA sequencer is not compatible with Oxford Nanopore Technology (ONT) existing data and there is no method to convert non-Oxford Nanopore Technology generated data to be compatible with ONT-generated data.

7. Efforts to Obtain Competition: The Contracting Officer published the notice required by FAR 5.201, and one (1) authorized reseller addressed interest. As required by FAR 5.201, an Intent to Sole Source Synopsis was posted on SAM.gov on 14 July 2025 with a closing date of 23 July 2025. To date, one (1) authorized reseller have expressed interest in the acquisition.

Because this is a sole source action, effective competition is applicable among authorized resellers from Oxford Nanopore Technologies Inc. Other companies have been contacted and market research performed and no other company has been identified due to experimental continuity.

8. Actions to Increase Competition: The proprietary technology within current laboratory equipment required the use of the device used by Oxford Nanopore Technologies. Currently there are no other devices on the marketplace that can meet the experimental continuity requirement. The Government will continue to research other manufacturers for future efforts.

9. Market Research: Research Biologist, with 15 years of experience in DNA sequencing conducted market research in January 2025 through May 2025 to identify vendors capable of meeting ARL’s requirements. Market research efforts for this requirement included internet searches and literature reviews. Market research concluded that no other sources are capable of providing the required laboratory equipment due to experimental continuity and the proprietary nature of the existing laboratory equipment already in use for research efforts. As such, it was determined that it is in the Government’s best interest to issue a sole source to Oxford Nanopore Technologies on the basis of experimental continuity, as well as the unique and proprietary nature of the requirement.

10. Interested Sources:

Oxford Nanopore Technolgies 101 Avenue of the Americas New York City, NY 10013 CAGE Code: 73DG3 Business Size: Large

Supply/Service: Long-read DNA sequencing PromethION 24

Government Scientific Source, Inc.

12355 Sunrise Valley Dr.

Suite 400, Reston, VA 20191 Business Size: Small

However, as required by FAR 5.201, a synopsis was posted to the government wide point of entry, SAM.gov on 14 July 2025. The Government received one (1) authorized reseller addressed interest.

11. Other Facts:

a. Procurement History:

(1) Contract & Award Date: W911QX20P0073

(2) Competitive status of this action: sole-source

(3) Authority Authority 41 U.S.C. 1901(e)(2), implemented by FAR 13.501(a) -- Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements.

(4) Procurement Value: $95,605.00

(5) Award Date: 22-Apr-2020

Supply/Service: Long-read DNA sequencing PromethION 24

12. Technical Certification: I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance which are included in the justification are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Research Biologist

13. Requirements Certification: I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance which are included in the justification are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Branch Chief, Synthesis Biological Tools

14. Fair and Reasonable Cost Determination: I hereby determine that the anticipated cost or price to the Government for this contract action will be fair and reasonable.

This determination will be made using the following:

__ Cost analysis _X_ Price analysis __ Should-cost

_X_ IGE

__ Audit:

__ Other:

As a part of this basis, certified cost or pricing data:

__ will be required.

_X_ will not be required and the following exception applies (FAR 15.403):

__ Prices that will be agreed upon are based on adequate price competition.

__ Prices that will be agreed upon are based on prices set by law or regulation.

_X_ A commercial item is being acquired.

__ A waiver has been granted by the head of the contracting activity (HCA) in accordance with DFARS PGI 215.403-1.

__ The contract action is a modification to a contract or subcontract for commercial item(s).

__ The estimated cost of the contract action is less than the threshold for certified cost or pricing data.

Contracting Officer

15. Contracting Officer Certification: I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Supply/Service: Long-read DNA sequencing PromethION 24

Approval

Based on the foregoing justification, I hereby approve the procurement of long-read DNA sequencer PromethION 24, for an estimate of $540,000.00 and for an estimated delivery date of September 2025, on an other than full and open competition basis pursuant to the authority of 41 U.S.C. 1901 as implemented by FAR 13.501, subject to availability of funds, and provided that the services and property herein described have otherwise been authorized for acquisition.