H_JOFOC_-_Sole_Source.docx

Justification for Other than Full and Open Competition at or Below the Simplified Acquisition Threshold

Project Title: PERKIN ELMER SERVICE CONTRACT

I. Identification of the agency and contracting activity

II. Description of the project, and supplies or services required to meet the agency’s needs (including the estimated value) A. Period of performance, inclusive of options: from 10/20/18-10/19/23 BASE YEAR WITH 4 YEAR OPTIONS B. Project Background Our mission here at the VRC is to determine the immune correlates of protection against emerging infectious diseases. One of the specific aims of the Douek lab is to understand processes that determine the course of human diseases in which the immune system plays a central role in their pathogenesis and outcome. Our work in HIV infection in part involves analysis of the clonal composition of CD8 T cells that respond to HIV and the interaction with HIV quasispecies. Escape from adaptive T cell immunity through viral epitope mutation is considered to be a major obstacle to the development of vaccines that aim to elicit cellular immunity. We are thus investigating the molecular determinants of this phenomenon at the level of the T cell receptor–epitope contact interface and defining structural motifs that govern the pace and pattern of epitope escape. The practical consequences of our findings suggest that vaccine strategies should elicit responding T cells that are qualitatively superior, in terms of clonotypic composition, to those elicited in natural infection.

C. Description of the supplies or services to be purchased This request is for service on the ZEPHYR Workstation. These systems handle high throughput, multi-platform capabilities that will allow for the purification, set up and enzymatic reactions needed for library generation all in one system. Yearly service contract is needed to ensure these instruments are functioning properly.

III. Identification of the statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition (SELECT ONE)

· 41 USC 253(c)(1) and FAR Part 6.302-1: Only one responsible source

IV. Demonstration that the proposed contractor(s) unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition requires use of the authority cited.

A. Name and address of the proposed contractor(s) PerkinElmer Health Sciences, Inc. 710 Bridgeport Avenue Shelton, CT 06484-4794 B. Describe why only the requested supply/service will meet the government’s needs: This service contract is needed maintain the ZEPHYR Workstations used by the Sequencing Core. These machines are used to analyze the clonal composition of CD8 T cells that respond to HIV infection. Escape from adaptive T cell immunity through viral epitope mutation is considered to be a major obstacle to the development of vaccines that aim to elicit cellular immunity. This is the only service contract that covers the extensive service needed for our machines. This service is completely comprehensive and includes full coverage for parts, labor and travel. Service contract also includes reagent replacement upon HW failures and remote technical support. Only this service will meet our need because it is the only one of its type with capabilities and specifications that are geared towards the ZEPHY. Also, only this requested supply will meet out need because purchasing another supply or service would introduce possible outside errors to these very expensive machines and result in the waste of time and money.

C. Describe why only the proposed contractor is capable of providing the requested supply/service: This service contract needs to be provided by PerkinElmer because as the manufacture they are the only vendor that has the extensive knowledge needed to repair these instruments. As of yet, no other company has been determined to have the extensive knowledge and expertise in the intricacies of the instrumentation aforementioned in this requirement.