Submission of Written Questions_Responses_.pdf

Question Reference (page number, section number, paragraph) Question Answer

1 ARBuy - Items Tab On the Items tab inside the AR Buy site, the default quantity is 100,000 - is that correct? The solicitation indicates 1 - 10 cases per year will be submitted.

1 - 10 cases per year, costs calculated per standard case basis

2 1.8.A.2

In section 1.8.A.2 (Contactor Laboratory Requirements) of the Solicitation Document, it states that the State or Arkansas expects to submit samples from between one (1) to ten (10) cases per year. On the Items tab inside the AR Buy site, should the price entered reflect the total cost for 1 case?

1 - 10 cases per year, costs calculated per standard case basis

3 ARBuy - Items Tab

Each case requires different DNA processing services. Some samples require microarray genotyping (i.e., mixtures and targeted kinship testing on reference samples). On the Items tab inside the AR Buy site, what components should be included in the unit cost?

Do you want pricing to be based on sequencing and genetic genealogy only or do you want to restructure your pricing request?

Do you want us to include in our pricing the cost for uploads to both genetic genealogy databases FamilyTree DNA and GEDmatch?

Base pricing should include sample extraction and any standard cleanup methods, sequencing, genetic geneology and uploading costs. Extended costs should include reference samples or additional methods not performed as standard procedure.

WRITTEN QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

S000000228: Cold Case DNA/Genealogy Testing Outsourcing

Agency: ASCL

ANSWERS ARE IN BLUE

Submission of Written Questions_Responses 1 of 7

4 1.6

May we submit a complete price list for other services that could be required, but not mentioned in Section 1.6. (Contractor Requirements)? If yes, do we upload that on the Attachments tab?

Yes

5 1.6.A, 1.6.B, and 1.6.J

1.6.A, 1.6.B, and 1.6.J.: The requirement that processing be done in-house severely limits the range of options that will be available for your samples and could hurt the effectiveness of your casework under this contract. There is no single lab that provides all of the customized capabilities needed for effective DNA processing to support genetic genealogy analysis. For example some labs have better protocols for extraction from skeletal remains and low-cost SNP microarray genotyping provides the best results for samples with complicated mixtures. Allowing contractors to utilize subcontractors ensures the highest-quality results.

Given all of the advantages of having multiple, speciality labs available, would you consider striking the requirement that all testing be performed in-house?

The Requirement for in-house processing will remain as it is in the IFB.

1.6.P, 1.6.A, 1.6.B and 1.6.J

1.6.P. and the AR Buy Subcontractor tab. Having a subcontractor tab and a clause indicating subcontractors must be approved by the agency conflicts with the requirement of 1.6.A, 1.6.B and 1.6.J that all work must be done in-house. Please clarify if subcontractors can be utilized for laboratory work.

No subcontracing allowed.

Submission of Written Questions_Responses 2 of 7

7 1.6.A

In section 1.6.A (Contractor Requirements) of the Solicitation Document, you are asking for DNA testing utilizing whole genome shotgun sequencing methods. An important laboratory process for a genetic genealogy investigation is the low-cost SNP microarray genotyping analysis (i.e., for complex mixtures and targeted kinship testing). Is it expected that microarray genotyping could be used on some of these cases? If so, how should the total price be differentiated between the 2 services?

See IFB Section 1.6.A.

8 1.6.N

1.6.N: You have stated that the laboratory must not provide medical testing services. Genetic genealogy is a lead generation tool, not a traditional forensic test. Microarray analysis is an important component to genetic genealogy investigations. There are no labs offering microarray analysis for forensic samples that do not also process other types of samples, so this requirement will preclude that highly effective tool entirely. In addition, the labs we use have important accreditations (CLIA/CAP) that ensure optimal processes to yield the highest quality results. At all of the labs we use, forensic samples are processed separately and do not include medical samples, and there is no reason to expect any impact from the lab's non-forensic work. Therefore, would you consider striking the requirement that a lab cannot provide medical testing services?

The Requirement will remain as it is in the

IFB.

9 ARBuy In the AR Buy site, Subcontractors tab, how do you enter a new subcontractor that is not already in the system? There is no button to add a new one.

Subscontractors are not allowed.

Submission of Written Questions_Responses 3 of 7

IFB Bid Response Packet - pg. 3

The Submission Requirements Checklist on page 3 of the IFB Bid Response Packet, refers to the Proposed Subcontractors Form? Is this referring to the Subcontractors tab inside the AR Buy site, or is there a separate form? If there is a separate form, where can it be found?

Subscontractors are not allowed.

IFB Bid Response Packet - pg. 3

The Submission Requirements Checklist on page 3 of the IFB Bid Response Packet, refers to the Official Solicitation Price Sheet. Is this referring to the ?Items tab inside the AR Buy site, or is there a separate price sheet? If there is a separate price sheet, where can it be found?

Yes, this is referring to the Items tab inside the ARBuy site.

Submission of Written Questions_Responses 4 of 7

12 1.11

To date, no forensic investigative genetic genealogy (FIGG) testing methods (array, whole genome sequencing, or targeted sequencing) have gone through an admissibility hearing to determine court admissibility in State or Federal court to our knowledge. <Prospective Contractor> is accredited by the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB) against the Federal Bureau of Investigation Quality Assurance Standards (FBI QAS) and ISO/IEC 17025:2017. The single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) testing using the Kintelligence kit went through an internal validation at <Prospective Contractor> adhering to these standards. SNP analysis and massively parallel sequencing (MPS) are on the Scope of Accreditation for <Prospective Contractor>. Being the first private laboratory to implement probabilistic genotyping in the United States afforded <Prospective Contractor> the opportunity to participate in numerous admissibility challenges throughout the US including: Frye, Daubert, Harper, and Federal Rules of Evidence.

Each and every admissibility challenged resulted in the evidence being found admissible. Given the admissibility challenge experience, the testing adhering to both federal and international standards, and the testing falling under our Scope of Accreditation; <Prospective Contractor> is the best laboratory positioned to face an admissibility challenge for FIGG testing, if and when an admissibility challenge occurs.

See IFB Section 1.11.I.; 1.11.J.; and 1.11.K.

Submission of Written Questions_Responses 5 of 7

13 1.6

All of the IFB requirements pertains to the methodology utilized only by Othram.

Are you willing to look into other options for the testing requested? We work with many agencies across the US with this technology.

We brought SNP testing with Kintelligence online a little over a year ago, as it was newly developed. We are the first accredited laboratory to use it. It has been a game changer for samples that don?t even qualify for WGS or other SNP arrays. There have been no limitations regarding degradation and we have achieved uploadable results with degradation indexes of over 1,000. WGS does not have this capability at all. Kintelligence was designed with forensic samples to be human-specific and use 10,230 SNP markers specifically selected for FGG purposes. Can you accept this kit as we have been using it across human remains cases, cold and current cases. We have received matches out to fourth cousins. We have had many successes with this kit, and are hoping you will consider this technology instead of limiting it to WGS.

The original SNP array and WGS were not developed for forensics. Currently, we are validating new software for mixtures, and will be available later this year as well.

See IFB Section 1.6.A.

Submission of Written Questions_Responses 6 of 7

14 1.15

The Acceptable Performance column lists calendar days for the turnaround time, however Section 1.13 states that all deliveries must be made during normal State work hours and within the agreed upon number of days. Since those days do not always line up, are we able to remove the 5% penalty entirely? If not, are we able to avoid the 5% penalty with notice if the due date is outside of ARs working hours?

Reasoning ? These cases are very arduous and take great time and detail. Each sample is unique and is treated that way. The chemicals and the supply chain have not recovered from COVID, and we are waiting for chemicals for weeks as well. This is why we are asking that the penalty be removed. It is not likely a routine process that can be guaranteed completed in 90 days. Sometimes this is the las sample or shot a case may have, and we want to treat it with meticulous care, and the time these cases deserve. We most likely can meet the 90 days, but would like room to do the right thing and not be pressured by a time constraint.

See IFB Section 1.15.D. and 1.15.E.

15 1.15 Can the 5% penalties be struck from the performance table since the supply chain is out of our control.

See IFB Section 1.15.D. and 1.15.E.

16 ARBuy

Per the portal, the pricing outline and requirements are unclear, are we able to submit our own price sheet? Each laboratory has unique technologies and offerings that are proprietary to their lab and their process.

Base pricing should include sample extraction and any standard cleanup methods, sequencing, genetic geneology and uploading costs. Extended costs should include reference samples or additional methods not performed as standard procedure.

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