Blanket Purchase Agreement for Analysis of Environ

The US Geological Survey Office of Acquisitions and Grants is seeking a Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) for environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis services through a small business set-aside solicitation. The contract will require a contractor to perform metabarcoding analysis of macroinvertebrate community assemblages and fecal source tracking via quantitative PCR at 6 stream locations in Johnson County, Kansas. Specific technical requirements include analyzing 24 eDNA samples for macroinvertebrate communities and 7 samples for fecal source tracking, with detection and quantification of DNA from E. coli and 8 animal species. The government will evaluate quotations on a best value basis, with technical factors being more important than price, and will consider past performance, technical approach, and pricing. Quotations are due by January 17, 2025 at 5:00 PM EST, with a requirement that key personnel include a Laboratory Manager and submit a comprehensive Quality Control Plan.

The solicitation is exclusively set aside for small businesses under NAICS code 541620 with a size standard of $19 million. The BPA will cover a five-year period from February 10, 2025 through February 9, 2030, with a maximum order value of $250,000 and payment processed via government purchase card for orders under $2,500 and Treasury's Internet Payment Platform for larger orders. The work will support a USGS study comparing current macroinvertebrate communities with historical 2003-2010 data to assess stream health. Contractors must provide sampling kits, conduct qPCR analysis, maintain chain-of-custody documentation, deliver bioinformatics results, and store raw data for one year. The primary place of performance will be the USGS Kansas Water Science Center in Lawrence, Kansas, with sample analysis conducted at the contractor's laboratory facilities.