Cotton RNA Sequencing - New Orleans, LA

The Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service (USDA ARS) is soliciting next-generation RNA sequencing services for 300 cotton fiber tissue samples through Solicitation Number 1232SA26Q0527, issued as a Request for Quotation (RFQ). The work supports research on how abiotic stresses such as heat and drought affect cotton fiber development and quality. Key requirements include complete RNA sequencing services encompassing quality assessment via bioanalyzer analysis, library preparation with poly-A enrichment for mRNA isolation, and sequencing using Illumina NovaSeq X 10B or similar platform with paired-end reads (2 x 150) and a minimum of 20 million paired-end reads per sample, with all samples processed in a single batch. The vendor must demonstrate specialized experience with all aspects of RNA sequencing and provide raw sequence reads in fasta or fastq format delivered on a hard disk within a guaranteed 6-week turnaround time. Award decisions will be based on lowest price technically acceptable criteria, evaluating the total quoted amount including all line items, applicable discounts, and shipping costs, with technical acceptability and past performance rated as acceptable or unacceptable. Quotations are due by April 28, 2026, with questions due no later than April 27, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. CST.

This acquisition is designated as a Total Small Business Set-Aside under NAICS Code 541380 (Testing Laboratories and Services) with a small business size standard of $19 million, meaning only small business concerns are eligible to submit quotations. No incumbent contractor or current award value is identified in the solicitation documents. The work will be performed in New Orleans, Louisiana 70124, with deliverables shipped F.O.B. destination to USDA ARS at 1100 Allen Toussaint Boulevard, and a required delivery date of June 30, 2026. A single firm-fixed price contract award is anticipated with a 6-week period of performance. The solicitation incorporates extensive FAR and AGAR clauses, including requirements for anti-discrimination and DEI compliance certifications, Service Contract Labor Standards, Buy American requirements, and cybersecurity and data protection restrictions. Quoters must hold prices firm for 90 calendar days from the specified receipt date, and invoices must be submitted electronically through the Invoice Processing Platform (IPP) after enrollment.