Flow Cells for Long Read DNA Sequencing Using Oxford Nanopore P2 Instrument

Contracting Office Address

The Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, Office of Acquisitions, 9609 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, MD 20850, UNITED STATES

1.0    DESCRIPTION

The Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics (DCEG), Laboratory of Translational Genomics (LTG), plans to procure, on a sole source basis, from Oxford Nanopore Technologies, 101 Avenue of the Americas, 7th Floor, New York, NY 1013.

The response close date of the notice for this requirement is in accordance with FAR 5.203(b). This acquisition will be processed under FAR Part 12 - Acquisition for Commercial Items and will be made pursuant to the authority in FAR Part 13.106-1(b)(1)(i); and is exempt from the requirements of FAR Part 6. The North American Industry Classification System code is 541715 and the small business size standard is 1,000 employees.

It has been determined there are no opportunities to acquire green products or services for this procurement.

2.0    BACKGROUND

The overall goal of the Laboratory of Translational Genomics (LTG) is to develop new approaches to the study of the genetic basis of cancer and its outcomes. Specifically, we are investigating the genetic basis of strong association signals identified in candidate gene association studies, loci identified by linkage analyses in high-risk families, or genome-wide association studies (GWAS).

3.0    TYPE OF ORDER

This is a Firm Fixed-Price Purchase Order.

4.0    SPECIAL ORDER REQUIREMENTS

The Contractor shall provide the following item(s) or equivalent:

Item    Description    Manufacturer Part #    Quantity
1    Promethion Flow Cells, v10.4.1    FLO-PRO114    12

4.1    PRODUCT FEATURES/SALIENT CHARACTERISTICS

•    PromethION flow cell packs (R10.4.1) that can be used on Oxford Nanopore P2 instruments.  The R10 series is required for high consensus accuracy.
•    Minimum of 2600 nanopore channels for DNA or RNA sequencing in real time

4.2    DELIVERY / INSTALLATION

The Contractor shall deliver all required items within 30 days of purchase order award. The Contractor shall coordinate delivery and tracking information with the NCI Technical Point of Contact (TPOC). All shipping/handling (including FOB) and delivery/installation fees shall be
included.

NOTE: NCI will not be responsible for any shipping charges not listed in the quotation.

(TBD)

Note: Access to the NIH campus is restricted. As such all-Contractor personnel or contractors chosen delivery couriers will be required to access campus via designated entrances where they are subject to security screening. Please refer to the NIH Security and Access site for more details: (www.nih.gov/about-nih/visitor-information/campus-access-security). 

4.3    TRAINING

No training is a part of this acquisition.

4.4    WARRANTY

The Contractor shall guarantee the items 12 weeks from receipt by the customer.  If the flow cells are stored correctly and a flow cell check shows fewer than 5000 nanopores the product will be replaced.

5.0    UNIQUE QUALIFICATIONS OF THE CONTRACTOR

Oxford nanopore is the only company that sells flow cells compatible with their P2 instrument. There is no other company that makes these consumables, therefore, no other product meets the government’s needs.
No other companies make consumables for the ONT sequencers. So if we can’t place this order for 12 flow cell packs we will have to place individual orders for 1 or 2 packs, with  Oxford nanopore, at a time or not use ONT sequencers. However, doing so could potentially violate Split Purchasing rules. These flow cells are consumables for a DNA sequencing instrument made by Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT).  We have 2 of the instruments.   We can’t use them without the flow cells and the only place we can get flow cells is from ONT – patented technology.

6.0    SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

This notice is not a request for competitive quotations. However, if any interested party believes it can meet the above requirements, it may submit a proposal or quote for the Government to consider. The response and any other information furnished must be in writing and must contain material in sufficient detail to allow NCI to determine if the party can perform the requirement.  All responses and questions must be sent via email to the Contract Specialist, Dana Summons, at dana.summons@nih.gov by no later than 3:00 PM EST on July 29, 2024, (7/29/24). A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed requirement based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. In order to receive an award, Contractors must be registered and have valid certification through SAM.gov. Reference: 6970921 on all correspondence.