Intent to Award sole source: PCR Maintenance and Service for USDA APHIS PPQ CPHST NWML, CO

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has issued a Special Notice announcing its intent to award a sole source contract to Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. for PCR maintenance and service at the USDA APHIS PPQ CPHST Northwest Molecular Laboratory in Colorado. This procurement involves maintenance services for a QX600 Droplet Digital PCR System, which provides scientific support for Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) regulatory decisions and operations as part of PPQ's Science and Technology core functional area. The anticipated contract will be awarded under simplified acquisition procedures allowing for other than full and open competition, specifically soliciting from a single source. The procurement is set aside for total small business participation and falls under NAICS code 334516 for Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing. The contract structure includes a base year from August 1, 2025 through July 31, 2026, with four additional one-year option periods extending through July 31, 2030.

The purpose of this Special Notice is to inform potential contractors of the government's intent to sole source this maintenance contract while providing an opportunity for other responsible sources to demonstrate their capabilities. Bio-Rad Laboratories has been identified as the sole manufacturer and maintenance provider for the QX600 Droplet Digital PCR System, which includes both a Droplet Reader and Droplet Generator requiring specialized maintenance expertise. Interested parties must submit responses by July 31, 2025, via email to the designated contracting officer, with telephonic inquiries explicitly not accepted. The maintenance plan encompasses full on-site support, unlimited repairs, and one preventative maintenance visit annually, supporting critical laboratory operations for the National Clean Plant Network and approximately 200 scientists, analysts, and support staff across seven principal laboratories. While this is not a request for competitive quotations, the government will consider responses solely to determine whether competitive procurement should be conducted, though the final decision remains at the government's discretion.