Metagenomics & transcriptomic services

The U.S. Geological Survey Office of Acquisitions and Grants is soliciting next-generation sequencing services (metagenomics, whole genome sequencing, and RNA-sequencing) through a Blanket Purchase Agreement, with quotations due November 3, 2026. The Set Aside line designates a Total Small Business set-aside. Amendment 0001 states the solicitation was reopened for full and open competition, but the Set Aside line governs eligibility.

The USGS Office of Acquisitions and Grants Denver Acquisition Branch is procuring on behalf of the Upper Midwest Water Science Center, with services delivered to the Center in Lansing, Michigan. The BPA is firm fixed price, with a not-to-exceed amount of $300,000 and a period of performance from September 28, 2026 through September 27, 2031. The anticipated requirement is 65 samples annually, or 325 over five years, across RNA-seq, whole genome sequencing, and shotgun metagenomics, plus associated bioinformatics assistance.

The contractor performs library preparation with barcoding, normalization, and pooling, and sequences on Illumina, AVITI, Oxford Nanopore, or PacBio platforms as specified by the USGS Technical Liaison. Deliverables include demultiplexed raw data with accompanying spreadsheets, delivered within 60 business days of sample receipt at an overall quality score above 75% per run. Quality issues must be reported within 30 business days of receipt. The contractor must also provide a Web-based LIMS, a written methods document, data access via FTP or external hard drive for at least 60 days, and bioinformatics pipelines for bacterial genome assembly, transcriptome assembly, variant analysis, and comparative genomics. Substandard services must be re-performed at no additional cost within 30 days of identification, with consideration sought for more than two sequencing failures per year. The October 27 Q&A sets baseline specifications, including a minimum of 150-300 million PE150 reads for WGS and 10-20 million informative reads per RNA-seq sample.

Evaluation uses two factors: Past Performance and Customer Representation (most important), and Product and Product Availability. Non-priced factors are significantly more important than cost. Offerors must provide three customer references, price all ten Attachment B line items, and acknowledge Amendment 0002 before the closing date. Quotations are submitted by email to yvette_sornberger@ios.doi.gov.