Metagenomics & transcriptomic services

The U.S. Geological Survey Office of Acquisitions and Grants seeks metagenomics and transcriptomic next-generation sequencing services through a Blanket Purchase Agreement with proposals due October 28, 2026. Amendment 0001, effective October 15, reopened the solicitation for full and open competition; offerors must acknowledge receipt of the amendment prior to submission or face rejection.

This is a Women-Owned Small Business set-aside, 100% WOSB. Place of performance is the Upper Midwest Water Science Center in Lansing, Michigan, with contract administration in Denver, Colorado. The NAICS code is 541380, Testing Laboratories and Services, with a small business size standard of $19 million in annual revenue.

The contractor shall provide complete next-generation sequencing services including metagenomics, whole genome sequencing, and RNA-sequencing analysis using Illumina, AVITI, Oxford Nanopore, or PacBio platforms. Library preparation must include barcoding, normalization, quantitation, and pooling per documented quality control guidelines. The contractor must deliver demultiplexed and raw sequencing data with accompanying spreadsheets within 60 business days of sample receipt, with quality scores exceeding 75% per sequencing run, and provide data access via FTP or external hard drive for a minimum of 60 days. Bioinformatics capabilities must include customized analysis pipelines for bacterial genome assembly, transcriptome assembly, variant analysis, and comparative genomics. The contractor must offer consultation services on sequencing technology selection, provide a web-based LIMS system for sample upload, and deliver a written methods document detailing all processes, reagents, kits, and equipment. Substandard services must be re-performed at no additional cost within 30 days of identification.

The contract period is September 28, 2026, through September 27, 2031, with a not-to-exceed ceiling of $300,000. Projected volume is 325 samples over five years (65 annually). Award is based on Past Performance and Customer Representation (most important) and Product and Product Availability, with non-priced factors significantly more important than cost. Offerors must provide three customer references.