Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) Services

NEXT GENERATION SEQUENCING

SOLICITATION # 68HERC24Q0155

THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT SYNOPSIS FOR WRITTEN INFORMATION ONLY. THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION ANNOUNCEMENT FOR PROPOSALS AND NO CONTRACT WILL BE AWARDED FROM THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is performing a "market search" for small businesses in preparation for a future procurement. To help determine if this potential requirement may be set-aside for small business concerns, under the range of potential acquisition approaches the government may pursue, the government is seeking input from the small business community regarding their interest and capability in performing the tasks reflected in the attached draft Performance Work Statement (PWS) as well as their availability to perform under various strategic sourcing solutions. Information submitted in response to this notice is merely used for internal market research purposes, and no feedback will be offered to the interested parties that submit capability statements. To broaden the Agency’s market research effort EPA will also utilize GSA’s Market Research as a Service (MRAS) entities may respond to either, as the information collected from both outreach notices will be used to help determine if this potential requirement may be set-aside for small business concerns, under the range of potential acquisition approaches the government may pursue.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency will be using next generation sequencing (NGS) to complete current and future gene expression translational research to fulfill obligations to SSWR.3, CSS.4.4, CSS.6.4, and CSS.4.3 research programs.
Historically, the USEPA has used microarray and quantitative polymerase chain reaction technologies to perform these studies. However, recent advances in technology, coupled with significant decreases in supply costs, have made sequencing-based gene expression studies more informative and cost-effective. Market data suggest that this trend should continue or even improve for the foreseeable future, thereby facilitating the change to NGS.

Specific areas to be addressed in capability packages submitted by respondents are as follows:

Capability 1: Ability to accept user-prepared sequencing libraries.
Capability 2: Access to short-read DNA and RNA sequencing with a capacity equal to or greater than NovaSeq6000 S4 flow cell
Capability 3: Ability to prepare DNA and RNA sequencing libraries compatible with Illumina instrumentation at a capacity of 10000 – 3000 samples per year.
Capability 4: Capacity to perform sequencing on 10000 – 3000 samples per year.
Capability 5: Ability to prepare 3’-tagged RNA-seq libraries, such as QuantSeq.
Capability 6: Capability to prepare libraries in and perform full length RNA sequencing, such as PacBio or Oxford Nanopore.
Capability 7: Ability to perform QA/QC analysis, such as Qubit and TapeStation, for in-house and user submitted sequencing library preparations.
Capability 8: Ability to upload large data files and/or support data transfer using user-supplied hard drives.

To be considered a potential source, an entity must demonstrate they have the necessary labor mix and capacity, materials, equipment, and facilities to support the effort as delineated above. ANY INTERESTED entities should submit a capability statement which demonstrates the entity’s ability to perform the 8 tasks described above.

The respondent is required to submit its capabilities statement via FedConnect no later than close of business on 16 August, 2024. There is no charge to use FedConnect. (See https://www.fedconnect.net/Fedconnect). If you need technical assistance in registering or for any other FedConnect® function, call the FedConnect® Help Desk at (800) 899-6665 or email at support@fedconnect.net.
The respondent shall, at a minimum, address the following questions regarding its Company Profile and Capability Information. It is recommended that the respondent use the template below.
Company Profile
1. Company name and address;
2. Affiliate information: parent company, joint venture partners, and potential teaming partners;
3. NAICS Code 541715 (Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology), with a size standard of 1000 employees
4. Two points of contact (names, titles, phone numbers and email addresses);
5. UEI number and CAGE Code, as registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) at http://www.sam.gov/:
6. Small Business designation/status under NAICS Code 541715 (must correlate with SAM registration):
_____ Small business _____ HUBZone _____ WOSB
_____ 8(a) _____ VOSB
_____ SDVOSB
_____ Small Disadvantaged Business
7. GSA and other Multi-Agency Contracts (MACs) held associated with NAICS Code 541715:
_____ None
_____ GSA OASIS; Contract #_____ Vendor Pool #_____
_____ GSA FSS; Contract #s_____ SIN #s _____
_____ Any other MAC contracts held; Contract #s_____ MAC vehicle _____
It is anticipated that the contract will be an Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (ID/IQ) type contract, with individual Task Orders (TOs) issued on either a Firm Fixed Price (FFP) basis. The contract start date is anticipated to be October 1, 2025, and will contain a single, 5-year ordering period.

Any interested small business entities should submit a capability statement including the company profile which demonstrates the firm's ability to perform the key six general support tasks described above. Entities classified as small can subcontract work to similarly situated entities (i.e. other small businesses) and include the capabilities of that potential small business team to demonstrate the respondent’s ability to perform the requirement. Standard company brochures will not be considered a sufficient response to this Sources Sought Synopsis. The EPA reserves the right to set the resulting requirement aside for small businesses.