Notice of Intent: E. Coli Isolates

This synopsis is hereby issued in accordance with FAR Part 5.203 and FAR 13.501(a) in response to the mandatory requirement for a 15 day notification. The purpose of this synopsis is to announce the Food and Drug Administration's intent to negotiate a Firm Fixed Price sole source contract with THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY, located at 201 Old Main, University Park, PA 16802-1505 to for the sequencing and purchase of Escherichia coli (E.coli) isolates.

The Government intends to negotiate solely with the Pennsylvania State University, as Pennsylvania State University E. Coli Reference Center (ECRC) is the only source with the quantity and diversity of unique isolates of bacteria from different sources within their collection capable of fulfilling Government requirements. They have been preliminarily characterized for serotype and number of virulence genes such as Shigatoxin. In addition, this is a continuation of sequencing work with proprietary strains from the reference collection at Penn State. These isolates are intended to be used for determining diversity and relationships of isolates from varied food, manufacturing and environmental samples to outbreak isolates of E. coli.

The following work/quantities shall be purchased under this order:

One thousand (1000) bacterial isolates from the E. coli Reference Center (ECRC)

1. In batches of approximately one hundred (100), isolates shall be inoculated from freezer storage into 1-2ml liquid cultures, and grown overnight.

2. Cell shall be centrifuged and processed to make DNA in batches of approximately one hundred (100), as well as portions placed in cryotubes for shipment to the Food and Drug Administration.

3. In batches of approximately ten (10) to twenty (20), initially, isolates shall be sequenced using a MiSeq and then shall be scaled up to one hundred (100) to two-hundred (200) isolates on a HiSeq instrument.

4. Following analysis at the FDA, strands will be selected and shipped to the FDA facility located in Laurel, MD.

5. Raw data from DNA sequencing runs will be submitted to Genome TraKr.

The anticipated period of performance for this work is twelve (12) months.

The anticipated dollar value of this purchase is $100,000.00

THIS NOTICE IS NOT A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS, however, interested firms may submit a capability statement in response to the above requirement with pricing information by July 14th, 2017@ 4:30 PM Local Time to Christopher McGucken, Contract Specialist, Phone: (240) 402-7566, Email: Christopher.McGucken@fda.hhs.gov. A determination not to open competition based responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government.