NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD A CONTRACT WITHOUT PROVIDING FOR FULL OR OPEN COMPETITION: DNA Oligonucleotide Arrays

NOTICE OF INTENT to Sole Source

SOLICITATION NUMBER:75N95023Q00652

TITLE:  DNA Oligonucleotide Arrays

CLASSIFICATION CODE: 66 -- Instruments & laboratory equipment

NAICS CODE: 334516 – Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing

RESPONSE DATE: September 6, 2023, at 5:00 PM EST

PRIMARY POINT OF CONTACT:

Michael Horn

Michael.horn@nih.gov

DESCRIPTION:

INTRODUCTION

THIS IS A PRE-SOLICITATION NON-COMPETITIVE (NOTICE OF INTENT) SYNOPSIS TO AWARD A CONTRACT WITHOUT PROVIDING FOR FULL OR OPEN COMPETITION (INCLUDING BRAND-NAME).

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) intends to negotiate on a sole source basis with Agilent Technologies for the production of the DNA oligonucleotide arrays.

NORTH AMERICAN INDUSTRY CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (NAICS) CODE and SET ASIDE STATUS

The intended procurement is classified under NAICS code 334516 – Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing with a Size Standard of 1,000 employees.  

REGULATORY AUTHORITY

This acquisition is conducted under the authority of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 13—Simplified Acquisition Procedures. Contracts awarded using FAR Part 13—Simplified Acquisition Procedures are exempt from the requirements of FAR Part 6—Competition Requirements. FAR Subpart 13.106-1 (b) Soliciting from a single source provides that: For purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold, Contracting Officers may solicit from one source IF the Contracting Officers determines that the circumstances of the contract action deem only one source reasonably available (e.g., urgency, exclusive licensing agreements, brand-name OR industrial mobilization).

The resultant contract will include all applicable provisions and clauses in effect through the Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) Number 2023-05, dated August 8, 2023.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Translational Immunopsychiatry Unit (TIU) seeks to purchase a DNA oligonucleotide pool comprised of 1,708,000 oligonucleotides that are each 230 nucleotides in length.  

These oligonucleotides will be used to clone PhIP-Seq and PepSeq library for deep antibody profiling.

PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES:

The NIMH TIU requires PhIP-Seq and PepSeq libraries to engage in deep antibody profiling and discovery. These libraries will support immunophenotyping efforts within the lab and with collaborators. PhIP-Seq and PepSeq libraries encompassing the requisite repertoire of antigens are not currently available at NIH.

DESCRIPTION OF REQUIREMENT:

The vendor shall provide brand name or equal items as listed below.

Seven (7) DNA oligonucleotide arrays each encoded with 244,000 unique DNA oligonucleotides that are each 230 nucleotides in length for a total of 1,708,000 unique DNA oligonucleotides. 

Part Number: 230nt HiFi Oligo Library 244K Cat. No. G7280A

Salient characteristics/product functionalities include:

DNA oligonucleotides of uniform length, 230nt

High complexity libraries in individual pools

Low error rates (below 1:2000 errors / nucleotide)

90/10 ratio of oligonucleotide representation (i.e. broad and even coverage of sequences)

Low depurination rates

Delivery Date:  December 1, 2023.

Period of Performance:N/A; Delivery approximately 60 days after receipt of order.

Option(s): N/A

CONTRACTING WITHOUT PROVIDING FOR FULL OR OPEN COMPETITION (INCLUDING BRAND-NAME) DETERMINATION

The determination by the Government to award a contract without providing for full and open competition is based upon the market research conducted. Specifically, Agilent Technologies is the only vendor in the marketplace that can provide the products required by NIMH TIU.  There are no substitutes available.

The intended source is:

Agilent Technologies

2850 Centerville Road

Wilmington, DE 19808-1610

Agilent Technologies is the only source that can furnish the requirements, to the exclusion of other sources.  Agilent is the only source capable of meeting the accuracy requirements (below 1:2400 errors / nucleotide and a 90/10 ratio of oligonucleotide representation <2) while producing oligo libraries using inkjet printing process, which results in a superior oligo fidelity and library representation meeting NIMH’s requirements.

CLOSING STATEMENT

THIS SYNOPSIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS. However, interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to this notice.

A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. All responsible sources may submit a capability statement, proposal, or quotation which shall be considered by the agency. The information received will normally be considered solely for the purposes of determining whether to proceed on a non-competitive basis or to conduct a competitive procurement.

Responses to this notice shall contain sufficient information to establish the interested parties' bona-fide capabilities for fulfilling the requirement and include: unit price, list price, shipping and handling costs, the delivery period after contract award, the prompt payment discount terms, the F.O.B. Point (Destination or Origin), the Unique Entity ID UEI), the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), and the certification of business size.

Responses must include the place of manufacturing (i.e. address if supply/equipment is a domestic end product and include country of manufacture).  All offerors must have an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) www.sam.gov.

All responses must be received by the closing date and time of this announcement, September 6, 2023, at 5:00 PM EST, and must reference the solicitation number, 75N95023Q00652.

Responses must be submitted electronically to Michael Horn, Contract Specialist, at michael.horn@nih.gov .

U.S. Mail and fax responses will not be accepted.