NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD ON A SOLE SOURCE BASIS - MOE software package, base plus 4 years for the USDA, ARS, SRRC, FPSQRU

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), has issued a Notice of Intent to Award on a sole source basis for the Molecular Operating Environment (MOE) software package. This special notice announces the agency's intention to award a Firm Fixed Price purchase order to Chemical Computing Group, ULC for a base year plus four option years, with a total value of $165,450 from September 1, 2025 to August 31, 2030. The procurement will be processed under FAR Part 12 (Acquisition of Commercial Items) and FAR Part 13 (Simplified Acquisition Procedures) with NAICS code 513210. The software is intended for use by the USDA's Agricultural Research Service, specifically for the SRRC FPSQRU unit. This notice is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a request for proposals or quotations.

The purpose of this procurement is to acquire specialized molecular modeling and simulation software critical for food allergen research, particularly focusing on peanut and tree nut allergen characterization and protein visualization capabilities. The agency requires 3 software tokens annually, along with one-on-one support, annual updates, and compatibility with existing USDA systems for advanced protein modeling, molecular docking, and computational chemistry applications. Potential sources who believe they can provide equivalent services must submit substantiating documentation in writing within seven calendar days of the notice publication date (by September 5, 2025), with oral communications not accepted. The government has determined that Chemical Computing Group is the sole manufacturer of this specialized software, and switching to alternative platforms would result in research delays, require extensive retraining, and potentially compromise access to previous research data. The procurement leverages heavily discounted government rates and builds upon previous sole-source purchases of the same software platform.