Notice of Intent to Sole Source

Added: Jun 09, 2017 9:18 am This notice announces the intent by the U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA) in support of the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR) to procure a Kapa DNA kits from Kapa Biosystems, Inc without competition as prescribed in FAR 5.102(a)(6) and 5.203(a).

The tables below provide the total products Kapa Biosystems will deliver to WRAIR:

Minimum Annual Quantity Item# Product Description
900 KK8514 KAPA HyperPlus Library Prep Kits, 96 rxns
200 KK4844 Library Quant Kit

Only KAPA Biosystems can meet the Government's requirements. All WRAIR's laboratory protocols have been developed around the use of these kits that are already in use at WRAIR. KAPA kits use an enzymatic DNA fragmentation method to shear DNA, whereas other companies use a sonication method. The sonication method takes 5 hours longer (3 hours versus 8 hours), requires the purchase of separate instruments and consumables, and is not as accurate as the enzymatic method. As the KAPA kits have been in use for the last year, our robotic workstations have been programmed with all of the KAPA protocols. Switching to a new kit will require extensive modification to both the hardware and software of the robots. The KAPA library kits allow us to use any Oligo indexing system to tag the DNA libraries (e.g. ordering our own Oligos from IDT). Other companies require that you use their Oligo indexes which increases cost and reduces flexibility. Additionally, KAPA DNA prep kits have several key advantages over other commercially available DNA library preparation kits, including a streamline, single-tube workflow; integrated and optimized enzymatic steps for increased library construction efficiencies; inclusion of the KAPA HiFi HotStart DNA Polymerase; and manual and automation-friendly reagents and protocols. Lastly, the kits are compatible for use with existing liquid handler systems and Illumina NextSeq and MiSeq DNA Sequencing systems.

Products must be compatible for use with these DNA Sequencing systems, otherwise, performance standards mandated under OTSG/MEDCOM Policy 15-042 could not be met. Not having supplies technically compatible for use with these owned platforms ultimately debilitates WRAIR from providing the support critical to Infection Control Improvement Initiatives.

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) for this requirement is 334516 and FSC 6630.

USAMRAA intends to publish a solicitation no sooner than 15 days after publishing this synopsis. This Special Notice of Intent is not a request for competitive quotes. Information received in response to this notice will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether a competitive procurement is in the best interest of the Government. If no written responses are received by the date listed below, which reflects at least fifteen (15) days after the publication of this notice, the solicitation will be issued as a sole source.

All questions and responses concerning this notice shall be emailed to Kasey Carroll at kasey.l.carroll.civ@mail.mil

Interested concerns must identify their capability in writing to the above email address listed above no later than 10:00 AM ET, 24 June 2017.