Notice of Intent to Sole Source

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) and the Bacterial Disease Branch’s (BDB), Multidrug-Resistant Organism Repository and Surveillance Network (MRSN) to procure reagents of the NextSeq and MiSeq Systems without competition as prescribed in FAR 13.5. Specifically, the Government will procure these reagents manufactured by Illumina Corporation.

Only Illumina Inc. can meet the Government’s requirements for reagents of the NextSeq and MiSeq Systems. The MRSN already possess both the Illumina MiSeq (ECNs 15181 and 32796) and NextSeq (ECNs 32795 and 26657) sequencing analyzers and all software to support expansion to another Illumina platform. The expansion to double high-throughput DNA sequencing using both the MiSeq and NextSeq is necessary to meet the increased demand for its services by purchasing duplicate instruments to permit increased output and ensure it has backup instruments in the event of primary analyzer failure. Both analyzers require reagents that are compatible with their respective systems and allow the MRSN to maintain redundancy in software and laboratory methods needed to perform work.

For scientific and programmatic consistency, WRAIR must complete ongoing multiyear research projects under OTSG/MEDCOM Policy 15-042 using the NextSeq and MiSeq Systems with the system’s proprietary reagents and consumables. The supplies must conform to standardization requirements to maintain validated data. The established standardized baseline of these reagents is integral to maintaining the College of American Pathologist Accreditation. Ongoing projects have used these reagents to maintain a validated data set, therefore it is imperative that we continue with these proprietary brand name products. Moreover, the MRSN has spent significant time and funds to build its existing bioinformatics pipeline based on the data generated by the MiSeq and NextSeq platforms. Data output from other commercially available sequencing analyzers are not compatible in this pipeline and would require additional labor to redevelop, incorporate, and standardize. The time required to undertake such an effort would adversely affect the MRSN’s ability to report data in real-time to healthcare providers and increases its risk at failing its funding stakeholders and the mission.

Products must be compatible for use with the Illumina NextSeq and MiSeq DNA Sequencing systems, otherwise, epidemiological and public health performance standards mandated under OTSG/MEDCOM Policy 15-042 cannot be met. The lack of supplies technically compatible for use with the NextSeq and MiSeq sequencers, and the lack of support for the instruments, ultimately hinders the MRSN from providing the support critical to Infection Control Improvement Initiatives. 

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) for this requirement is 334516 and FSC 6640. This announcement fulfills the synopsis requirements under FAR 5.102(a)(6) and 5.203(a). 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 brand name sole source only.

All questions and responses concerning this notice shall be emailed to James Cheng at james.cheng1.civ@mail.mil. Interested concerns must identify their capability in writing to the above email address listed above no later than 12:00 PM ET, 23 May 2020.