REQUIREMENTS-26-3767 eDNA Sample Processing - Solicitation 1305M326Q0354 Amendment 01

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, seeks environmental DNA (eDNA) sample processing and sequencing services under a 100% small business set-aside, with quotes due September 4, 2026 at 12:00 PM Pacific Time. Amendment 01 was issued August 21, 2026, providing clarifications on sequencing platforms, bioinformatic deliverables, and post-award documentation requirements.

Place of performance is Honolulu, Hawaii (1845 Wasp Boulevard, Building 176, PIFSC). The contract runs September 30, 2026 through September 29, 2027, with delivery required by September 20, 2027.

The base requirement is processing 100 eDNA water-filter samples through DNA extraction, quantification, metabarcoding PCR amplification using multiple markers (12S MiFish, COI Leray, MarVer1, and others), high-throughput Illumina sequencing, and bioinformatic workflows. The Government prefers but will consider alternative sequencing platforms to Illumina. Sequencing read-depth target is 100,000 reads per sample per assay/marker. Deliverables include sample receipt acknowledgments within two business days, sequencing data packages within 90 days of sample receipt (demultiplexed FastQ files, metadata, and taxonomic assignment tables), and a final project summary within 30 days of contract end. The contractor must maintain contamination controls and quality assurance/quality control processes, retain unused DNA extract and library material for 12 months, and return archived materials to PIFSC upon request at no additional charge. The Project Plan is a post-award deliverable documenting technical points of contact, extraction protocols, assay/marker tables with thermocycling conditions, QC acceptance thresholds, and batch turnaround times.

Contractor must demonstrate personnel with documented eDNA processing experience, capacity to sustain 100+ samples per quarter, facility with dedicated clean rooms, and direct access to Illumina sequencing platforms. NAICS code is 541380 (Testing Laboratories and Services); PSC is B524. Firm-fixed-price contract. Evaluation weighs technical capability and past performance more heavily than price. Quotes submitted to rachel.stone@noaa.gov.