RNA Sequencing for Neurodegenerative Disease Research

NON-COMPETITIVE

COMBINED SYNOPSIS / SOLICITATION

Title:   RNA Sequencing for Neurodegenerative Disease Research

 (i)        This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Subpart 12.6 as supplemented with additional information included in this notice.  This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; proposals are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued.

(ii)        The solicitation number is 75N95024Q00413 and the solicitation is issued as a request for quotation (RFQ).

This acquisition is for a commercial item or service and is conducted under the authority of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 13—Simplified Acquisition Procedures; and FAR Part 12—Acquisition of Commercial Items, and is not expected to exceed the simplified acquisition threshold.

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

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), NIDA Office of Acquisitions – National Institute on Aging (NIA) Section, on behalf of the NIA intends to negotiate and award a purchase order without providing for full and open competition (Including brand-name) to Psomagen Inc., 1330 Piccard Drive, Ste 103, Rockville, MD 20850, for the purchase of RNA sequencing services. The anticipated award date is 7/17/2024.

This acquisition is non-competive. The sole source justification is based on the fact that this is an ongoing study, and Psomagen has previously provided these services to the NIA. In order to maintain scientific continuity, only Psomagen can meet the Government’s current requirement, as to inject any unknown variables into the study could invalidate previous research data. 

(iii)       The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2024-05, dated 05/22/2024.

(iv)       The associated NAICS code 541380 and the small business size standard is $19.5M. This requirement has no set-aside restrictions.

(v)        Project requirements:

The Contractor shall provide NIA with the following services:

• Total RNA Sequencing
  • Application: Bulk RNA sequencing
  • Species: Human
  • Starting material: Per sample minimum 10ng of total RNA
  • Sample size: 324 samples
  • Library kit: SMARTer Stranded Total RNA-Seq Kit v2 - Pico Input Mammalian kit
  • Sequencing platform: NovaSeq X Plus 25B (150PE)
  • Output: per sample ~50M paired reads(25M read1 and read2)
  • Deliverables: raw data (fastq) only
  • Data delivery method: Google Cloud transfer
  • Turnaround time: 4-6 weeks after samples pass their initial QC
  • Sample Storage: 3 months

Period of Performance:

8/1/2024 – 12/31/2024

(vi)       Delivery Location:

The National Institute on Aging (NIA)

251 Bayview Blvd, Room 04B316

Baltimore, MD 21224

(vii)      The provision at FAR clause 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors – Commercial Products and Commercial Services, applies to this acquisition.

(viii)     The provision at FAR clause 52.212-2, Evaluation – Commercial Products and Commercial Services, applies to this acquisition. 

1. The award resulting from this solicitation will be made to the responsible offeror whose proposal is most advantageous to the Government, Technical Capability, Past Peformance and other factors considered.

(b) A written notice of award or acceptance of an offer, mailed or otherwise furnished to the successful offeror within the time for acceptance specified in the offer, shall result in a binding contract without further action by either party. Before the offer’s specified expiration time, the Government may accept an offer (or part of an offer), whether or not there are negotiations after its receipt, unless a written notice of withdrawal is received before award.

(ix)       Offerors are to include a completed copy of the provision at FAR clause 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications—Commercial Products and Commercial Services, with its offer. If the offeror has completed FAR clause 52.212-3 at www.sam.gov, then the offeror does not need to provide a completed copy with its offer.

(x)        The FAR clause at 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions – Commercial Products and Commercial Services, applies to this acquisition.  

The following FAR provisions or clauses are incorporated by reference:

52.204-7, System for Award Management (Oct 2018)

52.204-13, System for Award Management Maintenance (Oct 2018)

52.204-16, Commercial and Entity Code Reporting (Aug 2020)

52.204-18, Commercial and Entity Code Maintenance (Aug 2020)

HHSAR 352.222-70, Contractor Cooperation in Equal Employment Opportunity Investigations (December 18, 2015).

52.212-4(g), Invoice, is supplemented by the NIH Invoice and Payment Instructions (3/2023).

(xi)       FAR clause at 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders–Commercial Products and Commercial Services (May 2024), applies to this acquisition

(xii)      The offeror must complete and return FAR 52.204-24 and FAR 52.204-26 with its offer.

(xiii)     Responses to this solicitation must include clear and convincing evidence of the offeror’s capability of fulfilling the requirement as it relates to the technical evaluation criteria. The price proposal must include the labor categories, an estimate of the number of hours required for each labor category, fully loaded fixed hourly rate or each labor category, breakdown and rationale for other direct costs or materials, and the total amount.

In addition the Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), and the certification of business size must be included in the response. All offerors must have an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) www.sam.gov.”

All responses must be received by July 16, 2024, 9:00 am, Eastern Standard Time and reference number 75N95024Q00413. Responses shall be submitted electronically to Kevin Alvarez, Contracting Officer, kevin.alvarez@nih.gov.

Fax responses will not be accepted.

(xiv)     The name of the individual to contact for information regarding the solicitation:

Kevin Alvarez, Contracting Officer, kevin.alvarez@nih.gov.

Attachments:

1. FAR 52.212-5
2. FAR 52.204-24
3. FAR 52.204-26
4. Invoice and payment provisions