USDA ARS Automated DNA Analysis System

The USDA Agricultural Research Service seeks an Automated DNA Analysis and Size Selection Pulsed-Field Electrophoresis System (LightBench Discover or equivalent), including installation kit, installation, setup, calibration, and customer training, with quotations due September 22, 2026 at 5:00 PM Pacific Time. The procurement is a Total Small Business Set-Aside under NAICS 334516 (Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing), with a small business size standard of 1,000 employees.

Place of performance is Hilo, Hawaii (USDA-ARS, 64 Nowelo Street, Hilo, HI 96720). The system must meet or exceed minimum specifications including automated gel-based DNA size selection with recovery capability, pulsed-field electrophoresis capability for large DNA fragment analysis, fragment-length analysis of at least 80 kilobases, fluorometric DNA quantification, independent sample lane processing with variable size-selection parameters, pre-prepared gel cassettes or equivalent ready-to-use consumables, preservation of unused lanes for later use, and compatibility with next-generation sequencing workflows. All necessary software and hardware for system operation and results analysis must be included. This is a combined synopsis and solicitation under FAR Part 12 for commercial items; no separate written solicitation will be issued.

The Government intends to make one firm-fixed-price award. Contractors must submit pricing for all line items; exact products or verified same/similar equivalent products will be considered. Delivery is FOB destination within 30 days after award date, with delivery scheduled for December 1, 2026. Offerors agree to hold prices firm for 90 calendar days from receipt date. Evaluation criteria include price (assessed for fairness and reasonableness under FAR 12.204), past performance (rated acceptable, neutral, or unacceptable), and comparative methodology without tradeoff procedures. Questions and quotations must be submitted to veronica.beck@usda.gov with Solicitation No. 127EAU26Q0080 in the subject line.