1301-26-R-RFIN-00005

The Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) is soliciting a sole source procurement (RFX 3150006813, designated as 1301-26-R-RFIN-00005) for Illumina kits and reagents to support whole genome sequencing (WGS) operations at the Mississippi Public Health Laboratory (MPHL). The procurement encompasses a comprehensive suite of ten distinct Illumina products, including DNA preparation kits, MiSeq reagent kits, NextSeq reagent kits, and iSeq reagent kits, with annual quantities ranging from 6 to 80 units per product depending on the specific item. The MPHL operates three MiSeq sequencers, one NextSeq sequencer, and one iSeq sequencer, and processes over 800 foodborne specimens annually for WGS testing while also supporting SARS-CoV-2 specimen analysis to detect virus mutations and variant strains circulating in the Mississippi population. All WGS results must be uploaded to the PulseNet national database within seven days of specimen receipt. The proposal was posted on April 28, 2026, with a deadline for written objections to the sole source designation due by May 14, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. CST to Cynthia Brasher at the MSDH Purchasing Department. Objections must include detailed explanations of why the commodity should not be classified as a sole source procurement.

This procurement is designated as a sole source purchase, justified on the grounds that only Illumina manufactures and supplies the specific kits and reagents compatible with the MPHL's existing Illumina sequencers, and Illumina sells directly to laboratories without utilizing distributors in the clinical market. The MSDH has certified that all applicable discounts have been explored and applied, and the vendor has negotiated a 5 percent public health discount on Illumina products, with pricing firm through February 12, 2027. The total estimated procurement cost is $393,667.98, comprising $367,914.00 for kits and reagents, $7,358.28 for shipping and handling, and $18,395.70 for tariff-based surcharges. As a sole source procurement, there are no set-aside designations or restrictions on responding organizations; however, only Illumina meets the technical requirements due to the compatibility requirements with existing laboratory infrastructure. No incumbent vendors or alternative suppliers are identified as capable of providing compatible products for the MPHL's existing sequencing equipment.