Liquid Handling System
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Acquisition Management Division, on behalf of the Biomolecular Measurement Division, Material Measurement Laboratory, intends to negotiate, on a sole source basis, under authority of FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), with Life Technologies Corporation, Grand Island, NY, 14072, for the purchase of a Liquid Handling Instrument to be located at NIST, 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, MD.
Sole Source determination is based on the following: The Applied Genetics Group within the Biomolecular Measurement Division conducts research into the use of next generation sequencing (NGS) for forensic DNA biometrics and human identification (HID). The work being performed will evaluate NGS technology's suitability for use in forensics through assessment in the areas of: accuracy, precision, sensitivity, concordance with current methods, and improved capabilities for HID. Current infrastructure at NIST includes the Personal Genome Machine (PGM) from Ion Torrent (Life Technologies/Thermo Fisher). NIST requires automation of the library sequencing template preparation process in order to reduce the likelihood of errors occurring in the process. The liquid handling automation for this workflow must be compatible with a NIST-owned Ion Torrent PGM chemistry and must have a sequencing template loaded onto a PGM chip in a fully automated fashion. Data sets generated on the NIST-owned Ion Torrent PGM system must be compatible with the required Liquid Handling Instrument.
Life Technologies Corporation is the only vendor capable of providing the required Liquid Handling Instrument that meets the Government's minimum requirements and is compatible with existing data sets generated on the NIST-owned Life Technologies Ion Torrent PGM system. Life Technologies is the sole manufacturer and distributor.
The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 334516, and the size standard is 500 employees.
No solicitation package will be issued. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotations; however, the Government will consider responses received by September 11, 2014, 3:30 p.m. EST.
A determination by the Government not to compete the proposed acquisition based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement.
Kim S Stavish, Contract Specialist, Phone 301-975-2672, Fax 301-975-6273, Email kim.stavish@nist.gov - Andrea A Parekh, Contracting Officer, Phone (301)975-6984, Email andrea.parekh@nist.gov
