66--Notice of Intent to Award Sole Source- Argus Optical Mapping System

The Department of the Army, Healthcare Acquisition Activity- North, Fort Detrick, MD, intends to negotiate a Sole Source procurement with OpGen, Gaithersburg, MD to provide a Argus Optical Mapping System, to the USAFSAM, Brooks City Base, TX. This proposed procurement is for supplies for which the government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source under the authority of FAR 13.501(a) and FAR 6.302-1, Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotes. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based on responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Contracting Officer. Point of contact Jessica Ely, Contract Specialist, e-mail: contact@example.gov The following verbiage is directly from the Justification and Approval for sole source and is posted in accordance with FAR 5.102(a)(6). The Air Force Surgeon Genera funded project entitled "Evaluation of Full Genome Restriction Mapping for the Detection of Disease" requires the use of an Argus Optical Mapping System for its successful completion. No other vendor can currently manufacture or provide an instrument with the capabilities found in the Argus Optical Mapping System. OpGen, Inc. has developed a unique and powerful Optical Mapping Technology that rapidly generates high resolution, ordered, whole genome restriction maps from single DNA molecules extracted from bacteria, yeast or fungi. Optical Maps are generated de novo, independent of sequence information, and provide a comprehensive view of the entire genomic architecture. The device provides a new means to compare microbial genomes to identify regions of similarity and dissimilarity across the whole genome. This vendor has further demonstrated the ability of the device to handle complex or mixed samples of bacteria, and correctly identify them in such circumstances. This Optical Mapping method is a proprietary technology and is unique in that it employs a process of stretching and immobilizing high molecular weight DNA across a linear surface. Proprietary software then assembles the fragments to form a consensus Optical Map of the entire genome. No other technology generates high resolution, ordered, whole genome restriction maps of this type. The technology is protected by a number of OPGEN owned patents making this the only vendor that can provide these services. The suitability and company owned intellectual properties make this vendor the only one able to fulfill the needed of the AF mission-related project.