66--NOTICE OF INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 3, Bloomington, MN intends to award a sole source firm fixed price order under authority of FAR 6.302-1, Other than Full and Open Competition procedures, and FAR Part 13 Simplified Acquisition procedures to Life Technologies Corporation, Grand Island, New York. This requirement is for continuity supply of Taqman Environmental Master Mix for Use in Asian Carp eDNA Monitoring Program. Life Technologies Corporation has worked collaboratively with USFWS Whitney Genetics Laboratory (WGL) since 2013. Through this program, the WGL conducts the entire USFWS high throughput Asian carp environmental DNA testing of the Great Lakes and other watersheds of national and international significance. All 50 x 20 ml aliquots of reagents must be from a single production lot that is good for use for one calendar year to correspond with our annual monitoring schedule (Expiration 1/2021 or later) and to meet reagent quality assurance protocol. Reagent must be in 20 ml aliquots to meet the needs of the laboratory where multiple 384 well qPCR plates are set up robotically due to the high throughput nature of workflow. Reagent must demonstrate a reproducible DNA amplification from crude environmental water samples greater than or equal to the Taqman Environmental Master Mix in the presence of IPC (internal positive controls for inhibitors). We also have to ensure that there is no inhibition of the qPCR tests being run attributable to inhibitors in the environmental sample These activities have followed a decision based framework and reaching a critical phase where continued collaboration with Life Technologies Corporation will ensure All test reagents go through a strict validation process to ensure a high degree of reproducibility of DNA qPCR amplification between assays run between one case and the next and one year to the next. WGL staff conducts these reagent validations to ensure the best performing reagents are used by the laboratory. The qPCR markers developed and used in the WGL have been optimized with the Taqman Environmental Master Mix to be as efficient, reproducible, and sensitive as possible to deliver the highest standard of reliability of laboratory results. This is accomplished by running inhibition controls during the reagent validation. The North American Industry classification (NAICS) code is 334516, and the size standard is 1,000 employees. This notice is not a request for competitive proposals; however, firms with expressed interest and capability are encouraged to respond. A determination by the Government not to compete this requirement based on responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government.