70--Ingenuity Pathways Analysis Academic License

Introduction: Pursuant to FAR Subpart 13.106-1(b)(1), the U.S. Army RDECOM Contracting Center, Natick Contracting Division, on behalf of the Naval Health Research Center (NHRC), intends to award a firm fixed price purchase order on a sole source basis to: Ingenuity Systems, Inc., Redwood City, CA 94063. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS. NO SOLICITATION DOCUMENT IS AVAILABLE. 1. Nature and description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency's needs: The Discovery, Early Detection, Evaluation, Treatment and Prevention in Cancer Research at Penn State have a requirement to renew and upgrade its license for Ingenuity Pathways Analysis (IP A) software. The IP A software program allows researchers to access information available from the Ingenuity Knowledge Base, a database of genes, proteins, cells, etc. The Ingenuity Pathways Analysis software has the following salient characteristics: " Accesses the Ingenuity Knowledge Base data 2. A demonstration that the proposed contractor is the only source available to provide these services or goods (i.e. unique qualifications, proprietary rights, etc.): Ingenuity Systems produces several proprietary medical and biological data systems. The Ingenuity Pathways Analysis is currently in use by the Discovery, Early Detection, Evaluation, Treatment and Prevention in Cancer Research study. The Ingenuity software is the only one capable of accessing the Ingenuity Knowledge Base a repository of medical and biological facts and data. If the license for the Ingenuity Pathways Analysis software is not renewed the workflow of the study will be interrupted. Using new medical and biological data system software would also cause delay as researchers will need to train in the use of the new system. Renewing and upgrading the license will allow the study to move forward unimpeded and will allow more researches to access the data this software allows. 3. A description of the market research that was conducted and the results, or a statement of the reason a market research was not conducted: A search was conducted between 31 March and 6 April 2010 using Internet search engines, the Central Contractor Registry (CCR) database, and the Small Business Administration (SBA) Dynamic Small Business Search. The CCR and SBA search referenced NAICS code 541511 Custom Computer Programming Services and keywords biological, DNA and cell lines. The SBA Dynamic Small Business Search returned small businesses associated with both the NAICS 541511 and the relevant keywords. The vendors found during the search could not provide software capable of accessing the Ingenuity Knowledge Base. Internet research found that the software that best meet the salient characteristics of system is available from a single vendor. The Discovery, Early Detection, Evaluation, Treatment and Prevention in Cancer Research currently use the Ingenuity Pathways Analysis software as a part of their research study. The Ingenuity Pathways Analysis software sold by Ingenuity can best meet the requirements. 4. Any other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition: None 5. A statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition before any subsequent acquisition for the supplies or services required: The Discovery, Early Detection, Evaluation, Treatment and Prevention in Cancer Research at Penn State are currently using the Ingenuity Pathways Analysis software. The only vendor that can provide the software license renewal and upgrade is Ingenuity Systems. There software fulfills the requirements set forth by the principal investigators. Other medical and biological database systems are proprietary to the manufacturers that produce them and often do not work with the systems developed by other manufacturers. There does not appear to be any actions that this agency can take to remove or overcome barriers to competition. 6. Interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to this requirement to the U.S. Army RDECOM Contracting Center, Natick Contracting Division via e-mail to: contact@example.gov no later than noon on April 24, 2010. Contracting Office Address: RDECOM Contracting Center - Natick CCRD-NA-SU, Natick Contracting Division Kansas Street, Building 1 Natick, MA 01760-5011 Point of Contact: Steven Streeter, Contract Specialist +1 (555) 000-0000 contact@example.gov