99--NOTICE OF INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE

The United States Army Medical Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA) ) in support of the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System (AFMES), Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory (AFDIL) at Dover AFB DE, intends to negotiate a sole source firm-fixed price Requirements Indefinite Delivery contract with Biodiscovery-LLC, 5692 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, 48105 for custom target enrichment kits of custom molecular baits, probes and oligonucleotides for DNA analysis in accordance with FAR 6.302-1 (1), only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. These funds are obligated only upon the issuance of delivery orders. The contract will include a one-year base period with four one-year option periods. To increase the ability of the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory to make (AFDIL) DNA identifications in support of the past accounting mission and to provide novel methods for recovering DNA sequence data from aged & highly degraded forensic specimens, the AFDIL is currently validating a fixed (locked) next generation sequencing protocol, that has been optimized to generate forensically reproducible, robust and reliable next generation sequencing results. This protocol includes previously optimized DNA preparation steps that maximize the quantity of target DNA in the sample (enrichment) and have successfully recovered DNA data from specimens that previously had yielded no DNA sequence data with AFDIL's currently validated DNA preparation, amplification, sequencing and capillary electrophoresis analysis methods. Enriching for the mitochondrial and/or nuclear DNA sequences of interest reduces the quantity of non-specific (and uninformative) sequence data produced, and greatly reduces the cost of producing useful DNA forensic sequencing data. Through extensive pre-testing, AFDIL has developed and optimized a reproducible, robust and reliable method that is being validated according to the Federal Bureau of Investigations Quality Assurance Standards and the International Standards Organization (ISO) 17025 DNA forensic laboratory standards. Alterations to the fixed (locked) protocol will significantly delay the validation and implementation of the optimized procedure. This defined method results in higher throughput and more cost-effective laboratory workflow. In order to validate the existing optimized and defined next generation DNA sequencing preparation methods required for AFDIL's applications, custom target enrichment kits produced by a previously qualified vendor are required. These kits, which selectively capture defined regions of human genomic DNA through the use of thousands of DNA probes suspended in solution, are compatible with the Illumina MiSeq instrument and the raw data can be assembled and analyzed in the CLCbio software. In order to validate the existing optimized and defined next generation DNA sequencing preparation methods required for AFDIL's applications, custom target enrichment kits produced by a previously qualified vendor are required. These kits, which selectively capture defined regions of human genomic DNA through the use of thousands of DNA probes suspended in solution, are compatible with the Illumina MiSeq instrument and the raw data can be assembled and analyzed in the CLCbio software. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) for this requirement is 325413 and the size standard of 500. All capability statements received by closing date of this synopsis will be considered by the Government. A determination by the Government not to compete based on responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Based on the above information, the only technically acceptable custom primers can be provided by. This Notice of Intent is not a request for proposals. Information received from interested parties will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. Please submit your email capability statements (using PDF, MS Word, Excel attachments) to Kimberly Hannan at, contact@example.gov Statements are due no later than 10:00 A.M. EST on 08 September 2014. No telephone calls will be accepted.