B--SOURCES SOUGHT RNA SEQUENCING

The U.S. Geological Survey is conducting market research through a sources sought announcement to identify qualified businesses capable of providing RNA sequencing and library preparation services. The scope of work involves processing ninety-six RNA samples using poly-A selected library preparation with the Watchmaker Genomics mRNA kit or an equivalent, followed by high-throughput sequencing on an Illumina NovaSeq X Plus in 1x75 bp single-read mode using two lanes. The vendor must guarantee a minimum yield of 10 million pass-filter reads per sample and complete all work, including the delivery of raw sequencing data in FastQ format and a detailed summary report, within 45 calendar days of receiving the samples. Additionally, the research identifies a separate requirement for a one-year service maintenance agreement for an Agilent GC/MS/MS. This announcement is for planning purposes and is not a formal request for a quote or proposal. Interested parties must submit capability statements and specify their business size status under NAICS code 541380, which has a size standard of 19.0 million dollars. All responses must be submitted electronically to the designated point of contact by September 15th at 0700 Pacific time. Requirements for the project include strict adherence to scientific and data-handling standards, the use of encrypted data delivery methods such as SFTP or HTTPS, and the maintenance of a rigorous chain-of-custody for all RNA samples.