Request for Information (RFI) - To procure customized Reagents and Consumables

THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY. The U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USMRAA) on behalf of the Armed Forces Medical Examiner Systems DoD DNA Operations (AFMES-DNAOPS) section to procure customized Reagents and Consumables. This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes - it does not constitute a solicitation, nor does it restrict the Government as to the ultimate acquisition approach. In accordance with FAR 15.201(e), responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Responses will be used for market research purposes only. Responders are advised that the U.S. Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this RFI. All costs associated with responding to this RFI will be solely at the interested vendor's expense. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future RFP, if one is issued. This RFI is to gauge interest in the upcoming requirement for manufactured by ThermoFisher/Life Technologies Brand needed for DNA Identification. The sole source for this requirement is ThermoFisher/Life Technologies. ThermoFisher/Life Technologies is the sole manufacturer and reseller for the customized reagents and consumables. The required reagents and supplies are used to support the AFMES-DNAOPS mission and have been designed, previously optimized, and validated specifically for forensic laboratories, including equipment-specific for the various procedures of DNA identification. The reagents have been tested and are compatible for use with: Life Technologies Genetic Analyzers Model 3500xl. The reagents have been tested and are compatible for use with: Life Technologies Genetic analyzers Model 3130xl, Model 3500xl, Model 3730, and DNA thermocyclers Model 9700. The Government is seeking sources, capability statements, and industry feedback for this requirement for ThermoFisher/Life Technologies and Consumables (Brand Name Only) in accordance with the requirements set forth in the attached Minimum Essential Characteristics (MECs). When submitting a capability statement, please submit a capability statement that describes relevant past performance based upon the size and scope of the outlined requirement. Additionally, please do not regurgitate the MEC requirements; rather contractors shall outline company specific capabilities that match the products outlined in the MECs in order for the Government to make a fair capabilities determination. In addition, the Government requests you respond to the specific questions listed below in order to satisfy this RFI. In addition, any industry feedback regarding the MECs is welcome. Please list any feedback accordingly (marked as vendor feedback) following your capability statement and responses to the listed Government questions. This notice is not a request for competitive quotes; no solicitation document is available and telephone requests will not be accepted. However, sources may submit descriptive literature, fully documenting their capability to supply the reagents and consumables, which will be considered by the Agency. A determination to compete this procurement based on response(s) to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Minimum Essential Characteristics (MECs): 1. GeneAmp 10X PCR Buffer I, (2 x 75 mL) A 10X buffer that when diluted 1:10, provides the pH and ionic strength recommended as optimal for PCR optimization. Shall contain 15mM MgCl2. 2. 7500 Real Time PCR Systems Spectral Calibration Kit I Used to calibrate the Applied Biosystems 7500 Real Time PCR Systems. Enables the user to establish the pure dye spectra and multi-component values for Cy3, Cy5 , and Texas Red dyes. Kit allows accurate discrimination of the fluorescent signal of individual dyes in a reaction mixture when all the dyes are excited simultaneously. Contains nine pre-loaded plates: one background plate, seven spectral calibration plates, and one Region of Interest (ROI) calibration plate. 3. MicroAmp Optical 96-Well Reaction Plate with Barcode (500 plates/bulkpack) Consumable plastic optical plates that are sanctioned by the company to meet the specific x, y and z-axis requirements of the Applied Biosystems 3130xl, 3730, 7000, 7500, and 9700 DNA instruments. Must be constructed from a single rigid piece of polypropylene in a ninety-six well format. Must have barcode identification sticker on side of each plate. 4. AmpF?STR Identifiler Plus PCR Amplification Kit (200 tests) An autosomal STR kit that amplifies the 13 core CODIS Loci, Amelogenin and D2 and D19 and has been optimized to run the Applied Biosystems 3130xl Genetic Analyzers. Identifiler uses a variable bining algorithm to generate the spectral, which leads to baselines of 15 relative fluorescent units. The amplification kit shall contain a primer set that amplifies the following loci in a single PCR amplification: Amelogenin, CSF1PO, D2S1338, D3S1358, D5S818, D7S820, D8S1179, D13S317, D16S539, D18S51, D19S433, D21S11, FGA, TH01, TPOX, vWA. The loci shall be consistent with major worldwide database recommendations including CODIS, ENFSI, and Interpol and should range from 100 to 450bp depending on the locus. The kit shall use 5 dyes, which are easily spectrally separated and have minimal overlap of emission bands. The dyes must have strong resistance against laser-induced bleaching with absorption spectra that are compatible to the wavelength of a 520 nm Argon Laser. Four of the dyes are used to label primers and the fifth dye is reserved for the internal lane size standard. The amplification kit shall also include Control DNA 9947A, an allelic ladder containing all of the common alleles for a given locus and Ampli-TaqGold. The kit shall have been developmentally validated by the company to be compatible with the 3130xl and GeneMapper ID. 5. Anode Buffer Container (ABC) 3500 Series Container with 1x running buffer to support all electrophoresis applications on the Applied Biosystems 3500 series Genetic Analyzers. Must be in ready-to-use, disposable container with a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag incorporated into the label. The top of the ABC shall be heat sealed with a plastic film, to be removed prior to direct installation on to the instrument. Each package shall include four individual containers. 6. BigDye Terminator v1.1 Cycle Sequencing Kit (5000 reactions) Designed for specialty applications that require optimal basecalling adjacent to the primer and for sequencing short PCR product templates with rapid electrophoresis run modules. Shall generate data with uniform peak heights, optimized signal balance and more accurate base assignments for heterozygote and mutation detection. The sequencing reagent shall have narrow bandwidths (less than 40 nm width at half height) strong balanced fluorescence peaks that are easily spectrally separated and have minimal overlap of emission bands, compatibility with processing enzymes, uniform electrophoretic mobility contributions, strong resistance against laser-induced bleaching, absorption spectra that match the wavelength of a 520 nm Argon Laser, and peak height uniformity. In addition, these reagents shall provide long reads for sequencing, 800-1200 nucleotides using the 3130xl or 3730 capillary electrophoresis instruments. In addition, the reagent must be able to be used at half strength with the additive, dGTP, which has been specifically optimized to work in conjunction with Big Dye version 1.1 Dye terminator sequencing chemistry on the 3130xl or 3730 Genetic Analyzer. 7. 3500xl Sequencing Standards, BigDye Terminator v1.1 Used for continued quality control and validation of Applied Biosystems 3500xl instruments. Kit shall contain enough DNA of a known 1200 base pair sequence prepared with BigDye Terminator v1.1 to perform one spectral calibration/performance check and/or one control sequencing run on the Applied Biosystems 3500 Series Genetic Analyzer. The DNA contained in the preparation shall be lyophilized to maximize stability. 8. MicroAmp Optical 96-Well Reaction Plate (500 plates/bulkpack) Consumable plastic optical plates that are sanctioned by the company to meet the specific x, y and z-axis requirements of Applied Biosystems 9700 PCR Systems. Must be constructed from a single rigid piece of polypropylene in a ninety-six well format. 9. 3500xL Genetic Analyzer 24-Capillary Array, 36 cm A DNA Sequencing and Fragment Analysis reagent and consumable. Its dimensions are 36 cm x 50 - m and it is internally uncoated. These are required for analysis and are the only capillaries approved for use on the 3500xl Genetic Analyzers. Must be preassembled set assemblies of 24 capillaries per array, with a built-in frame for easy installation. 10. 3500xL Genetic Analyzer 24-Capillary Array, 50 cm A DNA Sequencing and Fragment Analysis reagent and consumable. Its dimensions are 50 cm x 50 - m and it is internally uncoated. These are required for analysis and are the only capillaries approved for use on the 3500 Genetic Analyzers. Must be preassembled set assemblies of 24 capillaries per array, with a built-in frame for easy installation. 11. Cathode Buffer Container (CBC) 3500 Series Container with 1x running buffer to support all electrophoresis applications on the. The container shall have two separate compartments, the left side shall provide the cathode buffer for electrophoresis and the right side shall provide for a capillary wash and spent polymer waste ejection functionality between injections. Must be in a ready-to-use, disposable container with a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag incorporated into the label. The top of the CBC shall be heat sealed with a plastic film, to be removed prior to direct installation on to the instrument. Each package shall include four individual containers. 12. Septa Cathode Buffer Container, 3500 series Septa for both compartments of the Cathode Buffer Container for use on the 3500 Genetic Analyzers. Required consumable for instrument operation. 13. Conditioning Reagent, 3500 Series Necessary reagent used on Applied Biosystems 3500 series Genetic Analyzers for priming the polymer pump, washing the polymer pump between polymer type changes, and during instrument shut down. Must be in a ready-to-use, one time use pouch with a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag incorporated into the label. The top part of the pouch fitment must be sealed with a plastic film, to be removed prior to installation on to the instrument. 14. dGTP BigDye Terminator v1.1 Cycle Sequencing Ready Reaction Kit (100 reaction) A kit which uses fluorescent dideoxy terminator chemistry, optimized for sequencing through GT- and G-rich templates. Must be Ready Reaction format. Must contain AmpliTaq DNA Polymerase, FS. Kit must use the same dye set as the BigDye v1.1 kits. 15. GeneAmp dNTP Blend (2.5 mM ea) An essential reagent used in low copy number PCR amplification of mitochondrial DNA. The dNTP blend must consist of 10mM aqueous solution of 2.5nM of each of the following: dATP, dCTP, dGTP, and dTTP in one vial. Blend provides the nucleotides required by Ampli-TaqGold DNA polymerase to copy the template strand during the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). 16. DS-33 Matrix Standard Kit (Dye Set G5) Used for continued quality control and validation of Applied Biosystems 3130xl instruments. Matrix Standard Set is used to generate the "multicomponent matrix" required when analyzing 6-FAM, VIC, NED, PET, and LIZ- labeled DNA fragments. The Data Collection Software of the 3130xl uses the multicomponent matrix to automatically analyze the five different colored fluorescent dye-labeled samples in a single capillary. The kit must consist of matrix standard sufficient for a minimum of eight array runs. The Matrix Standard Set contains five specific sizes of DNA fragments labeled with a unique fluorescent dye label. This standard shall be diluted in 1X TE buffer and must support 5-Dye fragment analysis (5-Dye Linkage Mapping v2.5) and Human Identity (5-Dye AmpFLSTR kits). 17. DS-36 Matrix Standard (Dye Set J6) Used for continued quality control and validation of Applied Biosystems 3130xl/3500xl instruments. Matrix Standard Set is used to generate the "multicomponent matrix" required when analyzing 6-FAM, VIC, NED, SID, TAZ, and LIZ- labeled DNA fragments. The Data Collection Software of the 3130xl/3500xl uses the multicomponent matrix to automatically analyze the six different colored fluorescent dye-labeled samples in a single capillary. The kit must consist of matrix standard sufficient for a minimum of eight array runs. The Matrix Standard Set contains six specific sizes of DNA fragments labeled with a unique fluorescent dye label. This standard shall be diluted in 1X TE buffer and must support 6-Dye fragment analysis and Human Identity kits. 18. GlobalFiler PCR Amplification Kit (1000 rxn) A 6-dye, 24-locus single-amplification STR multiplex kit, optimized for casework samples; containing all markers recommended for inclusion by the CODIS Core Loci Working Group, including all markers commonly used in Europe, for maximum global database compatibility. The amplification kit shall contain 6-FAM, VIC, NED, TAZ, and SID dye-labeled and unlabeled primers in buffer. The amplification kit shall contain primer sets that amplify the following STR loci in a single PCR amplification: D3S1358, vWA, D16S539, CSF1PO, TPOX, D8S1179, D21S11, D18S51, DYS391, D2S441, D19S433, TH01, FGA, D22S1045, D5S818, D13S317, D7S820,SE33, D10S1248, D1S1656, D12S391, D2S1338, and the sex-determining markers, Y indel and Amelogenin. Must contain an optimized buffer system for enhanced performance with inhibited and low-concentration DNA samples and expanded DNA input volume to allow for maximum sensitivity for trace/low level DNA samples. Must have an enhanced intracolor balance to simplify interpretation of mixture samples. Must have expanded allelic ladder allele ranges to include all rare alleles as described in the literature (STRbase), for increased genotyping accuracy. Must contain enough reagents to process 1000 reactions. 19. GlobalFiler PCR Amplification Kit (200 rxn) A 6-dye, 24-locus single-amplification STR multiplex kit, optimized for casework samples; containing all markers recommended for inclusion by the CODIS Core Loci Working Group, including all markers commonly used in Europe, for maximum global database compatibility. The amplification kit shall contain 6-FAM, VIC, NED, TAZ, and SID dye-labeled and unlabeled primers in buffer. The amplification kit shall contain primer sets that amplify the following STR loci in a single PCR amplification: D3S1358, vWA, D16S539, CSF1PO, TPOX, D8S1179, D21S11, D18S51, DYS391, D2S441, D19S433, TH01, FGA, D22S1045, D5S818, D13S317, D7S820,SE33, D10S1248, D1S1656, D12S391, D2S1338, and the sex-determining markers, Y indel and Amelogenin. Must contain an optimized buffer system for enhanced performance with inhibited and low-concentration DNA samples and expanded DNA input volume to allow for maximum sensitivity for trace/low level DNA samples. Must have an enhanced intracolor balance to simplify interpretation of mixture samples. Must have expanded allelic ladder allele ranges to include all rare alleles as described in the literature (STRbase), for increased genotyping accuracy. Must contain enough reagents to process 200 reactions. 20. GeneScan 600 LIZ Size Standard v2.0 A five dye-labeled high density size standard for the reproducible sizing of fragment analysis data. Product is necessary to perform normalization on the 3500 Series Genetic Analyzers. 21. Hi-Di Formamide Used to resuspend lyophilized sequencing product and suspend STR amplification products in prior to running on the 3130xl and 3730 Genetic Analyzer to obtain consistent high quality results. The formamide must be highly deionized (HiDi) and guaranteed not to have an excessive amount of Formate ions in the solution. Formate ions are negatively charged molecules that can interfere with electrokentic injection efficiencies on the 3130xl and 3730, which leads to base drop out and increased peak height imbalance. 22. 7500 Fast Real-Time PCR Systems Spectral Calibration Kit I Used to calibrate the Applied Biosystems 7500 Real Time PCR Systems. Enables the user to establish the pure dye spectra and multi-component values for FAM?SYBR Green I, VIC?JOE, and NED?TAMRA?ROX dyes. Kit allows accurate discrimination of the fluorescent signal of individual dyes in a reaction mixture when all the dyes are excited simultaneously. Contains nine Optical 96-Well Fast Thermocycling Plates: one preloaded and sealed background plate, seven preloaded and sealed plates with seven separate dye standards, and one region-of-interest (ROI) plate. 23. AmpF?STR MiniFiler PCR Amplification Kit A Short Tandem Repeat (STR) assay that co-amplifies 8 autosomal STRs and Amelogenin using reduced amplicon sizes in a single PCR reaction. Kit shall include loci from both the Identifiler and SGM Plus PCR Amplification Kits. PCR amplification kit designed to obtain nuclear DNA results from compromised casework samples. 24. MicroAmp Optical 8-Cap Strips Consumable cap of 8-caps per strip designed to seal 96-well optical plates. Must feature excellent optical clarity and low fluorescent background. 25. Pouch Cap for Polymer Pouch Cover for use on the 3500 Genetic Analyzers POP polymer pouches. A cap that plugs into the pouch fitment opening of partially used pouches that need to be stored. 26. POP-4 Polymer for 3500/3500xL Genetic Analyzers (384 samples) POP-4 polymer pouch used on Applied Biosystems 3500 series Genetic Analyzers. Must be in ready-to-use format and have adequate polymer to support 384 samples or injections. Shall include additional volume to handle installation and setup related wizard operations. Shall have a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag incorporated into the label. The top part of the pouch fitment shall be sealed with a plastic film, to be removed prior to installation on to the instrument. 27. POP-4 Polymer for 3500/3500xL Genetic Analyzers (960 samples) POP-4 polymer pouch used on Applied Biosystems 3500 series Genetic Analyzers. Must be in ready-to-use format and have adequate polymer to support 960 samples or injections. Shall include additional volume to handle installation and setup related wizard operations. Shall have a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag incorporated into the label. The top part of the pouch fitment shall be sealed with a plastic film, to be removed prior to installation on to the instrument. 28. POP-6 Polymer for 3500/3500xL Genetic Analyzers (384 samples) POP-6 polymer pouch used on Applied Biosystems 3500 series Genetic Analyzers. Must be in ready-to-use format and have adequate polymer to support 384 samples or injections. Shall include additional volume to handle installation and setup related wizard operations. Shall have a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag incorporated into the label. The top part of the pouch fitment shall be sealed with a plastic film, to be removed prior to installation on to the instrument. 29. POP-6 Polymer for 3500/3500xL Genetic Analyzers (960 samples) POP-6 polymer pouch used on Applied Biosystems 3500 series Genetic Analyzers. Must be in ready-to-use format and have adequate polymer to support 960 samples or injections. Shall include additional volume to handle installation and setup related wizard operations. Shall have a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag incorporated into the label. The top part of the pouch fitment shall be sealed with a plastic film, to be removed prior to installation on to the instrument. 30. Proteinase K Solution (20 mg/ml) (5x1.25 ml tubes) Reagent used for general digestion of protein in biological samples during DNA extraction. Must be a serine protease (produced by the fungus Tritirachium album Limber) that exhibits a very broad cleavage specificity. Must cleave peptide bonds adjacent to the carboxylic group of aliphatic and aromatic amino acids. 31. Quantifiler Trio DNA Quantification Kit Enables forensic laboratories to simultaneously obtain a quantitative and qualitative assessment of total human and human male DNA in a single real-time PCR reaction. This guides selection of the optimal STR chemistry (autosomal, Y-STR or miniSTR). Includes all reagents necessary for the amplification, detection, and quantification of 400 samples in 25 - l reactions using the Applied Biosystems 7500 Real-Time PCR System. This kit Includes PCR Reaction Mix, Primer Mix, DNA Standard, and Dilution Buffer. Internal PCR control is formulated into each reaction to identify samples that may contain PCR inhibitors. Kit must determine the ratio of human male to female DNA (1:4000 or greater). Must improve prediction of STR amplification performance and estimation of DNA quantity in degraded samples. Sensitivity must be <1 pg/l limit of detection; quantify DNA concentrations from 0.005 ng/uL to >50 ng/uL. Specificity must be for human and higher primate DNA. Must use TaqMan real-time PCR technology and be optimized and validated as part of a complete DNA testing system with the Applied Biosystems 7500 Real-Time PCR System and AmpF?STR PCR Amplification Kits to provide STR profiling results. 32. Reservoir Septa Consumables designed to cover buffer chambers for use on the 3130xl Genetic Analyzers. They are of optimal design and dimensions needed for to allow for proper electrokinetic injection and processing of samples on the 3130xl and 3730. 33. Plate Septa, 96 well Consumables designed to cover 96 well optical plates for use on the 3130xl and 3730 Genetic Analyzers. They are of optimal design and dimensions needed for to allow for proper electrokinetic injection and processing of samples on the 3130xl and 3730. 34. AmpliTaq Gold DNA Polymerase with Gold Buffer and MgCl2 (25x1000 units) Shall be a chemically modified form of Thermus Aquaticus that has the epsilon-amino groups of lysine residues chemically modified such that the enzyme is inactive above pH 7.0, has a 5-3 exonuclease activity, does not have a 3-5 exonuclease activity and is forensically validated for carrying out the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for nucleic acid amplification. The enzyme shall provide an automated - Hot Start process (95'C soak for 10 minutes) to lower the pH below 7 when the chemical modifications to the lysine residues are cleaved and the active site of the DNA polymerase becomes active. The enzyme shall be recombinant rather than native form. The enzyme shall be made and approved for use in processing forensic casework based on Frye and Daubert Hearings. 35. AmpF?STR Yfiler PCR Amplification Kit (100 reactions) A Short Tandem Repeat (STR) assay that allows for the simultaneous amplification of 17 STR loci on the Y chromosome in a single PCR reaction. Must utilize an input DNA volume of 0.1ng to 2.5ng of DNA with 1ng of DNA being the suggested input DNA. Shall include the core set of loci defined as the European Minimal Haplotype, the loci recommended by the Scientific Working Group on DNA Analysis Methods (SWGDAM) and six additional highly polymorphic loci, which increase the discrimination capacity of haplotype analysis using the Yfiler kit. 36. Yfiler Plus PCR Amplification Kit (500 rxn) A 6-dye multiplex Short Tandem Repeat (STR) assay that allows for the simultaneous amplification of 17 STR loci on the Y chromosome in a single PCR reaction. Must utilize an input DNA volume of 0.5ng to 1.5ng of DNA. Shall include locus-specific 6-FAM, VIC, NED, TAZ, and SID dyelabeled and unlabeled primers in buffer. The primers must amplify the Y-STR loci DYS19, DYS385 a/b, DYS387S1 a/b, DYS389 I/II, DYS390, DYS391, DYS392, DYS393, DYS437, DYS438, DYS439, DYS448, DYS449, DYS456, DYS458, DYS460, DYS481, DYS518, DYS533, DYS570, DYS576, DYS627, DYS635 (Y GATA C4), and Y GATA H4. Must contain enough reagents for 500 reactions. 37. Yfiler Plus PCR Amplification Kit (100 rxn) A 6-dye multiplex Short Tandem Repeat (STR) assay that allows for the simultaneous amplification of 17 STR loci on the Y chromosome in a single PCR reaction. Must utilize an input DNA volume of 0.5ng to 1.5ng of DNA. Shall include locus-specific 6-FAM, VIC, NED, TAZ, and SID dyelabeled and unlabeled primers in buffer. The primers must amplify the Y-STR loci DYS19, DYS385 a/b, DYS387S1 a/b, DYS389 I/II, DYS390, DYS391, DYS392, DYS393, DYS437, DYS438, DYS439, DYS448, DYS449, DYS456, DYS458, DYS460, DYS481, DYS518, DYS533, DYS570, DYS576, DYS627, DYS635 (Y GATA C4), and Y GATA H4. Must contain enough reagents for 100 reactions. 38. Qubit dsDNA BR Assay Kit A fluorescence-based quantitation assay kit that must be Compatible with the Qubit fluorometric quantitation System. Must be highly selective for double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) over RNA and accurate for initial sample concentrations from 100 pg/l-1,000 ng/l. Common contaminants such as salts, free nucleotides, solvents, detergents, or protein must be well tolerated in the assay. Kit must provide concentrated assay reagent, dilution buffer, and pre-diluted DNA standards. 39. Qubit dsDNA HS Assay Kit A fluorescence-based quantitation assay kit that must be Compatible with the Qubit fluorometric quantitation System. Must be highly selective for double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) over RNA and accurate for initial sample concentrations from 10 pg/l-100 ng/l. Common contaminants such as salts, free nucleotides, solvents, detergents, or protein must be well tolerated in the assay. Kit must provide concentrated assay reagent, dilution buffer, and pre-diluted DNA standards. 40. Precision ID mtDNA Whole Genome Panel (96 rxn) A next-generation sequencing (NGS) kit for mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) whole genome analysis; specifically for forensic applications. A 2-pool multiplex assay (each pool containing 81 primer pairs) targeting the entire mtDNA genome (16,569 bp), with minimal primer overlap between pools. Panel must utilize a mtDNA tiling approach and massively parallel sequencing to obtain optimal coverage data from highly compromised, degraded samples (hair shafts, teeth, and bones). Panel must increase success with degraded and low template DNA samples by utilizing a 163 bp average amplicon length, optimized with the inclusion of degenerate primers that align with primer-binding SNPs. Targeted Sequencing Library must allow for multiple chip formats with the ability to multiplex up to 64 samples with as little as 1 ng of input DNA. Total sample-to-data time should be less than 2 days. Kit should include enough reagents to process 96 reactions. 41. BlueJuice Gel Loading Buffer (10X) A sample loading buffer for loading and tracking of DNA samples in agarose or native polyacrylamide gels. Must contain bromophenol blue. Must be at a concentration of 10X. 42. Precision ID Identity Panel A next-generation sequencing (NGS) kit for human identification that uniquely identifies pristine or degraded samples. Panel must utilize an average amplicon length of 132 nucleotides and Y-markers of 141 nucleotides in length on average. Must use 34 upper Y-Clade SNPs and 90 autosomal SNPs that have high heterozygosity and low fixation index (Fst). Targeted Sequencing Library must allow for multiple chip formats with the ability to multiplex up to 264 samples with as little as 1 ng of input DNA. Must provide discrimination of individuals similar to STR genotype match probabilities used by forensic analysts (between 1x10-31 and 6x10-35). Total sample-to-data time should be less than 2 days. Kit should include enough reagents to process 96 reactions. 43. Precision ID Ancestry Panel A next-generation sequencing (NGS) kit used to provide biogeographic ancestry information; optimized for use with degraded DNA samples (amplicon sizes <130 bp). Panel must utilize 165 autosomal markers (SNPs). Targeted Sequencing Library must allow for multiple chip formats with the ability to multiplex up to 192 samples with as little as 1 ng of input DNA. Total sample-to-data time should be less than 2 days. Kit should include enough reagents to process 96 reactions. 44. Precision ID mtDNA Control Region Panel A next-generation sequencing (NGS) kit for mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region analysis; specifically for forensic applications. A 2-pool multiplex assay that targets the 1.2 kb control region of the human mitochondrial genome, which encompasses HV-I,II, and III. Panel must utilize a mtDNA tiling approach and massively parallel sequencing to obtain optimal coverage data from highly compromised, degraded samples (hair shafts, teeth, and bones). Targeted Sequencing Library must allow for multiple chip formats with the ability to multiplex up to 384 samples with as little as 1 ng of input DNA. Total sample-to-data time should be less than 2 days. Kit should include enough reagents to process 96 reactions. 45. Precision ID GlobalFiler NGS STR Panel A next-generation sequencing (NGS) STR kit for the analysis of DNA mixtures for casework applications using massively parallel sequencing. Must include the same 21 autosomal STRs found in the GlobalFiler PCR Amplification Kit along with a y-indel and two Amelogenin sex markers. Must include 9 additional multi-allelic STR markers (for a total of 33 targets, of which three are male-specific) to aid in mixture interpretation for complex casework samples. The panel must provide both allele number and base sequence for each repeat structure, enhanced mixture resolution, an increase in Probability of Identity (PI) estimates, and compatibility with global expanded CODIS core loci databasing standards. The Targeted Sequencing Library must allow for multiple chip formats with the ability to multiplex up to 64 samples with as little as 1 ng of input DNA. Kit should include enough reagents to process 96 reactions. 46. BigDye XTerminator Purification Kit (2,500 preps) A purification method for DNA sequencing reactions; must remove unincorporated BigDye terminators and salts. Reagents must completely remove dye blobs. Must take place in a single plate, with no requirement for sample transfer. Reagents must stabilize the post-purification reactions for 48 hours at room temperature or 10 days at 4'C. Kit must contain reagents for 2,500 samples). 47. BigDye XTerminator Purification Kit (40,000 preps) A purification method for DNA sequencing reactions; must remove unincorporated BigDye terminators and salts. Reagents must completely remove dye blobs. Must take place in a single plate, with no requirement for sample transfer. Reagents must stabilize the post-purification reactions for 48 hours at room temperature or 10 days at 4'C. Kit must contain reagents for 40,000 samples) 48. ExoSAP-IT PCR Product Cleanup Reagent used with the removal of primers, unincorporated dNTP's and unused polymerase chain reaction chemicals from Hypervariable regions HV1, HV2, whole mitochondrial genome and Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) amplified products. 49. 96 Well Retainer and Base STD RUO 96-well plate Retainer and Base Set for use with standard 96-well sample plates on the 3500 series Genetic Analyzers. 50. ABY Dye Spectral Calibration Plate Plate used for ABY spectral calibration of Applied Biosystems 7500 real-time PCR systems with a 96-well block. The dye formulations improve multiplexing results by more accurately representing fluorescent spectra. 51. JUN Dye Spectral Calibration Plate Plate used for JUN spectral calibration of Applied Biosystems 7500 real-time PCR systems with a 96-well block. The dye formulations improve multiplexing results by more accurately representing fluorescent spectra. 52. MicroAmp 8-Tube Strip, 0.2 mL 8-Tube Strips optimally designed for precise PCR and fit on 0.2mL thermal cyclers such as the Veriti 96-Well Thermal Cy...