D--Base Award - Illumina Dragen

The National Cancer Institute’s Center for Biomedical Informatics and Information Technology requires annual software licenses and technical support for Illumina DRAGEN Server processors to sustain critical genomic data processing operations across its high-performance computing environments at Biowulf in Bethesda, Maryland and the Frederick Research Computing Environment in Frederick, Maryland. The contract calls for two annual licenses for LVL 2 DRAGEN Server processors, each capable of 250,000 GB throughput, and two annual Advance Exchange Support Plans with 8x5 remote technical support, one for each location. These licenses are required to maintain the integrated DRAGEN-GATK workflow, which is essential for whole genome and whole exome sequencing analysis and is accessed through the NIH Integrated Data Analysis Platform and SLURM-managed batch clusters. Performance will occur exclusively at the two specified sites, with the period of performance spanning from September 29, 2026, to September 28, 2027. This acquisition is designated as a brand name, noncompetitive, sole source action because Illumina, Inc. is the only provider of the proprietary FPGA-based DRAGEN Server hardware that enables the required 30X acceleration in genomic data processing, and no commercially available alternative software can replicate its performance or integration with GATK. The National Cancer Institute has historically deployed this technology and must continue its use to ensure consistency in reference genome alignment and variant calling across its aggregated sequencing datasets. Only authorized resellers of Illumina, Inc. are eligible to respond, and proof of such authorization is mandatory for award consideration. The solicitation number is 140D0426Q0737, with a response deadline of August 5, 2026, and an anticipated award date of August 31, 2026. The acquisition is not subject to the World Trade Organization Government Procurement Agreement or any Free Trade Agreements, and no technical data is required from offerors beyond proof of authorized reseller status.