development of diagnostic tests

This is a notice of intent to award a sole-source purchase order and is not a request for competitive proposals. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC) , National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention Office of the Director (NCHHSTP), intends to solicit and enter into a contract with Hologic Inc, 10210 Genetic Center Drive, San Diego, CA, 92121. Hologic intends to develop fully automated nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT's) for detecting genetic antibiotic resistance (AR) markers in Neisseria gonorrhoeare (NG). These assays will use existing technology (chemistry, hardware and software ) within Hologic and will be designed to run on the same fully automated FDA approved instrumentation system as the Aptima Combo2 test. The Aptima based assays are based on the Hologic Tigris instrumentation or technologies. The Government intends to solicit, negotiate and award to only one contractor using other than full and open competition procedures pursuant to the authority of FAR 13.106-1(b)(1). The NAICS code for this acquisition is 541720 and the size standard is 500 employees. This requirement will be procured under the guidelines of FAR Part 12, Commercial Items. Award will be made using Simplified Acquisition Procedures, FAR Part 13. Interested parties should submit a capabilities statement demonstrating their ability to provide the required system to Deborah T. Workman by email at atl7@cdc.gov. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals; however, the Government shall consider all responses received. A determination by the CDC not to compete this proposed contract, based upon responses to us notification, is solely within the discretion of the Contracting Officer.