DNA Analyses

The contract, identified by solicitation number N6660426Q0455 and titled DNA Analyses, is a Small Business Set-Aside under NAICS code 541380 with a size standard of $19.0 million, issued by the Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division Newport under the Department of Defense. The primary objective is to procure 16S and 18S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing services for biofilm samples collected from underwater test panels at depths of 50m, 250m, 500m, and 950m to analyze microbial composition and support Navy research on deep-sea biofouling and antifouling coating performance. The contract is structured as an Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) with a firm fixed price basis, featuring a maximum ceiling of 1,710 jobs and a minimum guarantee of 510 jobs, though no unit pricing has been established—pricing will be determined by offerors in response to the solicitation. Performance occurs at the contractor’s laboratory using samples provided by NUWC Newport, with final deliverables—including taxonomic reports in PDF format and raw sequence data in Excel—requiring delivery to and acceptance by the Government at Newport, RI. Offerors must submit a technical approach not exceeding one page and proof of an internal Quality Management System also limited to one page, with award to be made on a Lowest Price Technically Acceptable basis. Proposals must include a completed pricing table and comply with stringent cybersecurity and information handling protocols, including adherence to NISPOM, DFARS 252.204-7012 for safeguarding covered defense information, and DoDI 5230.24 for marking technical data. Electronic spillage is strictly prohibited and carries full financial liability for the contractor. Contractual clauses impose limitations on order quantities, prohibiting orders below 75 jobs and capping cumulative orders from a single office at 510 jobs per 60-day period. All contractors must maintain an OPSEC program compliant with NSPM-28, implement safeguarding measures for Controlled Unclassified Information, and ensure personnel comply with facility security policies when working at government sites. The response deadline has been amended to August 7, 2026, and submissions must be sent electronically to Elizabeth Peckham at NUWC Newport. No physical packaging or bar-coding requirements are specified,