--It is the Department of Army's intention to award a sole source for microarray assays and data analysis to Virginia Bioinformatics.

The Department of the Army, through the U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity, intends to award a sole-source purchase order to Virginia Bioinformatics for microarray assays and data analysis services. The justification for this sole-source award is based on the need to ensure the best correlation with microarray data previously generated in the government’s laboratory, which the Army believes only Virginia Bioinformatics can provide. The contract relates to NAICS code 541380, indicating professional, scientific, and technical services. Potential competitors are invited to challenge this sole-source determination by responding via email by a specified deadline, April 11, 2005. The procurement underscores the importance of data consistency and technical compatibility, emphasizing that no other organization is currently deemed capable of matching the specific requirements set by the Army. This action reflects a preference for continuity and quality assurance in the handling of sensitive biomedical data analysis tasks.