MacVector software renewal and MacVector Assembler

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for Commercial Items prepared in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 12, Acquisition of Commercial Items as supplemented with additional information included in this announcement. This solicitation incorporates provisions and clauses in effect in the April 2011 FAR Revision, including all FAR Circulars issued as of the date of this synopsis. It is the intent of the Center for Information Technology (CIT), National Institutes of Health (NIH), to negotiate on a sole source basis with MacVector, Inc., PMB150, 1939 High House Road, Cary, North Carolina 27519, to acquire a renewal of MacVector (registered name) and Assembler proprietary software products and support. NIH has been utilizing the MacVector products and support since 2003. NIH has a continued requirement to acquire a MacIntosh application for a 12-month Base Period and two successive 12-month Option Periods to assist NIH molecular biologists to analyze, assemble and document DNA and protein sequences. MacVector is a comprehensive MacIntosh application that provides sequence editing, primer design, Internet database searching, protein analysis, sequence confirmation, multiple sequence alignment, phylogenetic reconstruction, coding region analysis, and a wide variety of other functions. It is recognized by researchers as the most intuiti8ve, easy to use program available in the market place for sequence analysis. MacVector takes full advantage of the popular Macintosh OS X interface to create an intuitive analysis environment with a single mouse click. With MacVector, the researcher can view the results of any analysis function in graphical or text format. The MacVector Assembler is an add-on module for MacVector that allows the researcher to assemble sequences using the Phred/Phrap/cross-match algorithms from the University of Washing. Based on the industry standard algorithms of Phred and Phrap, Assembler is an excellent sequencing tool for small genome projects, sequence comparisons, and sequence studies, in addition to providing high performance and high quality sequence assembly. CIT has determined that MacVector is the only commercially available source that can provide the required comprehensive Macintosh application products and support requirements stated above to support NIH molecular biologists in analyzing, assembling and documenting DNA and protein sequences. This notice of intent is not a Request for Quotations (RFQ), nor is an RFQ available. However, all responsible and responsive sources may submit descriptive literature fully documenting their Macintosh-based sequencing software applications and support which will be considered by the agency. Sources interested in responding to this notice must be able to provide software and support that can fulfill all of the requirements specified above. Information received in a timely manner will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. A determination by the Government to conduct a competition for this proposed acquisition based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. This requirement is being processed for CIT by the National Library of Medicine (NLM). NLM intends to make an award for this commercial item in accordance with FAR Part 12 Acquisition of Commercial Items. Responses must be received by the NLM Point of Contact within seven (7) calendar days from the publication date of this notice. NLM-11-1146jc shall be noted on all correspondence to this announcement. RESPONSES SHALL BE SENT ELECTRONICALLY VIA EMAIL TO: Joan Coulter at jc224a@nih.gov. Inquiries regarding this notice may be made to Joan Coulter at jc224a@nih.gov.