mRNA-sequencing and Methyl-Bisulfite sequencing from submitted leaf tissue samples

This solicitation, numbered 1232SA26Q0964, is a Request for Quotation issued under FAR Part 12 for commercial items to perform mRNA sequencing and Methyl-Bisulfite sequencing on 610 RNA and 20 DNA samples extracted from leaf tissue, with the work intended to support USDA Agricultural Research Service research on crop traits. The acquisition is a Total Small Business Set-Aside under NAICS code 541380, with a size standard of $19 million in annual receipts, and all responsible small businesses may submit quotations. The contract is a Firm Fixed Price based on a Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) evaluation method, where only the lowest-priced offer is reviewed for technical acceptability, which is assessed on an adjectival scale of Acceptable or Unacceptable, with past performance considered as part of this assessment. The estimated contract value is $372,500, derived from unit pricing of $610 per RNA sample and $20 per DNA sample, with performance beginning on August 17, 2026, and concluding on August 16, 2027, under FOB Destination terms, with samples delivered to Fargo, North Dakota, and final sequencing data transmitted via secure, password-protected portal to Beltsville, Maryland. The contractor must adhere to strict technical timelines: a QC report must be submitted within six business days of sample receipt, library preparation and sequencing initiation must begin within five business days of QC approval, a sequencer run statistic report is due within seven business days of QC confirmation, and final raw and assembled sequencing data must be delivered within ten business days of library quality approval. All data remains the exclusive property of the government and cannot be transferred outside the United States or used to train AI/ML models. Additional requirements include mandatory compliance with DEI certification clauses under AGAR 452.203-70 and 452.203-71, prohibiting participation in or funding of programs that conflict with Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and Executive Orders 14168 and 14173, with violations potentially triggering False Claims Act liability. The contractor must ensure all subcontractors flow down the DEI certification and may not impose unauthorized security, access, or liability terms on the government. Packaging and marking require shipment tracking identifiers including SHIP NUMBER, PARTIAL/FINAL designation,