NOTICE OF INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE: MESO SCALE DIAGNOSTICS, INC.

The USDA ARS - WBSC intends to award a sole source Firm Fixed Purchase Order (PO) to MESO SCALE DIAGNOSTICS (MESO or MSD), INC., 1601 RESEARCH BLVD, ROCKVILLE, MD 20850-3126. This consists of two orders being combined to attain a variety of Reagents as listed & described below from Meso Scale Diagnostics, Inc. in support of USDA ARS, Western Health Nutrition Research Center (WHNRC), 430 West Health Sciences Drive, Davis, CA. The Firm Fixed PO will include the following: 1. U-PLEX Biomarker Group 1 (hu) Assays, SECTOR (25 PL) - K15067L-4; 2. V-PLEX Vascular Injury Panel 2 (human) Kit (5 Plate) -K15198D-2; 3. V-PLEX Plus Vascular Injury Panel 2 (human) Kit (5 Plate) -K15198G-2; 4. 4 Differential Human Protein Types of Meso Scale Discovery V-PLEX Custom Human Cytokine (5 Plate) - K151A0H-2; Meso Scale Discovery U-PLEX Biomarker Group 1 (hu) Assays, SECTOR (5 PL) - K15067L-4: MSD's preconfigured U-PLEX panels can be customized to include only the validated assays needed for a particular research project. MSD's custom U-PLEX orders typically ship in 1 to 3 days. MSD's proprietary MULTI-ARRAY technology (featuring both electrochemiluminescent detection and protein arrays) brings sensitivity, expanded dynamic range, speed and high density of information to biological assays. MSD's U-PLEX assays are offered as fully customizable groups that include a broad menu of analytes assembled together by species, sample abundance, analytical compatibility, range in serum and plasma samples, and expected use. The U-PLEX Biomarker Group 1 panel is a custom combination of analytes from a selection of MSD assays. The U-PLEX Biomarker Group 1 (hu) contains 40 cytokines and chemokines that are important in many biological processes. V-PLEX Vascular Injury Panel 2 & V-PLEX PLUS Vascular Injury Panel 2 Human Kits: The Vascular Injury Panel 2 (human) Kit measures 4 biomarkers that are important in acute inflammation and tissue damage as well as numerous other biological processes. These assays can detect secreted biomarkers in a variety of tissues and body fluids where over- or under-expression may indicate a shift in biological equilibrium. The Vascular Injury Panel 2 (human) measures biomarkers that are implicated in a number of disorders, including atherosclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, Alzheimer's disease, cancer, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and stroke. As a result of their association with such a wide spectrum of disease, these biomarkers are the subjects of drug discovery projects, diagnostics development, and basic research. The Vascular Injury Panel 2 (human) Kit provides assay-specific components for the quantitative determination of SAA, CRP, VCAM-1, and ICAM-1 in human serum, plasma, cell culture supernatants, cerebral spinal fluid, and urine. Meso Scale Discovery V-PLEX Custom Human Cytokine (5 Plate) - K151A0H-2: MSD's preconfigured V-PLEX panels can be customized to include only the validated assays needed for a particular research project. MSD's custom V-PLEX orders typically ship in 1 to 3 days. MSD's proprietary MULTI-ARRAY technology (featuring both electrochemiluminescent detection and protein arrays) brings sensitivity, expanded dynamic range, speed and high density of information to biological assays. V-PLEX validated assays deliver reproducibility and reliability to support long-term studies. V-PLEX assays maximize consistency in results and confidence in data. The V-PLEX Custom Human Cytokine panel is configured for assay performance and reproducibility. Users are able to select specific targets of interest to measure. Developed under design control and according to the FDA's analytical validation guidelines, V-PLEX represents the highest quality assay available from MSD. Comprehensive testing of all raw materials and kit components combined with rigorous manufacturing and QC specifications ensure reproducible results. MSD's V-PLEX kits come with coated MULTI SPOT plates, calibrators, individual labeled detection antibodies, optimized diluents, a comprehensive product insert, and a certificate of analysis. USDA ARS, WHNRC is attaining these Reagents for their ongoing human study research and must continue using the same cytokine kits & assays with the MESO Instrument (USDA purchased & owned) to maintain consistency. Pursuant to the authority of 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(1) and FAR 6.302-1, Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements. The award date will be on or about September 7, 2017; and this Notice of Intent is not considered as a Request for Quotation (RFQ) nor is it a Request for Proposals (RFP). No solicitation document is available and telephone requests will not be honored. Interested persons may identify their interest and capability to respond to this requirement. A determination, by the Government, to compete this proposed PO based on responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. The Government will consider all responses received by 9:30AM PST, September 7, 2017. Information received will be considered solely for determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. Inquiries will only be accepted via email to the Primary Point of Contact: isabel.alvarado@ars.usda.gov.