USDA ARS Automated DNA Analysis System

The USDA Agricultural Research Service is soliciting quotations under Solicitation No. 127EAU26Q0080 for the procurement of an Automated DNA Analysis and Size Selection Pulsed-Field Electrophoresis System, specifically a LightBench Discover or a verified equivalent. This acquisition is a Total Small Business Set-Aside under NAICS 334516 and will be awarded as a single firm-fixed-price contract. The system must support automated gel-based DNA size selection, fragment-length analysis of at least 80 kb, fluorometric DNA quantification, and compatibility with next-generation sequencing workflows. The award includes the delivery of all necessary hardware and software, as well as an installation kit, setup, calibration, and customer training. The equipment will be delivered to the USDA-ARS facility in Hilo, Hawaii, with a required delivery timeline of 30 days after the award date. Quotations are due by September 22, 2026, and must include pricing for all line items on the SF 1449 to be considered responsive. Evaluation will be based on price fairness and reasonableness and an assessment of past performance, which will be rated as acceptable, neutral, or unacceptable. The contract incorporates various FAR clauses, including those regarding commercial products, whistleblower rights, and anti-discrimination compliance.