ViiA 7 Real-Time PCR System

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Station Support/Simplified Acquisition (SS/SA) Branch, on behalf of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) intends to negotiate and award on a non-competitive basis purchase order to Applied Biosystems, 850 Lincoln Centre Drive, Foster City, CA, 94404-1128 for the purchase ViiA 7 Real-Time PCR System. The ViiA 7 Real-Time PCR system is a high performance instrument designed to optimize research productivity. The PCR system helps streamline genomic screening and validation, pathogen detection, and biomarker identification and screening. It facilities a straightforward method for gene expression profiling, high sample throughout genotyping, validating microarray results, and performing expression based biomarker screens. This system is ideal for validating complex disease associations, marker-assisted breeding, or other studies requiring large sample sizes. The use of a real-time PCR System with the sensitivity and accuracy of the ViiA 7 has become essential to investigating and understanding the biology of viral infection in human cells. NINDS will use this PCR system to examine changes in human cell gene expression due to infection with Human T cell Lymphotropic Virus Type I (HTLV-I). The system will be used to investigate how potential treatments for clinical trial affect the expression of viral genes and viral-induced genes in infected cells. The ability to monitor gene expression is essential to studying new compounds with the potential to treat patients with various viral infections. This real-time PCR will also be used to scan large numbers of human and non-human primate samples for the presence of viral infection including infection of HTLV-1 as well as herpes virus. Applied Biosystems is the sole manufacturer and vendor of the ViiA 7 Real-Time PCR System. Applied Biosystems does not have any authorized agents, distributors or dealers in the United States or Canada for the ViiA 7 Real-Time PCR System. No other known equipment meets NINDS specifications. The acquisition is being conducted under simplified acquisition using FAR Part 12 procedures and exempt from the requirement of FAR Part 6, Competition Requirement. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. Interested parties may identify their interest and capabilities in response to this synopsis. The determination by the Government not to compete the proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely with the discretion of the Government. Comments to this announcement, referencing synopsis number 2126465 may be submitted to the NIDA, Station Support/Simplified Acquisition Branch, 31 Center Drive, Room 1B59, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-2080 and Attention: Jasmine Snoddy, Contract Specialist or email at contact@example.gov.