Sole Source Notice - NextSeq 500 Silver Support Plan

The Government hereby submits a notice of intent to award a sole source firm fixed price contract to Illumina, Inc for preventive maintenance services on NextSeq 500 located at Beltsville Agriculture Research Center in Beltsville, MD. 

IDENTIFICATION OF THE AGENCY AND THE CONTRACTING ACTIVITY:

Requesting Agency:

USDA, APHIS, PPQ, FO PGQP, Bldg. 580, BARC-East

9901 Powder Mill Road Beltsville, MD 20705

Contracting Activity:

USDA, APHIS, MRPBS, ASD

Minneapolis Procurement Branch Butler Square, Fifth Floor

100 North 6th Street Minneapolis, MN 55403

NATURE AND/OR DESCRIPTION OF THE ACTION BEING APPROVED:

This is a sole source justification to purchase a preventative maintenance contract for our NextSeq sequencer, serial number NB 502027, from Illumina, Inc.

Due to the circumstances described below, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) program requests the preventative maintenance contract to be acquired using a noncompetitive procurement in support of program mission requirements.

A DESCRIPTION OF THE SUPPLIES, EQUIPMENT, OR SERVICES REQUIRED TO MEET AGENCY NEEDS (INCLUDING THE ESTIMATED VALUE OF THE ACQUISITION INCLUSIVE OF OPTIONS):

Preventative maintenance shall be provided for the Illumina NextSeq sequencer which is located at the Beltsville Agriculture Research Center in Beltsville, MD.

Based on historical data, the estimated value of this acquisition does not exceed the simplified acquisition threshold.

IDENTIFICATION OF THE STATUATORY AUTHORITY PERMITTING NONCOMPETITIVE ACQUISITIONS:

41 U.S. Code § 3304 as implemented by FAR 13.106-1. For purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold, Contracting Officers may solicit from one source if the contracting officer determines that circumstances of the contract action deem only one source reasonably available (i.e. urgency, exclusive agreements, brand name, or industrial mobilization)

A DEMONSTRATION THAT THE PROPOSED CONTRACTOR’S UNIQUE QUALIFICATIONS OR THE NATURE OF THE ACQUISITION REQUIRES USE OF THE AUTHORITY CITED:

Our NextSeq sequencer is a proprietary product manufactured by Illumina, Inc. The NextSeq sequencer has been in use by PGQP since 2017. Only Illumina Inc. has factory trained technicians, parts and supplies available for this equipment. Illumina does not authorize any other companies to provide maintenance for Illumina instrumentation.

A DETERMINATION BY THE CONTRACTING OFFICER THAT THE ANTICIPATED COST TO THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE FAIR AND REASONABLE, AND THE BASIS FORTHAT DETERMINATION:

A determination by the Contracting Officer that the cost will be fair and reasonable and will be based on historical data and industry prices for similar items.

The determination not to compete this proposed contract action is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered for the purposes of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. The Government will not be responsible for any costs incurred by responding to this notice.

This is NOT a request for quotes or proposals.

Questions or comments to this Notice of Intent should be directed to Contracting Officer, Kim Yen Tu, at kimyen.n.tu@usda.gov via e-mail only (no phone calls/voice mail messages regarding questions will not be accepted and will not receive a response).