This is a Sources Sought notice Only. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. This Sources Sought is issued for information and planning purposes only as part of USDA ARS market research and does not itself constitute an RFQ. This requirement is covered under NAICS code 334516. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding the availability and capability of qualified sources; Small Businesses; HUBZone small business; service-disabled, veteran-owned small business; 8(a) small business; veteran-owned small business; woman-owned small business; or small disadvantaged businesses; Responses to the information requested will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method, including whether a set-aside is possible.

RT-PCR machine must generate a thermal gradient across the 96-well reaction block to support rapid optimization of real-time PCR assays. It must be compatible with many fluorescent technologies for real-time PCR amplification. It needs to capture up to five fluorophores in a single reaction well. It should include software that supports data acquisition, viewing, and analysis of data generated by the system and that supports real-time PCR applications such as PCR quantification, melt curve analysis, end point analysis, allelic discrimination, and gene expression analysis.

Detailed requirements:

1. Real-time data traces must be able to be viewed during a run from the thermal cycler base or if a computer is connected to the instrument.
2. System must be able to detect a 1.3-fold change in gene expression.
3. System must be capable of a thermal gradient that enables optimization of multiple temperatures in a single assay.
4. Thermal block must have operational range of 4–100°C.
5. Sample block temperature must have accuracy of +/-0.2°C of programmed target at 90°C, with a uniformity of +/-0.3°C well-to-well within 10 seconds of arrival at 90°C.
6. An optical system that allows excitation and detection of up to five fluorescent dyes in a single reaction well.
7. Must have a fixed optical path, directly over each well, that eliminates the need to normalize for positional bias.
8. Optical detection range of excitation wavelengths: 450–684 nm;
9. Optical detection range of emission wavelengths: 515–730 nm
10. Must have a linear dynamic range of 10 orders of magnitude for detection of input samples.
11. System capable of detecting one copy of target sequence in genomic DNA.
12. Be able to use reaction volumes from 1–50 µL.
13. Must be able to detect 10 fmol of fluorescein.
14. Instrument must be capable of continuing and completing a run if the software is stopped, or interrupted to prevent loss of data due to unintentional interruption.
15. Instrument must use a Peltier heating/cooling system;
16. Physical Dimensions should be in the range of (W x D x H) 13” x 22” x 14”;
17. Weight should not exceed 48 pounds

Additional software requirements:

1. Multiplex amplification and melt-curve/end-point analysis can be performed with up to five fluorophores in a single well;
2. Multiple plates can be combined into a single experiment;
3. Multiple standard curves can be simultaneously viewed when using a common fluorophore;
4. Gene expression analysis can be completed using multiple motifs (ΔCq, ΔΔCq, etc…)
5. Multiple reference genes can be used in expression analysis,
6. Can compare up to 5000 Cq values
7. Data/graphs/tables MUST be able to be printed, saved as PDF format, or exported directly into Microsoft Excel;
8. Software must be capable of performing t-test and ANOVA calculations;
9. Software must be capable of displaying data in multiple formats including bar chart, dot plot, scatter plot, etc… and allow IN SITU annotation of those graphs.
10. Software on one computer must be able to directly control up to RT-PCR instruments
11. Multiplex data can be displayed for up to five fluorophores.

The Government does not intend to make an award based on responses to this inquiry. This notice does not constitute a commitment by the Government.

Capability Statement

All information submitted in response to this announcement is voluntary, and the Government will not pay for information requested nor will it compensate any respondent for any cost incurred in developing information provided to the Government. Business concerns that possess the capabilities necessary to undertake this work should submit complete documentation of their capabilities to the Contracting Officer. Capability statements shall include the Contractors contact point to discuss their response.

The capability statement should include:

1) Acknowledgement that they are able to provide the subject supplies/services being requested;

2) Interested vendors should identify their size standards in accordance with the Small Business Administration;

3) At least three previous requirements that are similar to the requirement include a discussion of the Contract type, delivery method, duration, etc.;

4) Any other information considered relevant to this requirement; and

5) The government requests that no proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in the response.

Any vendor responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine their qualifications to perform the work. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. After review of the responses received, a combined synopsis/solicitation may be published on sam.gov depending on the responses received.

All responses to this Sources Sought Notice must be received by the notice’s POC by the deadline in order to be considered. Responses may not be returned. Responders are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this Inquiry. Do not submit pricing information in response to this Request.

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