Inactive 8(a) Sole Source (FAR 19.8)

A.BACKGROUND The Virology & Emerging Infections Department of the U.S. Naval Medical and Research Unit No. 6 (NAMRU-6) owns the following equipment: qTower, Miseq, Miniseq, and Miseq DX, all of which ... A.BACKGROUND The Virology & Emerging Infections Department of the U.S. Naval Medical and Research Unit No. 6 (NAMRU-6) owns the following equipment: qTower, Miseq, Miniseq, and Miseq DX, all of which are used in Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) laboratory procedures. Most NGS projects are based on pathogen discovery in human and non-human samples using the above sequencers. These platforms employ sequencing by synthesis technology, integrating cluster generation, amplification, sequencing, and data analysis into a single instrument. We use targeted, random and shotgun sequencing of public health pathogens such as respiratory viruses and arboviruses. B. OBJECTIVES Due to time elapsed since their acquisition, high daily performance, and extremely costly price of brand-new instruments, VEID needs the extended warranty of at least one year for the Illumina instruments (Miseq, Miniseq and Miseq DX), which should include full coverage for parts replacement, reagents replacement upon hardware failure, onsite support, and both preventive and corrective maintenance. In the case of the qTower instrument, our requirement is for its annual preventive maintenance. It should include the review of the fuse and electric system, review of instrument turn on and turn off, review of touch screen functioning, hardware tests, system performance tests, temperature verification tests, review of sample block sensor, instrument general testing, internal and external cleanup, and cleanup of lid. NAMRU-6 requires the above detailed services for all four instruments considering it is necessary to keep working at optimum and full capacity. Contract needs to start on August 23, 2023, as current warranty period for equipment is good through August 22, 2023. If capable sources are not identified through this notice, then NAMRU 6 intends to award a sole source contract under the authority of FAR 13.106-1(b)(i) to GenLab del Perú, Jr. Capac Yupanqui 2434, Lince, Lima, Peru. This pre-solicitation is not a request for competitive proposals and no solicitation document exists for the requirement. Sources interested in responding to this notice are required to submit a capability statement that includes management and technical data and cost information, in sufficient detail and with convincing evidence that clearly demonstrates the capability to supply the required goods or perform the required work. Capability statements shall not exceed 5 (8.5 x 11 inch) pages using a font size no smaller than 10-point. All capability statements received by the due date of this notice will be considered by the Government. A request for documentation or additional information or submissions that only ask questions will not be considered as an affirmative response. A determination by the Government not to compete based on responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement or to proceed with a sole source contract. Capability statements are due by 12:00 Lima / Peru Local Eastern Time on June 09 2023. Capability statements shall be submitted by e-mail ONLY as a Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF attachment to the following address: luciana.i.encinas.ln@health.mil and Javier.b.gil.ln@health.mil. Please use subject line "NAMRU-6 MAINTENANCE SERVICE TO LAB EQUIPMENT VEID239018".