The USDA, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), intends to issue a sole source award using commercial and simplified acquisition procedures for Bio-Rad Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) Test Kits to be used in previously acquired Bio-Rad test equipment to the Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., Life Science Group, located in Hercules, California. The proposed action is to permit USDA to purchase kits to be able to utilize existing Bio-Rad equipment and is not to purchase new equipment. The proposed contract action is for supplies for which the Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source under the authority of FAR 6.302-1. Numbered Note 22 applies. Any questions or inquiries must be mailed, e-mailed or faxed to the Contracting Office, to the attention of the point of contact listed in this notice. Requests by telephone will not be honored. Point of contact: Larry Nelson, Contracting Specialist, (612) 336-3225, FAX: (612) 370-2106, E-mail:
[email protected]