The United States Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA), Fort Detrick, MD intends to issue a sole source award utilizing Simplified Acquisition Procedures to Life Technologies Corporation (Invitrogen), 5791 Van Allen Way, CA 92008-7313 for 100 vials of SYBR Green-1 Nucleic Acid Dye. The dye is required to support the in vitro drug screening of the most deadly form of malaria, Plasmodium falciparum. Invitrogen has provided Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR) with SYBR Green-1 Nucleic Acid Dye in the past that has undergone rigorous quality control to ensure that it achieves the requisite amount of RFU (Relative Florescence Units) to support robust statistical assay standards. The dye previously acquired from Invitrogen has been tested and found to support the Malaria SYBR Green-1 based Fluorescence (MSF) assay using all Plasmodium falciparum isolates used in the Experimental Therapeutics (WRAIR) anti-malaria drug screen. It is essential for the drug screens to have consistent RFU readings for the assay systems and using inferior SYBR Green-1 Nucleic Acid Dye would stop all laboratory operations at the WRAIR Drug Program. The SYBR Green-I Nucleic Acid Dye from Invitrogen has been validated with the Malaria SYBR Green-I based Fluorescence (MSF) assay, over several years and on the malaria strains used in Experimental Therapeutics (D6, C235, W2, and C2B). The re-validation of an assay using another product will cost an estimated $12,000 for new testing taking an estimated 6 to 8 months. Research at four other labs that depend on the results of the MSF Assay will stop with the SYBR Green-1 Nucleic Acid Dye during the requalification of an assay from another product. This notice of intent is for information purposes only, therefore, no solicitation will result from this announcement. The reference number listed in this notice is the PR number and not the solicitation number. All sources eligible to provide this service must respond in writing. Responses must be supported with clear and convincing evidence to clearly be able to provide services outlined above. A request for documentation will not be considered as an affirmative response. If no responses are received, within 15 days after publication of this notice, to the effect that comparable services are available, and that it is more advantageous to the Government than obtaining these services through a sole-source contract, then a sole source acquisition award will be made. Response to this award is to be sent to
[email protected].