66--ANALYTICAL LAB INSTRUMENT

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) , Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ), Carlisle, PA, intends to issue a sole source purchase order with Cepheid, Sunnyvale, CA, for one Smartcycler System, Smart Cycler Reaction Tubes and accessories. 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. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. A determination by the Government not to compete with this proposed contract based on responses to this notice is soley within the discretion of the Government. Simplified procurement procedures will be used as well as commercial item acquisition regulations per FAR 12. Numbered Note 22 applies.