Smart Cycler

The USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Center for Grain and Animal Health Research, Manhattan, Kansas, intends to enter into a single source contract with BioGX, Birmingham, Alabama, for A SmartCycler II TD System. This instrumentation is needed for immediate preparation for field-deployment for validation trials. The assays have been developed and validated on this particular instrument because it is compatible with instrumentation available at international collaborator institutions and at primary end-users of the technology (i.e. National Animal Health Laboratory Network). This specific instrument is identical with ABADRL's current field-deployable equipment that has been used to develop and validate arthropod-borne viral diagnostic tests both in the laboratory and in the field. This equipment will be a consistent tool for emergeny zoonotic disease responders. The goal is to provide consistent equipment and diagnostic tools for international response teams so that they can cycle in and out of an epidemic situation and have tools that they are familiar with. Alternative equipment would require optimization and equivalency testing specific to the equipment thus delay progress or put undo burden on potential end-users. Other interested parties may submit questions and/or qualifications statements by Close of Business Setember 03, 2010.