B -- Notice of Intent to Procure on a Sole Source Basis

Notice of Intent to procure on a Sole Source basis the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology to process deepwater bottom fish samples and generate mt DNA sequence data. The Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology (HIMB) has developed an unprecedented capability to process specimens for molecular genetic analysis, and their automated DNA sequencer is fully operational. In addition to this advanced instrumentation, HIMB researchers have developed the PCR primers and optimized conditions uniquely for deepwater snapper (Etelis spp.) DNA. This combination of hardware and expertise is solely available at HIMB. Also, in the course of previous surveys HIMB has collected and archived samples of deepwater snappers. The samples to be processed are the property of HIMB. The government believes that the expertise sought is solely available at HIMB.