The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL) intends to award a contract on a sole source basis to the Utah State University upon the basis of the authority provided at FAR 13.106(b). The ERDC-CRREL RS/GIS Water Resources Branch has a requirement for DNA sequencing and phylogenetic analyses to resolve taxonomic rankings of Western United States members of the genus Lepidium. To achieve this resolve, the contractor shall perform the following tasks: Task 1. Organize data to ensure correct tracking of samples and sequences: • Method for data organization is at the contractor's discretion. The method should be described in the final report to CRREL. Task 2. Examine all sequences and edit or remove low quality regions: • Method for examining and editing low quality regions may be proprietary. However, the methods should be generally described in the final report to CRREL. Task 3. Assemble reads into contiguous regions for each gene, and for each of the ~400 samples: • Assembly method is at the contractor's discretion. The method should be described in the final report to CRREL. Task 4. Perform phylogenetic analysis and provide statistical support: • Phylogenetic analysis and type of statistical support will be determined by the results of the DNA analysis. The method and the software used should be described in the final report to CRREL. Task 5. Prepare report of results to satisfaction of funding agency: • A complete assessment of the sample results, including a performance summary review in a format that can be utilized for data validation; data must be fully disclosed to allow for review. • Provide all deliverables outlined in lab SOP, regardless of whether it has been identified herein as a deliverable. • Results shall disclose all non-proprietary methodology utilized in the processing of the samples in as much detail as possible. • Results shall be delivered to CRREL via email by 31 March, 2017. Utah State University has the technical expertise, experience, and resources needed for this specialized and complex DNA testing and are the authority in the halophytic DNA sequencing field. Previous attempts with laboratories have resulted in unusable results, which has depleted the sample material leaving very little plant material to sequence. The high salt content in halophytic plant cells makes DNA extraction and analysis difficult. As a western laboratory, Utah State University routinely sequences the DNA of halophytic plants. Utah State University uses specialized procedures to reduce the salt content of plant material, so that they can clean, edit, and align sequences before DNA and phylogenetic analyses are performed. Using another vendor without this knowledge and expertise poses too high of a risk that the results would be unusable and the sample material would then be completely deleted. The Utah State University is the only lab that can perform the complex DNA sequences and produce the required results. The associated North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 541712, which has a size standard of 1,000 employees. This Notice of Intent is not a request for competitive quotations; however interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to this requirement. Any interested party that believes they can fulfill this requirement should submit a capability statement to be reviewed. All submissions will be considered, however there is no guarantee that submissions in response to this notice will in any way alter the Government's acquisition strategy. Please provide responses to this notice NLT 5:00 PM EST, 20 June 2016 to:
[email protected] Telephone responses will not be accepted. Responses to this notice will not be considered as a response to any solicitation, a request to be added to a prospective offerors list, or to receive a copy of any solicitation. A determination by the Government not to compete the contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. Note: In order to be eligible for award of a Government contract, vendors must be actively registered in the System for Award Management (SAM), have no active exclusions, and complete the FAR and DFARS representations and certifications.