: The National Wildlife Health Center (BRD), Madison, WI, U.S. Geological Survey intends to award a non-competitive purchase order to BIOLOG, Hayward, CA for a microstation system which is compatible with the current systems in use in the laboratory. The procurement of the Biolog Microstation System is an enhancement of the identification systems employed by the laboratory since 1997. The Biolog Microstation System consists of a semi-automated reader connected to the databases to provide enhanced Biolog use and reduce operator errors. No other commercially available system can be used to enhance the current system in use. The system is capable of identifying over 1,900 species of aerobic bacteria, anaerobic bacteria, yeast, and filamentous fungi. Especially critical is the system's database for Aeromonas, Vibrio, and filamentous fungi. The Filamentous Fungi Database contains the identification patterns for over 500 taxa from over 120 genera. This database can only be used with an automatic system. No other commercially available system is capable of the identifications needed to be supplied by this system. The system must provide bacterial and fungal identifications based on metabolic utilization patterns rather than biochemical reactions. This unique feature complements the other systems currently used in the laboratory that use the biochemical reactions methods for identification. THIS NOTICE IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS. Information will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. Determination to compete this requirement is solely within the discretion of the Government. Responses to this notice must be submitted via e-mail to: [email protected] by 01/14/02. No additional synopsis will be published. Numbered Note 22 applies.

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