The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Southwest Fisheries Science Center (SWFSC), Fisheries Ecology Division, intends to award, on a sole source basis, under the authority of FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), to Fluidigm Corporation for quantity of 2 - (100) one hundred EPI 96.96 Dynamic Array IFCs for Genotyping.

The sole source determination is based on National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Services (NMFS) requirement to acquire the dynamic array IFC's will help determine the specific nucleotide present at 96 sites in the genome of multiple fish species. Fluidigm is the original equipment manufacturer of the EP1 genotyping instruments and is the only manufacturer of the specific EPI 96.96 Dynamic Arrays that are compatible with our existing equipment. Additionally, the Fluidigm equipment that we use is the same equipment used by all the other laboratories that we share data with. Using any other equipment would cause the data to be irreconcilable with other data from the other entities. The dynamic arrays are only produced by the Fluidigm Corporation and the key components are patented and designed to operate as an integrated system.

The Government intends to negotiate a firm fixed price contract. This Special Notice is not a request for competitive proposals and no solicitation package is available. However, firms that believe they can fully meet the Government's requirements may submit substantiating documentation in writing. Submissions are due no later than July 24, 2019 at 3:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time. Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice. Responses may be emailed to [email protected] or faxed to Karen Beck at (858) 546-7004. A determination by the Government not to compete this requirement based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. It is the Government's belief that only Fluidigm Corporation, the sole providers of the Dynamic Array IFC for genotyping can provide the requirement stated above.