THIS IS A SOLE SOURCE NOTICE.  The USDA/ARS intends to award a Firm fixed price sole source contract under the 41 U.S.C 253 (c) (1) FAR 6.302-1 (2) (C) (ii) (A) only one responsible source to Illumina, Inc.  5200 Illumina Way, San Diego, CA 92122-4616.  Description of Requirement: The objective of this sole source award is to procure the NextSeq 500 Sequencing System and Sequencing Reagents. This system shall be used for research purposes to perform both metabolic and genomes of bacterial isolates sequencing.  In additional to the sequencing functions, the equipment must also be compatible with other sequencing facilities within the ARS and our FDA collaborator laboratories.  Illumina, Inc. is the sole source manufacturer and provider of the requested equipment and consumable reagents.  This requirement will be for the purchase of QTY - one (1) EACH, NextSeq 500 Sequencing System and one (1) LOT of sequencing consumables.  The NAICS code for this requirement is 334516 and the small business size standard is 500 employees.  This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotes however; all information received by July 7, 2014 will be considered by the Government. All interested vendors must respond by July 7, 2014, 9:00 a.m. Central Time, Responses shall be submitted to the point of contact Lori Faber at [email protected]. The e-mail subject line shall state: AG-32SC-14-S-14-0049 Notice of Intent to Sole Source. A determination by the Government not to compete with this proposed contract based on upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. NO TELEPHONE REQUESTS WILL BE HONORED.