The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS) located in Bethesda, MD on the National Naval Medical Campus, intends to negotiate, on a single source basis per FAR Part 13, a service contract with Phylogeny, Inc., 4100 Regent St. Ste. M, Columbus, OH (006026574), for ³⁵S in situ hybridization services on 2 genes, VEGF-a and VEGF-c.

This acquisition will be processed in accordance with simplified acquisition procedures, as stated in FAR 13.106(b)(1) and in accordance with FAR Part 12 (Acquisition of Commercial Items). The North American Industry Classification System Code is 541690.

Statutory Authority: 13.106-1(b)(1)

(b) Soliciting from a single source.

(1) For purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold, contracting officers may solicit from one source if the contracting officer determines that the circumstances of the contract action deem only one source reasonably available (e.g., urgency, exclusive licensing agreements, or industrial mobilization).

USUHS has determined that Phylogeny is the only reasonably available source to meet the government’s requirement. Phylogeny will perform ³⁵S in situ hybridization of 2 genes, VEGF-a and VEGF-c. All assays will be designed by USUHS and Phylogeny scientists, taking guidance from organismal biology, functional morphology, anatomy, and physiology to enable discovery of the biological relevance of expression patterns. Phylogeny is the only major commercial provider of customized ³⁵S in situ hybridization in the United States. These services provide greater sensitivity in signal detection and this is the approach USUHS needs for the samples that will be provided.

This is the only source known to USUHS which can meet this requirement. This is not a request for quotes and a solicitation package will not be issued. A determination by the government not to compete this proposed contract action 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. Responses must be submitted electronically, via email, to [email protected] by 12:00 PM (EST) on April 7, 2009. The expected period of performance begins on April 20, 2009.