This special notice is in accordance with FAR 5.2, Synopses of Proposed Contract Action. This is a notice of intent to make a sole source award and is not a solicitation or request for competitive quotes.

This award will be made utilizing Simplified Acquisition Procedures in accordance with: Federal Acquisition Regulation 13.106-2.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Animal Disease Center in Ames, IA has a need for: In situ molecular spatial assessment of gene expression using formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded pig tissues.

USDA-ARS MWA Procurement Office in Peoria, IL intends to make a firm fixed price sole source award under the authority 13.106-2)(1), only one responsible source, to:

10x Genomics, Inc.

6230 Stoneridge Mall Rd

Pleasanton, California, 94588-3260

The objective of this sole source award is to procure the following In situ molecular spatial assessment of gene expression using formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded pig tissues:

• Contractor must provide assay capable of multi-analyte analysis to obtain RNA, protein (immunofluorescence) and morphology (through H&E staining) on the same formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue section using a custom probe-based assay (not whole transcriptome) at cellular and subcellular resolution.
• Contractor must be able to provide required reagent kits capable of characterizing spatially-resolved gene expression at cellular and subcellular resolution.
• Contractor must be able to provide reagent kits compatible with the Xenium imaging system for spatial transcriptomics assay analysis.
• Contractor must meet with researchers prior to development of porcine probes for custom assay including discussion of sample type, genes of interest, and sample processing.
• Contractor must have a panel designer tool with technical experts for the development a 300 gene probe assay specific to pig.
• Contractor must meet with researchers prior to execution of porcine specific in situ spatial custom assay to discuss sample type, sample prep, and sample processing.
• Contractor must provide slides to lab for sectioning tissues onto with 12x24mm imageable region per slide with 4 slides total. Each 12x24 region can include a single tissue or multiple tissues within the allotted area.
• Contractor will perform in situ spatial assay using custom porcine probes and provided ancillary reagents, instrument run time, and generation of data. Post assay the contractor will perform H&E staining of the tissue.
• Contractor will provide data within two weeks of in situ spatial assay completion and be able to be analyzed using open-source file formats. Software should be free and accessible on any desktop or laptop.
• Contractor will provide bioinformatics support for data analysis.
• Contractor will provide image files that must be of unified tissue, not only a single field of view. The entire tissue sample should be explorable with transcript distribution and density viewed at any scale.

As such, purchase from 10X Genomics, has been determined to be required as they are the only vendor available that meets all of the requirements outlined above.

The NAICS code for this requirement is 541714, Research and Development in Biotechnology and a small business size standard of 1,000 Employees. The PSC code for this requirement is B529 – Special Studies/Analysis of Scientific Data. NO solicitation or solicitation package will be issued. This notice of intent is NOT a request for competitive quotations; however, interested vendors that regard themselves as capable of providing a product that can fulfill the requirements are invited to submit responses to the Government for consideration. Interested parties may identify their interests and capability to respond to this requirement by NO later than Wednesday,  4 Sep, 2024, at 2:00PM (CT) to Jeffery Kathman at [email protected]. NO phone calls will be accepted. The e-mail subject line shall include: 12505B24Q0332, Molecular Spatial Assay to Assess Porcine Gene Expression.

Any submission in response to this notice must show clear and convincing evidence as well as be in sufficient enough detail to show that they can provide a product that would meet the Government’s need and that competition would be advantageous to the Government. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct a competitive procurement.

Again, this is NOT a request for competitive quotes. This notice is for informational purposes only. Responses received shall be considered by the agency; however, determination by the Government whether or not to compete this proposed award upon response to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. No reimbursement for any cost connected with providing capability information will be provided.