The USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Roman L. Hruska U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, Clay Center, Nebraska, intends to enter into a single source contract with Roche Diagnostics, Indianapolis, Indiana, for reagents. The reagents to be purchased are 11 kit-05 233 526 001 GS Titanium Sequencing Kit XLR70, 200 cycle-70x75; 9 kit-05 233 542 001 GS Titanium LV emPCR Kit (Lif-L); 11 kit-05 233 682 001 GS Titanium Picotiterplate Kit, 70x75; 3 kit-05 233 615 001 GS Titanium SV emPCR Kit, Lib-L; 2 kit-05 2133 747 001 GS Titanium General Library Prep Kit for 10 Libraries; 1 kit-05 463 343 001 GSFLX Titanium Paired-End Adaptor Set; 1 kit-12140306001 GC-Rich PCR System, 100 units; 1 ea-11004786001 T4 DNA Polymerase, 100 units; 1 ea-10174645001 Polynucleotide Kinase, 200 units.
We need reagents and supplies to support running a Genome Sequencer FLX system housed at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center. The Genome Sequencer FLX instrument (GS FLX) is a DNA sequencer designed and built by 454 Life Sciences and distributed by Roche Applied Science. The technology for this system is based on enrichment of fragmented DNA followed by clonal amplification and pyrosequencing. The sequencer can generate up to 500 million bases per 7.5 hour run, achieve reads averaging 350 to 450 bases, attain over 1,000,000 reads per run, generate single-read accuracy that is greater than 99%, and achieve consensus accuracy greater than 99.99%. Reagents required to run this system include GS Titanium compatible library preparation kits for linker modified single stranded DNA, SV emulsion based PCR kits for titration of the library fragments for the sequencing reaction, LV emulsion based PCR kits for preparative reactions of bead-linked DNA fragments for sequencing, Titanium chemistry sequencing kits, and PicoTiter Plate Kits which provide the surface for sequencing of the DNA fragments.
Roche is the sole supplier and distributor of the GS FLX instrument. The GS titanium library preparation reagents, emulsion based PCR kits, sequencing kits, and PicoTiter Plate Kits are only available through Roche. The GS FLX warranty is conditional that customers agree to use the instrument in strict accordance with Roche operating instructions, including Roche sole source specifications regarding reagent kits. The FLX sequencer makes use of very specialized reagents only available from Roche at the present time in a form suitable for use on the instrument.

Other interested parties may submit questions and/or qualifications statements by Close of Business September 17, 2009.