Amongst the numerous research programs at the CSU, a group within the College of Agricultural Sciences is forming a collaborative identified as the International Weed Genomics Consortium (hereinafter “IWGC” or “Center”) of which CSU is the administrative lead. The IWGC is comprised of a community of scientists from several Universities and private research institutions with experience and resources in field of agricultural genomics who have an interest in the genomics of weedy species.
Collaborative activity is focused on obtaining reference weed genome sequences, providing bioinformatic tools, training, and facilitating global discussion and collaborations in weed genomics which may lead to further independent, ancillary research with respect to the development and provision of efficient and sustainable cropping systems and new chemical and non-chemical technologies to sustainably control weeds.
RFP Purpose
To support the research of the IWGC, CSU requests proposals from qualified vendors specializing in plant genome sequencing, assembly, annotation, and database tools for genome analysis.
This is a pre-competitive project contemplated hereby, namely the collaborative activities focused on obtaining reference weed genome sequences, providing genome analytical tools and training through web-based databases and resources and facilitating discussion and collaborations within this field.
The Shared Activities will be focused on genome sequences, assemblies, and gene annotations of weed species. Such results and outcomes shall be made available to all Sponsoring Members and Participating Institutions for their internal, confidential use so that they may develop their own Foreground Intellectual Property [internally, in Sponsored Research or otherwise through ancillary product development]. The only restriction is the confidentiality provisions set forth in the IWGC membership agreement, which indicates that the results and outcomes of the Shared Activities will be made available before publication to Founding Members, Sustainable Members, and the Participating Institutions in accordance with the Toronto Agreement (Nature 461, 168-170, 2009 doi:10.1038/461168a) under which the International Weed Genomics Consortium (IWGC) reserves the right to publish the first global analyses of the data. This includes descriptions of whole chromosome or genome-level analyses of genes, gene families, repetitive elements, and comparisons with other organisms. The Vendor will be expected to sign a non-disclosure agreement indicating their acceptance of the confidentiality obligations for genome data.