Please note: This is a Sole Source Notification. The upgrade to a new next-generation sequencing (NGS) system is justified based on the following key compatibility concerns: • Manufacturer Continuity and Business Relationship The proposed system is also manufactured by the same company that supplied our existing NGS equipment. This ensures: o Seamless integration with our current workflows, software, and consumables o Minimal retraining for staff o Continued access to specialized training, technical support, and discounted reagent kits, leading to cost savings Switching to a competitor would require significant workflow changes, retraining, and new software/hardware adaptations, leading to higher transition costs and potential delays in sequencing operations. • Renewal of Technical Support, Maintenance, and Subscription Software As part of this upgrade, we are also renewing our technical support, maintenance, and subscription software to stay aligned with the latest technological advancements. This ensures: o Access to regular software updates, security patches, and advanced analytical tools o Ongoing manufacturer support, reducing downtime and troubleshooting delays o Regulatory compliance alignment, keeping our lab up to industry standards • Hardware and Software Limitations Our current sequencing platform lacks integration with modern data processing pipelines, requiring extensive manual intervention and leading to inefficiencies. The new system offers: o Seamless compatibility with existing bioinformatics tools o Enhanced automation and faster turnaround times o Higher accuracy and lower error rates, improving data reliability • Consumables and Reagent Compatibility Reagents for our existing equipment are becoming difficult to procure or are being phased out. Upgrading ensures: o Continued access to manufacturer-supported reagents o Discounted pricing due to our existing relationship o Fewer workflow interruptions compared to sourcing reagents for competitor systems
