1.0 SUBJECT: This is a request for Information (RFI) ONLY. The U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA) in support of the Armed Forces Medical Examiner (AFMES), Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory (AFDIL) located at Dover AFB, DE. For the purchase of Three (3) Illumina NextSeq 550 Sequencing System and Silver Support Plan as well as the NextSeq High Output Kits v2.5, 75 cycle, 300 cycle, and 150 cycle reagent kits.
2.0 DISCLAIMER: This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes it does not constitute a solicitation nor does it restrict the Government as to the ultimate acquisition approach. In accordance with FAR 15.201(e), responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Responses will be used for market research purposes only. Responders are advised that the U.S. Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this RFI. All costs associated with responding to this RFI will be solely at the interested vendor's expense. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future RFP, if one is issued all information received in response to this RFI that is marked Proprietary will be handled accordingly. Responses to the RFI will not be returned. At this time, questions concerning the composition and requirements for a future RFP will not be entertained.
This proposed procurement will be under North American Industry Classification System Code (NAICS) 334516 - Analytical Laboratory Instrument. Business size standard is 1,000 employees.
3.0 DESCRIPTION: This Request for Information is seeking entities interested in providing Three NextSeq 550 Sequencing Systems, the Silver Support plan as well as reagent test kits for NextSeq system. The required instruments are needed to support the increased NGS workload in the AFMES-AFDIL's DNA identification and data basing activities, three NextSeq® 550 Sequencing Systems are needed for implementing and further developing novel methods for recovering DNA data from the most difficult specimens and to increase the number of samples analyzed per week.
To support the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System (AFMES) and the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) with the identification of missing service members for World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and the cold war as part of DoD's past accounting missions. The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) 2010 (which stipulates that the past accounting community needs to build the capability to annually make 200 identifications), and to provide novel methods for recovering DNA data from the most difficult specimens, the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System's -Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory (AFMES-AFDIL) has validated new PCR amplification and sequencing techniques, specifically next generation sequencing (NGS), utilizing the Illumina MiSeq instruments. Initially, this mtDNA Capture assay was developed for chemically treated samples associated with the Korean war, but recent disinterment's associated with World War II losses have been chemically treated prior to burial. This has led to a 200% increase in the number of specimens requiring NGS testing and AFMES-AFDIL has exceeded the through-put of the MiSeqs. To support the increased NGS workload in the AFMES-AFDIL's DNA identification and data basing activities, three NextSeq 550 Sequencing Systems are needed for implementing and further developing novel methods for recovering DNA data from the most difficult specimens and to increase the number of samples analyzed per week.
NextSeq® 550 Sequencing System
The NextSeq® 550 Sequencing System is a next generation sequencing (NGS) system specifically designed for high-through-put sequencing and microarray scanning in an integrated benchtop unit. It's fast, integrated DNA-analysis workflow allows for the rapid sequencing of exomes, targeted panels in a single run, and has the capability of switching to a lower-through-put sequencing as needed. The unit has the flexibility to run high quality and degraded samples and utilize both 75 cycle and 150 cycle sequencing runs. The system utilizes dedicated library preparation kits, customized instrument control software, and an analytical software package to support the reliable analysis of both routine and challenging (degraded) forensic samples.
Specifications:
- Must be next generation sequencing (NGS) based platform incorporating cluster generation, sequencing, and Array scanning into a single instrument, and offers a seamless transition for onsite data analysis. Must link library preparation, sequencing, data analysis and reporting into a single, integrated, workflow
- Must ensure data quality via reversible terminator-based methods to sequence millions of DNA fragments, detecting single bases as they are incorporated into growing DNA strands
- Must have developed and validated indicators to ensure optimal sequencing results.
- Must have ability to provided High and Mid-Output flow cells with the ability to support read lengths of 2 x 75 bp and 2 x 150 bp, while having a Q30 of greater than 75%.
- Must support both single read and paired-end reads on both the high output and mid output kit and have up to 400 million reads for single reads and up to 800 million reads for paired end (High output) and up to 130 million single reads and up to 260 million reads paired end reads (mid out-put kit).
- Must meet at a minimum the following read length, time, and output for high and mid outputs.
| Read Length-High |
Total Time-High |
High Output |
Read Length- Mid |
Total Time-Mid |
Mid-Output |
| 2 × 150 bp |
29 hrs |
100-120 Gb |
2 × 150 bp |
26 hrs |
32.5-39 Gb |
| 2 × 75 bp |
18 hrs |
50-60 Gb |
2 × 75 bp |
15 hrs |
16.25-19.5 Gb |
| 1 × 75 bp |
11 hrs |
25-30 Gb |
|
|
|
- Must support the Infinium bead chip, specifically, the 850K.
- Must allow for real-time run monitoring and status reports
- Ready-to-use kits must be available for DNA library preparation for sequencing
- Ready-to-use sequencing kits must be available containing all reagents/consumables for use with sequencing-ready DNA libraries
- Shall incorporate touch screen interface
- Shall incorporate RFID tracking for consumables
- Instrument Control Computer (Internal) must be equivalent to:
- Dual Intel Xeon ES-2448L 1.8 GHz CPU
- 96 GB RAM
- 750 GB Hard Drive
- Windows 7 embedded standard
- Must have overall dimensions no greater than 21.0 in × 25.0 in × 23.0 in
- Voltage: 100 to 120 V
- Current: 15A (max)
- Frequency: 13.56 MHz
- Max BTU/h < 2048
- Gross total weight of no more than 183 lbs
4.0 SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS: The Government is seeking sources, capability statements, and industry feedback for this requirement for Illumina Systems. Entities interested in submitting a response must furnish in writing, a 2-3 page (not including cover page, index or list of references) synopsis of their capability to provide the described product, including any necessary lead time. Companies responding to this notice must provide complete contact information (telephone, address, email address). Responders must identify their company's business size (based on the NAICS size standard), business status (i.e. small business, disadvantaged, HUB zone, woman owned, service disabled veteran owned). When submitting a capability statement, please submit a capability statement that describes relevant past performance based upon the size and scope of the outlined requirement. Additionally, please do not regurgitate the MEC requirements; rather contractors shall outline company specific capabilities that match the products outlined in the MECs in order for the Government to make a fair capabilities determination. In addition, any industry feedback regarding the MECs is welcome. Please list any feedback accordingly (marked as vendor feedback) following your capability statement. This notice is not a request for competitive quotes; no solicitation document is available and telephone requests will not be accepted. However, sources may submit descriptive literature, fully documenting their capability to supply the instruments which shall be considered by the Agency. A determination to compete this procurement based on response(s) to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government.
5.0 SUBMISSION CONTACT INFORMATION: All Capabilities Statements are to be submitted as an electronic response, in Microsoft Office format and/or Portable Document Format (PDF) to this Request For Information (RFI) Notice NLT Thursday, 28 June 2018, 12:00 PM ET. All responses submitted shall be unclassified and MUST be e-mailed. Interested entities shall forward submissions to Kimberly Hannan at kimberly.s.hannan.civ@mail.mil
Mail and telephone inquiries will not be accepted or acknowledged and no feedback or evaluations will be provided to companies regarding their submissions.
