Qiaxcel Advanced System

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), National Wildlife Research center (NWRC) Fort Collins, CO, intends to issue a sole source purchase order with Qiagen Inc. for the purchase of an Qiagen QIAxcel Advanced. The QIAxcel Advanced System (cat. no. 9001941) costs approximately $31,108.50 (41,224.10 with installation and 3 years maintenance, shipping and taxes) through Qiagen Inc. The QIAxcel Advanced is used by NVSL and offers the first end-to-end sequencing solution, integrating cluster generation, amplification, sequencing, and data analysis into a single instrument. The QIAxcel Advanced System is an instrument for next-generation library prep quality control. This instrument will be maintained by the Biological Laboratories Unit and in the near future will be utilized as part of a work flow for providing avian influenza whole genome sequencing. Avian influenza is a virus that has had a profound impact on our poultry industry and further research is necessary in order to define potential risk and eventually provide suggestions for best management practices in order to protect our agriculture and livestock. The capability to sequence whole genomes is critical to this effort. This instrument will also be utilized by several other programs, such as, the Wildlife Genetics Project for Metabarcoding and marker development, the Chemistry Unit will use it for RNA sequencing and the Fertility Project will be able to utilize it for transciptomics. Sole Source Justification for the QIAxcel System, February 2016. The minimum features for the required piece of equipment to be standardized with NVSL processes are: • Capillary Electrophoresis • Ready-to-use cartridges that are reusable • 12 capillaries • Automated sample loading • Analysis in 13 minutes per 12 samples The proposed purchase order action is for equipment for which the Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source under the authority of FAR 6.302. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. Simplified procurement procedures will be used as well as commercial item acquisition procedures per FAR 12. For additional information please contact Latisha Hollman at (919) 855-7003 or [email protected].