The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Veterinary Service (VS), Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostic Lab (FADDL), Plum Island Animal Disease Center, Orient Point, NY, issue a sole source purchase order using commercial and simplified acquisition procedures with GE Healthcare Bio-Sciences Corporation for a Fast Protein Liquid Chromatograph (FPLC), brand name Akta Purifier as well as a pH electrode; dummy electrode; fraction collector, tube holder conversion kit; tube rack 30 mm; tube rack 12 mm; and flow diversion value. The AKTA system offers special features which are both desired and necessary for our protein production requirements. 1) Isolation of target proteins will require precise and reproducible gradients, either pH or salt. The AKTA system has a two-pump gradient production and mixing feature which allows for precise and reproducible gradient formation. 2) The AKTA system uses parts, fixtures, and tubing which are resistant to corrosion by pH and salt. This is a key feature as it increases the longevity of the equipment given normal on-site maintenance and decreases the need for service calls. 3) The system uses a combination of detectors linked to a control system governed by a software system which allows for all parameters of a given column run to be recorded and documented. The intent is to use this system to produce protein reagents for diagnostic procedures which will eventually be added to the growing list of ISO 17025 accredited tests performed at FADDL, it is essential that production of the reagents be documented extensively to allow tracking of production reproducibility and quality of the reagents. 4) The software and hardware used in this system is itself validated and quality controlled, and use of a program whose parameters are guaranteed allows greater ease in accrediting the production process. The UNICORN controls software, recognized for its flexibility and intuitive method concept allows reproducible generation of column runs where the gradients, column performance, sample handling and desired product separation and collection can be maximized. 5) Control of the manipulation of column programing can be password protected to further assist in ISO validation, as this allows alteration of the system to be strictly controlled. 6) The system is self-monitoring to prevent pressure build up and to insure safe and accurate performance. 7) All materials used in the system are compatible with functioning in cold room environments where protein stability can be more easily maintained. 8) This system is capable of allowing multiple valve control by the software, which means that loading of the column, buffer use during the column run, bulk collection of waste, and targeted collection of desired fractions based on gradient value, pH value or OD of eluted material, are all possible with this one system. 9) The system is capable of a wide diversity of flow rates, gradients, and monitoring tools to allow better flexibility in run parameters to result in greater reproducibility and accuracy of purification. 10) Components were chosen based on parts which would require infrequent if ever replacement or recalibration. Equally important, all parts contained within this package were selected so that on-site maintenance personnel should be able to trouble shoot any problems and repair any malfunctions. This is an especially important feature as FADDL is a quarantine facility and maintenance people hesitate to visit. The proposed contract action is for supplies for which the Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source under the authority of FAR 6.302. Interested persons may identify their interest in having their product evaluated for approval by email to:
[email protected]. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. A determination by the Government not to compete with this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government.