Smartcycler TD System

The USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Arthropod-Borne Animal Diseases Research Laboratory (ABADRL), Laramie, Wyoming, intends to enter into a single source contract with Cepheid, Inc., Sunnyvale, California, for a SmartCycler TD System. This thermocycler is identical with ABADRL's current field-deployable equipment that has been used to develop and validate arthropod-borne viral diagnostic tests both iin the laboratory and in the field. The additional thermocycler is needed to increase capacity and to have the capability of performing simultaneous and comparable assays at more than one location and must be compatible with the Government-owned equipment ABADRL is currently using. This equipment has been used to develop and validate arthropod-borne viral diagnostic tests because it is compatible with instrumentation available at international collaborator institutions and primary end-users of the technology. Identical equipment iocated in multiple locations is required so that the results are consistent. This is an international "One Health, One Medicine" effort predicated on having a consistent tool for emergency zoonotic disease responders. This instrument is required to be compatible with equipment currently available at the U.S. National Animal Health Laboratory Network, Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratories and collaborating emergency zoonotic disease outbreak responders. There are numerous patents covering the SmartCycler technology. Other interested parties may submit questions and/or qualifications statements by Close of Business March 23, 2009.