Digital PCR System

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), intends to issue a sole source purchase order with RainDance Technologies, Inc., for the purchase of Purchase of RainDrop TM Digital System, in support of the evaluation for new detection methods for high consequence plant pathogens. The RainDrop TM Digital System from RainDance Technologies Inc is the only digital PCR system on the market that can be used, in conjunction with RainDrop 96 Sample Consumable kit, for detection of high consequence of plant pathogens such as HLB. The RainDrop TM Digital PCR System surpasses all existing technologies and establishes a new performance standard in sensitivity, quantitation, and multiplexing. The RainDrop Digital System includes both RainDrop Source instrument (Creates and collects up to 10 million picodroplets per lane) and RainDrop Sense instrument (Identifies and counts each picodroplet following PCR amplification) with dedicated control computer and instrument control software. This novel approach increases sensitivity by generating between 1 million and 10 million pico-liter sized droplets per lane, which is a 500 -10,000x improvement over existing method~. Since each droplet encapsulates a single molecule, researchers can quickly determine the absolute number of droplets containing specific target DNA. The system could offer superior sensitivity to detect 1 mutant among 250,000 wild-type molecules with a lower limit of detection of 1 in more than 1,000,000. It has unprecedented multiplexing to conduct up to 10 tests on the same sample using the single molecule multi-color detection technique. In addition, the closed-tube design could ensure the highest quality data by eliminating contamination or carryover. The proposed contract action is for equipment for which the Government intends to solicit and negotiated 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].