68--Notice of Intent to Issue Sole Source Award to Applied Biosystems, a Division of Applera Corporation

There is no solicitation. The US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Contracting and General Services Division in Portland, OR has a requirement for the procurement of assays, consumables and reagents manufactured by Applied Biosystems to be used by the Abernathy Fish Technology Center (FTC). These items are required to produce data that are compatible and standardized with data generated previously by Abernathy FTC and with data generated in other USFWS genetics laboratories. All agencies participating in the Genetic Analysis of Pacific Salmon (GAPS) Consortium are using these common assays in order to generate transparent, comparable results. Changing vendors, if others could be found, may result in changes in quality and consistency of test results. Applied Biosystems is the sole vendor of these assays, consumables and reagents as well as the instruments that they are used with. The Service intends to award sole source to Applied Biosystems, a division of Applera Corporation. This synopsis is a notice of intent to issue award using other than full and open competition and is not a request for competitive proposals. The determination of the Government not to open subject requirement to full and open competition was made IAW FAR Part 6.302-1.