66--NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD SOLE SOURCE AWARD TO BIO-RAD LAB

Notice of Intent The US Fish and Wildlife Service National Forensic Lab in Ashland, Oregon has a requirement forSole-Source Purchase of DNA Engine Tetrad 2 Thennal Cycler.Central to the work of the Genetics Section are the procedures, instruments, and reagents used forDNA sequence analysis and STR fragment analysis. The use of validated protocols andinstruments and the ability to maintain consistency between procedures is crucial to forensicgenetic analyses. The DNA Engine Tetrad Thermal Cycler with 4 96-well independent "hotbonnet"heated lids offered by Bio-Rad is a replacement for an existing DNA Engine TetradThelmal Cycler. PCR procedures and protocols used in forensic casework have been validatedfor use on a peltier themlal cycler. Purchase ofthe Bio-Rad DNA Engine Tetrad Thermal Cyclerwill allow the genetics section to maintain workflow in support of the FWS/OLE missionwithout spending additional time and effort to validate PCR protocols on a machine withdifferent thennal parameters.Bio-Rad is the original manufacturer and sole supplier of the DNA Engine Tetrad ThennalCycler. The Genetics section requires an instrument that will provide an interchangeableplatform with an existing DNA Engine Thermal Cycler. The thermal cycler must be capable ofindependent programming of 4 96-well heads with heated lids, and must be able to accommodatedual 48-well heads. The unit must have an integrated power supply with power supply protectionin which programs resume execution upon power-up if the power fails. The unit must include agraphical gradient calculator for gradient temperature protocols and must allow a temperaturerange of OC - 100C. Thermal accuracy of the unit must be NlST traceable, and within 0.3 cwithin 30 seconds of arrival at 90C; and a thermal homogeneity of 0.4 c within 30 sec ofanival at 90C.