SPECIAL NOTICE
Q -- SARS-CoV-2 DIVA testing for animal samples
- Notice Date
- 4/25/2023 10:30:11 AM
- Notice Type
- Special Notice
- NAICS
- 541380
— Testing Laboratories
- Contracting Office
- MRPBS MINNEAPOLIS MN MINNEAPOLIS MN 55401 USA
- ZIP Code
- 55401
- Solicitation Number
- SS_1093477
- Response Due
- 5/1/2023 9:00:00 AM
- Point of Contact
- Kim Yen Tu, Phone: 16123363602
- E-Mail Address
-
kimyen.n.tu@usda.gov
(kimyen.n.tu@usda.gov)
- Description
- The Government hereby submits a notice of intent to make a FFP sole source award to�Cornell Animal Health Diagnostic Center Virology Laboratory to�perform DIVA (differentiating between infected and vaccinated) laboratory testing necessary to distinguish between infected and vaccinated exposures of SARS-CoV-2 for samples collected from zoo and aquarium animals.� Sole source award will be made after posting close date and an award notice will follow for FAR posting requirements. This posting serves as notice only. Not quotes will be accepted for this posting. If there are any questions or concerns regarding this notice of intent to sole source please contact Kim Yen Tu via email only at kimyen.n.tu@usda.gov. ----- United States Department of Agriculture Justification for Other than Full and Open Competition Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 6.3 1.� Identification of the agency and the contracting activity.� Program Activity: USDA APHIS WS National Wildlife Research Center Contracting Activity: USDA APHIS AAMD Contracting 250 Marquette Ave Suite 410 Minneapolis, MN 55401 2. The nature and/or description of the action being approved. The USDA proposed to enter into a contract on a basis other than full and open competition, negotiate a sole source, firm fixed-price IDIQ contract with Cornell Animal Health Diagnostic Center Virology Laboratory headed by Dr. Diego Diel. 3. �A description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency�s needs (including the estimated value). The recommended contractor will perform DIVA (differentiating between infected and vaccinated) laboratory testing necessary to distinguish between infected and vaccinated exposures of SARS-CoV-2 for samples collected from zoo and aquarium animals. The contractor will track received samples, purchase all required supplies/reagents to test the samples, test the samples, and provide timely results from sample testing. NWRC will submit samples to the contractor. The contractor will screen samples with virus neutralization tests. Samples that screen positive for virus neutralization will then be tested using an N-protein specific luciferase immunoprecipitation assay (LIPS). Contract ceiling: $75,000 Estimated Testing price: $75/sample 4. �The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition.� 41 U.S.C. 3304(a)(1), as implemented by FAR 6.302-1, titled ""Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements."" 5. �A statement demonstrating the unique qualifications of the proposed contractor or the nature of the action requiring the use of the authority.� No other contractor can provide SARS-CoV-2 DIVA testing for animal samples has been identified; only Cornell Animal Health Diagnostic Center Virology Laboratory has developed such a DIVA test and can satisfy the specialized nature of the Government�s requirement for SARS-CoV-2 DIVA testing for animal samples. No other contractor was identified that can meet the Government�s need and no other commercial tests are known at this time. Cornell Animal Health Diagnostic Center Virology Laboratory is the only laboratory to have existing testing process/methods in place to perform DIVA testing (differentiating between infected and vaccinated). While other labs probably have the capacity to come up process/methods for DIVA testing, it can take time and be more costly to the government. 6. �A description of efforts made to ensure offers are solicited from as many potential sources as is practicable.�� We contacted multiple labs known to conduct SARS-CoV-2 laboratory testing for wildlife samples to identify other contractors that might meet the need and none were identified. Moreover, the National Veterinary Services Laboratory, the national laboratory for animal testing in the US indicated that the identified contractor was the only contractor known that could provide the service. Also a sources sought was posted on SAM.gov on 03/24/2023. Only one response was received after the posting close date, but they did not provide requested information to show that they have done this testing before. With that being said, Cornell Animal Health Diagnostic Center Virology Laboratory is still the only laboratory to have existing testing process/methods in place to perform DIVA testing (differentiating between infected and vaccinated). 7. �A determination by the Contracting Officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable.� The anticipated cost to the Government will be determined fair and reasonable based on standard published laboratory testing costs for similar tests. The testing requires three separate tests � two virus neutralization tests to account for different SARS-CoV-2 variants and a LIPS test. Further, the work must be accomplished in a BSL-3 laboratory which increases the cost of testing. 8.� A description of the market research conducted and the results or a statement of the reason Market Research was not conducted.� Please see section 6. Reached out to labs known for SARS-CoV-2 laboratory testing. Sources Sought posting. 9.� Any other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition.� N/A 10.� A listing of the sources, if any, that expressed a written interest in the acquisition.� Cornell University UEI: G56PUALJ3KT5 11.� A statement of actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition if subsequent acquisitions are anticipated. Barriers to competition for subsequent acquisitions may be removed if additional laboratories or commercial vendors develop/market a SARS-CoV-2 animal DIVA test.
- Web Link
-
SAM.gov Permalink
(https://sam.gov/opp/696dd8a38dbb45bfa26874b8c3f3307c/view)
- Record
- SN06661259-F 20230427/230425230111 (samdaily.us)
- Source
-
SAM.gov Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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