USDA, APHIS, Field Servicing Office, Butler Square West, 5th Floor, 100 North 6th St., Minneapolis, MN 55403

Q -- GENOTYPE TESTING SOL 54-M-APHIS-00 DUE 070900 POC Kathryn Linde 612-370-2494 E-MAIL: </presol>, kathryn.s.linde@usda.gov. USDA, APHIS, VS intends to contract for genotype testing of up to 12,000 sheep in FY 2000 and FY 2001. APHIS will award a Blanket Purchase Agreement, BPA, to approximately 2 to 4 laboratories across the continental United States who demonstrate the capability to provide the services outlined in the solicitation. Interested laboratories must be able to test samples for codon 171 and 136, must be approved by APHIS to conduct genotype tests, have quality control procedures in place and follow good laboratory practices. More experienced laboratories will be selected first for award and as additional laboratory demands are needed, other laboratories will be offered BPAs. Bids will be accepted on a per test basis, payments will be made on a monthly basis and there are no guaranteed minimum samples per year. Blood samples will be sent to the laboratories by USDA employees or their designees or other contract laboratories. Samples and results will need to be archived for 5 years after the test is conducted. This effort is advertised under SIC 8071, Medical Laboratories, small business set aside and not for profit entities. The solicitation, 54-M-APHIS-00, will be released on or about June 9, 2000. For a copy of the solicitation, submit a written or faxed request stating name, address, telephone number and solicitation number. Fax requests to "Contracting Section" at 612-370-2106. Telephone requests will not be accepted. This solicitation is prepared under FAR 12, commercial item acquisition and FAR 13, Simplified Acquisition Procedures. Proposals are due by July 9, 2000, 2:30 p.m. local time. Posted 05/25/00 (W-SN458793). (0146)

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