65 -- HIV AND HCV GENOTYPING ASSAYS

Notice Date

September 27, 2001

Contracting Office

Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Chief, Acquisition and Materiel Management (90C), One Veterans Drive, Minneapolis, MN 55417

ZIP Code

55417

Solicitation Number

RFQ-618-74-02-LK

Response Due

October 15, 2001

Point of Contact

Linda Kelly (612) 725-2183

Description

Contractor to provide the VA Medical Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota, an HIV/HCV Genotyping system under a reagent rental agreement or cost per test. The VAMC's Molecular Biology Laboratory has a requirement for an integrated, NDA sequence based, HCV and HIV genotyping system that incorporates reagents (Chemistry) in a kit format with instrumentation (Hardware) and software which provides an interpretative HCV type and subtype report based upon clinically accepted buidelines. The requirements include (1) must offer the entire platform for in-house HCV genotyping. (2) The genotyping system should utilize simultaneous, bi-directional sequencing reaction for all tested specimens, which enables the user to perform a single tube. (3) The system must have no column or gel purification step prior to sequencing analysis. (4) must provide single tube RT-PCR (5) Kit must provide both positive and negative controls (6) DNA Sequencing System must produce a minimum of 5 complete genotypes per system run with minimal hands-on time. (7) must be able to accommodate a minimum of 2 sequencers per computer workstation with the ability to increase to improve productivity requirements. (8) The system must provide a rapid photo-polymerization unit that operates with a disposable single use glass plates and acrylamide cartridges, which minimize exposere to acrylamide (a neurotoxin). (9) provide a rapid gel preparation and polymerization that requires less than 10 minutes per gel. (10) prefer a solid-state laser system (10 Must provide a system workstation software that provides an interpretative genotypic report based upon clinically accepted guidelines that will provide Type, Subtype, and Subjective. (11) must provide a sequencing and analysis time on the sequencer be less than 45 minutes. (12) must offer genetic fingerprinting software to assess positive sample ID for each test run to ensure accuracy of results and detectspotential contamination. (13) the system must have the sequencing gel run and the data analyzaed in less than one hour. (14) system should incorporate fully automate data analysis with bi-directional sequence confirmation. Firms that have the ability to provide an HIV/HCV Genotyping System under a reagent rental agreement and in accordance with the above requirements should request bid documents in writing from the VA Medical Center, One Veterans Drive, Minneapolis, MN 55417, or by FAX (612) 725-2072 by October 15, 2001.

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20011001/65SOL003.HTM (W-270 SN50Z085)