AMPLICON SEQUENCING SERVICES

This federal solicitation (SF 1449, Solicitation No. 140G0226Q0047) is issued by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Denver Acquisition Branch to establish a Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) for non-personal amplicon sequencing services. Set aside 100% for Women-Owned Small Businesses (WOSB) under NAICS code 541714, the resulting agreement has a five-year estimated period of performance from September 17, 2026, through September 16, 2031. Deliveries will be made to the USGS Upper Midwest Water Science Center in Lansing, Michigan. The BPA has a "Not to Exceed" limit of $250,000. Individual micro-purchases under $10,000 can be placed via Government Purchase Card, while BPA Call orders between $10,000 and $100,000 will be processed through the U.S. Treasury’s Internet Payment Platform (IPP). The document details standard contract administration terms, including the Contracting Officer’s sole authority to modify the BPA, annual reviews to evaluate continued need and funding, and strict invoicing deadlines. It incorporates various Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) commercial clauses, alongside agency deviations. Notable provisions include 52.222-90, which prohibits racially discriminatory Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) activities, and 52.240-91, which outlines comprehensive security prohibitions, exclusions, and reporting requirements regarding Kaspersky Lab products, ByteDance/TikTok applications, FASC-prohibited unmanned aircraft systems, and covered Chinese telecommunications equipment.

This Statement of Work (SOW) outlines the requirements for a contractor to provide next-generation amplicon and metagenomic sequencing services for the USGS Upper Midwest Water Science Center’s Michigan Bacteriological Research Laboratory (MI-BaRL). The MI-BaRL conducts microbiology research focusing on harmful algal blooms, pathogens, antibiotic resistance, and microbial source tracking. The contractor is responsible for performing library preparation, quality control (QC) checks, and sequencing analysis using Illumina MiSeq or AVITI platforms. Key technical requirements include utilizing specific primer sets (such as 515F/806R), providing positive controls on each run, and delivering demultiplexed raw sequencing data. The contractor must notify USGS of any QC failures within 30 business days of sample receipt and deliver final data and methodological documentation within 60 business days. Data must be made available via a secure FTP server or external hard drive, with a minimum 60-day download window and a one-year archival period. Additionally, the contractor must provide experimental design consultations, a web-based Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) for sample uploading, and technical support. The period of performance runs from the date of award through September 30, 2031. Under the Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan, any substandard services must be re-performed at no cost to the government within 30 days, and the government may seek consideration if more than two sequencing failures occur per year.

This document comprises Attachment B and Attachment 1 of an SF-18 Continuation Sheet for Pricing, outlining a federal procurement solicitation by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The pricing sheets are divided into two primary service areas: genomic sequencing services and industrial gas supplies. The first section outlines pricing for Year 1 genomic services, including 16S V4 amplicon library preparation, qPCR library pooling, quality control (QC) assessments, and various AVITI and Illumina flow cell sequencing runs. The remaining years (Years 2 through 5) and a six-month extension period are structured for future pricing. The second section (Attachment 1) details the pricing schedule for a basic period running from August 18, 2025, to August 17, 2026, for the supply of various industrial, medical, and specialty gases. Key items with active quantities include Air Breathing Grade, CO2 Research Grade, Helium Ultra-High Purity, Hydrogen Ultra-High Purity, Nitrogen, and Oxygen Zero Grade cylinders. The contract also accounts for compliance and transportation fees, monthly cylinder and bulk liquid tank rentals (including telemetry and installation), hydro testing services, and standardized lost or damaged cylinder replacement fees ranging from $100 to $3,500 depending on the cylinder type.