Opportunity: Illumina MS-102-2003 MiSeq Reagent Kits v2; Qty: 3

Government's Notice of Intent to Sole Source NAICS Code 334516 Analytical Lab Equipment Instrument Manufacturing. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) intends to negotiate, on a sole source basis, with Illumina, Inc. (Illumina), a firm fixed-price purchase order under Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 13 Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP) for the purchase of a quantity of 30 MS-102-2003 MiSeq Reagent Kit v2 (500 cycles per kit) (MS-102-2003 reagent kit) for use by the EPA's Office of Research and Development (ORD), National Exposure Research Laboratory (NERL), Systems Exposure Division (SED), Ecosystem Integrity Branch (EIB) located in Cincinnati, OH. The EPA laboratory has been equipped with an Illumina MiSeq Desktop Sequencer (desktop sequencer). The desktop sequencer, whose technology and manufacturing is proprietary to Illumina, mandates the use of Illumina's MS-102-2003 reagent kit, a reagent kit whose only manufacturer is Illumina. Illumina has not provided any third party intermediary permission to manufacture or sell the MS-102-2003 reagent kit. The use of like reagent kits from different manufacturers is not feasible or possible in order to maintain proper operability of the desktop sequencer. The Government intends to purchase the reagent kits from Illumina without full and open competition. The circumstances permitting Other than Full and Open Competition at this time is FAR 13.106-1(b) Soliciting from a single source, only one responsible source and no other supplies or service will satisfy agency requirements. The intent of this notice is to state the Government's intention to sole source this acquisition and to determine if any other source(s) exist. Therefore, no solicitation (RFQ) is available. All interested parties who believe they can provide the required service should 1) fully explain their capabilities and qualifications in writing and submit same via FedConnect, a government web portal, within 5 days from the date of this announcement; and 2) must submit itemized pricing that is sufficient to make a determination that competition is feasible. Consequently, any responder(s) failing to provide the aforementioned data but instead choosing merely to submit a routine letter requesting a copy of the RFQ will not be honored. This notice and any amendments will be available via the Internet at www.fedconnect.net/FedConnect/ . Offerors must submit all technical questions / responses concerning this synopsis electronically through FedConnect at www.fedconnect.net/Fedconnect/. You must register with FedConnect as an interested party to submit questions and to view responses. Vendors can register with FedConnect at www.fedconnect.net/FedConnect/. For assistance in registering or for other FedConnect technical questions please call the FedConnect Help Desk at (800) 899-6665 or email at support@fedconnect.net. FedConnect is a web portal that connects agencies and vendors to streamline the process of doing business with the federal government. Through FedConnect contractors will be able to receive, review and respond to contract pre- and post-award actions and documents such as correspondence, request for proposals, tasking instruments and contract modifications. The use of FedConnect also furthers the EPA¿s commitment to moving towards a paperless acquisition environment by reducing its carbon footprint and conducting its business in an ecologically friendly manner. There is no charge to use FedConnect. In addition, all vendors must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM), as this facilitates registration for FedConnect. Please note that vendors MUST have their SAM profile set to ¿public,¿ otherwise FedConnect will not be able to access the SAM information required to validate vendor credentials. Registration may be completed and information regarding the registration process may be obtained at http://www.sam.gov. There is no charge for registration in SAM.