Cotton RNA Sequencing - New Orleans, LA

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This document outlines the terms and conditions applicable to a solicitation. It details various Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and Agriculture Acquisition Regulation (AGAR) clauses and provisions that will govern any resulting contract. Key information for bidders includes submission requirements, evaluation criteria, and specific clauses that may impact their offer.

• The Statement of Work (SOW) is detailed in Attachment 1, which bidders must reference for complete requirements.

• Technical data and supporting documentation are available via solicitation attachments.

• Specific FAR and AGAR clauses are incorporated by reference or included in full text, covering areas such as commercial products/services, whistleblower rights, combating trafficking in persons, service contract labor standards, and more.

• AGAR Clause 452.203-71 requires certification of compliance with anti-discrimination and DEI laws, including specific executive orders.

• AGAR Clause 452.203-72 addresses unenforceable supplier terms, voiding any terms inconsistent with Federal law or the contract.

• The Government intends to make one award.

• Pricing must be submitted for all items to be considered responsive.

• The period of performance is not explicitly stated but delivery is requested by 06/30/2026.

• Quotes are due by the date and time indicated on SAM.gov and must be submitted via email to jennifer.busbea@usda.gov in one document.

• Questions are due by April 27, 2026, at 12:00 pm CST via email to jennifer.busbea@usda.gov.

• Offers must be held firm for 90 calendar days.

• Evaluation will be based on the lowest price technically acceptable (LPTA) criteria.

• Quoters must provide pricing for all requirements in Attachment 1.

• Technical Acceptability will be rated "acceptable" or "unacceptable" based on the ability to meet all requirements.

• Past Performance will be evaluated as "Acceptable," "Neutral," or "Unacceptable."

• Only the lowest priced offer will be evaluated for Technical Acceptability and Past Performance.

• Quoters or products/services are not required to meet a qualification requirement for award.

• Various small business provisions and certifications are listed as applicable if checked.

• Invoices must be submitted electronically through the Invoice Processing Platform (IPP).

• Agency protests should first be directed to the Contracting Officer, with an option to escalate to the USDA Ombudsman Program.

• The document lists numerous FAR and AGAR clauses and provisions that bidders must review for compliance and inclusion in their offers.

Statement of Work (SOW) / Performance Work Statement (PWS)

To procure next-generation RNA sequencing services for 300 cotton fiber RNA samples to understand the effects of abiotic stresses (heat and drought) on cotton fiber development and quality, supporting USDA ARS research objectives.

• Perform RNA sequencing on 300 cotton fiber tissue samples.

• Include RNA quality assessment, library preparation, library quality assessment, and sequencing.

• Evaluate RNA quality via bioanalyzer analysis; replace low-quality samples before library preparation.

• Utilize Poly-A enrichment for mRNA isolation.

• Conduct Next Generation Sequencing using Illumina NovaSeq X 10B (or similar) with a read length of 2 x 150 (Paired End).

• Guarantee a minimum of 20 million paired-end reads pass filter per sample.

• All samples must be processed in a single batch for consistency and optimal data quality.

• Vendor must possess specialized experience in all aspects of RNA sequencing.

• Raw sequence reads in fasta or fastq format for each of the 300 samples.

• Deliverables to be provided on a hard disk and shipped to the customer.

• Guaranteed turnaround time from project start date is 6 weeks (minimum requirement).

USDA ARS 1100 Allen Toussaint Blvd New Orleans, LA 70124

• Vendor must have specialized experience in all aspects of RNA sequencing.