USDA-SEA DNA Extraction and Genotyping Services for Cotton

Questions & Answers / Clarifications

This document provides responses to vendor questions regarding the "Attachment 4 - Vendor Questions & Answers".

• Genotyping Requirements: The required genotyping involves a minimum of 15,000 SNP markers with known chromosomal positions, evenly distributed across cotton chromosomes. The array should be suitable for U.S.-cultivated Gossypium hirsutum, and include standards and blanks for quality control.
• Gene Detection: While markers do not need to be gene-based, a minimum of 15,000 markers are required per sample.
• Incumbent Information: There is no incumbent contractor for this requirement.
• Scope of Work Comparison: The scope of work is not applicable in comparison to a previous contract.

This Q&A document clarifies specific technical requirements for genotyping and confirms the absence of an incumbent, which may influence vendor proposals.

Amendment / Modification

This amendment modifies solicitation 1232SA2600318, dated 03/17/2026.

Key changes include:

• Solicitation Due Date: Extended from March 25, 2026, to April 3, 2026.
• Solicitation Due Time: Changed from 3:00 PM to 12:00 PM.
• Period of Performance Start Date: Extended from March 26, 2026, to April 7, 2026.
• Period of Performance End Date: Extended from March 25, 2027, to April 6, 2027.
• Anticipated Exercise Date: Changed from March 17, 2026, to April 7, 2026.
• Delivery Date for Line Item 2 (ARS-124M55): Changed from March 25, 2027, to April 6, 2027.
• Delivery Date for Line Item 1 (ARS-124M55): Changed from March 25, 2027, to April 6, 2027.

Additionally, this amendment provides Questions and Answers received from vendors as Attachment 4.

• Solicitation closing date and time.
• Period of Performance (start and end dates).
• Anticipated exercise date.
• Delivery dates for line items 1 and 2.
• Attachment 4 (Questions and Answers) is now included.

Bidders must acknowledge receipt of this amendment. The extended due date and time for offer submission are April 3, 2026, at 12:00 PM. All other terms and conditions remain unchanged.

Statement of Work (SOW)

To provide DNA Extraction and Genotyping Services for Cotton samples.

• The Government will provide freeze-dried cotton leaf tissue samples in 96-well microtiter plates (approximately 8,000 samples across ~85 plates). The samples will be of variable quality from field collection and will be clearly labeled.

• Electronic sample metadata (Excel/CSV format) with sample identifiers, plate IDs, and relevant information will be provided with each batch of samples.

• The Government will ship samples to the Contractor's facility. The Contractor is responsible for providing shipping instructions, including address, packaging requirements, and receiving contact. The Government will coordinate all shipping arrangements.

• Confirm sample receipt within 24 hours.

• Report any shipping damage or discrepancies.

• Maintain sample integrity and chain of custody.

• Retain samples for a minimum of 1 year post-delivery.

• Notify the Government of any samples failing quality control.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a Register of Wage Determinations under the Service Contract Act, issued by the U.S. Department of Labor. It specifies the minimum wage rates and fringe benefits required for various occupations in North Carolina Counties of Franklin and Wake.

• Lists occupational codes, titles, and corresponding minimum hourly wage rates.
• Includes specific fringe benefits required for each occupational listing.
• Details Executive Orders (EO) 13706 and 13658, outlining paid sick leave and minimum wage requirements for federal contractors.
• Provides information on vacation and holiday entitlements.
• Outlines the process for requesting additional classifications and wage rates (conformance process).

This document is crucial for bidders to understand the labor costs associated with performing services under a federal contract in the specified geographic area. It ensures compliance with federal labor laws by mandating specific minimum wages and benefits for various job classifications, directly impacting proposal pricing and overall contract cost.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP) for DNA Extraction and Genotyping Services for Cotton. It outlines the Government's methods for ensuring systematic quality assurance in the administration of a Performance Based Service Contract (PBSC).

• Objective: To ensure the Contractor performs according to contract metrics, delivers the required quality of services, and is paid only for acceptable services.
• Scope: Provides Government surveillance oversight of the Contractor's quality control efforts to ensure timely delivery and adherence to Purchase Order requirements.
• Government Resources: Defines roles for the Contracting Officer (CO) and Contracting Officer's Representative (COR).
• Methods of QA Surveillance: Includes Customer Feedback, Periodic Review, and Deliverable Inspection.
• Identified QA Surveillance Items: Details specific requirements for DNA Extraction, High-Density SNP Genotyping, Genotyping Quality Control, Data Delivery, Quality Control Reports, SNP Marker Metadata, Timeline Compliance, and Sample Handling.
• Performance Standards: Outlines acceptable and unacceptable performance metrics for DNA Quality, Genotyping Success Rate, SNP Call Rate, Marker Number, Timeline, Data Delivery, Communication, and Documentation.
• Documentation: Specifies records to be maintained by the COR, including sample shipment records, status updates, data delivery records, QC reports, customer feedback, correspondence, inspection reports, and payment authorization records.

This QASP details the performance standards and quality control measures the Government will use to evaluate the Contractor's performance. Bidders should review these requirements to understand the expected quality, deliverables, and performance metrics for the DNA Extraction and Genotyping Services. This will help in formulating a compliant and competitive proposal.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This solicitation is for DNA Extraction and Genotyping Services for Cotton, to support the USDA-ARS-SEA. The government anticipates awarding a firm-fixed-price purchase order.

• DNA Extraction and Genotyping Services for Cotton.

• The primary CLIN (0001) is for 85 plates (approximately 8,000 samples).

• An optional CLIN (0002) is for an additional 20 plates.

• Detailed requirements are outlined in Attachment 1 – Statement of Work (SOW).

• Minimum standards are detailed in Attachment 2 – Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP).

• Period of Performance: March 26, 2026, to March 25, 2027.

• Award Type: Firm-fixed-price purchase order.

• F.O.B. Destination for all deliverables.

• Offer Due Date: March 25, 2026, at 3:00 PM ET.

• Offerors must provide pricing for all CLINs to be considered responsive.

• Evaluation will be based on Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) criteria.

• Technical Acceptability will be rated as "acceptable" or "unacceptable" based on the offeror's ability to meet requirements.

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

• Offerors must provide a detailed explanation of their ability to perform the services, addressing the SOW and QASP.

• Quotations must be held firm for 90 calendar days.

• This acquisition is UNRESTRICTED.

• NAICS Code: 541380 (Testing Laboratories), Size Standard: $19 million.

• Offerors must be registered in SAM.gov.

• Attachments include: Statement of Work, Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan, and Wage Determination.

• Questions are due by March 23, 2025, at 2:00 PM ET via email to jacob.toft@usda.gov.

• The USDA is a tax-exempt agency.

• Invoicing will be submitted through the Department of Treasury's Invoice Processing Platform (IPP).