Next Generation Sequencing System and Support Plan

Active

Contract Opportunity

Sources Sought (SS) Notice

Title: Next Generation Sequencing System and Support Plan

ID: NIAID-SS-25-2265418

Post Date: 07/18/2025

Response Date: 08/04/2025

Classification Code: 6640 – Laboratory Equipment and Supplies

NAICS: 334516 Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing

Introduction

This is a Sources Sought notice. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding the availability and capability of all qualified sources to perform a potential requirement.

Project Summary

The Viral Pathogenesis and Evolution Section (VPES) and The Clinical Studies Unit (CSU) within Laboratory of Infectious Diseases (LID) conducts research directed toward defining the causes and epidemiology of influenza and SARS-CoV-2 viral disease and developing means for their control, including universal influenza and SARS-CoV-2 vaccine development. VPES and CSU engages in a wide range of research activities that extends from clinical virology to molecular characterization of highly virulent influenza and SARS-CoV-2 viruses that cause severe, acute disease of the respiratory tracts in animal models to the development of novel vaccines and antiviral drugs. We also study immune responses and disease following human influenza viral challenge at the NIH Clinical Center. Scientists in the VPES employ high-throughput genomic, proteomic and machine learning computational approaches to elucidate pathogenesis of influenza disease, understand the response to infection, contagiousness, development of severe illness, as well as identify the molecular correlates of vaccine protection in animals and humans.

NIAID’s ongoing projects utilizing Illumina high-throughput sequencing includes 1) clinical study, which focus on pandemic/seasonal influenza infections in patients, and characterizes the development of antiviral resistance mutations, intra-host viral evolution, and the host immune response. Specifically, projects include sequencing challenging virus stocks, nasal swabs/washes from viral challenged patients or naturally viral infected patients. 2) viral pathogenesis, which includes investigating viral quasispecies shifting during host adaptation and under different immune pressures from hosts, as well as different host responses to infection under different conditions. 3) archaevirology, which characterizes pre- and post-1918 influenza virus genomes from archival samples to to better understand the origins of the most severe influenza pandemic in history to uncover how the virus evolved over time and contributed to the pandemic's severity. 4) archaebacteriology, which explores bacterial genomes in pre- and post-1918 pandemic FFPE lung samples to elucidate the role of secondary bacterial respiratory infections and trace the ancestry of these respiratory pathogens. This acquisition will also be utilized for the H5N1 Countermeasures Research Project, to identify novel molecular structures with antiviral properties that can be utilized to help combat the ongoing avian influenza pandemic in poultry and wild birds, and prevent future spread to humans.

Specifically, NIAID, is seeking one Next Generation Sequencing System capable of the following:

The Next Generation Sequencing System shall provide access to a range of applications including single-cell, whole-exome, and RNA sequencing on a benchtop platform.

The minimal salient characteristics for the system are as follows:

• Size: Footprint must be less than 25in height x 23in width x 26in depth or smaller, allowing for benchtop or BSC use. The machine must weigh no more than 325lbs.


• Capability: The system shall have a minimum of 14 configurations and read lengths from 1x50bp to 2x300bp or greater. It shall provide a minimum output of 10-540Gb at 100M – 1.8B single-end reads per run in 8-44 hours, with a minimum of four flow cell configurations. The system must utilize patterned flow cell technology with the highest cluster density available on the market to maximize sequencing throughput and cost-efficiency. It shall employ advanced chemistry to deliver faster, higher quality, and more economical sequencing compared to standard SBS technologies. The system shall allow for access to applications including single-cell, whole-exome, and RNA sequencing.


• Streamlined Workflow and Flexibility: The system shall require less than 10 minutes of for setup and the workflow shall not be interrupted by any wash cycles. Samples shall be tracked and runs must be capable of management via cloud-based and on-premises options. Data must be able to be analyzed onboard in under two hours.


• Integrated Kits: The system shall integrate with a comprehensive ecosystem of 14 or more compatible library prep kits. These kits must employ both cloud-based and on-premises options and be capable of building libraries and generating scalable sequence generation. Outputs must be exportable and able to be read with onboard secondary analysis.


• Continuity: The laboratory section currently uses instrumentation from Illumina. The system shall be seamlessly compatible with the current connections, operation, platforms and capabilities as well as with the Illumina XLEAP-SBS™ reagent kits and Illumina Respiratory Virus kits Sets ensure the accuracy and continuity of ongoing studies.

Anticipated Period of Performance

It is anticipated that an award will be made on or about August 29, 2025. Estimated lead time for delivery of Equipment is 45-90 days upon Vendor’s receipt of the purchase order.

Capability Statement/Information Sought

If your organization has the potential capacity to meet the minimum requirements and performance capabilities listed above, please provide the following information:

1. Organization name, address, point of contact, email address, website address, telephone number, UEI number.


2. Company location(s) and number of years company has been in business.


3. Type of business (e.g., 8(a), HUBZone, Other than Small, etc.) pursuant to the applicable NAICS code.


4. Type of ownership for the organization.


5. Identification of any Best-In-Class contract vehicles including Government Wide Acquisition Contracts (GWAC) (e.g., GSA schedule) they may possess or are aware of that would support this possible requirement. If your organization does not provide the products/services under a GWAC, please identify availability as OPEN MARKET ONLY.


6. Tailored capability statement addressing the capability of the sequencing instrument to meet NIAID’s minimum requirements. Capability document shall be no more than six pages.


7. Place of manufacture for Next Generation Sequencing System.


8. Evidence that the organization is an authorized reseller or manufacturer of the instrument. Only Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) products are acceptable.

Submission Instructions

Interested businesses who consider themselves qualified to provide the above specification for the Next Generation Sequencing System and Support Plan, are invited to submit a response to this Sources Sought Notice by August 4, 2025, at 1:00 PM EST. All responses under this Sources Sought Notice shall be emailed to Shaun Rostad at shaun.rostad@nih.gov

Disclaimer and Important Notes

This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization’s qualifications to perform the work. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. After a review of the responses received, a pre-solicitation synopsis and solicitation may be published on SAM.gov. However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation.

Confidentiality

No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation(s).

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