The U.S. EPA intends to negotiate on a sole source basis with the University of California, Irvine, Beckman Laser Institute (BLI) under the authority of FAR Part 6.302.-1. The Office of Research and Development (ORD) has a requirement for BLI to develop methods to ensure the highly accurate, rapid, and sensitive enumeration of Bacillus anthracis. The contractor shall outline a process to develop a technology to be able to distinguish a live B. anthracis cell from a dead one. This technology combines laser destruction of DNA that is free or in dead cells with Quantitatvie Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (QRT-PCR) assays in a fully automated platform. This notice is not a request for proposals. A determination not to compete the proposed requirement based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement or to proceed on a sole source basis. A firm fixed price, completion type contract is anticipated. The period of performance is estimated to be 16 months. The applicable NAICS Code is 541710. Interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirement by submitting documentation to contact point shown below which establishes that their technical qualifications meet the EPA's requirement. Such documentation must be submitted to the contact shown below within 10 days of electronic posting of this notice. Per the authority of FAR 12.102 (f)(1), this homeland security related procurement is being treated as an acquisition of commercial items. Numbered Note 22 applies.

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