This is a Notice of Intent Synopsis for a Sole Source Noncompetitive Award in accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). Life Technologies Corporation (LifeTech) has been identified to meet the Government Requiring Agency's need for an Ambion-branded Silencer^TM siRNAs and Silencer^TM Human Genome siRNA Library for human targets and an Ambion-branded mirVana^TM miRNA Mimics and Inhibitors Library for human, mouse and rat targets. This is not a solicitation and request for proposals, proposal abstracts, and quotations. This is not an invitation for bids.

II. Background and Scope:

The Government Requiring Agency conducts high-throughput siRNA screens in collaboration with intramural investigators. siRNAs down­ regulate target genes possessing corresponding sequence complementarity. In this way, we can interrogate a specific gene's function in the context of any biology we can assay. The initiative's work encompasses assay development, screening, and initial follow-up. We require a genome-wide siRNA library in a 384 well format that comprises a single siRNA sequence per well as opposed to pooled reagents. This library must complement our existing genome wide library of 3 single siRNAs per gene (Ambion Silencer Select).

III. Requirement and Need Description:

1. An Ambion-branded Silencer^TM siRNAs and Silencer^TM Human Genome siRNA Library for human targets; and,

2. An Ambion-branded mirVana^TM miRNA Mimics and Inhibitors Library for human, mouse and rat targets.

IV. Acquisition Procedure:

The Government Issuing Agency, this contracting office, on behalf of the Government Requiring Agency, intends to negotiate and award a purchase order on a sole source noncompetitive basis to meet the Government Requiring Agency's need. The Government Issuing Office intends to perform the actions as follow:

1. Obtain a quote;
2. Evaluate the quotes technical acceptability, past performance, and price;
3. Negotiate the quote;
4. Contingent upon successful evaluation of the quote: award a Firm-Fixed-Price Purchase Order.

V. Contracting Considerations:

1. Quality;
2. Market prices; and,
3. Delivery.

VI. North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code:

The applicable NAICS Code is 334516 with the corresponding size standard is 500 employees.

VII. Justification:

The Government Requiring Agency needs an Ambion-branded Silencer^TM siRNAs and Silencer^TM Human Genome siRNA Library for human targets and an Ambion-branded mirVana^TM miRNA Mimics and Inhibitors Library for human, mouse and rat targets. LifeTech is the Original Equipment Manufacturer for the needed items which are unique products which perform functions that cannot be found in any other commercially-available systems. The needed items are the proprietary technology of and are trademarked under LifeTech. Thus, LifeTech is the only manufacturer and sole distributor of the needed items. Thus, LifeTech is the only source which possesses the technical capability to provide the needed items. This contracting office determined that LifeTech is uniquely qualified to meet the Government Requiring Agency's needs and that there are no alternative sources reasonably available. Thus, this contracting office intends to solicit from one source, LifeTech, because this contracting office determined that the circumstances of the contract action deem only one source reasonably available.

VIII. Federal Regulatory Authority:

This notice and a resulting award is under the authority of 41 U.S.C. 253(c) as set forth under the FAR SubPart 13.106-1 (b) (1), Soliciting from a single source not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold, and is exempt from the requirements of the FAR Part 6, Competition Requirements.

IX. Market Research:

The determination by the Government not to compete the Government's requirements, based upon a response from an interested party to this notice, is solely within the discretion and rights of the Government. The determination by the Government to award on a sole source noncompetitive basis is based upon the market research conducted in accordance with one or more of the techniques specified in the FAR Part 10-Market Research, Subpart 10.002(b)(2).

X. Response:

An interested party may identify its bona-fide capabilities and interests for fulfilling any future competitive requirements by responding in writing with documentation to this notice. A response to this notice shall include writing and documentation which, in the Government's estimation, is adequate to establish the interested party's bona-fide capabilities for fulfilling the Government's future requirements. A response shall reference the identifier code as follows: SS298551. A response shall be submitted electronically to the Contract Specialist, Mario Gray, using the e-mail address as follows: [email protected], by the closing date and time of this notice.