The United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Engineering Research and Development Center - Construction Engineering Research Laboratory (ERDC-CERL) in Champaign, IL has a requirement for a Bacteriophage Rapid Anthrax Viability Evaluation System (BRAVES) Prototype. The specifics of the requirement are as follows:

1) Ruggedized carrying cases for each of the following methods kits. The method kits (a-c) shall be designed to process samples at a rate of 1,000 samples per day by a single operator and include enough consumable materials for processing 1,000 samples. The prototype kits (a-c) and their components shall have a shelf life of at least 1 year.

a) Collection Method Kit. Equipment and supplies for collecting anthrax samples from soil, plywood, concrete, and non-porous surfaces, to include surface swabs, surfactant-buffer solutions, collection/extraction tubes, and any other required materials for the collection method.
b) Processing Method Kit. Equipment and supplies for processing collected samples using the phage reporter method, to include growth reactors, stabilized phage inoculum, germination and growth media, shaking incubator, and any additional materials required for the processing method.
c) Analysis Method Kit. Equipment and supplies for analyzing samples using the phage reporter method, to include 96-well plates for bioluminescence readings, stabilized calibration standards based on Bacillus anthracis delta Sterne strain or other non-pathogenic spores that respond to the method, background controls, chemical solutions, a luminometer with auto-injection capability, and any additional materials required for the analysis method.

2) An operations manual for the system with intuitive graphical tutorials for the method, and also including logistics requirements and materials specifications.

3) A video demonstrating the use of the system, covering each step in the method.

4) An Excel file for importing, interpreting, and storing data in an efficient manner.

Delivery of the prototype to ERDC-CERL is required no later than 6 months after award.

ERDC-CERL intends to award a purchase order on a sole source basis to Guild Associates in accordance with FAR 13.106-1(b)(1).

Market research indicates that Guild Associates, Inc. is the only source for this requirement because they hold and have developed a patent for phage reporter technology which encompasses a high-throughput method for anthrax viability analysis. This method uses anthrax-specific bacteriophage that are genetically modified to induce bioluminescence within viable anthrax. They are the only company with the trade secrets necessary to generate and propagate these bacteriophage. This method provides rapid signal detection, and employs smaller and more efficient equipment than other current methods. The capabilities that Guild possesses as the developer of this unique technology makes them the only viable source for development of a system that will meet the government's requirement for rapid and high volume anthrax detection. The system shall be designed according to the specifications listed above, and Guild Associates is the only source able to provide these specifications.

The associated North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 334516 which has a size standard of 1000 employees. This is not a small business set aside.

This Notice of Intent is not a request for competitive quotations; however interested parties may identify their interests and capability to respond to this requirement. Any interested party that believes they can fulfill this requirement should submit a capability statement to be reviewed. All submissions will be considered, however there is no guarantee that submissions in response to this notice will be in any way alter the Government's acquisition strategy.

Please provide responses to this notice no later than the Response time listed above in this notice, to:
[email protected]

Telephone responses will not be accepted.

Responses to this notice will not be considered as a response to any solicitation, a request to be added to a prospective offers list, or to receive a copy of any solicitation.

A determination by the Government not to compete the contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement.