The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) Office of Acquisition (OA) intends to negotiate and award a purchase order on a noncompetitive sole source basis to Sequenom Inc., 3595 John Hopkins Court, San Diego, California 92121-1121 to provide MassARRAY System Premier Service and maintenance plan.

The sole source determination is based on the fact that National Institute of Health (NIH) is the nation's leading medical research agency and the primary Federal agency conducting and supporting making medical discoveries that improve people's health and save lives. The Molecular Genetics Section of the Genome Technology Branch, NHGRI has upgraded the genotyping capabilities in the Finnish US Investigation of NIDDM (FUSION) genetics study to increase throughput and versatility as well as lower the cost of high throughput SNP analysis. In increasing the versatility we are able to optimize the type of genotyping reaction to facilitate smaller studies with a large number of samples as well as larger numbers of SNPs on few samples for association discovery studies. The MassARRAY System is critical for our ability to test as many as 36 SNPs in each multiplex reaction. This system contains custom characteristics that are integrated with our genotype database and analytical software developed over the past 10 years and has been optimized in our laboratory for the FUSION study of genes related to type 2 diabetes (Project no. 1Z01HG000024 COLLINS, FRANCIS - Genetic analysis of type II diabetes in Finnish population).

Since 1998 the FUSION research group at NHGRI has been using the Sequenom MassARRAY System to perform the genotyping necessary to investigate the cause of type 2 diabetes. The system is a multiple component robotic and analytical system which requires regular maintenance, calibration and adjustment by a trained expert engineer. In order to ensure the accuracy and the precise function of the system a regular maintenance program is required. NHGRI require a service and maintenance agreement to support the continued operation of the Sequenom MassARRAY and to continue compatibility. To use another system or maintenance service would be detriment to the ongoing studies. The Sequenom equipment must be serviced by License Sequenom Engineers/Technicians and no other source is acceptable.

The Premier Service Plan Package provides one (1) preventative maintenance visit and unlimited emergency visits. Costs are to include labor, parts and travel. The MassARRAY® System Components covered by the service plan are:

• MassARRAY Compact System, Premier Service Plan: Compact Serial #BA060483
• MassARRAY Compact System, Premier Service Plan: Compact Serial #BA060485
• MassARRAY Compact System, Premier Service Plan: Compact Serial #BA080120
• Robodesign Nanodispenser: Serial #043
• Multimek Liquid Handler Model: Serial #304712APS
• Multimek Liquid Handler Model: Serial #304445APS
• Multimek Liquid Handler Model: Serial #304593APS

The proposed period of performance for this service will consist of one (9) month base period (April 2011 through January, 2012) and will include four (4) options to renew for a twelve (12) month period. This Service Plan

Industry Classification (NAICS) Code is 811219, with size standard of $7.0M. The acquisition is being conducted under FAR Part 13, simplified acquisition procedures, therefore the requirements of FAR Part 6 B Competitive Requirements are not applicable (FAR Part 6.001).and the resultant purchase order will include all applicable provisions and clauses in effect through the Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2005-51 (April 1, 2011).

This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. Interested parties may identify their interest and capabilities in response to this synopsis, by April 12, 2011, 7:30 a.m. Eastern Standard Time. The determination by the Government not to compete the proposed contract 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 future competitive procurement.

Inquires to this announcement, referencing synopsis number NHLBI-CSB-(HG)-2011-156-DLM, may be submitted to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, Office of Acquisition, COAC Services Branch, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Suite 6149, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-7902, Attention: Dorothy Maxwell. Response may be submitted electronically to [email protected]. Faxes will not be accepted. Responses will only be accepted if dated and signed by an authorized company representative.

Note: In order to receive an award from the NHLBI, contractors must have a valid registration in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) www.ccr.gov, and ORCA https://orca.bpn.gov/login.aspx.