EQUIPMENT - XENIUM ANALYZER/VISIUM CYTASSIST

Intent to Sole Source 36C24224Q0701.

The Department of Veterans Affairs, Network Contracting Office 2, Regional Procurement Office - East, on behalf of Northport VA Medical Center located at 79 Middleville Rd, Northport, NY 11768 intends to award a Firm-Fixed-Price sole source award to 10X Genomics, Inc., 6230 Stoneridge Mall Rd., Pleasanton, CA 94588 for the purchase of 10x Genomics Xenium Analyzer/10x Genomics Visium CytAssist This notice of intent is neither a solicitation for proposals/quotes nor an invitation for bids.

Furthermore, it does not represent a commitment by the Government to pay for costs incurred in preparation and submission of data or any other costs incurred in response to this notice.

A competitive solicitation will not be issued; however, any firm that believes it can meet the requirements may provide written notification to the Contract Specialist at Paul.Speedling@va.gov no later than June 6, 2024, at 15:00 EST. Supporting evidence must be furnished in sufficient detail to demonstrate the ability to comply with the requirements described above. A determination by the Government not to compete the proposed procurement based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government.

Requirements Product Specifications: Research use only.

Features: The Visium CytAssist is a compact instrument designed to simplify spatial transcriptomics workflow by facilitating the transfer of transcriptomic probes from standard glass slides to 10x Genomics Xenium or Visium slides, enabling targeted or whole transcriptomic spatial profiling insights across entire tissue sections previously stored or freshly prepared, and expanded compatibility with FFPE and/or fresh frozen samples.

In the Visium CytAssist workflow, sectioning, tissue preparation, staining (H&E or IF), and imaging take place on a standard glass slide. Tissue samples previously placed on a Xenium slide can also be processed. After probe hybridization, two standard glass slides (or the Xenium slide) and a Visium slide with Capture Areas are placed in the CytAssist instrument so that the tissue sections on the standard slides can be aligned on top of the Capture Areas.

Within the instrument, a brightfield image is captured to provide spatial orientation for data analysis, followed by hybridization of transcriptomic probes to the Visium slide. The remaining steps, starting with probe extension, follow the standard Visium spatial whole transcriptome workflow outside of the instrument.

Features: Xenium is an end-to-end platform from 10x Genomics that enables high-throughput subcellular mapping of 100s to 1,000s of RNA targets alongside multiplexed protein in the same tissue section. Compatible with fresh frozen (FF) and formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues, the platform includes the Xenium Analyzer, a versatile and easy-to-use instrument; sensitive and specific chemistry; a diverse menu of customizable panels; and software.

Data can be visualized with the built-in software suite Xenium Explorer or community-developed analysis tools. The Xenium platform has a robust roadmap to enhance the core platform with more capabilities and analytes. The Xenium workflow starts with sectioning tissues onto a Xenium slide (Figure 1). The sections are then treated to preserve and access the RNA with circularizable DNA probes.

The DNA probes are flanked by two regions that independently hybridize to the target RNA and also contain a gene-specific barcode sequence. Ligation of the probe ends to each other, then generates a circular DNA probe which is enzymatically amplified. In the event that one part of the probe experiences off-target binding, ligation will not occur, thus suppressing off-target signals and ensuring high specificity.

Multiplexed protein detection, a proven capability that will be enabled on the platform in the future, will leverage DNA-barcoded antibodies for labeling of protein targets in each tissue section. The Xenium workflow is also non-destructive. With the sample morphology intact at the end of the workflow, both hematoxylin & eosin (H&E) and immunofluorescence (IF) staining are possible on the same tissue section, enabling the direct comparison of Xenium transcriptional data to morphological data.

This sole source award to 10X Genomics, Inc. is in accordance with 41 U.S.C. 1901 as implemented by way of the procedures outline in the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) subpart 13.5. This Sole Source is authorized under FAR subpart 13.106-1(b) - soliciting from one source if the contracting officer determines that the circumstances of this contract action deems only one source reasonably available. This is not a request for competitive offers, quotes, or capability statements.

No solicitation will be posted as a result of this notice. This Special Notice is being issued for information purposes only. The formal Justification & Approval for this action shall be posted on this site in accordance with FAR Part 6.305(a) within 14 days after final award.

NAICS:

339113, SBA Size Standard: 750 employees, PSC: 6515. END OF SPECIAL NOTICE - INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE.