Specialized Genetic Sequencing Services (VA Research Study)

Regional Procurement Office (RPO) - East intends to negotiate on a sole source basis, pursuant to FAR 6.302-1, with Novogene Corporation, Inc., for specialized genetic sequencing services for the Research Department at the Minneapolis VA Health Care System. These services are required for the VA-funded research study Impact of Obesity on Brain Immune Response and Cognition .

The objective of the study is to determine key features that differentiate the spatial configuration and expression profile of mouse brain from either WT or Alzheimer s Disease expressing (AD) mice with confounding factors such as high-fat diet or environmental toxin exposure. We may identify new targets for AD treatment by identifying two new mechanisms of disease progression:

1) Enhanced neuroinflammation due to exacerbation of inflammatory factors due to high-fat diet or environmental toxin exposure in the AD background.

2) Identification of new disease mechanisms may improve the care of Veterans with AD, high-fat diet, and/or environmental toxin exposure thereby decreasing costs for the Veterans Affairs Health Care System. Highly experienced in providing data from large-scale sequencing projects, Novogene has been involved in previous studies directly related to the current study. To ensure consistent support, data readability and compatibility, continuation of Novogene s services is crucial to the study s successful outcome.

Novogene (contractor/contractor laboratory) shall: Process, sequence, and quantify the RNA from samples on a massive scale with high-accuracy, dependability, and reproducibility. Perform RNA library preparation, sequence the RNA, and prepare a data output including sequence identity and quantity for all samples. Provide start-to-finish advanced genetic sequencing and quantitation services tailored to the analysis of single-cells.

Provide accurate and reproducible quantitative results for a variety of tissue types and sequencing modalities. The VA laboratory anticipates sending 4 to 20 samples per year depending on experimental outcomes.

This is a notice of intent and is not a request for competitive quotes; however, any responsible source that believes it is qualified to meet this unique need may submit a capability statement to the contracting office no later than Wednesday, March 26, 2025, 11:59 AM EST. Interest/capability statements may be sent to Millicent Covert, Contracting Officer, at millicent.covert@va.gov. No telephone responses will be accepted. A determination not to compete the proposed requirement based upon the responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government.