SOURCES SOUGHT
B -- Molecular Species Identification, Throughput Capability and Technology Transfer for Catfish Entering Retail Markets in the United States
- Notice Date
- 6/17/2010
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541380
— Testing Laboratories
- Contracting Office
- Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service, Procurement Management Branch, 5601 Sunnyside Avenue, Mail drop 5230, Beltsville, Maryland, 20705
- ZIP Code
- 20705
- Solicitation Number
- 409625
- Archive Date
- 7/22/2010
- Point of Contact
- Vangelia Campbell,
- E-Mail Address
-
vangelia.campbell@fsis.usda.gov
(vangelia.campbell@fsis.usda.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food Safety and Inspection Services (FSIS) is seeking sources capable of providing the agency with Molecular Species Identification, Throughput Capability and Technology Transfer for Catfish Entering Retail Markets in the United States. The Contractor shall; 1) Provide molecular techniques to positively identify relevant domestic and imported strains of catfish; 2) Provide technology transfer of methodologies and relevant information to FSIS as needed to perform species identification using DNA barcoding. The project is to develop and implement a protocol, and analyze data using DNA sequencing equipment with a throughput of up to 2,000 samples per month for a 10 month timeframe will be needed initially. Imported fish fillets identified as catfish account for approximately half of the 200 million pounds of U.S. catfish sales each year. Positive identification of these fillets is needed to differentiate between species and to detect mislabeling. Direct sequencing is the most definitive method available for fish identification. Unlike protein assays, it is applicable to degraded/processed samples. An approximately 600 base-pair region of the cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) mitochondrial gene will be PCR amplified and sequenced in all relevant cultured domestic and imported strains of catfish from samples of muscle tissue taken from fresh, frozen, and processed fish. An internal reference database of COI sequences should be further developed and checked against the larger Barcode of Life database1 (BOLD) and FDA catfish barcodes to formalize DNA barcode sequences for species of interest. Standardized, streamlined protocols should be developed to allow rapid processing and analysis of large numbers of samples as provided by FSIS. Real-time PCR/SNP assays should be developed for short-turnaround true/false testing of samples. Sequence results, species IDs, and samples should be tracked via unique, anonymous identifiers and information should be made rapidly and securely available to FSIS. Rigorous quality control and random re-screening of samples should ensure the highest possible levels of accuracy. The Contractor must have extensive experience with years of service in the area of catfish genetics and genomics and have organized and led large sequencing projects involving the majority of blue and channel catfish genes. Experience working with small genomic regions, large-scale molecular marker discovery and genotyping is expected. The number of submissions of catfish DNA sequences into public databases over the last decade from Ictalurid and pangaguis catfish will be strongly taken into consideration. The number of published reviewed papers on aspects of catfish genetics and genomics ranging from genetic diversity of aquaculture populations to repetitive elements present in catfish gene transcripts and genome regions will also be evaluated. Methods validation must follow FDA‘s July, 2009 Laboratory Information Bulletin 4420, volume 24, titled:"DNA-Barcoding for the Species Identification for Fish: A Protocol for Validation of DNA-Barcoding for the Species Identification of Fish for FDA Regulatory Compliance." The lab must be well-equipped with sufficient PCR (both standard and real-time) and DNA sequencing capacity to produce high-throughput catfish gene sequencing and data analysis without start-up delay. At the end of the project term, technology transfer (including equipment assessment) will occur for FSIS to outfit their labs to continue to perform genotyping and data analysis. The Contractor must submit monthly reports of data results and quarterly progress reports including budget expenditures. All data and data results are the property of FSIS. As part of project, software developed (database functionality) and related files will be turned over to FSIS at the completion of this project. If you are a source capable of providing the above services, please respond to this Source Sought with your company's information, containing your qualifications. Respondents are asked to identify their business size in their response to this sources sought synopsis. The NAICS Code associated with this notice is 541380 and the size standard is $12.0M. This notice is not a request for proposals and the Government does not intend to pay for information submitted. Respondents will not be notified of the results of the evaluation of the information they provide. No contract award will be made on the basis of responses received; however, the information will be used in FSIS's assessment of capable sources. Responses should be submitted by July 6, 2010. Fax responses are not permitted. Questions concerning this announcement may be submitted via email only, no telephone inquires will be honored. All responses may be submitted by email to Vangelia.Campbell@fsis.usda.gov or by mail to Vangelia Campbell at USDA, FSIS, ASD, 5601 Sunnyside Avenue, Maildrop 5230, Beltsville, MD 20705-5230. The information is due by 1:30 p.m. local time on July 7, 2010.
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/USDA/FSIS/AAS/409625/listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Address: United States, 20705, United States
- Zip Code: 20705
- Zip Code: 20705
- Record
- SN02180619-W 20100619/100617235525-83533ab5760348e5ccf070b3dc637448 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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