Presolicitation Notice The Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity (DHACA) in Fort Detrick, MD intends to negotiate on a sole source basis (IAW RFO 12.201-1) with Illumina, Inc 5200 Illumina Way San Diego, CA 92122, as the only responsible source that can provide MiSeq i100 Plus sequencing instruments to replace Illumina MiSeq sequencing instruments around the world that are close to obsolescence. This is a Presolicitation notice in accordance with RFO 5.101. The Global Emerging Infections Surveillance (GEIS) Branch of the Defense Health Agency (DHA), Armed Forces Health Surveillance Division (AFHSD) has a need to replace existing MiSeq (RUO), MiniSeq and iSeq100 sequencers across the global GEIS partner laboratory network. Upgrading the existing sequencers with the Illumina MiSeq i100 Plus Next-Generation Sequencing systems will ensure continuity of the global public health surveillance mission. The MiSeq i100 is the manufacturer's designated replacement for the legacy systems and includes onboard DRAGEN secondary analysis and room-temperature stable reagents, which significantly mitigates cold chain logistics for partner laboratories. The Illumina MiSeq i100 integrates the proprietary DRAGEN Bio-IT Platform directly onboard the instrument. This unique capability allows for secondary data analysis to be performed locally on the device itself, eliminating the need for immediate data transfer to external computational resources or a cloud-based architecture. This is a key feature for the AFHSD, as it allows the instrument to operate within a contained, air-gapped security environment. This drastically simplifies the Risk Management Framework process and is essential for obtaining an Authority to Operate. Illumina is the sole manufacturer of the MiSeq i100 and associated reagents, consumables, with ability to also provide installation, training, and annual service agreements for the systems. The rationale is based on Illumina's proprietary technology, which is essential for data continuity, and its unique system architecture, which is critical for operation within the Department of War's (DoW) secure environment. Proprietary Technology Ecosystem and Data Continuity: The cornerstone of this justification is Illumina's proprietary Sequencing by Synthesis chemistry. This technology is fundamentally different from that of competitors, resulting in a unique data format and error profile. The Illumina MiSeq i100 Plus operates on Illumina's proprietary XLEAP-SBS (Sequencing by Synthesis) chemistry. This technology utilizes a patented method involving fluorescently labeled, reversible dye-terminators. During the sequencing process, engineered polymerases incorporate all four nucleotides (A, C, T, G) simultaneously into a growing DNA strand. Because all four nucleotides are present and competing for the active site, incorporation bias is minimized. Once a base is incorporated, the reversible terminator prevents further strand extension until an optical …