In accordance with the requirements of Section 11-35-1570 (B) of the SC Consolidated Procuement Code, Clemson University is providing notice of a sole source procurement to Ilumina Inc. for a MiniSeq sequencing system with 12 month parts labor warranty and MiniSeq Silver support plan. The estimated value of this equipment, warranty and support is $56,290, and $1,980 for shipping for a total of $58,270.00. The basis for this sole source procurement is the Illumina NovaSeq instrument that we currently use would be too powerful, and, because of limitations involving unique labeling for multiple samples, would not be able to load Novaseq cells with sufficient samples to make it cost effective. The Miniseq, due to equipment compatibility with the NovaSeq, can also be used for quality control of our genomic “libraries” before running them on the Novaseq, thereby improving accuracy and saving money by reducing the need to repeat expensive sequencing. We, therefore, require an instrument that is made by the same manufacturer as the Novaseq, and is fully compatible with our current instrumentation, and the Illumina Miniseq is the only sequencer of the sort required that is. Also, Illumina equipment is not sold by any other distributor or reseller and must be purchased directly from Illumina. For these reasons, this is a sole source. Bidders right to protest as listed in Section 11-35-4210 of the SC Consolidated Procurement Code applies to this notice to award an emergency procurement.

PROTESTS: If you are aggrieved in connection with the intended award or award of the contract, you may be entitled to protest, but only as provided in Section 11-35-4210. To protest an award, you must (i) submit notice of your intent to protest within five (5) business days of the date this notice is posted, and (ii) submit your actual protest within fifteen days of the date this notice is posted. Days are calculated as provided in Section 11-35-310(13). Both protests and notices of intent to protest must be in writing and must be received by the appropriate Chief Procurement Officer within the time provided. The grounds of the protest and the relief requested must be set forth with enough particularity to give notice of the issues to be decided. Any protest or notice of intent to protest must be addressed to the Chief Procurement Officer, Construction, and submitted in writing (a) by email to: protest-ose@mmo.state.sc.us , or (b) by post or delivery to: 1201 Main Street, Suite 600, Columbia, SC 29201.