Attachment A Statement of Work

STATEMENT OF WORK – Next-Generation Amplicon Sequencing Services

GENERAL INFORMATION

A. INTRODUCTION

The USGS Upper Midwest Water Science Center’s (UMid-WSC) Michigan Bacteriological Research Laboratory (MI-BaRL) conducts state-of-the-art microbiology research in association with the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) and USGS Programs such as the Environmental Health Program and the Cooperative Water Program. The MI-BaRL needs an experienced next generation sequencing provider to continue to produce consistent, quality, cutting-edge science.

B. PROJECT BACKGROUND

The MI-BaRL is involved in microbial research on a variety of topics including bacterial pathogens, harmful algal blooms (HABs), microbial ecology of contaminated environments, antibiotic resistance, and microbial source tracking. Several of MI-BaRL’s research studies incorporate next-generation sequencing methods to better understand the microbial community and its response in contaminated environments and with harmful bloom formation. USGS microbiologists are using amplicon sequencing (i.e. 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing) to not only characterize “who’s there?” in regard to bacteria species, but also determine how the host’s or system’s microbiome changes in response to ecosystem changes including environmental modification (i.e. biological or chemical contamination). Other USGS microbiology studies are incorporating metagenomic profiling (shotgun metagenomic sequencing) to address not only “who’s there?” but also what these bacteria may be doing (metabolic capabilities and function). Additionally, MI-BaRL will be able to screen data for other genes of interest such as those involved in nutrient cycling, pathogenicity, and antibiotic resistance.

C. SCOPE

Services, non-personal, to provide all equipment, labor, travel, and supplies and materials (unless otherwise provided herein) necessary to provide next generation amplicon sequencing services.

3.0 PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS AND ASSOCIATED COSTS

The MI-BaRL staff will be responsible for extracting DNA from all samples, quantifying DNA concentrations, and submitting all administrative paperwork and samples to the contractor (next generation sequencing provider). Additionally, MI-BaRL does prepare sequencing libraries for targeted gene sequencing, such as antimicrobial resistance genes. The MI-BaRL has several ongoing projects that require next generation sequencing services. These projects vary in regard to sample size, number of sequencing runs needed, and type of