The Utah Procurement Code provides that a procurement may be made without competition when the University determines that there is only one source that can reasonably meet the University’s need for the required supply or service, as described in Utah Code Ann. § 63G-6a-802.
The Purchasing Department has received the following request for sole source procurement
Current date: 20241222
Product and/or Service to be purchased: Xenium Analyzer
Sole Source Supplier: 10X GENOMICS INC
Earliest Proposed Purchase Date: December 27, 2024
Buyer Name: Anthony Ferrara
Sole Source Justification:
Spatial Transcriptomics is a molecular profiling method that allows a researcher to measure gene activity within a tissue sample and map the specific locations within the tissue where the activity is occurring. We previously purchased a 10X Genomics CytAssist instrument (Req165934475/PO#u000404886) that supports the Visium spatial gene expression platform, a molecular profiling solution for characterizing tissue sections based on mRNA profiling by sequencing. For this purchase requisition, we are seeking to purchase an additional instrument, the Xenium Analyzer, from 10X Genomics that offers complementary functionality to the previously purchased CytAssist instrument. Key features that the 10X Genomics Xenium Analyzer platform offers to researchers are described below:
The Xenium Analyzer enables simultaneous detection of both RNA and protein within the same tissue section which enables both transcriptional profiling and proteomic approaches to be applied towards comprehending tissue pathology. Protein panels can be used in combination with RNA panels on the exact same tissue section.
The Xenium Analyzer supports pre-designed 5000 human or mouse gene panels that be customized with up to 100 additional target genes. Alternatively, fully customized panels of up to 480 genes can be designed and ordered. Additional focused panels for specific tissue types (brain, breast, lung, skin, colorectal, etc) are also available.
Custom panels can be ordered with a minimum purchase of 4 slides.
Probe chemistry on the Xenium platform enables detection of single nucleotide variants and isoforms in mRNA. This feature is critical for analysis of genetic mutations in cancer-relevant tissue sections.
The assay to prepare tissue slices for analysis on the Xenium instrument is compatible with both fresh frozen and FFPE tissues. The assay is non-destructive and therefore the same tissue section can be further processed with H&E or IF stained workflow following the completion of analysis on the Xenium instrument. Furthermore, the tissue section can be transferred to a 10X Genomics Visium slide enabling full transcriptome analysis on a focused area of the tissue previously analyzed with the Xenium platform. This last application requires the presence of the 10X Genomics CytAssist (previously purchased and currently housed at the Huntsman Cancer Institute) in addition to the 10X Genomics Xenium Analyzer. Other platforms are not compatible with downstream analysis on 10X Genomics Visium slides.
The Xenium Analyzer supports a 10.5 x 22.5 cm (236 mm2) imageable area per slide and is able to process two slides simultaneously in the same run. Capacity to process up to 1400 mm2 per week. Analysis runs require 2 to 4 days.
Onboard analysis functionality enables localization of RNA signals and the ability to perform secondary analysis (multimodal cell segmentation, transcript assignment to cells, clustering and differential expression).
There is not an alternative source for purchasing a Xenium Analyzer through a third-party company. Spatial transcriptomics is a relatively new field and therefore instruments and reagents that enable the 10X Genomics spatial profiling platform are only manufactured and sold by 10X Genomics.
| Explain why variations or modifications cannot be made to the product/service in order to allow for competition. |
| · Support for complex workflow for 10X Genomics Xenium spatial profiling platform is already present in the High Throughput Genomics Shared Resource as established through three years of successful support for 10X Genomics Visium spatial profiling platform.
· Critical need for ultra-high cellular resolution on Xenium platform with 5,000 gene that can be followed-up with whole transcriptome analysis ay slightly lower resolution on Visium. · Critical need for a platform that supports formalin fixed paraffin embedded tissue blocks which are the primary source of tissues sections for clinical samples. · Requirement for the highest signal to noise ratio to allow cellular and subcellular resolution of RNA transcripts. · Requirement for H&E staining and IF staining on same tissue section used for spatial profiling to improve tissue and cellular characterization. · Failure of interest in the CosMx platform at the University of Utah since the Nanostring instrument was installed two years ago. · Quality of preliminary data generated by Huntsman Cancer Institute investigators on the Xenium platform.
|