Inactive

This is a Sources Sought notice. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding the availability and capabil... This is a Sources Sought notice. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding the availability and capability of all qualified sources to perform a potential requirement. This notice is issued to help determine the availability of qualified companies technically capable of meeting the Government requirement, to determine the method of acquisition, and availability of domestic sources manufactured in the United States in sufficient and reasonably available commercial quantities and of a satisfactory quality. It is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation or ultimately award a contract. Responses will not be considered as proposals or quotes. No award will be made as a result of this notice. The Government will NOT be responsible for any costs incurred by the respondents to this notice. This notice is strictly for research and information purposes only. Small businesses are encouraged to respond. For equipment/supply requirements, responses must include the place of manufacturing (i.e. address if supply/equipment is a domestic end product and include country of manufacture). For equipment/supply requirements, small businesses must also address the size status of the manufacturer under the applicable NAICS code (i.e. address Non-Manufacturer Rule). Background: The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is the nation’s leading medical research agency and the primary Federal agency whose mission is to seek fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems and the application of that knowledge to enhance health, lengthen life, and reduce illness and disability, conducting, supporting, and making medical discoveries that improve people’s health and save lives. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) is one of 27 Institutes and Centers at the NIH, and its mission is to seek fundamental knowledge about the brain and nervous system and to use that knowledge to reduce the burden of neurological disease for all people. Research in the NINDS The Neuron-Glia Signaling and Circuits (NGSC) Unit is directed toward understanding mechanisms underlying the generation and control of voluntary motor behavior in the mammalian central nervous systems (CNS) at the cellular, circuit, and systems levels of neurons and glia interactions. Recent tool development has allowed an unprecedented opportunity to study the activity of brain cells – including glial cells – in a cell-type-specific manner. It is now possible to target genetically- and anatomically-defined cell types in the brain and measure the contributions of their activity in neuronal circuits that control complex behavior. The unit focuses on brain networks producing volitional movements. The long-range goal is to create a complete circuit diagram for how different glial and neuronal cell types in the brain contribute to the neural circuits controlling voluntary speech production. Understanding this process will enhance the unit’s ability to intervene in motor control disorders, which may provide novel therapeutic agents in neurological motor disorders, including developmental stuttering disorder. The NINDS NGSC Unit is currently conducting a study on voluntary vocalization and breathing in freely behaving rodents. To facilitate this research, the lab utilizes chronically implanted headposts equipped with a microphone. This setup allows for the analysis of vocal behaviors in social settings. In the current phase of their work, the researchers aim to record and playback ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) produced by the animals. Thus, NINDS NGSC Unit is seeking a system that includes specific features for the automated analysis of vocalizations in mice and rats. This system should be capable of classifying 15 different types of calls automatically and providing detailed bio-acoustic parameters in easily accessible tables and graphs. The system must have low-noise amplifiers to ensure accurate recordings, support the export of wave files, and the analysis software should be able to run independently, without the need for connections to the audio acquisition system. The acquisition of such a system is essential to the NINDS NGSC Unit's program objectives, which include the comprehensive characterization of vocalization in freely moving animals. Purpose and Objectives: The NINDS NGSC seeks to purchase an ultrasonic vocalization (USV) acquisition system for recording, play back, and automated analysis of USVs to enhance and broaden the labs capabilities in recording and analyzing USVs, while also enabling the automation of analysis processes. Project Requirements: Automated recording and analysis of USV in animals comprised of (1) two channel (microphone) acquisition system to record the full spectrum of animal vocalizations from 15 kHz to 125 kHz without the need of pre-tuning, (2) acquisition software which provides graphical presentations of the recorded sounds, (3) automatic ultrasound vocalization counter, (4) synchronization capabilities with other equipment, (5) wave file export functionality, (6) processing-only license/dongle, as provided in the DRAFT PURCHASE DESCRIPTION. The salient physical, functional, or performance characteristics that the product must meet are provided in the attached DRAFT PURCHASE DESCRIPTION. Delivery Date: Delivery is required within six (6) weeks after receipt of order (ARO). Delivery shall be Freight on Board (FOB) Destination and shall be delivered to NIH/NINDS Neuron-Glia Signaling and Circuits (NGSC) Unit, located at Building 49 room 2A07, Convent Dr, Bethesda MD 20814, USA between the hours of 8:00 am and 5:00 pm, Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday (except on Federal Holidays). Other important considerations: In case domestic sources are available and capable of fulfilling the Government’s need, and a future solicitation is published, the Government will use evaluation preferences in accordance with FAR 25. Capability statement /information sought. Companies that believe they possess the capabilities to provide the required products or services should submit documentation of their ability to meet each of the project requirements to the Contracting Officer. The capability statement must specifically address each of the project requirements separately. Additionally, the capability statement should include 1) the total number of employees, 2) the professional qualifications of personnel as it relates to the requirements outlined, 3) any contractor GSA Schedule contracts and/or other government-wide acquisition contracts (GWACs) by which all of the requirements may be met, if applicable, and 4) any other information considered relevant to this program. Capability statements must also include the Company Name, Unique Entity ID from SAM.gov, Physical Address, and Point of Contact Information. The response must include the respondents’ technical and administrative points of contact, including names, titles, addresses, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail addresses. Interested companies are required to identify their type of business, applicable North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code, and size standards in accordance with the Small Business Administration. The government requests that no proprietary or confidential business data be submitted in a response to this notice. However, responses that indicate the information therein is proprietary will be properly safeguarded for Government use only. Capability statements must include the name and telephone number of a point of contact having authority and knowledge to discuss responses with Government representatives. Capability statements in response to this market survey that do not provide sufficient information for evaluation will be considered non-responsive. When submitting this information, please reference the notice number. One (1) copy of the response is required and must be in Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF format using 11-point or 12-point font, 8-1/2” x 11” paper size, with 1” top, bottom, left and right margins, and with single or double spacing. The information submitted must be in and outline format that addresses each of the elements of the project requirement and in the capability statement /information sought paragraphs stated herein. A cover page and an executive summary may be included but is not required. The response is limited to ten (10) page limit. The 10-page limit does not include the cover page, executive summary, or references, if requested. All responses to this notice must be submitted electronically to the Contract Specialist and Contracting Officer. Facsimile responses are NOT accepted. The response must be submitted to Renato Gomes, Contract Specialist, at e-mail address renato.gomes@nih.gov. The response must be received on or before July 17, 2023, at 9:00 a.m., Eastern Time. “Disclaimer and Important Notes: This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization’s qualifications to perform the work. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. After a review of the responses received, a presolicitation synopsis and solicitation may be published in www.sam.gov. However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation. Confidentiality: No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation(s).”