Inactive

DESCRIPTION: The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) and National Institutes of Health (NIH) are seeking Capability Statements ... DESCRIPTION: The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) and National Institutes of Health (NIH) are seeking Capability Statements from Small Business organizations with the demonstrated capability of providing equipment to support NINDS with acquiring an Inscopix nVoke 2.0, or brand name equal, integrated imaging and optogenetics system (upgrade) to detect the real-time neuronal activity during the animal behaviors. 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: (1) the availability and capability of qualified business sources; (2) the availability of capable Small Businesses; HUBZone Small Businesses; Service-Disabled, Veteran-Owned Small Businesses; 8(a) Small Businesses; Veteran-Owned Small Businesses; Woman-Owned Small Businesses; or Small Disadvantaged Businesses; and (3) their size classification relative to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for the proposed acquisition. Your responses to the information requested will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method, including whether a set-aside is possible. The established NAICS code is 334516, Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing. The U.S. Small Business Administration establishes a size standard for 334516 as 1,000 employees or less. BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND OBJECTIVE: The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) is in need of an Inscopix nVoke 2.0 integrated imaging and optogenetics system (upgrade) to detect the real-time neuronal activity during the animal behaviors, we need to record/track the deep brain circuit dynamic imaging in freely behaving animals to correlate neural activity with behavior and stimulate the termination projecting from the upstream neurons using optogenetic operation in this system. Calcium imaging takes advantage of calcium indicators, fluorescent molecules that respond to the binding of Ca2+ ions by changing their fluorescence properties. This technique has allowed calcium signaling studies in a wide variety of cell types. In neurons of specific brain regions, electrical activity is always accompanied by an influx of Ca2+ ions. Thus, calcium imaging can be used to monitor the electrical activity in hundreds of neurons in cell culture or in living animals, which has made it possible to dissect the function of neuronal circuits. The optogenetic manipulation allows the researcher to precisely target the unique monosynaptic connection from the upstream region to the target region and controls the neural activity in the target neurons. GENERIC NAME OF PRODUCT: Inscopix nVoke 2.0, or brand name equal, integrated imaging and optogenetics system. PURCHASE DESCRIPTION: NINDS is seeking a vendor capable of providing an ultra-fast dynamic patch clamp electrophysiology rig for mouse brain slices to study electrical abnormalities in mouse brains to enable NINDS to better understand the cause of alternating hemiplegia of childhood. SALIENT CHARACTERISTICS: NINDS requires one calcium imaging system for rodents. A platform for visualization of large-scale neural circuit dynamics in numerous anatomical brain regions. Each system shall include a miniature microscope, data acquisition box, acquisition software, and processing software. The system shall incorporate light-weight microscopes (~2 g), implantable gradient refractive index (GRIN) lenses, flexible cabling, and sophisticated mathematical algorithms (e.g., constrained non-negative matrix factorization). The system shall provide neuroscientists the capability to stream live, high-definition videos of large-scale neural activity in awake, naturally behaving mice. 1 x nVoke 2.0 Integrated Imaging and Optogenetics System A platform for simultaneous or sequential visualization of large-scale neural circuit dynamics and optogenetic manipulation in the same FOV. Includes miniature microscope with optogenetic capability, data acquisition box, and nVoke acquisition software. 1 x Standard Warranty One (1) year standard manufacturing warranty. nVista 3.0 will be returned when the researcher finish the assignment request. A commutator system to transfer high-speed video and signal and to minimize cable entanglement. Includes: active commutator system compatible with nVista 3.0, nVoke 2.0 and nVue systems, and commutator cable. 1x Wire Perch 1x Cable Sheath Kit Complimentary overnight shipping to and from the contractor’s facility. Warranty: The contractor shall certify that its products/services are free from defects in material and workmanship and will substantially conform to applicable published specifications for a period of 1 year from the date of delivery to the Government. The Government will notify the contractor promptly in writing upon discovery of any defect in the Products/Services. The contractor shall exclusive remedy for Products/Services that fail to conform to this warranty and repair or replace such nonconforming Products/Services. With mutual agreement between the Government and the Contractor, non-conforming equipment shall be returned in accordance with the Contractor’s Return Materials Authorization (RMA) policies. The Government understands that products/services or parts that have been subject to abuse, misuse, accident, alteration, neglect, unauthorized repair or installation are not covered by warranty. Training: Off-site training must take place within one (1) year of equipment delivery. Training shall be for one (1) individual over a two (2) day period for duration of at least eight (8) hours per day. Training shall take place between the hours of 8:00am and 5:00pm Monday through Friday excluding federal holidays. Training shall be conducted by qualified Ph.D. Level scientist(s). The training shall consist of live animal and experimental demonstrations. Contractor shall provide unlimited access to on-line training materials (videos, guides, user manual, etc.) technical and scientific support services from Ph.D. level scientists via e-mail, telephone or video conference (e.g. Skype). INSTRUCTIONS: Capability statement /information sought. Companies that believe they possess the capabilities to provide the required products 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 solicitation notice number. The established NAICS code is 334516. Respondents must provide, as part of their response: (a) product, catalog, model, and/or part number(s)? (b) product description? (c) best estimated delivery date after receipt of order? (d) all relevant information and documentation that the item(s) offered meets the salient physical, functional, or performance characteristics as specified in this announcement. Any other specific and relevant information about this particular area of procurement that would improve our consideration and evaluation of the information presented is desirable. Documentation may include, but not be limited to, contracts both Government and commercial the organization performed, references, i.e., names, titles, telephone numbers and any other information serving to document the organizations capability, e.g., awards, commendations, etc. 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 an outline format that addresses each of the elements of the project requirement and in the capability statement paragraphs stated herein. A cover page and an executive summary may be included but is not required. Any business concerns that believe they possess the capability necessary to successfully undertake the work described above must SUBMIT CAPABILITY STATEMENTS ELECTRONICALLY to the Contract Specialist, Shaun Rostad at Shaun.Rostad@nih.gov, NO LATER THAN 3:00 p.m. EST on July 20, 2022. The Subject line for the submission should include this Sources Sought Number and organization name. NIDA will not accept paper or faxed capability statements. THIS NOTICE IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS. This notice is for information and planning purposes only and does not commit the Government to any contractual agreement. 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 pre-solicitation synopsis and solicitation may be published in Federal Business Opportunities. 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).