Inactive Total Small Business Set-Aside (FAR 19.5)

This Sources Sought Notice is for information and planning purposes only and shall not be construed as a solicitation or as an obligation on the part of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute o... This Sources Sought Notice is for information and planning purposes only and shall not be construed as a solicitation or as an obligation on the part of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). The purpose of this Sources Sought Notice is to identify qualified small business concerns including 8(a), HUBZone or Service-Disabled Veteran-owned business concerns that are interested in and capable of performing the instrument/work described herein. The NICHD does not intend to award a contract based on responses received nor otherwise pay for the preparation of any information submitted. Your responses to the information requested will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method, including whether a set-aside is possible. An organization that is not considered a small business under the applicable NAICS code should not submit a response to this notice. This requirement is assigned North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 334516 with a size standard of 1,000 employees is being considered. NICHD may issue a request for quotation (RFQ) because of this Sources Sought Notice. THERE IS NO SOLICITATION AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME. However, should such a requirement materialize, no basis for claims against NICHD shall arise as a result of a response to this Sources Sought Notice or the NICHD’s use of such information as either part of our evaluation process or in developing specifications for any subsequent requirement. BRAND NAME OR EQUAL This requirement is for the procurement of the brand name or equivalent instrument described in section 4.0. The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) provision FAR 52.211-6, Brand Name or Equal (AUG 1999) is applicable to this requirement. BACKGROUND A high-resolution MRI scanner system comprises a superconducting magnet that applies a large uniform static magnetic field on the specimen, a spectrometer/console with Radiofrequency (RF) amplifiers that apply and detect RF signals, and gradient amplifiers that control the application of magnetic field gradients, and an imaging probe with gradient coils to enable 3D images to be generated. Technological improvements both in magnet, console and probe design in the past decade have significantly enhanced capabilities of new MRI scanners, permitting one to design and perform experiments not considered feasible a decade ago, when we purchased our original Bruker MRI scanner system. The current 14T Bruker MRI scanner which we use at the NIH has a 12-year-old console/spectrometer and ancillary electronics. We are seeking to upgrade these components which are longer serviceable, and for which replacement parts are no longer readily available. The current Avance III console is no longer being supported by Bruker BioSpin and the software used to control it is vastly underpowered and out of date. The upgrade to the latest generation console/spectrometer will significantly increase attainable signal-to-noise (SNR), reduce spectrometer artifacts and facilitate high quality data acquisition in our various fixed tissue, particularly neural tissue such as fixed rodent brain and spinal cord specimen. This will improve our ability to characterize water diffusion and perform spectroscopic imaging studies on these valuable biological specimens. Our purchase of a new console/spectrometer will enable us to push the frontiers of MRI microimaging, significantly leveraging and enhancing our ability to invent, develop and translate novel MRI methods that in the future will be used to scan live animals (pre-clinical) and eventually human subjects for a variety of clinical applications and indications, including stroke, developmental abnormalities, Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders of the brain and spine, as well as inflammatory disorders, such as Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and many others. Others who use this 14T scanner at the NIH will be able to perform their experiments in a seamless fashion without being concerned about repeated system crashes or a loss of service for 8 to 12 months if the system fails catastrophically. Note: Continuity of operation for the new console/spectrometer and its seamless integration into the existing Bruker MRI scanner system is essential; at this time failure to be able to upgrade the existing console/spectrometer would result in a massive loss in research intellectual property that we have developed in the form of know-how, MRI sequences, system operation, etc. Therefore, it is critical that the new system upgrade is compatible with the existing items, fully compatible with our existing 14T Bruker MRI scanner system for which we have developed extensive software, pulse sequences, hardware interfaces, RF probes and coils, and other ancillary equipment (such as specimen holders and fixtures, etc.) It is also compatible with accessory devices, such as pumps, viscometers and other add-on components that we regularly use in our MRI experiments. PRODUCT FEATURES/SALIENT CHARACTERISTICS The instrument shall be brand name or equal to the AV4600 AVANCE NEO 600MHz NMR Console/Spectrometer System. Upgrade must be compatible to the existing 14T Bruker MRI scanner system. The Avance Neo 600MHz NMR (a) AV4600 AVANCE NEO 600MHz NMR Spectrometer System, incorporates all of the components below, listed as items (b) through (at). System console features Bruker’s new Embedded Processing Unit (EPU), a stand-alone computer with its own operation system, which controls all console and acquisition functions. This allows the Topspin4™ software to operate independently from the system hardware, providing the following benefits: • Less stringent requirements for computer hardware and Operating System controlling the spectrometer, as Topspin4 can evolve without affecting the acquisition software functionality. • Host computer more flexible and adaptable to more stringent IT environments because all time-critical events are controlled by the EPU, making the system more independent from IT changes. (g) BH3072 2H Lock Transceiver (LTRX) is the Lock Transmit/Receive technology supplies ultra-stable field-frequency lock using the Deuterium (2H) NMR signal from solvent. When combined with our Topspin 4 Software, as described in this configuration, Bruker’s proprietary NMR Thermometer™ technology allows precise sample temperature regulation throughout an NMR experiments, effectively eliminating and temperature-dependent fluctuations in the resultant NMR experiment. (j) BH2075, 2 ea TRX1200 Transmit/Receive Modules, which provides fully functional transmitter, receiver, and pulse-program control on each individual channel. The TRX1200 is unique to the Avance-Neo and brings a new standard of capability, providing complete control of radiofrequency pulse-generation, amplitude and phase modulation, of excitation pulse, and includes a receiver and digitizer for each channel; thereby, providing the capability for multiple-receiver experiments (direct acquisition on multiple channels with a single experiments) for every system. Proprietary performance characteristics that are unique to the TRX1200 module are: 1) 12.5 ns timing precision for setting any combination of amplitude, frequency, and phase. 2) 960 Million Samples per Second Digital Up-conversion provides frequency resolution of < 0.005Hz (8.33 parts per trillion), and phase precision of < 0.006 degrees. 3) ADC digitization at 240 Million samples per second at 16-bit resolution. Corresponding Dynamic Range is 223 for spectral widths < 6KHz. This corresponds to a dynamic range of 1 part in 8.3 million, which determines the smallest signal that can be detected vs. the largest signal in the NMR spectrum. 4) System Intermediate Frequency (IF) of 1.852 MHz provides unsurpassed timing resolution and provides access to the full range of NMR active nuclei with no interfering overtone or sideband frequencies that can result in unwanted spectral artifacts. This technology is unique to the Bruker Avance Neo system. 5) On board 1GB of memory for generation of the most demanding, complex waveforms for amplitude and phase-modulated pulses. This is unequaled in the industry. 6) The unique linear-channel architecture allows ease of future upgrades to add additional channels, requiring only the addition of another TRX1200, an appropriate RF Amplifier, and the appropriate pre-amplifier. Any additional channel will inherently add the capability of an additional receiver to the system. (k) and (l) are the radiofrequency amplifiers that offer unsurpassed linearity in amplitude and phase, when combined with Bruker’s proprietary Cortab™ technology that is included with every system. 1) BH3420, BLABB500 amplifier provides full power over a frequency range of 15MHz to above 575 MHz, allowing the broadband amplifier to support 19F NMR applications. This allows 1H/19F experiments on systems up to (and including) 600MHz without the need for a second high-band (1H/19F) amplifier. (an) SHS000-04 Topspin4 acquisition and processing software. – Industry standard software for NMR acquisition, data processing, and analysis. Topspin provides a unique platform that incorporates the entire suite of NMR processing and analysis tools that are fully integrated into one coherent software environment. Examples of such processing tools that are available include, but are not limited to, the following: • Experiment setup ? IconNMR™ & Experiment selector allow simple setup of basic and advanced experiments through an intuitive menu-driven interface. • TopSolids, BioTop ? Assisted Acquisition for Solids/Proteins, allows ready access to complex methods heretofore limited to NMR experts only. This is included in TopSpin • Structure / spectra consistency ? CMC-assist provides industry standard tools for structure verification and is part of the Topspin4 software included with NMR spectrometer system. • Purity assay/potency determination ? qNMR provides tools for quantitation of components of mixtures, such as quantitating active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) in formulation mixtures. This is included with the spectrometer software. • Structure elucidation ? CMC-se™ provides integrated tools for determining unknown molecular structure from multidimensional NMR data. The only such package fully integrated within the NMR spectrometer software environment, and a 1-year license is included with the Topspin software • Fragment based screening ? FBS provides tools for managing and analyzing the data from Fragment Based Screening studies. The Fragment-Based Screening (FBS) tool harnesses the power of NMR data by streamlining the entire acquisition to analysis workflow. • NMR-Sim ? Simulation of NMR experiments. NMRSim™ is a powerful program for the simulation of a wide range of NMR experiments that is fully integrated into the Bruker TopSpin software package. It allows simulation of the effect of all pulse programs on the affected NMR spin-system, and simulations are executed in the same way as they run on the NMR hardware. The output of the simulation is a FID or SER file in the standard TopSpin format so that the simulated results can be analyzed as if data were acquired by Topspin. • NMRGuide & NMR Encyclopedia ? tools to guide the non-expert in implementing NMR techniques. • Dynamics Center ? A comprehensive tool for fitting of signal intensities vs. any variable such as time, gradient-strength, …etc. Provides an integrated tool for analysis of NMR relaxation, Diffusion/DOSY, Reaction Kinetics, or any situation in which a variable-dependent change in signal needs to be correlated to a mathematical function. • InsightMR ? Software that supports the family of on-flow reaction kinetics modules provided under the InsightMR Reaction Monitory Product Line. This tool incorporates the reaction-monitoring features available in the Dynamics Center into an integrated software package for reaction monitoring. This is included in Topspin4 for use at the spectrometer. ParaVision 360 Package for MicroImaging for the acquisition of images and of localized spectroscopy, exclusively available for the AV Neo spectrometer. (ao) through (as) Installation, Support, and User Training – Bruker BioSpin offers unrivaled resources in the US for installation, training and support of the NMR Spectrometer system. Bruker offers all rigging and cryogens necessary for the installation and commissioning of the instrument. Installation includes complete performance testing using our NMR Performance Test (NMRPT) protocols. All systems that include Cryoprobes also include a Comprehensive Site Survey by Bruker’s experts to ensure that the installation will be successful and instrument performance will be optimal. Bruker provides a comprehensive curriculum of training courses taught by a world class team of Applications Scientists at Bruker’s facilities, as well as offering on-site training at the customer’s site after installation. Bruker’s Service and Lifecycle Support (SLS) Division supports Bruker’s comprehensive 1-Year Warranty that covers all costs of repairs including all parts, and travel to the customer’s site. The SLS division includes the largest team of qualified NMR Service Engineers in North America, allowing Bruker to offer unrivaled service after the sale of our NMR spectrometer systems. (at) BLABSCAPECOM – LabScape Comprehensive Coverage. Bruker’s LabScape comprehensive coverage includes a comprehensive program of NMR system support and preventative maintenance, which includes remote monitoring capability for the NMR system. Through the included LabScape Connect module, Bruker has the ability to monitor the NMR system, identify, and respond to problems before they become a crisis at the customer’s site. Continued coverage under the LabScape Comprehensive support includes upgrade of the system computer and software (to the latest Topspin version) every three years. ANTICIPATED PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE. Delivery is to be 5 – 7 months after receipt of award. The Contractor shall deliver and install the equipment at NIH Bethesda, MD campus: Exact Building/Room TBD. WARRANTY The Contractor shall warrant that any instruments, equipment and components are free of defects in design, material, or manufacture for a period of at least one (1) calendar year from date of acceptance by the Government. The Contractor shall also warrant and imply that items delivered are merchantable and fit for use for the particular purpose described in this contract in accordance with FAR 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions – Commercial Items RESPONSE DELIVERY POINT Capability statements shall be submitted via email to Contract Specialist, Tina Robinson, at robinsti@mail.nih.gov no later than 12:00 P.M. EST on July 22, 2020. All information furnished must be in writing and must contain enough detail to allow NICHD to determine if it can meet the unique specifications described herein. Please reference number NICHD-20-177 on all correspondence. Capability statements and email submission, all correspondence and any questions must be sent via email and must include solicitation# NICHD-20-177 in the subject line of email.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 capability. 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, an RFQ may be published. However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation(s).