Inactive

NOTICE OF INTENT to Sole Source SOLICITATION NUMBER: NIMH-23-005720-NOI TITLE: NIMH Electrophysiology Recording System and Related Components CLASSIFICATION CODE: 66 -- Instruments & laboratory equipm... NOTICE OF INTENT to Sole Source SOLICITATION NUMBER: NIMH-23-005720-NOI TITLE: NIMH Electrophysiology Recording System and Related Components CLASSIFICATION CODE: 66 -- Instruments & laboratory equipment NAICS CODE: 334510 - Electromedical and Electrotherapeutic Apparatus Manufacturing RESPONSE DATE: 8/29/23 PRIMARY POINTS OF CONTACT: Kyle Miller Kyle.Miller2@nih.gov Robin Knightly Robin.Knightly@nih.gov DESCRIPTION: INTRODUCTION THIS IS A PRE-SOLICITATION NON-COMPETITIVE (NOTICE OF INTENT) SYNOPSIS TO AWARD A CONTRACT WITHOUT PROVIDING FOR FULL OR OPEN COMPETITION (INCLUDING BRAND-NAME). The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Unit on the Neural Computations in Learning (UNCL) intends to negotiate on a sole source basis with NeuroNexus for the purchase of electrophysiology recording system and components that will enable us to acquire many simultaneous channels of neural activity. NORTH AMERICAN INDUSTRY CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (NAICS) CODE and SET ASIDE STATUS The intended procurement is classified under NAICS code 334510 - Electromedical and Electrotherapeutic Apparatus Manufacturing with a Size Standard of 1,250 employees. REGULATORY AUTHORITY This acquisition is conducted under the authority of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 13—Simplified Acquisition Procedures. Contracts awarded using FAR Part 13—Simplified Acquisition Procedures are exempt from the requirements of FAR Part 6—Competition Requirements. FAR Subpart 13.106-1 (b) Soliciting from a single source provides that: For purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold, Contracting officers may solicit from one source IF the contracting officer determines that the circumstances of the contract action deem only one source reasonably available (e.g., urgency, exclusive licensing agreements, brand-name OR industrial mobilization). The resultant contract will include all applicable provisions and clauses in effect through the Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2023-04 dated June 02, 2023. DESCRIPTION OF REQUIREMENT The Unit on the Neural Computations in Learning (UNCL) conducts research on understanding the cognitive computations involved in reward prediction and learning and their disruption in disorders of mental health. This involves the detailed model-based characterization of both behavior and neural activity during reward-guided behaviors, across multiple individuals and in different brain regions. The goal of this research is to determine the key processes that support reward learning in healthy individuals, and to isolate the specific changes in neural activity that drive altered learning in various maladaptive states. In order to characterize relevant neural activity within an individual rat during adaptive behavior, we require neural recordings of relatively high density, in order to acquire sufficient data so that we can robustly characterize the relationship between neural activity and learning as measured in behavior on carefully designed tasks. Researchers within UNCL work in collaboration with researchers in the Cellular and Neurocomputational Systems Branch at NIDA in order to obtain high-quality neural recordings in relevant tasks in rats for analysis with our advanced computational methods. We wish to acquire an X-series electrophysiology recording system from NeuroNexus along with hardware and software components that will enable us to acquire many simultaneous channels of neural activity while multiple rats perform our learning tasks (64, 128 or 256 channels from multiple sites, in up to 8 concurrent recording sessions). This system is compatible with systems and techniques currently in use in the lab, allowing for their use with existing electrodes or with new high-density silicon probes, while also being flexible enough to allow us to refine probe designs for our current studies and expand into new recording techniques (such as combined recording and optogenetic stimulation) in the future. Delivery is expected 30-60 days after the award of the contract. CONTRACTING WITHOUT PROVIDING FOR FULL OR OPEN COMPETITION (INCLUDING BRAND-NAME) DETERMINATION During market research, it was found that this is only commercial service that can provide the needed expertise of the requirement. The essential characteristics of the electrophysiology recording system limit the availability to sole source as the features are unique to this recording system and NeuroNexus is the sole manufacturer of the system. This system is also compatible with systems and techniques currently in use in our lab, allowing for their use with existing electrodes or with new high-density silicon probes. We require the same equipment to compare the data that has been collected thus far as well as the data collected by our collaborators which would allow for substantially more powerful studies. Finally, market research indicated that none of the other recording system supplies can integrate into the NeuroNexus electrophysiology recording system. Therefore, with these facts in mind, it was found that NeuroNexus is the only vendor that can provide the needed products. The intended source is: Neuronexus Technologies, Inc. 5200 South State Street Ann Arbor, MI 48108 CLOSING STATEMENT THIS SYNOPSIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS. However, interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to this notice. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. All responsible sources may submit a capability statement, proposal, or quotation which shall be considered by the agency. The information received will normally be considered solely for the purposes of determining whether to proceed on a non-competitive basis or to conduct a competitive procurement. Responses to this notice shall contain sufficient information to establish the interested parties' bona-fide capabilities for fulfilling the requirement and include: unit price, list price, the delivery period after contract award, the prompt payment discount terms, the F.O.B. Point (Destination or Origin), the Unique Entity Identifier ID (UEI), the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), and the certification of business size. All offerors must have an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) www.sam.gov. All responses must be received by the closing date and time of this announcement and must reference the solicitation number, NIMH-23-005720-NOI. Responses must be submitted electronically to Kyle Miller, Contract Specialist, at kyle.miller2@nih.gov and Robin Knightly, Contracting Officer, at Robin.Knightly@nih.gov. U.S. Mail and fax responses will not be accepted.