75N95022Q00467_Sources Sought Notice.pdf

SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE

1. Solicitation Number: 75N95022Q00467

2. Title: Upgrades for Lafayette rat operant conditioning chambers with microcomputer controllers and control software

3. Classification Code: 6640

4. NAICS Code: 334516

5. Size Standard: 1000 Employees

6. Description:

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: Briefly summarize any important background information about the potential requirement or proposed acquisition and its scientific/technical context in the overall mission and applicable program.

Purpose and Objectives: Briefly describe the purpose, objectives, and goals of the potential requirement or proposed acquisition.

Project requirements:

Statement of Need and Purpose:

The Rodent Behavioral Core (RBC) of National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH is a Core laboratory for all of NIMH. This RBC utilizes cutting-edge behavioral analysis equipment to study conditions that drive physiological behavior and psychiatric disorders. The RBC provides to the NIMH research community a shared facility designed to allow researchers with an interest in expanding their behavioral research the opportunity to do so with the assistance of experts in the field. The RBC needs to update and upgrade current legacy infrastructural Lafayette Rodent Testing Chamber to meet demands of use.

Background Information and Objective:

The RBC is a core facility supporting all of NIMH. It is currently unable to meet the demands of use on its infrastructural animal testing chambers with a computer specifically designed for RBC rodent behavioral chambers. The RBC needs to update the touchscreens and I/O components that allow for computers to control and receive data from 8 touchscreen-based operant conditioning chambers for rats. The requested acquisition must be compatible with preexisting instrumentation, software and operating systems already in place for the insurance of the continuity of scientific research and the seamless comparison of data and results.

Purchase Description:

Vendor shall provide brand name or equal items, as listed below, for the purposes of upgrading existing Rat Testing Chambers of the RBC, Rat Modular Touch Screen Chamber and Accessories and Lafayette Neuroscience Instruments. The following

Salient Characteristics:

Vendor shall provide brand-name or equal items to Lafayette Instruments as listed below:

1. ABET Core Intelli-Interface, Model 81430-00-00

2. POWER SUPPLY AND CABLE, Model 81430-01-00

3. MOUSE 12" TOUCHSCREEN WITH USB/HDMI, Model 80614A-01-01

4. ABET COGNITION SINGLE STATION LICENSE, Model 89515-1

Compatibility Requirements:

• Touchscreens Shall be able to be controlled via ABET II software to match existing equipment and existing control programs in the RBC. They must connect to other components via USB and HDMI connections.

• Touchscreens Shallbe compatible with the following Lafayette Instrument chambers:

a. RAT Modular Touch sccen Test Chamber Package

b. RAT 9-Hole Test Chamber Package

c. MOUSE 9-Hole Test Chamber Package

To ensure data fidelity, each touchscreen chamber should be controlled locally and save data locally to a separate on-board microcomputer. That microcomputer must connect via ethernet network connections such that many (>12) microcomputers can connect to a single PC via a network switch.

Quantity:

Each necessary item listed above in the Salient characteristics section shall be provided with a quantity of 8.

Delivery Requirements:

The Contractor shall deliver the equipment to Building 35A at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland within 30 days after receipt of order.

The equipment shall be delivered and installed between the hours of 8:00am and 5:00pm EST, Monday through Friday. Delivery must be Freight on Board (FOB) Destination and include inside delivery. The equipment shall be delivered and installed in coordination with the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) at the time the equipment is ready to be shipped.

Other important considerations:

Warranty - The Contractor shall warrant that all equipment will be free from defects from the date of installation, inspection by the Government, and acceptance. Warranty service shall include trouble-shooting capabilities based on complete knowledge of the entire system. The Contractor shall provide an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) certified technician to perform any necessary work. Warranty shall not include routine or periodic maintenance services.

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 solicitation 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 Arun Mathur at e-mail address arun.mathur@nih.gov.

The response must be received on or before 07/26/2022 by 12:00 PM, 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).”