Sources_Sought_75N95024Q00241 .docx

SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE

1. Solicitation Number: 75N95024Q00241

2. Title: Mouse Behavioral Virtual Reality Imaging

3. Classification Code: 6640

4. NAICS Code: 334516

5. 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 and availability of domestic sources manufactured in the United States in sufficient and reasonably quantities and of a satisfactory quality to determine the method of acquisition. 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.

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: Drug addiction is a complex psychiatric condition that involves changes in behavior and brain function. Using preclinical models of drug addiction, NIDA - IRP/INRB – Stress & Addiction Neuroscience Unit will investigate different aspects of this disorder, including drug intoxication, drug withdrawal, and the motivation to obtain the drug. The environmental cues associated with drug intake play an important role in coping with the drug intake and withdrawal provoking craving and relapse. Currently, NIDA - IRP/INRB do not have a set up that allow the investigation of behavior and brain function in freely moving rodents with head-fixed. This head-fixed virtual reality system will allow us to investigate aspects of drug addiction in unprecedented ways.

Purpose and Objectives: The purpose of this acquisition is to provide a Virtual Reality (VR) systems to study freely moving mice with head-fixed. Head-fixed is necessary for functional ultrasound, fiber photometry and two-photon calcium imaging.

Project requirements: Virtual Reality Imaging system should:

· allow flexible modifications of experimental environments and fast repetitions of simple tasks.

· the animal should remain completely stationary while interacting with a virtual world.

· animal activity should be correlated with external measurement data such as optical imaging or electrophysiology.

· additional stimuli and reward systems may be added to make the VR more realistic and interactive.

Anticipated period of performance: Requested delivery within 3 months of order

Capability statement /information sought. Companies that believe they possess the capabilities to provide the required products and 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) 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 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 response is limited to ten (10) page limit. The 10-page limit does not include the cover page, executive summary, or references, if requested.

The response must include the respondents’ technical and administrative points of contact, including names, titles, addresses, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail addresses.

All responses to this notice must be submitted electronically to the Contract Specialist/Contracting Officer. Facsimile responses are NOT accepted.

The response must be submitted to Polina Klimenkova at e-mail address polina.klimenkova@nih.gov.

The response must be received on or before April 22, 2024, at 2:00 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 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).”