COMBINED SYNOPSIS - 75N98026Q01225.docx

Title: Med Associates NIR Video Fear Conditioning Omni System

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with FAR Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; proposals are being requested, and a separate written solicitation will not be issued.

The solicitation number is 75N98026Q01225. This solicitation is issued as a competitive combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial products or commercial services. The Government intends to award a contract or purchase order resulting from this solicitation using full and open competition.

This acquisition is conducted under the authority of FAR 12.603, Streamlined Solicitation for Commercial Products or Commercial Services, and is not expected to exceed the simplified acquisition threshold of $350,000.00.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), Office of the Director, Office of Acquisitions, seeks to award a Firm-Fixed-Price to the responsible offeror whose proposal represents the best value to the Government.

The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2026-01 March 13, 2026.

The associated NAICS code is 541714, and the small business size standard is 1,000 employees.

This requirement is NOT SET-ASIDE for SMALL BUSINESSES.

Description of Requirement:

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), requires the purchase of the NIR Fear Conditioning Omni (for mouse optogenetics) system manufactured by Med Associates and operated by Video Freeze Software for use by the Laboratory of Behavioral and Genomic Neuroscience at the Fishers Lane Animal vivarium.

The laboratory conducts behavioral neuroscience research focused on understanding neural circuit function on fear extinction learning. Deficits in extinction learning are often characterized in anxiety and stress disorders that are co-morbid with alcohol use disorders. Current studies utilize fear conditioning testing using Pascal as an operating language and no build in camera system.

The provision at FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors—Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. Add any agency-specific instructions as required.

The provision at FAR 52.212-2, Evaluation—Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition.

The Government will award a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible offeror whose offer conforming to the solicitation represents the best value to the Government, price and other factors considered.

EVALUATION CRITERIA:

Award will be made to the contractor providing the most advantageous quote to the government, technical factors and cost/price considered.

Technical factors outweigh cost.

A written notice of award or acceptance of an offer, issued within the time specified in the offer, shall result in a binding contract without further action by either party. The Government reserves the right to accept any offer before the expiration date.

Offerors shall include a completed copy of FAR 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications—Commercial Items, with their offer.

FAR 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions—Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition.

FAR 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders—Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition.

Submission Requirements:

Responses must include sufficient information to demonstrate the offeror’s capability to provide the required product or service. Quotes shall include, at a minimum:

Components:

· Video Fear Conditioning (VFC): The foundational paradigm is Pavlovian fear conditioning. The system trains mice by pairing environmental cues (like tones) with mild foot shocks to study fear memory.

· Omni System: Features the OmniCtrl interface panel, which seamlessly links the hardware, lasers, and behavioral software. It coordinates the precise timing of sensory cues, electric shocks, and optical stimulation.

· OPTO (Optogenetics): The system integrates with optical lasers or LEDs to shine light directly into the mouse’s brain. This allows researchers to activate or silence genetically targeted neurons during the fear conditioning process to map exactly which brain circuits control fear and memory.

· MNIR (Monochrome Near-Infrared): The chamber utilizes NIR lighting and a high-quality camera to record the mouse's defensive "freezing" responses. This eliminates the need for bright visible light, which can inadvertently affect behavior and skew experimental results.

This system is formed of the following:

· an Acoustical foam (contextual package) lined sound attenuating cubicle with exhaust fan and near infrared/visible lighting system

· Low profile style chambers for clear view of animal during recording

· LED style house light

· Contextual inserts, curved wall, A-frame, and smooth floor, which provide additional variables when studying the effects of contextual cues on learning and memory

· Low profile standard, staggered, and alternating rods contextual grid floors with their appropriate grid floor harnesses (contextual package)

· Programmable tone generator, speaker, and sound calibration package

· Aversive stimulator/scrambler and calibrator

· Cables and connection accessories

· Digital camera to capture high quality, low noise video

· Real-time video recording (30 frames per second) allows software to distinguish between subtle movements such as whisker twitch, tail flick, and freezing behavior

· NIR light, which eliminates the need for bright visible light. Visible light can be used within a session as a cue without impacting the video recording

· Variable user-defined intensity settings of white light

· Chambers are modular and can be configured to run different behavioral experiments

Additional evaluation considerations may include past performance, warranty, lifecycle cost, maintenance availability, and environmental or energy efficiency.

Responses must include the Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), and business size certification. All offerors must be actively registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) at www.sam.gov.

All responses must be received by September 28, 2026, at 9:00am EST and must reference solicitation number 75N98026Q01216. Responses may be submitted electronically to danielt@mail.nih.gov.