D Attachment 5 - Brand Name Justification_Redacted.pdf
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- Attached to
- Molecular Devices brand-name amplifiers and digitizers for use in electrophysiology experiments
- Solicitation number
- 75N95024Q00467
About this file
This document appears to be a Brand Name Justification for a federal contract opportunity. The key details are:
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) seeks to acquire brand-name electrophysiological equipment, including Multiclamp 700B amplifiers, Digidata 1550b digitizers, and pClamp 11 software, manufactured by Molecular Devices LLC. This equipment is required to study the excitability and firing patterns of dopaminergic neurons in the midbrain, which is critical to understanding neurological diseases like Parkinson's. Due to compatibility requirements with the existing lab equipment, only Molecular Devices brand-name products can be considered. The contractor must deliver and install the required equipment within 6 months of the order. The total estimated dollar value is not provided. This acquisition is being conducted under the Simplified Acquisition Procedures authority, as the requirement is expected to exceed $10,000 but not $250,000.
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c. Project background.
The NINDS is a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and conducts research into the causes, treatment, and prevention of neurological disorders and stroke. The NINDS mission is to seek fundamental knowledge about the brain and nervous system and to use that knowledge to reduce the burden of neurological disease.
Research in the Cellular Neurophysiology Section (CNS/NINDS) focuses on circuit and cellular physiology of dopaminergic neurons located in the midbrain.
In particular, CNS/NINDS is interested in excitability and firing patterns of dopaminergic neurons located in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc), neurons that undergo selective cell death in Parkinson’s patients. CNS/NINDS would like to understand how synaptic and intrinsic conductances differ among SNc and VTA dopamine neurons with the hope that this may provide insight to why SNc dopamine neurons are particularly vulnerable in Parkinson’s disease.
To study the excitability of dopaminergic neurons, CNS/NINDS experimenters record directly from dopamine neurons in tissue slices using highly sensitive electrophysiology rigs. The current setups that CNS/NINDS has in the lab use amplifiers and digitizers from Molecular Devices including the software, pClamp.
d. Period of Performance or Required Delivery Date.
The contractor shall deliver and install the required equipment within six (6) months after receipt of order.
e. Total Estimated Dollar Value.
3. Market Research (see FAR Part 10).
Market Research was conducted and the results are included in the file.
4. Acquisition Type.
Open Market Action, exceeding $10,000 and not expected to exceed $250,000 as prescribed in FAR Part 13—Simplified Acquisition Procedures
5. Acquisition Authority. This acquisition is conducted under the authority of the Federal
Acquisition Regulations (FAR) Subpart 13.106-1 (b) Soliciting from a single source. (1) 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, or industrial mobilization).
6. Justification Rationale.
Brand-name or Items peculiar to one manufacturer:
The existing electrophysiology rigs in the CNS laboratory all use pClamp acquisition software that is made by Molecular Devices. there are no companies other than Molecular Devices that manufacture digitizers that are compatible with pClamp software since this is proprietary software that is designed to work solely with brand-name Digidata digitizers. Any alternative equipment would therefore only be compatible with alternative software, which would potentially result in inconsistent data and compromise the integrity of CNS’ research. And as replacing CNS’ existing electrophysiology rigs would be both disruptive to its’ research and extremely costly to the Government, only the following brand name Molecular Devices equipment can satisfy this requirement.
Brand-Name Items: Multiclamp 700B amplifier, Digidata 1550b digitizers, and PCLAMP 11 software
Manufacturer: Molecular Devices LLC
3860 N 1st St San Jose, CA
7. Any other facts supporting the justification. None
File details come from the government source that posted it. Updated .