Sources_Sought_(FBO)_-_4234771.pdf

Federal Business Opportunities (FBO)

SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE

1. Solicitation Number: HHS-NIH-NIDA-SSSA-SS-494

2. Title: MultiElectrode Array (MEA) Electrophysiology System for the NINDS

Neuro Therapeutics Development Unit (NTDU) and Neural Differentiation Unit

(NDU)

3. Classification Code: Supplies/Equipment (indulging IT equipment) –

Commercially Available

4. NAICS Code: 334516

5. Description:

This is a Small Business Sources Sought notice. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding: (1) the availability and capability of qualified small business sources; (2) whether they are small businesses; HUBZone small businesses; service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses; 8(a) small businesses; veteran-owned small businesses; woman-owned small businesses;

or small disadvantaged businesses; and (3) their size classification relative to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for the proposed acquisition. Your responses to the information requested will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method, including whether a set-aside is possible. An organization that is not considered a small business under the applicable NAICS code should not submit a response to this notice.

This notice is issued to help determine the availability of qualified companies technically capable of meeting the Government requirement and 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.

Background: The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) is a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), conducting 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.

The NINDS Neuro Therapeutics Development Unit (NTDU) and the Neural Differentiation Unit provide a resource for investigators at NINDS and other NIH Institutes to develop neuroprotective and neuroregenerative therapeutics entities.

A significant part of this work includes development of cell based assays to identify, evaluate and characterize potential agents as possible treatments for neurological disorders. Our platform requires the generation of human induced pluripotent stem cell derived neuronal cultures for evaluation, characterization and quantitation of the protective actions of new and novel neurotherapeutic strategies.

To assess the functionality of these human cultures derived from both normal control and patients with neurologic diseases, electrophysiologic measurements are appropriate parameters to validate the cultures. We plan to generate Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSC) and neural stem cells (NSC) from normal controls and patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and assess the morphologic and electrophysiologic properties of the stem cell derived neuronal cultures. This may help delineate the neurobiologic properties of CFS and their molecular function as a prerequisite to developing a therapeutic strategy for treatment of CFS.

Purpose and Objectives: The purpose of this acquisition is to procure the Multi- Electrode Array Electrophysiology System to determine the functional activity of the human stem cell derived neuronal cultures. Single electrode analysis provides information of individual neuron firing and bursting. Multiple electrode analysis provides information on network bursting and synchrony. This instrument will allow quantitation of spontaneous spike and burst rates, stimulated spike and burst rates, as well as cellular response to drug treatments. This technology can reveal mechanism of action of novel neuroprotective therapeutics as well. The Multi-Electrode Array Electrophysiology System (MEA) will be an adjunctive and functional endpoint in order to evaluate new compounds for the Neuro Therapeutics Development Unit and Neural Differentiation Unit. The equipment will be located in Building 10 Room 7C213.

The requirement is being competed on a brand name or equal basis.

Project requirements:

Equipment specification

The Contractor shall provide the NINDS Neuro Therapeutics Development Unit with one (1). Axion Maestro 760 or EQUAL as follows:

A. The system must contain a low-profile plate-reader format, with a minimum of 760 channels recorded simultaneously: 2.7X more electrodes than any device.

B. Ability to read all Axion MEA plate types in one system, including 12-, 48-, and –well formats.

C. Fully-integrated heater, adjustable through the software between ambient temperature and 45°C.

D. Fully-integrated electrical stimulation, simultaneous on any subset of 64 recording electrodes throughout plate, with:

a. Simultaneous recording

b. Stimulus waveform of user design

c. Selectable stimulus mode: Constant Current or Constant Voltage

d. Built in electrical safety features to prevent damage to cells

E. CO2 and humidity control using Axion’s ECmini plate adapter F. Maestro Multiwell MEA plates

a. ANSI -compliant microplate format in 12, 48 or 96 well plates

b. Minimum of 760 simultaneously-recording electrodes per plate

c. 30-50uM electrode size in 12, 48 and 96 well formats- necessary for Neuronal recording

d. Low noise electrodes composed of nanoporous platinum or nano-textured gold

e. 96-well plate with 96 active wells with 8 electrodes/well

f. 48-well plate with 48 active wells with 16 electrodes/well

g. 12-well plate with 12 active wells with 64 electrodes/well

G. Maestro Software

a. Axion Integrated Studio (AxIS) 2.0, or higher, MEA acquisition and analysis software

b. Visual Activity Map for real-time plate-wide feedback of action potential activity

c. AxIS Software controlled plate temperature, CO2 and electrode stimulation per electrode

d. Automatic analysis of neuronal and cardiac data H. Optogenetics

a. Compatible with the Lumos optogenetic device for concurrent optical stimulation and recording.

Anticipated period of performance: The contractor shall deliver and install the equipment within 30 days after receipt of order. Delivery must be FOB Destination and delivery must be performed during normal working hours (from 8:00AM to 5:00PM local prevailing time, Monday through Friday).

The contractor shall provide on-site training within one (1) week of equipment delivery.

Training shall take place between the hours of 8:00AM and 5:00PM, Bethesda, MD local prevailing time, Monday through Friday.

The contractor shall provide an OEM technician to perform installation and training.

Other important considerations:

The Government will award a purchase order resulting from the solicitation on the basis of lowest price technically acceptable. Technically acceptability shall be based on the following:

1. Contractor must meet or exceed each of the project requirements detailed in this solicitation.

2. Contractor proposal must include a one (1) year warranty, inclusive of an OEM technician being provided within a 3 day period to perform repair(s).

3. Contractor must affirm the ability to meet or exceed the period of performance requirement for delivery and installation within one (1) week after Contractor receipt of order and training within 1 week after installation.

Capability statement /information sought. Please provide a capability statement, “white paper,” answers to questions/issues, etc. This includes:

• Administrative points of contact including names, addresses, telephone and fax numbers, and email addresses;

• Difficulty and/or feasibility of the potential requirement of proposed acquisition, possible solutions and approaches that may currently exist in the marketplace, and information regarding innovative ideas or concepts;

• Information regarding (a) staff expertise, including their availability, experience, and formal and other training; (b) current in-house capability and capacity to perform the work; (c) prior completed project of similar nature; (d) corporate experience and management capability; and (e) examples of prior completed Government contracts, references, and other related information.

The following can be included but is not required:

• Cover Page

• Executive Summary

A reference page is required.

Please provide your DUNS number, organization name, address point of contact, and size and type of business (e.g., 8(a), HubZone, etc.,) pursuant to the applicable NAICS code and any other information that may be helpful.

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 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.

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 Danielle R. Brown, Contract Specialist, at Danielle.Brown2@nih.gov.

The response must be received on or before Friday, July 15, 2016, at 5:00PM, 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).”

mailto:Danielle.Brown2@nih.gov