Intent to Sole Source.pdf

Notice Type: Special Notice of Intent to Sole Source

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Network Contracting Office 8 intends to award a sole source firm-fixed price contract to Power NeuroRecovery 312 Production Court, Louisville, KY 40299, for preventative maintenance on the Thera Stride Power Step System for the North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System, under the authority Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 13.106-1(b)(1)(i). The North American Industry Classification System code for this acquisition is 334510 Electromedical and Electrotherapeutic Apparatus Manufacturing.

Place of Performance:

Department of Veterans Affairs North Florida/South Georgia VHS Brain Rehabilitation Research Center 1601 SW Archer Road Gainesville, FL 32608

Purpose and Objectives:

The Human Motor Performance Laboratory (HMPL) at the Brain Rehabilitation Research Center (BRRC) has used the Thera Stride System (TSS) since 2009 as a computer modulated body weight support system. This device was specially designed to be used in combination with a BERTEC Fully Instrumented Treadmill to accurately and safely measure ground reaction forces and kinematics of human gait. This is a regularly used tool in multiple grant-funded research studies related to gait. These studies could not be proposed, funded or completed without a maintained and fully functional TSS. This contract will enable us to continue using the equipment and ensure that we can consistently collect data without interruption due to malfunction, outdated software, etc. Being able to keep the equipment working and the software functioning will keep our lab function seamlessly. This is a unique, high-maintenance system with proprietary hardware and software.

The requested services have the following unique features that apply to the needs of the Research Center:

TSS provides physical rehabilitation for people with spinal cord or brain injuries, stroke or other neurological diseases. Its exclusive, patented software most closely emulates a natural gait and accelerates the retraining process.

The TSS provides the researchers with the ability to perform locomotor research and training, which utilizes the scientific principle of neuroplasticity (neurons and axons can develop new pathways around a lesion or injury through repetition and sensory input) for generating new locomotion patterns.

The primary neural retraining activity occurs during step training on a body weight support treadmill. TSS is designed to facilitate effective delivery of manual-assist sensory cues and intense repetitive practice, which are critical components to successful retraining of the nervous system. In addition, the TSS is equipped with a dynamic computer-assist feedback mechanism. This provides controlled vertical displacement and center of mass which are essential to patient safety and achieving proper step and stride kinematics throughout the step cycle (heel strike, mid-stance, and toe-off).

This notice of intent is NOT a request for competitive quotes. However, interested concerns may submit clear and convincing evidence that competition of this requirement would be advantageous to the Government, via e-mail to Heidi Parrish, Contracting Officer, heidi.parrish@va.gov no later than 4:30 PM ET on September 11, 2025. A determination by the Government Not to open the requirement to competition based upon the responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Telephone inquiries will not be accepted. The Government will not pay for any information submitted from this notice. This notice of intent shall Not be construed as an obligation on the part of the Government to acquire any products or services. The anticipated award date is September 15, 2025.

A justification for other than full and open competition is prepared in support of this acquisition.

Contracting Office Address: Primary Point of Contact:

Network Contracting Office 8 Heidi Parrish 1601 SW Archer Road heidi.parrish@va.gov Gainesville, FL 32608-1197