Sources_Sought_Description_FINAL.pdf

Sources Sought Description (NIHDA201800020)

1. Statement of Need and Purpose:

The National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA), Office of Acquisition (OA), on behalf of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Intramural Research Programs Division (IRP) has a requirement to collect structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data during experiments examining pediatric mood and anxiety disorders.

2. Background Information and Objective:

The mission of the EDB is to study the pathophysiology, development, and treatment of pediatric mood and anxiety disorders. EDB probes pathophysiology using structural and functional MRI procedures, and is currently using state-of-the-art techniques to acquire data in each of these areas. Such research requires diverse expertise in cognitive neuroscience techniques. The overall goal of this contract is to obtain support services to assist in the collection of behavioral, psychological and MRI brain imaging data for the NIMH EDB. This service has been provided in the past by hiring a contract neuroscientist to assist with data collection using fMRI.

Historically, we have hired less than half a dozen contract neuroscientists to assist with fMRI data collection through contract services such as this.

4. Description:

Provide three individuals with relevant expertise in structural and functional methods in research on pediatric mental illness, expertise in psychological and bhavorial experiments in research on pediatric mental illness, expertise in the use of peripheral psychophysiology equipmento used during MRI scanning, expertise and experience in a scientifically diverse biomedical setting.

5. Salient characteristics:

Careful, appropriate, well-justified collection of vital data on pathophysiology and treatment is paramount to the research mission of the EDB. Thus, it is of vital importance that EDB continue its collection of high-quality structural and functional MRI data during psychological and behavioral experiments in pediatric mood and anxiety disorders.

The contractor will be required to

1. Utilize methods to facilitate collection of structural and functional MRI data in the EDB, NIMH;

2. Have experience using specialized computer paradigms such as using eprime and MRI;

3. Assemble a series of computers and associated response devises in a rapid and efficient manner during MRI data collection,

4. Oversee the operation of these devices (e.g., button boxes, claw) and do this in a manner that is coordinated with the activities of the other members of the scanning team (i.e., clinician, post-bac IRTA, scanning technician);

5. Monitor participants’ behavioral responses when undergoing MRI studies;

6. Have experience and knowledge integrating research studies;

7. Be trained and capable of setting up response devises and equipment, setting up the task on the computer, interfacing with the scan technician and the scanning team, orienting the participant to the task, monitoring the behavioral data, transferring the behavioral data, and providing a scan report to the EDB following data acquisition.

6. Period of Performance:

The period of performance shall be for a period of 12-months.