Notice of Intent 75N95020Q00225.pdf

PRE-SOLICITATION NOTICE OF INTENT

NON-COMPETITIVE

INTRODUCTION

PURSUANT TO FAR Subpart 5.2—Synopses of Proposed Contract Actions, THIS IS A PRE-

SOLICITATION NOTICE OF A PROPOSED CONTRACT TO ACTION.

THIS IS A PRE-SOLICITATION NON-COMPETITIVE NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD A

CONTRACT OR PURCHASE ORDER WITHOUT PROVIDING FOR FULL OR OPEN

COMPETITION (INCLUDING BRAND-NAME).

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), Office of Acquisitions, Contracts Management Branch Red, NIA Section on behalf of the National Institute on Aging intends to negotiate and award a contract for Data Science Assistance services in Neurodegenerative Disease.

NORTH AMERICAN INDUSTRY CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (NAICS) CODE

The intended procurement is classified under NAICS 334516, Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing, Small Business Size, 1000 employees.

REGULATORY AUTHORITY

The resultant contract will include all applicable provisions and clauses of the Federal acquisition Requlation (FAR) in effect through the Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2020-07, dated 07/02/2020.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY

This acquisition is conducted as non-competitive under the authority of 41 U.S.C. 253(c) under provisions of the statutory authority of FAR Subpart 6.302-1 -- Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements.

This acquisition is conducted under the authority of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 13—Simplified Acquisition Procedures, Subpart 13.106-1 (b) (1), Soliciting from a single source.

DESCRIPTION OF REQUIREMENT

Project Description Project Title: Implantable micro-arrays and digital amplifier

It is hereby determined that the BlackRock Cereplex SI micro-arrays listed herein is available from only one source, and competition is precluded for the reasons indicated below. There are no substitutes available.

This acquisition is restricted to:

Blackrock Microsystems, LLC

Blackrock Microsystems has developed a proprietary method for administering low-levels of electrical stimulation to individual micro-array channels that will provide a unique means of enabling the progression of the laboratory’s current research. The equipment was recently upgraded to Blackrock Microsystems equipment in order to support this stimulation capability, and NINDS FRNU is in the process of upgrading all equipment in order to be compatible with the new stimulation equipment. We seek a front-end amplifier to satisfy this compatibility requirement as well as several implantable, single-use stimulation arrays. In order to ensure continuity of ongoing research experiments, it is imperative that:

(a) no component of our existing neural recording system is changed;

(b) that the micro-stimulation system integrates with our existing Blackrock neural recording equipment.

For these reasons, Blackrock is the only vendor capable of providing the digital amplifier and arrays needed by FRNU to conduct mission critical experiments while minimizing variables.

Background:

The Functional and Restorative Neurosurgery Unit (FRNU) exploits the unique investigative opportunities provided by intracranial electrical recordings during neurosurgical procedures.

FRNU investigates learning and memory by making use of the same ensemble of recording equipment that is used by the clinical team to diagnose and treat epilepsy; therefore, it is critically important that any recording equipment acquired for research purposes is compatible with existing clinical equipment. The existing clinical recording ensemble is provided entirely by Blackrock Microsystems, and Blackrock Microsystems is the only vendor for micro-arrays and digital amplifiers compatible with the existing equipment ensemble. Recently, FRNU acquired equipment to support a new type of micro-arrays that have the ability to administer micro-stimulation. This request seeks a new amplifier which supports this new equipment as well as several single-use microarrays. FRNU is also exchanging the current Blackrock amplifier for an upgraded amplifier that is much smaller in size than the current one and thus more comfortable for the patients.

Purpose and Objectives:

The purpose of this acquisition is to procure implantable BlackRock Cereplex SI micro-arrays so that we can record the activity of individual neurons in the human brain, as well as a font-end EEG amplifier for clinical signal recording in mission critical experiments. This requirement is issued on a sole source basis because the Blackrock micro-arrays and the digital amplifier are the only equipment of their kind that are compatible with our existing clinical research equipment.

Project requirements:

Purchase Description:

(1) Trade name: CerePlex SI Multiport arrays and Cereplex A-series Digital Amplifier

(2) Product’s brand name: CerePlex SI Multiport arrays and Cereplex A-series Digital

Amplifier

(3) Manufacturer's name: Blackrock Microsystems

(4) Model and part number: PN 7384 and PN 10658

Minimum Salient characteristics

• Compatible with Blackrock Neuroport System

• Compatible with Blackrock CerePlex Digital Hub

• Compatible with Microsystems Neuroport System and CereStim stimulator

• Switchable .02 Hz – 10kHz and .3 Hz to 7.5kHz digital amplifier

• Up to 128-channel amplifier

• Medical grade digital amplifier

• Digital amplifier supports fiber-optic data link

• Micro-arrays have ability to administer micro-stimulation

• Micro-arrays approved for human use

• Micro-arrays and digital amplifier are compatible with Blackrock

Quantity: 5

Quantity:

Delivery Within 30 days of award

CLOSING STATEMENT

This synopsis is not a request for competitive proposals. However, interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to this notice.

Responses to this solicitation must include clear and convincing evidence of the offeror’s capability of fulfilling the requirement as it relates to the technical evaluation criteria. The price proposal must include the labor categories, an estimate of the number of hours required for each labor category, fully loaded fixed hourly rate or each labor category, breakdown and rationale for other direct costs or materials, and the total amount. The technical proposal must include CV information for proposed Key Personnel that meet the minimum requirements specified above.

In addition the Dun & Bradstreet Number (DUNS), the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), and the certification of business size must be included in the response. All offerors must have an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM).”

A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. The information received will normally be considered solely for the purposes of determining whether to proceed on a non-competitive basis or to conduct a competitive procurement.

All responses must be received by 09/09/2020 at 10:00 AM Eastern Time and must reference solicitation number 75N95020Q00225 on your electronic request. FAX requests are not accepted.

Responses must be submitted electronically to Arun Mathur, arun.mathur@nih.gov.

All responsible sources may submit a capability statement, proposal, or quotation, which shall be considered by the agency.

mailto:arun.mathur@nih.gov