NOTICE OF INTENT to Sole Source.pdf

NOTICE OF INTENT to Sole Source

1. SOLICITATION NUMBER: NIMH25004492

TITLE: The purpose of this acquisition is Tucker Davis Technology RZ10x Base

Processor, experiment control workstation and synapse software, integrated

LEDs, integrated photosensors, integrated power meter, fiber cable kit, optical manifold, and external bleach box.

2. CLASSIFICATION CODE:R499 – SCIENTIFIC CONSULTING SERVICES

NAICS CODE: 541519 – Other Related Computer Services

3. RESPONSE DATE: September 1, 2025, at 12:00 PM EST

4. PRIMARY POINT OF CONTACT:

Joe Kennedy Joseph.kennedy@nih.gov Phone: 262-391-7630

5. DESCRIPTION:

INTRODUCTION

This is a notice of intent, not a request for a quotation.

THIS IS A PRE-SOLICITATION NON-COMPETITIVE (NOTICE OF INTENT)

SYNOPSIS TO AWARD A CONTRACT WITHOUT PROVIDING FOR FULL OR

OPEN COMPETITION (INCLUDING BRAND-NAME).

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) intends to negotiate on a sole source basis with Tucker Davis Technologies, Inc., for one year.

NORTH AMERICAN INDUSTRY CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (NAICS) CODE

and SET ASIDE STATUS

The intended procurement is classified under NAICS code 541519 – Other

Computer Related Services with a Size Standard of $34M.

This intended procurement will be a small business set-aside requirement.

REGULATORY AUTHORITY

This acquisition is conducted under the authority of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 13—Simplified Acquisition Procedures. Contracts awarded using FAR Part 13—Simplified Acquisition Procedures are exempt from the requirements of FAR Part 6—Competition Requirements. FAR Subpart 13.106-1 (b) Soliciting from a single source provides that: 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, brand-name OR industrial mobilization).

The resultant contract will include all applicable provisions and clauses in effect through the Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) Number 2025-04, dated May 12, 2025.

DESCRIPTION OF REQUIREMENT

Purchase Description

The Tucker Davis Technologies (TDT) Lux Fiber Photometry System is a workstation and computer processor built specifically for fiber photometry data acquisition and processing. This process involves modulating different wavelengths of light at very specific sinusoidal frequencies and then receiving that signal back, at rates of up to 50 KHz, and demodulating it in real time. The

Synapse software and accompanying computer cards are required to control the processor. Our collaborating groups in the Laboratory on Neuronal Circuits and

Behavior use several existing Tucker Davis Technologies RZ10x processors and our pilot data collection with their systems has been successful enough that we would like to replicate their data acquisition setup in our own Unit. We will use this system to perform critical experiments to test a key idea in our research program related to the role of dopamine and acetylcholine in learning about the timing of rewards. These studies will inform our understanding of the brain basis of impulsive and compulsive behaviors. With two complete acquisition setups, we will be able to acquire data from four individual subjects concurrently, making it feasible to acquire sufficient data in a reasonable time for these studies.

Specific Requirements

The Unit on Neural Computations in Learning (UNCL) conducts research on understanding the cognitive computations involved in reward prediction and learning and their disruption in disorders of mental health. This involves the detailed model-based characterization of both behavior and neural activity during reward-guided behaviors, across multiple individual rodents and in different brain regions. The TDT Lux Fiber Photometry System will allow us to acquire multiple signals concurrently from distinct neuromodulators such as dopamine and acetylcholine in key learning regions of the brain while rodents perform learning tasks. Through experiments with this system, we will be able to link measured changes in brain signal to individual changes in learning and behavior.

Salient Characteristics:

- One (1) 400 MHz Sharc digital signal processor

- Six (6) channels of analog input and four channels of analog output

- Fiber optic input port

- 24-bits of digital I/O

- 50 KHz sampling rate

- Onboard monitor speaker

- Specialty software designed to work with processors

Quantity:

• Two (2) Lux Fiber Photometry Workstations: 6-Channel LED Driver, 4

Photosensor Inputs

• Twelve (12) Lux Integrated LEDs

• Eight (8) Lux Integrated Photosensors with Lens

• Two (2) Integrated Power Meters

• Four (4) Fiber Cable Kits

• Four (4) Lux 6-port optical manifold

• Two (2) External bleach boxes

• One (1) Experiment control workstation

Delivery Date: Expected delivery date is within 10-12 weeks after order is placed.

Delivery to:

Angela Langdon

National Institute of Mental Health

35 Convent Dr

Bldg. 35, Room 3A-100

Bethesda, MD 20892

Period of Performance

The proposed period of performance shall be one base year.

Base: 9/22/25 – 9/21/26

Level of Effort n/a

Government Responsibilities n/a

Reporting Requirements N/A

OTHER CONSIDERARTIONS:

Data Rights

Section 508—Electronic and Information Technology Standards

Confidentiality of Information:

The Contractor will not disclose, publish, divulge, release, or make known, in any manner or to any extent, to any individual other than the authorized government employee, the content of any sensitive information provided under this contract.

For this requirement, the government may provide the contractor information or data of a personal nature about individual(s) or proprietary information or data pertaining to this project, which is confidential. This requirement is expected to generate information or data which is confidential. The Contractor shall handle all sensitive information or data in a secure manner and consult with the authorized government employee prior to any release, disclosure, dissemination, or publication.

(INCLUDING BRAND-NAME) DETERMINATION

The determination by the Government to award a contract without providing for full and open competition is based upon the market research conducted.

Specifically, Tucker Davis Technologies, Inc. is the only vendor in the marketplace that can provide the services required by the National Institute of Health.

The intended source is:

Tucker Davis Technologies, Inc.

11930 Research Circle, Alachua, FL 32615

The essential characteristics of the photometry processor that limit the availability to a sole source is the selected vendor, Tucker-Davis Technologies, is the only company who can produce these processors, and this specific processor which is needed to match our existing pipeline. This is the only processor which involves modulating different wavelengths of light at very specific sinusoidal frequencies and then receiving that signal back, at rates of up to 50 KHz, and demodulating it in real time.

Continuing with the same vendor will allow other NIMH laboratories to maintain our existing pipeline which has already been developed. The propriety format of the processors is also not compatible with proprietary processors from other vendors. Therefore, it is essential to continue with the same hardware product, rather than purchasing an alternative product.

Only this suggested source can furnish the requirements, to the exclusion of other sources, because only this source is able to satisfy all procurement requirements.

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.

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. All responsible sources may submit a capability statement, proposal, or quotation which shall be considered by the agency. The information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to proceed on a non-competitive basis or to conduct competitive procurement.

Responses to this notice shall contain sufficient information to establish the interested parties' bona-fide capabilities for fulfilling the requirement and include: unit price, list price, shipping and handling costs, the delivery period after contract award, the prompt payment discount terms, the F.O.B. Point (Destination or Origin), the Unique Entity ID UEI), the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), and the certification of business size.

Responses must include the place of manufacturing (i.e. address if supply/equipment is a domestic end product and includes country of manufacture). All offerors must have an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) www.sam.gov.

All responses must be received by the closing date and time of this announcement and must reference the solicitation number, NIMH25004492.

Responses must be submitted electronically to Joe Kennedy, Contract Specialist, at joseph.kennedy@nih.gov

U.S. Mail and fax responses will not be accepted.

mailto:joseph.kennedy@nih.gov