Sources Sought Notice.pdf

SAM.gov

SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE

1. Solicitation Number: 75N95022Q00446

2. Title: Drill & Microinjection Robot for Performing Intracranial Injections in Mice

3. Classification Code: 6632 – Analysis Instruments, Medical Laboratory Use

4. NAICS Code: 334516 - Analytical laboratory instrument Manufacturing

5. Size Standard: 1,000 employees

6. Description: This is a 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 all qualified sources; and (2) the availability of domestic sources manufactured in the United States in sufficient and reasonably available commercial quantities and of a satisfactory quality.

For equipment/supply requirements, responses must include the place of manufacturing (i.e., address if supply/equipment is a domestic end product and include country of manufacture).

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, Purpose and Objectives: This requirement is for equipment that will be used by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) to perform intracranial injections and to make cranial windows into mouse brains. The experiments being performed will directly test the effects of alterations in neural circuitry in various animal models of Parkinson’s Disease.

The goal for this project is to determine how basal ganglia and midbrain dopamine circuits are altered in animal models of Parkinson’s Disease. The neural manipulations will be conducted and the movement of the mouse quantified in normal and in

Parkinsonian mice. In order to generate the Parkinson’s disease model, NINDS will express alpha synuclein in midbrain dopamine neurons. Alpha synuclein is a protein that has been associated with cell death among dopamine neurons. In order to infect dopamine neurons, NINDS will need to perform intracranial injections in mice.

To precisely target the midbrain dopamine neurons with an injection needle requires substantial experience and can occur with variable success between animals. However, using a robot guided injection method will allow NINDS to more consistently target brain structures of interest. Therefore, this is an essential piece of equipment. NINDS requires a high precision stereotaxic instrument that will be used for accurate targeting of the optical fibers in the mouse brain. Because the mouse brain is smaller than a rats, the precision required for targeting specific locations is higher than under other conditions

Salient characteristics:

1. Drill & Microinjection Robot (Mouse) including Drill Autostop Function

2. Drill Automated Craniotomy Function

3. Automated synchronization device for cannula and drill bit

4. Optogenetics Software Integration and Holder

5. Cube3W - Remote Control for Robot Stereotaxic

6. Heating Pad

7. Mouse Gas Anesthesia Head Holder

8. Non-Rupture Ear Bars (Mouse), 60° Non-Rupture tip

Anticipated delivery date: 30 days ARO

Other important considerations: In case domestic sources are available and capable of fulfilling the Government’s need, and a future solicitation is published, the Government will use evaluation preferences in accordance with FAR 25.

Capability statement /information sought.

Companies that believe they possess the capabilities to provide the required product should submit documentation of their ability to meet each of the project requirements to the Contracting Officer. The capability statement must specifically address each of the project requirements separately. Additionally, the capability statement should include 1) the total number of employees, 2) the professional qualifications of personnel as it relates to the requirements outlined, 3) any contractor GSA Schedule contracts and/or other government-wide acquisition contracts (GWACs) by which all of the requirements may be met, if applicable, and 4) any other information considered relevant to this program. Capability statements must also include the Company Name, Unique Entity ID from SAM.gov, Physical Address, and Point of Contact Information. The response must include the respondents’ technical and administrative points of contact, including names, titles, addresses, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail addresses.

The government requests that no proprietary or confidential business data be submitted in a response to this notice. However, responses that indicate the information therein is proprietary will be properly safeguarded for Government use only. Capability statements must include the name and telephone number of a point of contact having authority and knowledge to discuss responses with Government representatives. Capability statements in response to this market survey that do not provide sufficient information for evaluation will be considered non-responsive. When submitting this information, please reference the solicitation notice number.

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 in and outline format that addresses each of the elements of the project requirement and in the capability statement /information sought paragraphs stated herein. A cover page and an executive summary may be included but is not required.

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 Evan Feely, Contracting Officer, at evan.feely@nih.gov. Facsimile responses are NOT accepted.

Responses must be received on or before 5:00 PM on July 22, 2022, 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 www.sam.gov. 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:evan.feely@nih.gov