6640--Biomomentum Mach-1 Upgrade

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The Department of Veterans Affairs, Atlanta VA, intends to negotiate on a sole source basis, pursuant to FAR 6.302-1, with Biomomentum for an upgrade to the existing Mach-1 system. The mapping upgrade would include x- and y- motion controllers with high-resolution stages, multi-axis load cells and calibration, camera and lenses for sample triangulation, and an array of indenters and fixtures. With the included features, VA can map a range of samples, from mouse knee cartilage to human samples (from cadavers and/or patients undergoing knee replacement). The mapping feature will also allow for mapping of cartilage repair defects and the neighboring healthy cartilage, providing a robust dataset for any large-animal cartilage repair studies as well as mapping of explants for regional mechanical changes (e.g. Patel CDA-2). Both mechanical properties and cartilage thickness can be obtained. With the plethora of work going on in OA models (disease characterization, therapeutic delivery) and cartilage repair procedures (cartilage preservation, regeneration), this system would be heavily utilized, and could be correlated with many of the other outcome metrics (pain/function, microCT, histology). Mach-1 system is the only system that reliably allows mechanical evaluation normal to articular surfaces. Furthermore, this specific upgrade is only applicable to the Mach-1 that already exists at the Atlanta VAMC. This is a notice of intent and is not a request for competitive quotes; however, any responsible source who can provide an equivalent equipment with these features described above may submit a capability statement to the contracting office no later than June 28th, 7AM, EST. Interest/capability statements may be sent to Lynn Portman at lynn.portman@va.gov. No telephone responses will be accepted. A determination not to compete the proposed requirement based upon the responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government.