MWorks Software Upgrade and Support

INTRODUCTION

PURSUANT TO FAR Subpart 5.2—Synopses of Proposed Contract Actions, THIS IS A PRE-SOLICITATION NOTICE OF A PROPOSED CONTRACT  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, NIMH Section on behalf of the National Institute on Mental Health intends to negotiate and award a contract with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, McGovern Institute for Brain Research for MWorks software upgrade with support.

 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 2020-07, dated August 3, 2020.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY

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

The NIMH IRP conducts basic research on the neural mechanisms underlying such cognitive functions as perception, memory, decision-making and emotion in non-human primates.  A great number of these studies involve training and recording from nonhuman primates. Such studies rely on specialized experimental control and data acquisition software.  The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), has MWorks software that is necessary to meet the government’s needs. This software is essential for the NIMH research program. MIT offers software upgrades and support for MWorks.

Requirements

MWorks is a system developed specifically for experimental control and data acquisition in nonhuman primate behavioral neurophysiology experiments.  It supports direct EyeLink eye tracking data, real-time acquisition and control, directly controls the Blackrock Microsystems implantable LED driver, Firmata-based input-output and high performance (resolution and timing) video stimulus display.  It is based on the Apple computer platform.  MWorks uses a specific experimental protocol language that is consistent with the research behavioral protocols used in the NIMH lab. 

The contractor will supply the MWorks software, available documentation and all updates/upgrades and other changes based on the needs of the  research program. These needs will include, but are not be limited to, bug and trouble reports, incompatibilities with existing hardware, and essential performance enhancements within the scope of control and acquisition that MWorks is designed to provide.

Delivery/Period of Performance

60 days ARO and two years technical support and software upgrades.

Sole Source Justification:

The essential characteristics of the MWorks software upgrade with support that limits the availability to a sole source are: compatibility with ongoing research and Blackrock Microsystems driver for high power implantable LEDs.  Only MIT can furnish the requirements, to the exclusion of other sources, because software development for nonhuman primate research is very specialized, real-time data acquisition software is hightly specialized as is the Blackrock LED driver.  Only MWorks supports the protocol language used in current NIMH experimental designs.  In addition, qualified software support requires understanding the functional and software architecture of how MWorks is used to provide high-speed video/image presentation in the NIMH research program.  This requires prior experience with MWorks and the experimental protocols used at NIMH. Programmers who have these qualifications are employed at MIT, where MWorks was originally developed.

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. 

The respondents must submit clear and convincing evidence that their product is equivalent or superior to the product specified in this notice. The response shall include: the unit price, list price, shipping and handling costs, delivery days after contract award, delivery terms, prompt payment discount terms, F.O.B. Point (Destination or Origin), product or catalog number(s); product description; and any other information or factors that may be considered to determine the method of acquisition. The response must also indicate the country of manufacturer.

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 ­­­­19 August 2020 at 12:00 PM Eastern Standard Time and must reference number NIMH-20-004290. 

Responses must be submitted electronically to Valerie Whipple at valerie.whipple@nih.gov, and must reference the solicitation number NIMH-20-004290, on your electronic request.  FAX requests are not accepted.

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