NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD A CONTRACT WITHOUT PROVIDING FOR FULL OR OPEN COMPETITION: NIMH MRI compatible presentation goggles with eyetracker

NOTICE OF INTENT to Sole Source

1. SOLICITATION NUMBER: NIMH-24-005150-NOI
2. TITLE:  NIMH MRI compatible presentation goggles with eyetracker
3. CLASSIFICATION CODE: 66 -- Instruments & laboratory equipment
4. NAICS CODE: 334510 - Electromedical and Electrotherapeutic Apparatus Manufacturing
5. RESPONSE DATE: 7/16/24
6. PRIMARY POINTS OF CONTACT:

Kyle Miller
Kyle.Miller2@nih.gov
Christine Frate
Christine.Frate@nih.gov

7. DESCRIPTION:

INTRODUCTION

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) FMRI Core Facility intends to negotiate on a sole source basis with NordicNeuroLab, Inc. for the purchase of MRI compatible goggle visual presentation headset as part of the VisualSystems HD system.

NORTH AMERICAN INDUSTRY CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (NAICS) CODE and SET ASIDE STATUS

The intended procurement is classified under NAICS code 334510 - Electromedical and Electrotherapeutic Apparatus Manufacturing with a Size Standard of 1,250 employees.

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) 2024-05 dated April 22, 2024.

DESCRIPTION OF REQUIREMENT

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Laboratory of Brain and Cognition (LBC), Section on Learning and Plasticity(sLaP), needs to acquire an MRI compatible goggle visual presentation headset with an eyetracker to present wide-field visual stimuli while recording eyetracking.

The LBC/sLaP shall use an Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) compatible google visual presentation headset with eyetracking to present wide-field visual stimuli while recording eyetracking. Wide-field visual presentation is critical to providing a naturalist viewing environment in the MRI scanners, improving our ability to apply our findings to broader world context. In-goggle eyetracking also enables close recording of eye-movements during visual stimulation, critical for interpreting both the MRI signal and behavior. This system is necessary to support the research program of the LBC.

A fundamental goal of the Laboratory on Brain and Cognition is to characterize the processing of naturalistic visual stimuli in the neurotypical brain. This requires a goggle that is compatible with a 3T MRI, can have full resolution 3D stimuli, and project out to 34 degrees horizontally and 52 degrees vertically into our visual field. This allows the goggles a unique opportunity to image the brain while we present 3D stimuli out into the far periphery of our visual environment, enabling us to ask questions associated to more realistic viewing conditions. Furthermore, these goggles must have built-in binocular eyetracking, which allows us to simultaneously record the gaze position of the subjects while they are in the MRI. These data enable a detailed description of which objects participants engage with in the visual environment, out to the far periphery. Finally, it must include the diopter detail of that allows us to image participants who require glasses – without these we can only recruit participants who have perfect vision as contact lenses interfere with the eyetracker’s ability to closely track eye-movements.

Product name:MRI compatible presentation goggles with eyetracker

Items Included:

• Touch interface based PC and compatible software
• MR googles with a diopter range of -8 to +5 and built in eye-tracking
• Eye Tracking Software
• Head Coil Adapter

Extended Manufacture’s Warranty – four (4) additional years

Delivery is expected within 28 days after receipt of order.
 

CONTRACTING WITHOUT PROVIDING FOR FULL OR OPEN COMPETITION (INCLUDING BRAND-NAME) DETERMINATION

During market research, it was found that NordicNeuroLab, Inc is the only vendor that can provide the required product. It was found that no similar product could duplicate what the VisualSystems HD system given the current equipment setup of the LBC. The MR goggles included, which allow wide-field visual stimuli while recording eyetracking that allows interpreting both the MRI signal and behavior, is necessary to support the research programs of the LBC. Therefore, with these facts in mind, it was found that Magstim Inc. is the only vendor that can provide the needed product.

The intended source is:

NordicNeuroLab, Inc.

234 W. Florida St. Suite 202

Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53204, United States

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 purposes of determining whether to proceed on a non-competitive basis or to conduct a 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, the delivery period after contract award, the prompt payment discount terms, the F.O.B. Point (Destination or Origin), the Unique Entity Identifier ID (UEI), the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), and the certification of business size. 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, NIMH-24-005150-NOI. Responses must be submitted electronically to Kyle Miller, Contract Specialist, at kyle.miller2@nih.gov and Christine Frate, Contracting Officer, at Christine.frate@nih.gov . U.S. Mail and fax responses will not be accepted.