Notice of Intent to Sole Source for Stereoinvestigator-Microscope Edition Software Upgrade and Complete System

This notice announces the intent by the U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA), in support of the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense (USAMRICD), to issue sole source, firm-fixed priced (FFP) solicitation HT9425-23-Q-0104 for an StereoIinvestigator software and a system to integrate commercially available microscope systems to function with this software. The current acquisition requirement is for a system including microscope, software upgrade, computer, and camera.  The authority for the sole source justification and other than full and open competition procedures will be in accordance with (IAW) FAR 13.106-l(b)(l)(i), Only One Source Reasonably Available.

This notice serves as the Government's notice of intent. USAMRICD has a new requirement for an StereoIinvestigator software and a system that can perform stereological analysis and probes. The system requires a computer capable of running StereoInvestigator, the cameras microscope and motorized stage. Stereology software must be non-cloud based. The software must be functional on a closed network system with no internet connection. Stereology is performed live with specialized video cameras mounted on a microscope equipped with a motorized stage. Installation and training at USAMRICD located on Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD.

The USAMRICD has been funded to investigate StereoIinvestigator software and system acquisition.  As the Department of Defense's lead laboratory for the development of medical countermeasures against chemical threat agents, our lab investigates and evaluates novel therapeutics that protect the brain against the neurotoxic effects from prolonged seizure and recurrent seizures.  We have used StereoIinvestigator software for this research for the past 12 years to generate counts of neurons to assess any protection in the brain that the therapeutics may offer.  USAMRICD currently owns and operates a system that is comprised of a retro-fitted Olympus microscope with this color camera and utilizes the StereoInvestigator software and other hardware and software patches to make the system complete and fully functional. 

Failure to award a contract will jeopardize mission success, delay achievement of crucial research milestones and risk future funding.

The market research shows that StereoInvestigator software is a specialty product that only Microbrightfield, LLC (MPF Bioscience) can provide. Although the system will be custom, all products within that system are commercially available.  To ensure correct integration for system functionality of both equipment and software, only MPF Bioscience is able to meet the Government’s needs.

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) for this requirement is 513210, Software Publishers and a Small Business Size Standard of $47.0 in millions of dollars.

The Product Supply Code (PSC) is 7A21, IT and Telecom – BUSINESS APPLICATION SOFTWARE (PERPETUAL LICENSE SOFTWARE)

This Notice of Intent announcement for an StereoIinvestigator software and system, is not a request for competitive quotations. However, the Government will consider all responses received. The Government will not be responsible for any cost incurred in preparation of quotations. 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. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a subsequent competitive procurement.

All interested parties may submit a response for consideration and identify their capability (formats for submission: PDF, MS Word, or MS Excel) by e-mail only to Mr. Kenneth Grenier, Contract Specialist, at email: Kenneth.e.grenier2.civ@health.mil, by 29 August 2023 at 12:00 PM (Noon) Eastern Time.