Synaptic Dynamics of Sensory Motor Integration

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) intends to negotiate on a sole source bases with Dr Changquan Ye, 12317 Village Square Ter, Rockville, MD 20852.

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

The intended procurement is classified under NAICS code 541690 – Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services with a Small Business Size Standard of 15 million.

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) 2021-04 dated January 19, 2021.

PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES:

The goal of the Unit on Functional Neural Circuits (UFNC) is to understand the fundamental principles and organization of neural circuits that enable cortical communication and support the computations of dynamic interactions between sensory and behavioral functions. The team investigates 1) how different circuit motifs and diverse neuronal types interact to enable reciprocal interactions between internally generated and externally driven brain activity, and 2) how these interactions are established during development. The impairment of communications among different cortical areas often lead to psychiatric disorders. UFNC requires a leading authority working on recording brain activity and motor behavior under in vivo condition using electrophysiological tools and computational analysis methods using animal (mouse) model. UFNC requires that the consultant has expertise in technologies for electrophysiological recordings and computational skills of behavioral assessment and intervention, including naturalistic video and audio capture, telemetric physiological monitors, wireless accelerometry sensors, and digital video/facial recognition systems.

The overall goal of collaboration with the contractor is to establish a system to conduct extracellular and intracellular electrophysiological recording from a mouse during sensorimotor behavior tasks and analysis protocols. This work would provide a platform to examine complex neuronal activity during sensorimotor-related behavior at the level of synaptic resolution. The contractor has a leading role in all these projects, including overseeing the technical work of choosing hardware, overseeing the technical work of research fellows, data analysis, and writing of scientific reports. This acquisition aims to acquire a contractor to oversee the experimental protocol and data acquisition system of these methods to other members in the lab.

DESCRIPTION OF REQUIREMENT

The Contractor shall: 

a.    Provide expertise in intra- and extracellular neuronal recordings from awake animals;
b.    Provide expertise in psychological and behavioral experiments in research on sensorimotor integration.  Specialized expertise in computer analysis of the data is required; 
c.    Provide expertise in the use of sensory stimulation-based behavioral task; and
d.    Have a high level of familiarity with multiple types of data and procedures for collecting such data.  

During the period of performance of twelve months from date of award, the contractor shall provide approximately 14 hours per week, not to exceed 728 labor hours per year.

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

The determination by the Government to award a contract without providing for full and open competition is based upon the market research conducted. Specifically, Dr. Chang Quan Ye is the only vendor in the marketplace that can provide the services required by NIMH.

The intended source is:
Changquan Ye
12317 Village Square Ter, Apt 401
Rockville, MD 20852

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, shipping and handling costs, the delivery period after contract award, the prompt payment discount terms, the F.O.B. Point (Destination or Origin), the Dun & Bradstreet Number (DUNS), 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, NIH-NIMH-21001498. Responses must be submitted electronically to Sarah Adan, Contract Specialist, at sarah.adan@nih.gov. and Valerie Whipple, Contracting Officer, at valerie.whipple@nih.gov.  U.S. Mail and fax responses will not be accepted.