Xtreme CT II Bone Scanner

This notice announces the intent by the U.S. Army Medical Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA), 820 Chandler St, Fort Detrick, Maryland, 21702, to award a sole source contract to Scanco USA, Inc. to lease an Xtreme CT II Bone Scanner for use in the United States Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine (USARIEM) 10 General Greene Avenue, Natick, MA 01760. The proposed contract action is for supplies for which the government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source under the statutory authority 10 U.S.C. 2304 (c)(2). FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)(i): Only one source reasonably available.

The XtremeCT II (Scanco USA, Inc.) system is a high resolution scanner used to measure bone mineral density of the forearm and lower leg and assess the geometry, strength and microstructure of bone in three dimensions. Capabilities of this system include: 1) Low radiation x-ray scanning (Less than 1/201 the radiation of a single chest x-ray); 2) Distinct separation of compact and spongy bone; 3) Evaluation of trabecular elements-the smallest elements that make bones strong; 4) 3-dimensional analysis of the structure of bone which determines its resistance to fracture; and 5) Built-in finite element analysis which allows for determination of bone's resistance to bending with loading. These capabilities stem from the resolution of the images that are captured with the XtremeCT II (<80µm). No other bone scanners are produced that have these capabilities because other scanners have a resolution that is 6.1 x 10^-6 m and the next best scanner is 1 x 10^-3 m. Scanco is the only company in this market sector with this unique bone scanning capability.

This resolution is critical for assessing very small changes in bone microarchitecture. These small observable changes may have large impacts on the overall health of the bone. In particular, USARIEM aims to address why bones develop stress fracture shortly after beginning physical training and anticipate that this technology brings us closer to understanding why so many recruits are fracturing during initial training. In order to truly understand the effect of initial military training on young adults, USAMRIEM needs an Xtreme CT II scanner that can be taken into the field. While lab studies help to control environments to create stable study designs, the military training environment is unlike a lab, and USARIEM must bring the scanner to the field to be able to study this common musculoskeletal injury. The Xtreme CT II system is necessary to continue USARIEM's work in the field of stress fracture research. The XTreme CT II system is the only system with the capabilities necessary to assess bone microarchitecture in vivo. Acquiring this system will help provide information on bone health in Military Service Members, with an emphasis on stress fracture research aimed at prevention during the initial weeks of military training when stress fracture prevalence is highest.

This announcement fulfills the synopsis requirements under FAR 5.102(a)(6) and 5.203(a). This Special Request for Information is not a request for competitive quotes. Information received in response to this notice will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether a competitive procurement is in the best interest of the Government. If no written responses are received by the date listed below, which reflects at least fifteen (15) days after the publication of this notice, the solicitation will be issued as sole source. All questions and responses concerning this notice shall be emailed to Mr. Christopher L. Cook at christopher.l.cook68.civ@mail.mil.