Head coil for 3T MRI scanner (UW-MAD)[20-0005]

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is seeking to procure a head coil for a 3T MRI Scanner through a competitive bidding process for its Department of Psychiatry. The specific procurement is for a radio-frequency (RF) head coil compatible with a General Electric MR750 MRI scanner, designed to acquire functional MRI data. The required head coil must have a minimum of 32 channels, at least 4 rows of coil elements for parallel imaging, and be FDA 510(k) approved. Bidders must provide one unit with all necessary devices and software configuration files for installation. The solicitation requires vendors to have three years of experience providing MRI head coils and be either an original manufacturer, authorized distributor, or dealer with service and repair capabilities. Potential bidders must submit written questions by July 11, 2019, with final bids due by 2:00 p.m. CDT on July 18, 2019. The University reserves the right to require product demonstrations or site visits at its discretion, and will award the contract to the lowest extended net total bid deemed in the best interest of the institution.

The procurement includes supplier diversity preferences, with Minority Business Enterprises (MBE), Woman-Owned Businesses (WBE), and Disabled Veteran-Owned Businesses (DVB) eligible for consideration if their bids are within 5 percent of the lowest qualified bid. Bidders must maintain commercial general liability and automobile liability insurance with minimum coverage of one million dollars, naming the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System as additional insured. The contract includes the manufacturer's standard warranty and provides unlimited call-back maintenance service during normal business hours (8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday), with optional annual service contracts available for years following warranty expiration. The University qualifies for governmental and educational discounts, which may provide additional cost savings. While no specific budget range is explicitly stated, the procurement is for a specialized medical imaging component, typically suggesting a significant investment in advanced medical technology. The solicitation covers Dane County and Madison City jurisdictions, focusing on equipment procurement for medical research and diagnostic purposes.