DESCRIPTION OF REQUIREMENT:

This contract action is for the acquisition of supplies for which the Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source under the authority and procedures of Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 13.106-1(b) in accordance with 41 U.S.C. 1901. The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), Office of Acquisitions (OA) intends to award a single source purchase order to Plexon, Inc., 6500 Greenville Avenue, Suite 730, Dallas, TX 75206-1011, for the acquisition of a Plexon In Vivo Electrophsiology and Optogenetic Behavioral Tracking System. The supplies can only be acquired from the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and only the manufacturer is authorized to sell the products. No third parties have been authorized by Plexon, Inc. to sell the Plexon In Vivo Electrophsiology and Optogenetic Behavioral Tracking System. In addition, only Plexon, Inc. can provide the highly unique, specialized equipment and it is not available from other vendors.

The associated North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code for this procurement is 541990 "All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services". Its associated Small Business Size Standard is $15 million.

To provide principle investigators, the ability to record and manipulate neural activity in freely behaving mice, NIEHS requires a wired in vivo electrophysiological recording and optical stimulation system that allows for high channel count recording (128 channels) and allows for minimal interference with natural behaviors. The existing capabilities are limited to low channel count recording (32 channels) and do not provide a motorized commutator that prevents tangling of cables and disruption of natural behavioral expression. In addition, the current tethered system requires that the animal be anesthetized in order to connected and disconnected from the recording and optical stimulation system. The Plexon Inc. system provides a unique solution which utilizes magnetic connectors that make connection and disconnection much easier, does not require anesthesia and thereby significantly reduces the stress to the animal. NIEHS requires a behavioral tracking system that is time-locked to its neurophysiological recordings and is capable of tracking animals that are implanted with recording and stimulation implants. All capabilities are required to integrate with the current Plexon electrophysiological recording system. Plexon provides a high channel count tethered recording and magnetic fiber-based and head mounted light stimulation, time-locked behavioral tracking and integration with existing Plexon equipment. Specifically: it provides a motorized carousel commutator for high channel count recording and optical stimulation from tethered animals, novel magnetic head-mounted LED's for optogenetic stimulation, high durability fiber optic cables with magnetic connections to the implanted animal and time-locked behavioral tracking in mice implanted with both wired and wireless head stages allowing NIEHS to record and manipulate neural activity in awake behaving mice.

NIEHS will solicit and negotiate directly with Pleaxon, Inc. and no solicitation will be issued. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals or quotations; however, if an interested party believes they can meet the above requirement, all
responsible sources may submit a quotation which shall be considered by the agency. The quotation must be submitted in writing and must contain material in sufficient detail to allow the Government to determine if the party can perform the requirement. Offerors must have an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) www.sam.gov. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed requirement based on responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. All interested parties must express their interest and capabilities in writing via email to [email protected] within fifteen (15) days after the date of publication of this notice. No faxed documents will be accepted. If no responsive statements are received within fifteen (15) days, an award will be made to Plexon, Inc.