This is a Small Business Sources Sought notice. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding: (1) the availability and capability of qualified small business sources; (2) whether they are small businesses; HUBZone small businesses; service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses; 8(a) small businesses; veteran-owned small businesses; woman-owned small businesses; or small disadvantaged businesses; and (3) their size classification relative to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for the proposed acquisition. Your responses to the information requested will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method, including whether a set-aside is possible.  An organization that is not considered a small business under the applicable NAICS code should not submit a response to this notice.

This notice is issued to help determine the availability of qualified companies technically capable of meeting the Government requirement and to determine the method of acquisition.  It is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation or ultimately award a contract.  Responses will not be considered as proposals or quotes.  No award will be made as a result of this notice.  The Government will NOT be responsible for any costs incurred by the respondents to this notice.  This notice is strictly for research and information purposes only.

Background and Objectives:  

Currently, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute on Aging (NIA) and other Institute centers do not have a rapid hypobaric oxygen chamber to mimic sleep apnea in rodents.  In previous studies, it has been shown that molecular and metabolic changes occur during intermittent low oxygen intervals.  Currently, there is an ongoing need to study dependent, accelerated, and chronic aging diseases from sleep apnea across several disciplines. OxyCycler® model A84OV & Q2 module, is a hypoxic chamber designed to replicate sleep apnea in rodents and offers robust controls for several protocols of intermittent sleep patterns; including, remote monitoring, graphical trending and technical support need to sustain long term sleep apnea research at NIA. A chamber, such as this, would facilitate further research and understanding on dependent accelerated and chronic diseases.

Project Requirements:

Independently and not as an agent of the Government, the Contractor shall furnish all the necessary services, qualified personnel, material, equipment, and facilities, not otherwise provided by the Government as needed.

The purpose of this acquisition is to purchase (1) BioSpherix, (2) OxyCycler®, (3) model A84OV Atmosphere Control System with Q2 module and chamber, (4) CUSA84XOV1, CUSA84QQA.

Salient characteristics:

1. The controller (OxyCycler® model A84XOV) will control normobaric oxygen profiles over the full 0.1-99.9% range in up to 4 chambers simultaneously but independently in each chamber.

2. Control action will be bi-directional with oxygen gas infusion for raising oxygen and nitrogen gas infusion for lowering oxygen.

3. Cycle times from 21% to 7% and back to 21% can be completed in 60 seconds when required when using the Q2 Module and Chamber.

4. Profiles can be started and stopped at any time in any chamber without affecting any other chamber.

5. Each profile can consist of up to 20 different oxygen setpoints with any rate of change from one setpoint to the next.

6. Any profile can be cycled continuously or cycled a defined number of times up to 99 times.

7. Any profile can be stored and repeated later at any time in any chamber.

8. Any combination of different profiles can be run in different chambers simultaneously or run sequentially in the same chamber.

9. Each chamber can have a profile running or can be controlled at any single oxygen level without profiling.

10. Profiles in any chamber can be programmed on a calendar to start at a specific time on a specific day.

11. Software capability for graphical trending, data logging, and interface with third-party systems for remote operation. Third-party remote capabilities include monitor experiments, start or stop experiments, change experiments, and download data from data logs. Also allows factory personnel to tie into system for remote training and trouble shooting.

12. The controller can be upgraded to include anytime in the future a mobile monitor pod that will monitor and record carbon dioxide over the p.p.m. range, relative humidity, temperature, and a second mobile oxygen sensor for O2 monitoring anywhere within one of the chambers.

13. A44C available to integrate dynamic CO2 control 0.1-20% range simultaneously but independently in each chamber.

Anticipated Delivery Schedule: 

On or before September 10, 2021.

Capability Statement:
Small business concerns that believe they possess the capabilities to provide the required services should submit documentation of their ability to meet each of the project requirements to the Contracting Officer. The capability statement must specifically address each of the project requirements separately.  Additionally, the capability statement should include 1) the total number of employees, 2) the professional qualifications of personnel as it relates to the requirements outlined, 3) any contractor GSA Schedule contracts by which all of the requirements may be met, if applicable, and 4) any other information considered relevant to this program. Small businesses must also provide their Company Name, DUNS number, Physical Address, and Point of Contact Information.

Interested small businesses are required to identify their type of business, applicable North American Industry Classification System Code, and size standards in accordance with the Small Business Administration. The government requests that no proprietary or confidential business data be submitted in a response to this notice. However, responses that indicate the information therein is proprietary will be properly safeguarded for Government use only. Capability statements must include the name and telephone number of a point of contact having authority and knowledge to discuss responses with Government representatives. Capability statements in response to this market survey that do not provide sufficient information for evaluation will be considered non-responsive. When submitting this information, reference the solicitation notice number.

One (1) copy of the response is required and must be in Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF format using 11-point or 12-point font, 8-1/2” x 11” paper size, with 1” top, bottom, left and right margins, and with single or double spacing.

The information submitted must be in an outline format that addresses each of the elements of the project requirements and in the capability statement /information sought paragraphs stated herein.  A cover page and an executive summary may be included but is not required.

The response is limited to ten (10) pages.  The 10-page limit does not include the cover page, executive summary, or references, if requested.

All capability statements sent in response to this Small Business Sources Sought Notice must be submitted to Fred Ettehadieh, Contracting Officer, by email at [email protected] before the closing date and time of this announcement. All responses must be received by the specified due date and time in order to be considered. Facsimile responses are not accepted.

Disclaimer and Important Notes:

This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in the response.  No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response.  The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate.  Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization’s qualifications to perform the work.  Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted.  After review of the responses received, pre-solicitation and solicitation notices may be published in Federal Business Opportunities.  However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation.  The solicitation release date is pending. 

Confidentiality:

No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation(s).