The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), Station Support and Simplified Acquisitions Branch (SS/SA) intends to negotiate and award a purchase order without providing for full and open competition (including brand-name) to MBF Bioscience for a Neurolucida solid state fluorescence illumination upgrade.

NORTH AMERICAN INDUSTRY CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (NAICS) CODE
The intended procurement is classified under NAICS code 334516 with a Size Standard of 500 employees.

REGULATORY AUTHORITY
The resultant contract will include all applicable provisions and clauses in effect through the Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 05- 69 dated August 1, 2013.

This acquisition is conducted under the procedures as prescribed in FAR subpart 13-Simplified Acquisition Procedures at an amount not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold ($150,000).

STATUTORY AUTHORITY
This acquisition is conducted under the authority of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 13-Simplified Acquisition Procedures, Subpart 13.106-1 (b) (1), Soliciting from a single source and is not expected to exceed the simplified acquisition threshold. Contracts awarded using FAR Part 13-Simplified Acquisition Procedures are exempt from the requirements of FAR Part 6-Competition Requirements.

DESCRIPTION OF REQUIREMENT

Purpose and Objectives
The purpose of this requirement is acquisition of a Solid State Fluorescence Illumination Upgrade to support current MBF Bioscience Neurolucida imaging systems used at the National Institute of Mental Health. These imaging systems are used to generate full brain reconstructions for research purposes and must be upgraded to support these studies. Only MBF Bioscience equipment is acceptable to ensure compatibility with current systems which are proprietary to MBF Bioscience.

Period of Performance
Delivery and installation of the abovementioned equipment is expected to be concluded within two months after receipt of order. A firm fixed price award is anticipated.

Project Description
A Solid State Fluorescence Illumination Upgrade is required and the upgrade must include the following:

1. Two (2) Custom Solid State Fluorescent Excitation Subsystems (Manufacturer's Part No. FL-SPCX)
2. Two (2) Custom Quad Sets (Manufacturer's Part No. FC-24)
3. Installation and Single Day Training (Manufacturer's Part No. OS-12b)
4. Two (2) 2-Axis Computer Controlled Stepping Motor Systems (Manufacturer's Part No. MS-88)
5. Evaluation and Repair of XY Stage (Manufacturer's Part No. MI-16a)
6. One (1) Neurolucida Standard (Manufacturer's Part No. NL-15)
7. One (1) Microlucida Microscope System Management (Manufacturer's Part No. MA-10)
8. One (1) Virtual Tissue 3D Extension Module (Manufacturer's Part No. NS-25)
9. Two (2) Neurolucida Workstation (Manufacturer's Part No. NL-11m)
10. Customization of Neurolucida Software from Microbrightfield (Manufacturer's Part No. CP-10)

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. The intended source is:

MBF Bioscience
185 Allen Brook Lane, Suite 101
Williston, VT 05495

Only MBF Bioscience will suffice for this requirement to ensure compatibility with current Neurolucia systems which are proprietary to MBF Bioscience. Market research and results of a sources sought notice show that there is no other supplier of the required solid state fluorescence illumination upgrade.

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. 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."

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. 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.

All responses must be received by September 16, 2013 at 8:00 AM EST and must reference number HHS-NIH-NIDA-PS-2013-3106993. Responses may be submitted electronically to Lauren Phelps at [email protected] or by U.S. mail to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), Station Support Contracts and Simplified Acquisitions Branch (SS/SA) 31 Center Drive, Room 1B59, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, Attention: Lauren Phelps. Fax responses will not be accepted.

"All responsible sources may submit a capability statement, proposal, or quotation, which shall be considered by the agency."