Solicitation Number: HHS-NIH-NIDA-SSSA-SBSS-2016-352

Title: NV-2000A nVista in vivo brain imaging system

Classification Code: 66 - Instruments & laboratory equipment

NAICS Code: 334- Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing/334516- Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing

Description:
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
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is the nation's leading medical research agency and the primary Federal agency whose mission is to reduce the burden of disease which they accomplish by seeking fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems and the application of that knowledge to enhance health, lengthen life, and reduce illness and disability, conducting, supporting and making medical discoveries that improve people's health and save lives.

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) is a part of the NIH, and conducts research into the causes, treatment, and prevention of neurological disorders and stroke. The NINDS mission is to seek fundamental knowledge about the brain and nervous system and to use that knowledge to reduce the burden of neurological disease.

Unlike any other organ of the body, the brain is critically dependent on a continuous blood supply. Due to its high-energy demands, the brain operates under a tight coupling of neuronal electrical activity to the hemodynamic regulation of energy supply and waste removal. The 'neurovascular coupling' entails a complex, highly redundant array of signaling mechanisms aimed at maintaining homeostasis of the brain parenchyma by regulating cerebral blood flow (CBF) on a precise spatial and temporal domain. There is increased evidence that such mechanisms result from an integrated action of neurons, glia and blood vessels, which form a 'neurovascular unit' acting at the cellular level to regulate local CBF. Disruption of these mechanisms causes brain dysfunction and disease. Therefore, it is imperative to study the mechanisms of neurovascular coupling.

The Cerebral Microcirculation Section (CMS) has a long-standing interest in imaging individual neural and blood vessels in sensory cortices under normal and pathological conditions, and the marmoset is our main animal model. To study neurovascular coupling, CMS needs to visualize individual neurons and blood vessels in the living brain. For this, CMS requires an animal model in which a small flap of bone is surgically removed from the skull and replaced by a glass window, so that a microscope can be used to visualize the brain underneath. The NV-2000A nVista in vivo brain imaging system facilitates cellular and vascular functional imaging in the behaving marmoset.
Objective
The purpose of this acquisition is to procure one (1) NV-2000A nVista in vivo brain imaging system.

Project Requirements:

The contractor shall provide the NINDS Cerebral Microcirculation Section with (1) NV 2000A nVista brain imaging system as follows:

Quantity/Product Code/Description
(a) 1/ATWR-1 ACCELERATE Training Workshop Registration: ACCELERATE Training Workshop Registration - 1 Lab Member. Seat is valid for 1 year only. Training shall be held at the contractors training facility in Palo Alto, CA. Training shall be conducted by Ph.D. level scientists.

(b) 1/IC-1000 Inscopix Care: Contractor shall provide a price for each system for one year warranty coverage which shall include:
- Free repairs and/or replacements for ANY hardware damage,
whether caused by user, animal, or unknown
- Complimentary overnight shipping to and from Inscopix
- In-depth technical and application science support, including continued access to all nVista HD Support Program and Inscopix and Community resources (an on-line forum where the user community can post questions and obtain technical and scientific input)

(c) 1/NV-2000A nVista Starter Package:

1) One nVista in vivo brain imaging system comprised of:
- Miniature microscope
- Data acquisition hardware module
- Data acquisition software - Accessory Kit
2) Mosaic Data Analysis Software Suite - One (1) License
3) 1:1 Scientific and technical support via email/phone/Skype
4) Online knowledge base , including user manuals, training
videos, protocols, application notes.

(d) 3/100-000592 ProView^TM Lens Probe 1.0mm diameter, ~4.3mm Length Prism Probe

Delivery Date
The contractor shall deliver the NV 2000A nVista brain imaging system within 60 business days after receipt of order. Delivery must be FOB and delivered during normal working hours (from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM local prevailing time, Monday through Friday).

Section 508 Electronic and Information Technology Standards
Is not applicable for this requirement.

Capability Statement /Information Sought.
The respondent's response shall also include any other specific and relevant information related to the requirements of this project that will enable the Government to determine the capabilities of the company to perform the specialized requirements described in this synopsis. Interested organizations must demonstrate and document in any response submitted, to this market survey extensive experience with and the ability to perform all of the specialized requirements elsewhere described.

The respondent must also provide their DUNS number, organization name, address, point of contact, and size and type of business (e.g., 8(a), HubZone, etc.) pursuant to the applicable NAICS code and any other information that may be helpful in developing or finalizing the acquisition requirements.

The information submitted must be must be in an outline format that addresses each of the elements of the project requirement 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 fifteen (15) page limit. The 15-page limit does not include the cover page, executive summary, or references, if requested.

The response must include the respondent's technical and administrative points of contact, including names, titles, addresses, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail addresses.

All responses to this notice must be submitted electronically (facsimile responses are NOT accepted ) to:

Andriani Buck
Contract Specialist
NIH/NIDA/SSSA
[email protected]

The response must be received on or before May 13, 2016, 8:00 AM (EST).

Disclaimer and Important Notes:

This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in 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 a review of the responses received, a presolicitation synopsis and solicitation may be published in Federal Business Opportunities. However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation.

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).