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 the availability and capability of all qualified sources to perform a potential requirement. This notice is issued to help determine the availability of qualified companies technically capable of meeting the Government requirement, to determine the method of acquisition, and availability of domestic sources manufactured in the United States in sufficient and reasonably available commercial quantities and of a satisfactory quality. 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. Small businesses are encouraged to respond. For equipment/supply requirements, responses must include the place of manufacturing (i.e. address if supply/equipment is a domestic end product and include country of manufacture). For equipment/supply requirements, small businesses must also address the size status of the manufacturer under the applicable NAICS code (i.e. address Non-Manufacturer Rule). Project background. The NINDS is a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), conducting 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. Research in the Cellular Neurophysiology Section (CNS/NINDS) focuses on circuit and cellular physiology of dopaminergic neurons located in the midbrain. In particular, CNS/NINDS is interested in excitability and firing patterns of dopaminergic neurons located in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc), neurons that undergo selective cell death in Parkinson’s patients. CNS/NINDS would like to understand how synaptic and intrinsic conductances differ among SNc and VTA dopamine neurons with the hope that this may provide insight to why SNc dopamine neurons are particularly vulnerable in Parkinson’s disease. To study the excitability of dopaminergic neurons, CNS/NINDS experimenters record directly from dopamine neurons in tissue slices using highly sensitive electrophysiology rigs. The current setups that we currently have in the lab use amplifiers and digitizers from Molecular Devices including the software, pClamp. In order to continue to use our pClamp software, we will need to use Digitdata digitizers from Molecular Devices. Project Requirements: The NINDS requires two (2) amplifiers (inclusive of all system components such as headstages, USB Cable, Baseplates for attaching headstages to manipulator, Electrode Holders, Model Cells, 1mm pins,) and two (2) digitizers (inclusive of components such as USB 2.0, cable, Region-specific power cable, AxoScope 10, software CD). At a minimum, the amplifiers must meet the following requirements: The systems must have external trigger command or userprogrammable voltage threshold for rapid, automatic mode-switching between current and voltage-clamp and a means of detecting current or voltage oscillations and automatically disabling or intelligently reducing compensation settings to protect the cell from damage. The systems must be able to automatically injects a compensatory current over a user-defined time course. The systems must also include a dual headstage system to record simultaneously in two independent channels that integrate both current-to-voltage and voltage-following circuitry. The systems must also have computer control software that providing automation of pipette offset, fast/slow electrode capacitance compensation, whole-cell capacitance compensation, series resistance correction, pipette capacitance neutralization and bridge balance. At a minimum, the digitizers must meet the following requirements: The systems must be compatible with pClamp software that is used for acquisition of electrophysiology. The systems must be able to sample at 500 kHz per channel. The systems must have a humsilencer that eliminates 50/60 Hz line-frequency noise pattern associated with high-frequency line harmonics. Anticipated period of performance: The contractor shall deliver and install the required equipment within six (6) months after receipt of order. Delivery must be FOB Destination . Other important considerations : Cite any other information that is necessary for potential respondents to understand the nature of the potential requirement or proposed acquisition. In case domestic sources are available and capable of fulfilling the Government’s need, and a future solicitation is published, the Government will use evaluation preferences in accordance with FAR 25. Capability statement /information sought. Companies that believe they possess the capabilities to provide the required products 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 and/or other government-wide acquisition contracts (GWACs) by which all of the requirements may be met, if applicable, and 4) any other information considered relevant to this program. Capability statements must also include the Company Name, Unique Entity ID from SAM.gov, Physical Address, and Point of Contact Information. The response must include the respondents’ technical and administrative points of contact, including names, titles, addresses, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail addresses. Interested companies are required to identify their type of business, applicable North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) 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, please 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 and 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 ten (10) page limit. The 10-page limit does not include the cover page, executive summary, or references, if requested. All responses to this notice must be submitted electronically to the Contract Specialist and Contracting Officer. Facsimile responses are NOT accepted. The response must be submitted to Valerie Whipple, Contracting Officer at e-mail address
[email protected]. The response must be received on or before July 27, 2023, 9:00 a.m., Eastern Time. “ 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 www.sam.gov. 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).”