PRE-SOLICITATION NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD A CONTRACT WITHOUT PROVIDING FOR FULL OR OPEN COMPETITION: Electrode Arrays for Nonhuman Primates

NOTICE OF INTENT to Sole Source

1. SOLICITATION NUMBER:

NIMH-22-004334-NOI

1. TITLE:  Electrode Arrays for Nonhuman Primates

1. CLASSIFICATION CODE:

65 – Medical, Dental, and Veterinary Equipment and Supplies

1. NAICS CODE: 334510 –Electromedical and Electrotherapeutic Apparatus Manufacturing

1. RESPONSE DATE:

07/07/22

1. POINT OF CONTACT:

Primary

Kyle Miller

kyle.miller2@nih.gov

Secondary

Christine Frate
christine.frate@nih.gov

1. DESCRIPTION:

INTRODUCTION

THIS IS A PRE-SOLICITATION NON-COMPETITIVE (NOTICE OF INTENT) SYNOPSIS TO AWARD A CONTRACT WITHOUT PROVIDING FOR FULL OR OPEN COMPETITION (INCLUDING BRAND-NAME).

The Laboratory of Neuropsychology (LN) in the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) intends to purchase a electrode array for nonhuman primates on a sole source basis with BLACK ROCK MICROSYSTEMS.

NORTH AMERICAN INDUSTRY CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (NAICS) CODE and SET ASIDE STATUS

The intended procurement is classified under NAICS code 334510 –Electromedical and Electrotherapeutic Apparatus Manufacturing with a Size Standard of 1,250 employees.

REGULATORY AUTHORITY

This acquisition is conducted under the authority of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 13—Simplified Acquisition Procedures. Contracts awarded using FAR Part 13—Simplified Acquisition Procedures are exempt from the requirements of FAR Part 6—Competition Requirements. FAR Subpart 13.106-1 (b) Soliciting from a single source provides that: For purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold, Contracting officers may solicit from one source IF the contracting officer determines that the circumstances of the contract action deem only one source reasonably available (e.g., urgency, exclusive licensing agreements, brand-name OR industrial mobilization).

The resultant contract will include all applicable provisions and clauses in effect through the Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2022-06 dated April 26, 2022.

DESCRIPTION OF REQUIREMENT

The Laboratory of Neuropsychology (LN) in the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) investigates higher brain functions such as decision making and reward-guided learning. The goal of this project is to investigate relationships between brain areas and behavior. This work will be used to understand the complex neural circuitry that primates use for decision making. Such understanding is part of the mission of the NIMH. This work requires specific high density electrode arrays to simultaneously record from large numbers of neurons in the brain.

The essential characteristics of the high-density cortical arrays for single unit recording in nonhuman primates are 1) uniform 400 µm pitch “bed-of-nails” arrangement of silicon etched electrodes; 2) precise 1.0- or 1.5-mm depth; 3) SIROF metallization of electrode surface; 4) proven performance for high signal-to-noise single unit recording in nonhuman primates; 5) impedance above 100 Kohm; and 6) gas sterilizable.

The supplies will be required to be delivered within 90 days after receipt of purchase order.

CONTRACTING WITHOUT PROVIDING FOR FULL OR OPEN COMPETITION (INCLUDING BRAND-NAME) DETERMINATION

During market research, it was found that only the suggest source, Blackrock Microsystems, can furnish the requirements, to the exclusion of other sources, because these electrodes are entirely proprietary – developed at the University of Utah over two decades. Blackrock Microsystems is the only licensed vendor of this product. The proprietary Blackrock/Utah array essential for this purchase is only produced and supplied by Blackrock Microsystems and no alternative source or substitute is available. Also, it is the only commercial product tested in nonhuman and if a competing product is brought to market, it would also have to be tested in nonhuman primates before consideration. With those two points in mind, Blackrock Microsystems is the only believed supplier of the required supplies.

The intended source is:

Blackrock Microsystems

630 Komas Drive, Suite 200

Salt Lake City, UT 84108

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.

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

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, the delivery period after contract award, the prompt payment discount terms, the F.O.B. Point (Destination or Origin), the Unique Identity ID (UEI), 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.

All responses must be received by the closing date and time of this announcement and must reference the solicitation number, NIMH-22-004334-NOI. Responses must be submitted electronically to Kyle Miller, Contracting Specialist, at kyle.miller2@nih.gov. U.S. Mail and fax responses will not be accepted.