MRI Scanner Head Coil

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 goal of the Neuroimaging Research Branch (NRB), a Branch within the the National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Branch (NIDA-IRP), is to better understand the neurobiological antecedents of illicit drug use and abuse, the neuronal consequences of short and long-term drug use, and the potential reversibility of these neuroadaptations. Advanced TMS protocols, MRI acquisition pulse sequences and novel analysis strategies are developed and applied in both human and preclinical models in an integrated translational approach to understand the causations of drug taking along with the acute and long term consequences of such use. Healthy, disease free individuals and those with various drug dependence disorders are studied. The long-term objective of this research is for the development of better behavioral and experimental devices for the treatment of substance abuse and help prevent vulnerable individuals from initiating drug use.Functional MRI is based on the increase in blood flow to the local vasculature that accompanies neural activity in the brain. This results in a corresponding local reduction in deoxyhemoglobin because the increase in blood flow occurs without an increase of similar magnitude in oxygen extraction. Since deoxyhemoglobin is paramagnetic, it alters the T2* weighted magnetic resonance image signal. Thus, deoxyhemoglobin is sometimes referred to as an endogenous contrast enhancing agent, and serves as the source of the signal for fMRI. Using an appropriate imaging sequence, human cortical functions can be observed without the use of exogenous contrast enhancing agents on a clinical strength scanners. The multimodality combination with non-invasive brain stimulation, such as, TMS allows NIDA-IRP's Neuroimaging Research Branch the unique ability to studying brain causality, while mapping the downstream effect of a magnetic stimulation in specific brain regions.Current MRI compatible TMS coils, which need to be attached to an MRI compatible holder, requires RF-coils with enough inner space to accommodate the TMS-coil as well as the holder. The transmit/receiver RF- head coil offers the required characteristics for this combination.Purpose and Objectives: The purpose of this acquisition is to provide NIDA-IRP's Neuroimaging Research Branch with one (1) transmit/receiver RF- head coil which will be used in the newly upgraded Siemens Magnetom Prisma Fit 3T MRI Scanner. This coil will allow the integration of TMS and fMRI functions in the Prisma Fit MRI scanner system.Project requirements:The transmit/receiver RF - head coil must possess the following salient characteristics:General• Circularly polarized send/receive head coil with integrated preamplifier• Upper coil part removable• Open patient-friendly design• No coil tuning• Cushions for patient comfort and stabilization of the head• Detachable mirrorApplications• Head examinations• High resolution brain spectroscopyPhysical Dimensions• Dimensions: 315 mm × 475 mm × 360 mm (L×W×H)Warranty:• Full warranty to include twelve months full parts and labor with an additional six month warranty on parts.• Warranty to commence 60 days after delivery for twelve months.Anticipated delivery date: 30 days from date of awardOther important considerations: The coil must be compatible with a Siemens Magnetom Prisma Fit 3T MRI Scanner.Capability statement /information sought:Respondents must provide clear and convincing documentation of their capability of providing the products specificed in this notice. Also, information must be provided in sufficient details of the respondents' (a) staff expertise, including their availability, experience, formal and other training; (b) current in-house capability to perform the work; (c) prior completed projects of similar nature; (d) corporate experience and other management capability; and (e) examples of prior completed Government contracts, references, and other related information.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.Finally, respondents are also encouraged to provide a general overview of the respondent's opinions about the difficulty and/or feasibility of the potential requirement, and any other information regarding innovative ideas or concepts that may be applicable.Submission Instructions: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 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.The response must include the respondents' 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 to the Contract Specialist and Contracting Officer. Facsimile responses are NOT accepted.The response must be submitted to Leon Wong, Contract Specialist, NIH/NIDA/SSSA at leon.wong@nih.gov.The response must be received on or before July 22, 2017 at 12:00 p.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 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)."Contact Information: Leon Wong, Contract Specialist, Phone 3014807503, Email leon.wong@nih.gov Office Address :6001 Executive BoulevardRoom 3165 Bethesda MD 20892 Location: National Institute on Drug Abuse, Station Support/Simplified Acquisitions Set Aside: N/A