32-channel MRI 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 Functional Magnetic Resonance Facility  (FMRIF) wishes to procure a 32-channel radiofrequency (RF) head coil that will allow collection of data compatible with the multi-site Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study on General Electric’s (GE) MR-750 3 Tesla MRI scanners operated by FMRIF. Purpose and Objectives: FMRIF currently operates 5 MRI scanners that are used by researchers primarily in Intramural Research Programs at NIMH and NINDS, but also other institutes at NIH, to conduct a variety of basic science and clinical research MRI scans, on healthy volunteers and patients.  Keeping these scanners up to data with latest hardware and software is a core responsibility of FMRIF, so as to provide it users with the cutting-edge tools being used for research.  As part of this mission, FMRIF seeks to procure hardware that will allow users to collect data that is fully matched to the ABCD protocol, and in doing so, allow the collection of Functional MRI data with multi-band factors up to 6 along the Superior-to-Inferior (S-I, or head-foot) axis of a human subject.Project requirements: ABCD protocol compatible 32-channel MRI head coil for GE MR-750 3T MRI Scanner.Salient Characteristics:32-channel MRI head coil for General Electric MR-750 3T MRI Scanner.Be hardware and software compatible with General Electric’s MR-750 3T MRI scanner hardware and software, including, but not limited to FMRI, ARC, ASSET, HyperBand, CUBE, and PROMO applications.Have full 510k clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).Have at least 32 channels from which signal can be received from the subject or object being imaged.Be able to acquire data with slice-accelerated (multi-band, a.k.a. simultaneous multi-slice, a.k.a. SMS, a.k.a. HyperBand) factors greater than 2 along the head-to-foot (superior-to-inferior) axis of a human subject.Provide compatibility with data acquisition for the ABCD protocol, allowing Functional MRI (FMRI) data to be acquired with a SMS factor of 6, and Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) data to be acquired with a SMS factor of 3, along the head-to-foot (superior-to-inferior) axis of a human subject.Provide flexible patient mirror mounting options to allow visual stimulus delivery via either front- or rear- -mounted screens.Quantity: One.Anticipated period of performance: Delivery no later than Sept 30, 2020:Other important considerations: Hardware warranty of at least (12 months) after delivery.Capability statement /information sought.  Respondents must provide clear and convincing documentation of their capability of providing the products specified in this notice including providing information regarding being an authorized provider of the services.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.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 an outline format that addresses each of the elements of the project requirement and in the capability statement /information sought paragraphs stated herein. 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.  Facsimile responses are NOT accepted.The response must be submitted to Michael Horn, at e-mail address michael.horn@nih.gov .The response must be received on or before July 26, 2020, 5:00 pm, 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.