Fiber Photometry Workstation

INTRODUCTIONTHIS 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 National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) intends to negotiate on a sole source basis with Tucker-Davis Technologies, Inc. for a Fiber Photometry Workstation.NORTH AMERICAN INDUSTRY CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (NAICS) CODE and SET ASIDE STATUSThe intended procurement is classified under NAICS code 334519 – Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing with a Size Standard of 500 employees.REGULATORY AUTHORITYThis 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) 2023-01 dated December 10, 2022.DESCRIPTION OF REQUIREMENTPURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES:Current approaches into investigations of brain circuits and systems require detailed analyses of neuronal circuit dynamics at a cellular or greater resolution across multiple brain regions. Projects being pursued by multiple members of the National Institute of Mental Health’s Section on Behavioral Neuroscience (SBN) require the acquisition of a ready to use (turnkey) fiber photometry (FP) system. Fiber photometry allows quality calcium imaging and optogenetics experiments to be run with access to electrophysiology and control of external behavioral devices. Due to the SBN lab’s growing integration of fiber photometry into their standard experimental paradigms, the SBN can no longer be reliant on preexisting systems.Purchase Description: One (1) Fiber Photometry WorkstationSalient Characteristics:Must be a ready to use (turnkey) system for lock-in amplifier method of fiber photometry;Must allow for high-fidelity signal detection in noisy environments with parasitic room lighting;Must allow for easy integration of stimulation, third-party behavioral box communication, and closed-loop paradigms with no delay in processing;Suitable analog inputs and outputs to control LED or LED drivers, and receipt of fiber photometry feedback;Must allow for control of multiple LEDs and photosensors at once;Must allow integration of other behavioral devices with the FP system with a high level of temporal resolution;Must allow the ability to integrate simple video recording (with integrated playback of video alongside the recorded physiological data);All data should be in a single format and time stamped with a precision of 1 mSec or less. This includes behavioral signals and video inputs.;System must be built around multiple real-time digital signal processors (not analog);Processor must drive up to 6 LEDs and 4 photosensors for multi-color, multi-site recordings;The DC offsets can be automated to prevent clipping. For long, multi-hour experiments, timing cycles can be designed to turn fiber photometry recordings on and off.;Must have 24 channels of programmable digital I/O. The software must provide for easy integration of external behavioral devices with the system, with a jitter of less than 20 microseconds;The software must include ability to integrate with up to two USB cameras for integrated video recording. The software must also feature concurrent, time-aligned playback of video and all other data;Must easily integrate behavioral signals with the fiber photometry system without the use of open source software or need to purchase second party systems to integrate with behavioral boxes;Must be a flexible system for the lock-in amplifier of FP allowing for recording of two or more signals from one photosensor;The systems drivers and sensors must be compatible with all commonly used optogenetics equipment, including those made by Doric, Thor Labs, and Prizmatix.;The system must feature up to six integrated LEDs and four photosensors for 3 LED fiber photometry in 2 sites or animals.;The system must be built around real-time digital signal processors, and have extensive processing capabilities and programmability, making it possible to perform custom processing as well as dynamic control.;The system must allow up to two common source USB cameras to be connected for integrated video recording. The software must allow for easy playback of the time-locked video and all other data.; andThe software must include a library that allows any programming language compatible with Windows ActiveX controls or HTTP to control the system or analyze data (including Matlab).Delivery Date: Within 30 days after Receipt of OrderWarranty: Standard Warranty included with purchaseCONTRACTING WITHOUT PROVIDING FOR FULL OR OPEN COMPETITION (INCLUDING BRAND-NAME) DETERMINATIONThe determination by the Government to award a contract without providing for full and open competition is based upon the market research conducted. Specifically, Tucker-Davis Technologies, Inc. is the only vendor in the marketplace that can provide the products required by the Section on Behavioral Neuroscience .The intended source is:Tucker-Davis Technologies, Inc.11930 Research Circle,Alachua, FL 32615CLOSING STATEMENTTHIS 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, shipping and handling costs, the delivery period after contract award, the prompt payment discount terms, the F.O.B. Point (Destination or Origin), the Dun & Bradstreet Number (DUNS), 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-23-001496. Responses must be submitted electronically to Jeff Moore, Contract Specialist, at jeff.moore@nih.gov and Robin Knightly, Contracting Officer, at robin.knightly@nih.gov. U.S. Mail and fax responses will not be accepted.