SOLICITATION NOTICE
99 -- Application of Auditory Evoked Potential (AEP) Screening Devices to Provide Hearing Measures in Cetaceans
- Notice Date
- 8/21/2006
- Notice Type
- Solicitation Notice
- NAICS
- 541690
— Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services
- Contracting Office
- Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Acquisition and Grants Office, SSMC4 - Room 7601/OFA61 1305 East West Highway, 7th Floor, Silver Spring, MD, 20910, UNITED STATES
- ZIP Code
- 00000
- Solicitation Number
- Reference-Number-NFFK0000600368
- Response Due
- 9/5/2006
- Archive Date
- 9/16/2006
- Description
- This is a combined synopsis/solicitation to provide for the Application of Auditory Evoked Potential (AEP) Screening Devices to Provide Hearing Measures in Cetaceans for NOAA?s Ocean Acoustics Program, part of the NOAA, NMFS? Office of Science and Technology, Marine Ecosystems Division. How marine animals hear and are affected by human noise sources are critical and largely unanswered questions relevant to NOAA?s ability to manage protected species under federal statutes (MMPA and ESA). Auditory evoked potentials (AEP) have been used to measure hearing in odontocete cetaceans in laboratory conditions, which has yielded similar results to behavioral measurements. However, the number of cetacean species represented in captive settings is a small minority of the total number of cetaceans, raising the need to develop means of evaluating hearing in marine mammals not present in laboratories. Recently, AEP technologies have been applied to a limited extent on stranded marine mammals, expanding the number of species for which audiometric data exist. Conducting a hearing test using AEP is relatively rapid and technological developments have advanced the field rapidly. However, until recently the equipment and techniques used have not been particularly portable or technically manageable for most members of the marine mammal stranding network to use. Thus, there is a need for the application of a simple, portable device to screen for hearing loss in cetaceans that can be used in the field by authorized and trained, but not necessarily specialized, marine mammal stranding respondents. Threshold hearing data could be provided to stranding respondents and attending veterinarians as a baseline for animals undergoing rehabilitation to determine whether any antibiotics have produced ototoxic effects. Animals identified as having generally compromised hearing capability using the screening device could then be assessed using more sophisticated and specialized systems to more exactly identify functional deficits. Prototype devices currently exist that are generally similar to hearing screening devices used to test human infants. While there have been numerous applications of specialized systems on cetaceans and other marine mammals, the existing easy-to-use-and-interpret prototypes have not been applied on cetaceans and ?ground-truthed? relative to systems of known capability. This procurement will support the application of existing prototypes to obtain auditory evoked potential thresholds and give a Pass/Fail result relative to a priori criteria. Several signal types will be used to compare the relationship between data obtained with simple versus sophisticated systems based on stimulus parameters. The contractor shall support the application of a simple, portable marine mammal AEP screening device on captive cetaceans and compare the results with those obtained using more sophisticated systems. Specifically, the Contractor shall perform the following tasks: 1) Train 1-2 captive dolphin(s) (or other cetacean species) to remain motionless while suction cup sensors are attached on the dorsal surface behind, a suction cup transducer is attached to its lower jaw, and a series of sounds and resulting neural signals are presented and recorded. 2) Obtain AEP measurements using the prototype screening device with amplitude modulated (AM) tones across a relative broad frequency band (at least 10-100 kHz). Data will be collected across multiple sessions on the same individual in order to assess variability that may be introduced by, for instance, small differences in the positioning of projecting and/or receiving transducers. 3) Obtain AEP measurements using the prototype screening device with broadband click stimuli. Data will be collected within individuals across multiple experimental sessions. 4) Obtain AEP data using established, comprehensive AEP measurement system with AM tones (also at least 10-100 kHz testing bandwidth) over multiple experimental sessions. 5) Obtain AEP data using established, comprehensive AEP measurement system using broadband click stimuli across multiple experimental sessions. 6) Conduct statistical analyses of results obtained using each stimulus and measurement system and quantify the accuracy/reliability of the simple screening device relative to the a priori criteria. 8) Submit findings for publication in the open, peer-reviewed literature. The period of performance is for 12 months from Date of Award. Payment shall be made upon receipt of invoice with final technical report at completion of the project. The resulting purchase order shall be negotiated on a firm-fixed-price basis. The award shall be made on a best-value basis using simplified acquisition procedures and commercial acquisition procedures. Quotes will be evaluated based upon their approach, past performance and price. While these factors are relatively equal, they are listed in order of importance. The solicitation document and incorporated clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular Number 2005-12. The provisions and clauses may be downloaded at http://www.acqnet.gov/far. The following provisions and clauses shall apply to this solicitation: FAR 52.212-l, Instructions to Offerors - Commercial, applies to this acquisition and there is no addenda to this provision; FAR 52.212-2, Evaluation - Commercial Items. The Government shall award a purchase order resulting from this solicitation to the responsible offeror conforming to the solicitation which will be most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered. FAR 52-212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications - Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition and there is no addenda to this provision; FAR 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions - Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition and there is no addenda to this provision; FAR 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders - Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. All interested contractors must be actively registered in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) at the CCR website (www.ccr.gov). These services will be acquired using simplified acquisition procedures, FAR Parts 12 and 13, as supplemented with additional information in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; quotes are being requested and a separate written solicitation will not be issued. All responsible sources may respond to this combined synopsis/solicitation with a quotation addressed to Robin Prather, NOAA Acquisition Division, 1305 East West Highway, Room 7146, Silver Spring MD 20910, to be received no later than 1:00 p.m., September 1, 2006. Responses may be faxed to 301-713-0806 or emailed to Robin.Prather@noaa.gov. Responses must be no more than 10 pages. The Government reserves the right to make a single award, multiple awards, or no award as a result of this RFQ. It is the responsibility of the contractor to confirm NOAA's receipt of quote.
- Place of Performance
- Address: 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring MD
- Zip Code: 20910
- Country: UNITED STATES
- Zip Code: 20910
- Record
- SN01120808-W 20060823/060821220234 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
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