SOURCES SOUGHT
66 -- Shim Power Supply and RF Coil Upgrade to 7T MRI Scanner
- Notice Date
- 8/25/2017
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 334516
— Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing
- Contracting Office
- Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Drug Abuse, 6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 4211, MSC 9559, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892-9559, United States
- ZIP Code
- 20892-9559
- Solicitation Number
- HHS-NIH-NIDA-SSSA-SS-17-623
- Archive Date
- 9/14/2017
- Point of Contact
- Danielle R. Brown, Phone: 301 480 2385
- E-Mail Address
-
danielle.brown2@nih.gov
(danielle.brown2@nih.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- Federal Business Opportunities (FBO) SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE 1.Solicitation Number: HHS-NIH-NIDA-SSSA-SS-17-623 2.Title: Shim Power Supply and RF Coil Upgrade to 7T MRI Scanner 3.NAICS Code: 334516 - Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing 4.Size Standard: 1,000 Employees 5.Description: This is a Sources Sought notice. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding the availability and capability of all qualified sources to perform a potential requirement. 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: This acquisition consists of two parts: an upgrade to the shim power supply of the 7 Tesla MRI scanner and the purchase of a new radio frequency (RF) volume coil optimized for mouse brain scanning. Shim power supply: Achieving a uniform static magnetic field distribution across the mouse brain is essential in all MRI studies and especially in gradient echo and spectroscopy scans. In practice, magnetic field homogeneity is optimized by "shimming", the process of adjusting currents in a set of electromagnetic shim coils placed around the animal. The shim coils generate magnetic field gradients with various geometries ("channels") which are intended to cancel out spatial variations in the static magnetic field arising from magnet imperfections and variations in magnetic susceptibility within and around the subject. In the mouse head, structures with different susceptibility, e.g. brain parenchyma, fluid-filled ventricles, skull and air-filled sinuses, are in close proximity, resulting in very large magnetic field gradients which are difficult to shim out. To address this problem, animal MRI scanners are typically equipped with small-diameter shim coil sets and high-current shim power supplies. Although our scanner has a shim set capable of operating with up to 10 amps per channel, our existing power supplies are limited to 5 amps. With this configuration, we often have insufficient current in one or more shim coils to adequately shim the mouse brain. This results in artifacts and low signal-to-noise ratio in images and poor water suppression and inadequate chemical shift resolution in spectra. For this reason, we propose to upgrade to a 10 amp shim power supply, which should double the available shim strength in each channel. We expect that this upgrade will improve the quality of images and spectra of the mouse brain, particularly in regions such as the prefrontal cortex, where proximity to the skull and sinuses leads to large field inhomogeneities, making shimming particularly challenging. Mouse head RF coil: In our current mouse brain MRI studies, we use a surface coil array placed on the back of the mouse's head to receive the MRI signal from the brain and a large body coil to transmit the radio frequency pulses needed to excite this signal. While this setup gives good sensitivity for regions of the brain on the posterior (dorsal) side of the mouse's head, this sensitivity falls off rapidly with distance from the surface coil, so that deeper regions of the brain are shaded and difficult to visualize. The proposed volume coil would provide uniform coverage of the entire mouse head in the anterior-posterior direction, enabling accurate anatomical measurements and spectroscopic studies of the deep brain. As a side benefit, this same coil could be used to excite the nuclear spins more efficiently than is possible with the existing body coil. This would allow shorter pulse lengths, shorter echo times and thus faster scan times than can be achieved at present. The improved sensitivity and excitation efficiency of the proposed mouse head coil would benefit all mouse neuroimaging studies. Purpose and Objectives: The purpose of this acquisition is to procure High Power Shim Amplifier and Mouse Head Volume Coil with an accompanied Mouse Tip for Head Volume Coil to perform brain MRI measurements in mouse models of Alzheimer's Disease for our new project: "Neurodegenerative Processes in Cognitive Impairment and AD." The brain and cerebral vasculature from the animals with the above dysfunctions may have structural and metabolic changes, which accompany the neurodegenerative diseases. These changes can be studied longitudinally in live animals by MRI. The measured MRI parameters will also be compared before and after treatments aimed at the neurodegenerative diseases associated with the vascular disorders. The requested parts are necessary to perform the brain MRI tests in the mice with Alzheimer's Disease. Project requirements: 1.(1) MRI shim power supply; (2) High Power Shim amplifier (6 channels, max current 10 A); 2.(1) MRI mouse head volume coil; (2) Mouse Head Volume Coil - 23 mm; 3.(1) MRI mouse head holder; (2) Mouse Tip for Head Volume Coil Applications; Salient characteristics Shim amplifier: Since the purpose of this upgrade is to provide maximum current to the high-order shim channels of our existing Bruker BGA12S-HP shim/gradient set, a suitable amplifier must provide 10 amps of current in a minimum of 6 channels. This amplifier must be electrically and mechanically compatible with the GRASI-2 shim/gradient controller and console cabling in our existing Bruker AV3HD MRI console. Mouse head coil: A suitable head coil must be mechanically compatible with our existing Bruker mouse bed and possess a radio-frequency (RF) and electrical interface compatible with the CCM unit on our existing Bruker AV3HD MRI console. Specifically, this interface must include firmware that specifies the appropriate RF power limit for the coil to protect the coil from overloading. The inner diameter of the coil must be at least 23 mm to accommodate adult mice and the distance from the front of the coil to its field center must be sufficiently short to permit the mouse's shoulders to lie outside the coil. Quantity: •Shim Amplifier: One (1) •Mouse Head Coil: One (1) Delivery Date: Delivery by September 30, 2017. Other Considerations: The period of warranty is one year following demonstration of specifications. Warranty covers both parts and labor. Capability statement /information sought. Please provide a capability statement, this includes: •Provide evidence the respondent has performed services. •Provide evidence of similar previous contracts of research of the same magnitude. •Information regarding (a) staff expertise, including their availability, experience, and formal and other training; (b) current in-house capability and capacity to perform the work; (c) prior completed project of similar nature; (d) corporate experience and management capability; and (e) examples of prior completed Government contracts, references, and other related information. Please provide your 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. 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. The response is limited to one to two (1-2) page limit. The 1-2 page(s) do not include the cover page, executive summary, or references, if requested. 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 Danielle R. Brown, Contract Specialist, at Danielle.brown2@nih.gov. The response must be received on or before Wednesday, August 30, 2017 at 12:00PM, Eastern Standard 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 pre-solicitation 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)." PURCHASE DESCRIPTION 1.Statement of Need and Purpose: The purpose of this acquisition is to procure High Power Shim Amplifier and Mouse Head Volume Coil with an accompanied Mouse Tip for Head Volume Coil to perform brain MRI measurements in mouse models of Alzheimer's Disease for our new project: "Neurodegenerative Processes in Cognitive Impairment and AD." The brain and cerebral vasculature from the animals with the above dysfunctions may have structural and metabolic changes, which accompany the neurodegenerative diseases. These changes can be studied longitudinally in live animals by MRI. The measured MRI parameters will also be compared before and after treatments aimed at the neurodegenerative diseases associated with the vascular disorders. The requested parts are necessary to perform the brain MRI tests in the mice with Alzheimer's Disease. 2.Background Information and Objective: This acquisition consists of two parts: an upgrade to the shim power supply of the 7 Tesla MRI scanner and the purchase of a new radio frequency (RF) volume coil optimized for mouse brain scanning. Shim power supply: Achieving a uniform static magnetic field distribution across the mouse brain is essential in all MRI studies and especially in gradient echo and spectroscopy scans. In practice, magnetic field homogeneity is optimized by "shimming", the process of adjusting currents in a set of electromagnetic shim coils placed around the animal. The shim coils generate magnetic field gradients with various geometries ("channels") which are intended to cancel out spatial variations in the static magnetic field arising from magnet imperfections and variations in magnetic susceptibility within and around the subject. In the mouse head, structures with different susceptibility, e.g. brain parenchyma, fluid-filled ventricles, skull and air-filled sinuses, are in close proximity, resulting in very large magnetic field gradients which are difficult to shim out. To address this problem, animal MRI scanners are typically equipped with small-diameter shim coil sets and high-current shim power supplies. Although our scanner has a shim set capable of operating with up to 10 amps per channel, our existing power supplies are limited to 5 amps. With this configuration, we often have insufficient current in one or more shim coils to adequately shim the mouse brain. This results in artifacts and low signal-to-noise ratio in images and poor water suppression and inadequate chemical shift resolution in spectra. For this reason, we propose to upgrade to a 10 amp shim power supply, which should double the available shim strength in each channel. We expect that this upgrade will improve the quality of images and spectra of the mouse brain, particularly in regions such as the prefrontal cortex, where proximity to the skull and sinuses leads to large field inhomogeneities, making shimming particularly challenging. Mouse head RF coil: In our current mouse brain MRI studies, we use a surface coil array placed on the back of the mouse's head to receive the MRI signal from the brain and a large body coil to transmit the radio frequency pulses needed to excite this signal. While this setup gives good sensitivity for regions of the brain on the posterior (dorsal) side of the mouse's head, this sensitivity falls off rapidly with distance from the surface coil, so that deeper regions of the brain are shaded and difficult to visualize. The proposed volume coil would provide uniform coverage of the entire mouse head in the anterior-posterior direction, enabling accurate anatomical measurements and spectroscopic studies of the deep brain. As a side benefit, this same coil could be used to excite the nuclear spins more efficiently than is possible with the existing body coil. This would allow shorter pulse lengths, shorter echo times and thus faster scan times than can be achieved at present. The improved sensitivity and excitation efficiency of the proposed mouse head coil would benefit all mouse neuroimaging studies. 3.Generic Name of Product: Pre-clinical MRI console hardware and mouse head coil 4.Purchase Description: 1.(1) MRI shim power supply; (2) High Power Shim amplifier (6 channels, max current 10 A); 2.(1) MRI mouse head volume coil; (2) Mouse Head Volume Coil - 23 mm; 3.(1) MRI mouse head holder; (2) Mouse Tip for Head Volume Coil Applications; 5.Salient characteristics Shim amplifier: Since the purpose of this upgrade is to provide maximum current to the high-order shim channels of our existing Bruker BGA12S-HP shim/gradient set, a suitable amplifier must provide 10 amps of current in a minimum of 6 channels. This amplifier must be electrically and mechanically compatible with the GRASI-2 shim/gradient controller and console cabling in our existing Bruker AV3HD MRI console. Mouse head coil: A suitable head coil must be mechanically compatible with our existing Bruker mouse bed and possess a radio-frequency (RF) and electrical interface compatible with the CCM unit on our existing Bruker AV3HD MRI console. Specifically, this interface must include firmware that specifies the appropriate RF power limit for the coil to protect the coil from overloading. The inner diameter of the coil must be at least 23 mm to accommodate adult mice and the distance from the front of the coil to its field center must be sufficiently short to permit the mouse's shoulders to lie outside the coil. 6.Quantity: Shim Amplifier: One (1) Mouse Head Coil: One (1) 7.Delivery Date: Delivery by September 30, 2017. Other Considerations: The period of warranty is one year following demonstration of specifications. Warranty covers both parts and labor.
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/HHS/NIH/NIDA-01/HHS-NIH-NIDA-SSSA-SS-17-623/listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Address: 251 Bayview Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland, 21224, United States
- Zip Code: 21224
- Zip Code: 21224
- Record
- SN04648564-W 20170827/170825232510-fbb1b2414164d61424294434744ac5e2 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
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