SPECIAL NOTICE
B -- MRI Scan MIRECC Project
- Notice Date
- 6/3/2019
- Notice Type
- Synopsis
- NAICS
- 611310
— Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools
- Contracting Office
- Department of Veterans Affairs;Network Contracting Office;NCO 19;6162 South Willow Drive, Suite 300;Greenwood Village CO 80111
- ZIP Code
- 80111
- Solicitation Number
- 36C25919Q0372
- Archive Date
- 7/3/2019
- Point of Contact
- susan.delacruz@va.gov
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD SOLE SOURCE Project Title: Salt Lake City, UT MIRECC Studies Involving Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) The Department of Veterans Affairs, Network Contracting Office 19 intends to award a sole source contract with the authority of FAR Part 6.301-1, Only One Responsible Source to University of Utah, 201 S President Circle Rm 408, Salt Lake City, UT 84112-9023. This notice is for informational purposes only and is not a request for quotation. Responses to this notice must demonstrate clear and convincing evidence that competition would be advantageous to the Government, would not be cost or time prohibitive, and would not hinder the mission objective of the Department of Veterans Affairs, NCO 19. Questions or comments to this Notice of Intent should be directed to Contract Specialist Susan Dela Cruz, email address: susan.delacruz@va.gov. Title: Salt Lake City MIRECC Studies Involving Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Scope of Work: Deborah Yurgelun-Todd, PhD; Perry Renshaw, MD, PhD; Doug Kondo, MD; and Erin McGlade, PhD, as part of the MIRECC mission, are conducting studies of traumatic brain injury, depression, bipolar disorder, substance abuse and suicidality in veterans utilizing functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Drs. Yurgelun-Todd, Renshaw, McGlade and Kondo are using the MRI scanners at the University of Utah Center for Advanced Imaging Research (UCAIR)/University of Utah Neuropsychiatric Institute (UNI) that are part of the University of Utah. UCAIR/UNI shall provide all labor, supervision and all other resources required to deliver the requirements stated herein, except as may otherwise be specified in this statement of work. Background: Neuroimaging methods utilized by Drs. Yurgelun-Todd, Renshaw, Kondo, and McGlade include not only structural images but research specific functional magnetic resonance images (fMRI), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). Each of these imaging modalities utilizes different experimental pulse sequences, individualized fMRI paradigms, specialized head coils (which can cost close to $22,000 each year), and scanner and computer software that has been developed over time for use on the research-dedicated Siemens 3T scanners at UCAIR and UNI. The specialized pulse sequences, head coils, software programs, etc., are not transferrable to different scanners and would result in significant cost and lengthy delays due to the need for obtaining/ developing the new hardware and software. Furthermore, because each MRI scanner is different, the data collected at UCAIR and UNI could not be comparable to the data obtained at other MRI scanners, which would lead to loss of a significant amount of data. UCAIR/UNI have all the data from the previous studies so this is a required source for us to use and is at the cost benefit to the government since no additional software or coils will need to be purchased. Performance Period: Base year July 21, 2019 through July 20, 2020, followed by 4 one-year Government options. Requirements The MRI technicians at UCAIR/UNI shall assist the participant in getting into the MRI scanner. The technician shall set up the protocol that is specified by the principal investigator and then run the paradigms on the scanner computer. Once data are acquired and assurance is made that there is no motion artifact, the participant will exit the scanner. The 3T Siemens Trio scanner has an actively shielded water-cooled high-performance gradient system (45 mT/m amplitude, 200 T/m/s slew rate), 32 high speed RF receiver channels and RF body coil, head coil and several coils of variable numbers of elements designed for specific body parts. Custom coils for unique geometries and applications have been designed and fabricated in the coil development lab. The coil lab is equipped with an HP 8752A network analyzer, an HP 4193A vector impedance meter, and a full-size test bore/RF shield to simulate the MRI electrical environment. The 3T Siemens system is also equipped with pulse sequences and appropriate software for MRS, fMRI, DTI, and other high-end imaging capabilities. A user friendly yet highly flexible pulse sequence development platform is also included to allow research and development in novel techniques. For fMRI, the 3T facility includes a stimulus-presentation computer with E-PRIME and Mat Lab software for design and presentation of stimuli to subjects in the 3T scanner. The fMRI Stimulus-Presenting PC controls the presentation of stimuli according to a pre-planned paradigm, records patient responses from button box or eye-tracker, and records the temporal relation between stimuli, responses, and acquired raw fMRI brain images. The scanner room contains high quality audio-visual stimulus-presenting equipment: fMRI visual stimulus projection system with a video projector with high-resolution LCD screen, custom-designed lens with adjustable zoom for easy image focus and alignment; rear projection screen; VGA coupler for simultaneous video display to subject and operator; magnet-compatible stereophonic audio system with ear-bud headset, noise reduction cups & break-in microphone for presentation of audio signals and communication between subject and operator. An MR-compatible, fast-response button box with 4 switches and fiber-optic interface and an infra-red eye-tracking system are provided for transmitting subject responses from within the scanner room to stimulus-presenting computer, without generating electromagnetic noise that can degrade the weak MRI signals that form the raw brain image data. The fMRI Data System, housed in UCAIR/UNI, has a very fast computer for fMRI post-processing tasks and a RAID data storage system which can make the fMRI data of an entire experimental cohort available for on-line statistical analysis. Contractor Experience Requirements The government will determine on a SR basis what positions are considered key personnel. The contractor shall identify, by name, the key management and technical personnel who will work under this task order at the time the work is being negotiated. If a key person becomes unavailable to complete the SR, the proposed Substitutions of key personnel shall be made only as approved directed by the Contracting Officer Representative (COR) /designee. The government will not dictate specific experience and education requirements of the employees initially proposed to perform the work stated herein. The contractor shall submit a resume of qualifications for the COR/designee and all other direct employees proposed for the project. All Contractor employees will be approved by the COR/designee prior to bringing on duty. If, at any time from date of award to the end of the contract, non-key personnel Contractor personnel are no longer available, HES/HIS reserves the right to review the qualifications of the proposed replacement personnel and to reject individuals who do not meet the qualifications set forth in the TLO. Team personnel proposed by the contractor should possess some of the following knowledge and/or skills: The contractor must notify VHA in advance and we will approve or reject proposed contractor key personnel for the performance of this contract. The contractor shall submit a resume of qualifications to the COR/designee for key personnel and all other direct employees proposed for the project. All Contractor employees will be approved by the COR/designee prior to bringing on duty. If, at any time from date of award to the end of the contract, Contractor personnel are no longer available, the VHA will approve the qualifications of proposed replacement personnel and will reject individuals who do not meet qualifications set forth herein. The contractor must inform the VHA COR/designee, and Project Manager/Task Manager when personnel are removed from the contract for any reason. The Contractor shall remove any employee from the performance of this contract within five (5) workdays of receiving notice from the Contracting Officer that the employee's performance is unsatisfactory. All Contractor employees are subject to immediate removal from performance of this contract when they are involved in a violation of the law, VA security, confidentiality requirements and/or other disciplinary reasons. The contractor must inform the COR/designee, and Project Manager/Task Manager when personnel are removed from the contract for any reason. If a key person becomes unavailable to complete the SR, proposed Substitutions of key personnel shall be made only if approved by the COR/designee and Project Manager. The contractor shall submit a resume of qualifications to the COR/designee for all direct employees proposed for the project. All Contractor employees will be approved by the COR/designee prior to bringing on duty. It is agreed that: 1. The preliminary and final deliverables, and all associated working papers, application source code, and other material deemed relevant by VA which have been generated by the contractor in the performance of this task order, are the exclusive property of the U.S. Government and shall be submitted to the CO at the conclusion of the task order. 2. The CO will be the sole authorized official to release, verbally or in writing, any data, draft deliverables, final deliverables, or any other written or printed materials pertaining to this task order. No information shall be released by the contractor. Any request for information relating to this task order, presented to the contractor, shall be submitted to the CO for response. 3. Press releases, marketing material, or any other printed or electronic documentation related to this project, shall not be publicized without the written approval of the CO. End of Page NOTE: THIS NOTICE WAS NOT POSTED TO FEDBIZOPPS ON THE DATE INDICATED IN THE NOTICE ITSELF (03-JUN-2019); HOWEVER, IT DID APPEAR IN THE FEDBIZOPPS FTP FEED ON THIS DATE. PLEASE CONTACT 877-472-3779 or fbo.support@gsa.gov REGARDING THIS ISSUE.
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- SN05329486-F 20190605/190603230024 (fbodaily.com)
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