SPECIAL NOTICE
66 -- San Diego Instruments Animal Behavioral Testing Equipment
- Notice Date
- 1/10/2022 8:00:26 AM
- Notice Type
- Special Notice
- NAICS
- 334516
— Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing
- Contracting Office
- 250-NETWORK CONTRACT OFFICE 10 (36C250) DAYTON OH 45428 USA
- ZIP Code
- 45428
- Solicitation Number
- 36C25022Q0230
- Archive Date
- 03/11/2022
- Point of Contact
- Jeffrey Rozema, Contracting Officer, Phone: (269) 223-6450
- E-Mail Address
-
jeffrey.rozema@va.gov
(jeffrey.rozema@va.gov)
- Awardee
- null
- Description
- INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE The Department of Veterans Affairs, VHA Regional Procurement Office Central, Network Contracting Office 10, intends to enter into a sole source procurement for animal behavioral testing equipment for the John D. Dingell VA Medical Center Research Department, 4646 John R Street, Detroit, MI 48201. The Department of Veterans Affairs intends to award a sole source, firm-fixed price purchase order to San Diego Instruments, Inc., 9155 Brown Deer Road, Suite 8, San Diego, CA 92121. The associated North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code is 334516 Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing, and the Business Size Standard is 1,000 Employees. The purchase of animal behavioral testing equipment from San Diego Instruments, Inc. will consist of the SR-lab system, pure tone auditory system, pure tone speaker assembly, rotor-rod system, grip strength system, freeze monitor system, any-maze video tracking system configured bundle and the following bundle additions: configured computer, barnes maze, multiple unit open field, and radial arm maze. The purpose of this equipment is to study the behavioral response after hearing loss and stem cell-based regeneration. In addition to hearing tests, we will understand how the hearing will improve brain function and eventually the response to the environment. It is the Government s belief that the equipment from San Diego Instruments represents the best testing system for the research department s intended purpose based on the following component features: Unique Features of the SR-Lab Startle Response System: + The SR-LAB is the most widely cited system for startle response testing in academic and scientific papers. + The SR-LAB uses an accelerometer sensor capable of sensing the sudden changes in a startle reflex and providing accurate responses regardless of the weight of the animal. Other systems use load cell sensors which do not react quickly enough to accurately measure the startle reflex. Also load cells have weight limits requiring multiple enclosures to handle various animal weights within a single species. + The tubular shaped animal enclosure with closely coupled sensor is unique to the SR-LAB in that it keeps the animal centered over the sensor. Positioning over the sensor and the close coupling provide consistent results. No other system has the close coupling of the enclosure with an accelerometer sensor. Other systems have close coupling with load cells or loose enclosures allowing the animal to move around and not stay positioned over the sensor. + The SR-LAB provides tabulated data but also provides the data in a raw format allowing viewing of the actual wave form generated. Systems that only supply tabulated data are open to possible errors. By supplying the raw data the SR-LAB assures that all tabulated responses can be verified. + The Analysis module unique to the SR-LAB provides the user a level of assurance that the data are correct. This feature provides the ability to review a graph of the raw data points against the tabulated data. This feature also allows the user to develop tabulated data for any subset of the total response. Other systems may not have this feature. Unique Features of the Rotor-Rod Apparatus: + The only system with Fear of Falling motivation via sufficient falling distances to induce this motivator. No other motivator to stay on the rod is used. + Completely enclosed test environment prevents subject escapes. + User definable rod speed ramps via software. User can define acceleration, constant speed and deceleration steps within a single rod speed ramp. The San Diego Instruments Rotor Rod is the only system with deceleration capability. + Seven photo beams per lane assure that the animals fall will be recorded. + Photobeams are placed below the rod assuring that the animal is only recorded when actually falling. Eliminates the possibility of recording a false fall when the animal hands onto the rod and makes a complete revolution as can happen in other units with the beams above the rod. + Operates through a serial port, thus no special interface cards are required. Can be run from a laptop. USB to Serial Adapter included with Rotor Rod. Unique Features of the Animal Grip Strength Apparatus: + Gauges record data in either direction; pull and push. + Up to two gauges can be supported. + Gauges can be switched between metric, Newton and Lbs. scales with the push of a button. + Acrylic platform allows adjustment of height of gauges and distance between gauges to custom fit apparatus any size subject. + Acrylic platform center channel focuses the animal assuring the animal will contact the grip and you will get a measurement. + Adjustable grip can be adjusted from 0° to 45°. This allows the user to set the grip to the optimum angle for the best results. + Adjustable grip eliminates the need for physically removing a grip from the gauge and connecting a different grip to the gauge when switching between fore and hind limb testing on single gauge systems. + Grip is mesh style providing multiple grip points for the animal simplifying the task of getting the animal to grab the grip. + All gauges come with USB interface. + San Diego Instruments Grip Strength software uses database architecture to aggregate all your results in a single file for a study. The data is in table format immediately ready for exporting. This feature eliminates the need to manually aggregate results at the end of the study. Unique Features of the Freeze Monitor System: + User created, flexible, reusable, stimulus script files allow test definitions without programming. + Light, sound, and shock stimuli + Closely space photobeams in two dimensions assure animal motion is detected with no adjustments required. Video systems generally require adjustments to be made on each animal to assure the animal is tracked. This add much complexity and time to the experiment. + Software adjustable shock levels with feedback controlled, constant current shocker. + Complete keyboard controlled diagnostics for each stimulus/communication port. + Context Box fits inside Freeze Monitor to change context. Made of IR Passive plastic allowing photobeams to pass through it. This allows you to run the same test as without the Context Box. No special test definitions required when using the context box. + Analysis Feature reports number of freezing episodes, duration of each episode and percentage of freezing time. This notice satisfies the requirement at FAR 5.201(b)(1) to publicize the proposed contract action. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals or quotes. Interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirement. A determination not to compete this requirement, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the Government. Interested persons may identify their interests and capability to respond to this requirement no later than 5:00 PM Eastern Time, Friday, January 14, 2022. Any response to this notice must show clear and convincing evidence that competition would be advantageous to the Government. Supporting evidence must be furnished in sufficient detail to demonstrate the ability to meet the subject requirement. This information shall be provided at no cost or obligation to the Government. Interest/capability statements shall be submitted to Jeffrey Rozema via e-mail at jeffrey.rozema@va.gov. Telephone inquiries will not be accepted.
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