Contracts Management Branch, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NIH, Federal Building, Room 901, 7550 Wisconsin Avenue, MSC 9190, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-9190

A -- MULTI-CHANNEL TRANSCUTANEOUS CORTICAL STIMULATION SYSTEM Sol. RFP No. NIH-NINDS-96-08. Due 052896. Contact Point, Laurie Leonard, 301/496-1813, Contracting Officer, Kirkland I. Davis, 301/496-9203. The Neural Prosthesis Program (NPP) of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), develops implanted devices that interface directly with the nervous system to replace or supplement function in neurologically disabled individuals. This includes visual prostheses for blind individuals based on electrical stimulation of the visual processing portions of the brain. A transcutaneous stimulation system consisting of an extracorporeal computer controlled transmitter and a group of implantable receiver-stimulator modules, each with 256 stimulus channel outputs, is needed. Research and development are required to assure that the implanted portion of this system will be small enough to fit safely and comfortably beneath the scalp and the the stimulus outputs are flexible enough to provide the range of stimulus parameters necessary for producing appropriate sensations of light by intracortical microstimultion. This transcutaneous transmission system will interface not only with discrete wire microelectrodes but also with silicon microstimulating microelectrodes presently being developed by other investigators in the NPP. The The extracorporeal portion of the system will include a computer controlled transmitter for sending power and control signals across the skin to the implanted receiver-stimulation modules. Independently, and not as an agent of th government, the contractor shall exert its best efforts to design and fabricate a transcutaneous transmission system suitable for use in a human visual prosthesis. The contractor will not be required to furnish the microelectrodes nor perform any animal or human testing. Performance of this research project will require expertise in monolithic semiconductor circuit design, high density interconnects and implant packaging. It is anticipated that one award, on a cost-reimbursement basis, will be made for a period of three years. This is not a Request for Proposals. Request for Proposals (RFP) No. NIH-NINDS-96-08 will be issued on or about March 25, 1996 with responses due approximately 60 days thereafter. Interested organizations should request either a streamlined version or an entire RFP document. If no selection is made, a streamlined version of the RFP will be provided. The streamlined version includes only the Statement of Work, deliverable and reporting requirements, special requirements, and technical evaluation criteria. After examination of these documents, any organization interested in responding to the RFP must request the entire RFP either in writing or by FAX request (301-402-4225). Requests must cite the RFP number referenced above. Please supply this office with two (2) self-addressed mailing labels. All responsible sources may submit a proposal which shall be considered by the Government. Refer to numbered note 26. (067)

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