National Cancer Institute, Research Contracts Branch, PSAS, 6120 Executive Blvd, EPS/Room 638, Bethesda, MD 20892-7227

66 -- PEDESTAL/CONNECTOR SYSTEM SOL RFQ90067(NR) DUE 041299 POC Marsha Gorham, Purchasing Agent & Todd Cole, Contracting Officer The National Cancer Institutes (NCI) on the behalf of the National Institutes of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) intends to procure a custom connector/pedestal system from BioElectric Corporation, 16125 SW 72th Avenue, Portland, Oregon, 97224 in accordance with the Simplified Acquisition procedures authorized in FAR part 13. The Laboratory of Neural Control is involved in the development of a visual prosthesis for the blind. After the successful implantation of 38 floating intracortical microelectrodes into the visual cortex of a blind volunteer, the Visual Prosthesis team has worked on improving the micro electrodes and interconnecting hardware. Several modifications to the interconnecting hardware has led to the development of a unique connector/pedestal design for which BioElectric has patent rights. This new connector/pedestal system has been successfully implanted into the visual cortex of study subjects as part of a study to determine the efficacy of the implanted microelectrodes, connector/pedestal system, and the safety of the proposed stimulation pulse train parameters. In the future, these systems are intended to be implanted into the visual cortex of a human volunteer in order to determine the feasibility of developing a visual prosthesis for blindness. The pedestal portion of the system has been specifically designed for use on a human skull to be biocompatible being made of titanium and designed to be interfaced to the bottom connector system. The bottom connector has a unique "machine ribbed" design around the exterior portion of the connector to promote skin integration. The top and bottom connectors are also made of titanium with gold rods which are mounted in a ceramic substrate. The gold rods are polished to form a planar surface, which make contact through a unique anisotropic conductive elastomer, which conducts in only the Z-direction. The cables are specifically designed to interface to the connector/pedestal system using extremely small light weight cabling with miniature connectors. Based on the above, BioElectric Corporation is the only known source to NINDS that has the technology, expertise, and knowledge required for the fabrication of these custom components. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. However, if any interested party believes it can meet the above requirements, it may submit a statement of capabilities. The capability statement and any other information must be in writing and must contain material in sufficient detail to allow NINDS to determine if the party can fully meet this requirement. Capability statements must be received in the contracting office by 3:00 p.m. EST, on April 12, 1999. If you have any questions, please contact Marsha Gorham, Purchasing Agent on (301)402-4509. A determination by the Government not compete this proposed requirement based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. Posted 03/26/99 (W-SN313220). (0085)

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