A -- A -- LABORATORY ASSISTANT

Notice Date

November 28, 2001

Contracting Office

Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, Research Contract s Br., 6120 Executive Blvd. EPS Room 604, Rockville, MD, 20852

ZIP Code

20852

Solicitation Number

NCI-RFQ-20007-NV

Response Due

December 17, 2001

Point of Contact

Deborah Moore, Purchasing Agent, Phone (301) 496-8609, Fax (301) 402-4513, Email dm170b@nih.gov -- Caren Rasmussen, Lead Contract Specialist, Phone (301) 402-4509, Fax (301) 402-4513, Email rasmusc@mail.nih.gov

Description

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation prepared in accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation Part 13, as su pplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation, and a separate written solicitation will not be issued. This solicitation, No. NCI-RFQ-20007-NV will include all applicable provi sions and clauses in effect through FAR FAC 2001-01. This solicitation is set-aside for small businesses. The North American Industrial Code is 541990 and the business size sta ndard is 5 million dollars. Background Information and Purpose of the Procurement: The Neurophysiological Pharmacology Section, NINDS, NIH, conducts research on the role of dopamine in regulation neuronal ac tivity in the basal ganglia and on how the loss of dopamine contributes to the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Scientific data is collected from neurophysiological studies in rats, and in a rat model of Parkinson's disease. The project title is PHARMACOLOGY AND PHYSIOLOGY OF THE SUBSTANCIA NIGRA AND BASAL GANGLIA: Intramural Research Project: Z01 NS 02139-22 ET. Research in the Branch has recently focused on novel dynamic patterns in neuronal spike trains in several basal ganglia nucl ei. We have determined that these spike trains are showing slow periodic oscillations in rate that can be classified as peri odic, with periods in the multisecond range. Most importantly, these slow oscillations are profoundly modulated by dopamine agonists: drugs that are used to treat Parkinson's Disease. To evaluate the significance of these potentially important obse rvations, we need to compare patterned and oscillatory activity of multiple neurons within and among the different basal gan glia nuclei. We also need to study these phenomena in awake behaving rats to determine whether different neurons in differen t areas of the basal ganglia are expressing these oscillations in synchrony and whether they are altered by the behavior of the animal. These studies generate an enormous amount of data and rat brains that need to be processed. Data, using the lab computers, i s collected from 2 to 4 electrode arrays of 8 electrodes each, implanted in different brain regions of the rat. REQUIREMENTS What needs to be done: Data representing waveform and timing of the action potentials need to be analyzed in graphic form in order to process further various periods for cross correlation on spike trains from all the different pairs of neurons reco rded. Presently, there are four scientists in the lab who generate such data and support for data analysis is required. In addition, the brains of animals that have been studied must be processed at the close of the experiments for histological co nfirmation of the recording sites. Sections must be stained and sites of electrode placement identified. These studies also require that the lab computers are able to keep up with the constant advances in the data collection and analysis hardware and software. Our computers and software are upgraded constantly and require maintenance, back up, and troubleshooting. Our laboratory has 11 desktops, one back-up server and 6 laptop computers that need to be kept in working order. Where work should be done: For the most part, the work needs to be conducted in the laboratory in Bldg 10, 5C214, so the con tractor can confer with the Investigators about the procedures and results. In performing the requirements herein, the Contr actor will have access to equipment in the Neurophysiological Pharmacology Section, and supplies (e.g., cryostat, histologic al stains and other reagents, computer parts as needed, tools for installing computer hardware, such software as necessary t o process lab-generated data (ViaGrafix DesignCAD, Freehand 8 & 9, SigmaStat, SigmaPlot, MS Word, Excel, Access, Publisher, etc.)) and adequate space to perform the detailed tasks. A limited amount of computer based data analysis can be conducted o n a home-based computer capable of running the lab software. The Contractor shall possess experience with and be able to generate composite computer-based graphics output of Lomb period ogram analysis of single unit recording data from data generated by at least 4 scientists in the laboratory. The Contractor shall possess familiarity and experience with cutting thin frozen sections using a cryostat, and the staining of such sectio ns, as well as the preparation of the staining reagents. The Contractor shall possess experience with and be able to install computer upgrade hardware and software, do maintenance a nd troubleshooting of computer hardware and software, and be familiar with WIN95/98, WIN NT 4.0 Workstation and WIN 2000, as well as WIN 2000 Server. The Contractor will be responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of at least 18 computers. The Co ntractor will give the Senior Scientist a verbal status report each workday, describing the work accomplished that day. When should work be done: The work should be done as required by the rate of production of data in the laboratory and as co mputer maintenance and upgrade needs arise. The data generated by lab scientists over the course of a week would require a day or two/week of work by the contractor to be processed. In addition, the computer maintance and upkeep will require abou t one -- three days/month. The contractor should have at least one year's experience with histological tissue slicing and th e computer data analysis and several years of experience with the maintenance and upkeep of the computers. How should work be done, what special equipment or procedure should be used and what deliveries are expected: Work should b e performed as described above under "what needs to be done", using special equipment and procedures specified above. Delive ries will be presented at the close of each working day. Period of Performance: Award will be made for one year from the start of the purchase order with two 1 year options that ma y be unilaterally exercised by the Government. Level of Effort: 576 hours per year; work is intermittent in nature. Services will typically be needed one to two days a w eek throughout the year. Notice will be given on a weekly basis. Evaluation Criteria: The evaluation factors for this RFQ include technical and price factors. The technical portion of quot ations will receive paramount consideration in selecting a vendor. However, price will also be a factor in the event that t wo or more vendors are determined to be essentially equal following the evaluation of technical factors. With regards to pr ice, the price evaluation will be based on the aggregate. 1) Understanding of the requirements and techniques for performin g the attached requirement: 40%; 2.) Previous experience with the required techniques needed to perform this requirement: 40%; 3.) Experience in performing services and projects similar to the attached requirement with regard to size and conten t: 20% OTHER INFORMATION AND SUBMISSION OF QUOTATIONS: Offers must be submitted on an SF-18 form with a completed "Schedule of Offered Supplies/Services." Quotes must be accompani ed by a completed NCI REPRESENTATIONS, CERTIFICATIONS, AND OTHER STATEMENTS OF OFFERORS OR QUOTERS. The award document will incorporate the requirements of the clause at FAR 52.213-4, TERMS AND CONDITIONS -- SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITIONS. In addition to the price quotation, offerors must submit a technical quotation plus descriptive literature, warranties, and/or other materi als that demonstrate that their offer meets all of the foregoing requirements and evaluation criteria. Interested offerors m ay contact Deborah Moore, Purchasing Agent or Caren Rasmussen, Contracting Officer at (301)-402-4509 to receive full text co pies of the representations and certifications or other cited provisions and clauses. Technical and price quotations, along with a completed NCI REPRESENTATIONS, CERTIFICATIONS, AND OTHER STATEMENTS OF OFFERORS OR QUOTERS, and related materials (original and 3 copies) must be received in the contracting office at the address listed above no later than 1:00 PM EST (local Washington, D.C. time) on December 17, 2001. Offerors that fail to furnish the requir ed information or reject the terms and conditions of the solicitation may be excluded from consideration. Cite NCI-RFQ-2000 7-NV on your offer. No Collect calls will be accepted.

Web Link

Visit this URL for the latest information about this (http://www.eps.gov/spg/HHS/NIH/RCB/NCI-RFQ-20007-NV/listing.html)

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20011130/ASOL002.HTM (A-332 SN513947)