SOLICITATION NOTICE
D -- Computer Software Programming Support
- Notice Date
- 3/21/2011
- Notice Type
- Presolicitation
- NAICS
- 611310
— Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools
- Contracting Office
- Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, Rockledge Dr. Bethesda, MD, Office of Acquisitions, 6701 Rockledge Dr RKL2/6100 MSC 7902, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892-7902
- ZIP Code
- 20892-7902
- Solicitation Number
- NHLBI-CSB-(HL)-2011-127-DDC
- Archive Date
- 4/12/2011
- Point of Contact
- Deborah - Coulter, Phone: (301) 435-0368
- E-Mail Address
-
dc143b@nih.gov
(dc143b@nih.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- THIS IS A NOTICE OF INTENT, NOT A REQUEST FOR A PROPOSAL. A SOLICITATION DOCUMENT WILL NOT BE ISSUED AND PROPOSALS WILL NOT BE REQUESTED. The COAC Services Branch, Office of Acquisitions, DERA, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), NIH, intends to negotiate with Catholic University of America, 620 Michigan Avenue, Washington D.C. 20064, for the following services outline in the statement of work.. Background Information: The goal of this contract is to procure computer software programming support for the development of confocal microscopy imaging system, and image processing, visualization, and quantification tools for the Laboratory of Cardiac Energetics (LCE). To increase the volumetric coverage in conventional confocal microscopy imaging, an automated system, Rapid Overlapping-Volume Acquisition and Reconstruction (ROVAR), has been developed in the LCE to rapidly acquire consecutive non-planar 3D image stacks. The current setup of the system involves a dedicated computer workstation to receive and process real-time data from the microscope, and to control a dynamic stage and a focusing unit for consecutive 3D acquisition. The alignment of individual 3D image stacks is currently performed on a separate computer workstation offline to assemble those image stacks to a large jointed volume after the acquisition. Purpose and Objectives: To improve the efficiency of the data acquisition and post processing workflow, there is a need to gain software support to enhance the features of the current system for image acquisition and processing. Furthermore, there are additional needs to develop software tools for microscopic image analysis to support ongoing research of the Integrative Physiology program at the LCE. The current computer software application of the ROVAR system was written in Labview framework by calling Leica drivers to control the microscope stage and focus unit. The software application may also perform external procedure and function calls to image visualization and processing libraries developed by other researchers or collaborators. Contractor Requirements: The Contractor is required to successfully accomplish the tasks listed as well as having excellent programming skills but also a comprehensive knowledge of computer vision and computer graphics. We need a contracting entity with C++, OpenGL, CUDA, and IDL experience and multi-year experience working in the field of image processing and computational modeling. Additional areas of interest include parallel or distributed computing, and GPU computing. We foresee that most of the tasks could be completed by a junior computer programmer/scientist with several years of programming experience in C++, IDL and good knowledge of image processing and computer graphics. Specific features and functions for software development to improve the current image acquisition workflow may include, but not limited to, the following: Automated Volume Alignment: To implement existing algorithms or to design new algorithms for aligning non-planar 3D image stacks inline on the ROVAR computer system. This function will be implemented as a standalone function/library and be called from the Labview framework for fast volume alignment. 3D Vessel Viewer: To develop 3D visualization tools for inline viewing of multi-channel image volumes. This viewer will be implemented as a standalone function/library and to be called from the Labview framework for interactive real-time inspection of the 3D data send from the acquisition system. This viewer will also be capable of displaying the automated aligned 3D volume. Image Quality Metrics: To study image quality metrics or indices that can be used toward improving and guiding image acquisition and volume alignment. Once effective indices or metrics are determined, a standalone function/library will be implemented and be called from the Labview framework to rapidly provide useful feedback to improve the successful rate of image acquisition. In additional to the software development for image acquisition, software development for improving the post processing and image analysis of the 3D volume is of high interest. Specific features and functions for software development in image processing and modeling include, but not limited to, the following: Vessel Segmentation: The current post processing tools for 3D vessel segmentation are implemented in IDL, which consist of several image processing components. Some of the components are preliminarily developed for prototyping and not necessary optimized for computational speed or definite accuracy. To further improve the robustness, effectiveness and the usability of these image processing components, there is a need to study advanced algorithms for, i) enhancement filtering; to increase vesselness measures and to mitigate imaging artifacts for image segmentation, ii) feature extractions and pattern classification; to increase the robustness and accuracy of vessel segmentation, iii) computation speed up; to develop or implement more efficient algorithms or through hardware acceleration. Vessel Geometry Modeling: The current procedure in computing vessel geometry starts with 3D skeletonization of the binarized vessel volume. This process is implemented in IDL through an iterative process of voxel "peeling", which is very time-consuming and can be biased from non-symmetric geometry. It is necessary to improve the efficiency of the algorithm, not only to speed up the computation but also to increase the accuracy. Further geometrical processing and computations such as vessel radius measurements, and vessel pathway tracking, etc. are underway. These computation and study of the vessel topology may aid to further pattern classification of different vessel/fiber types, or to differentiate distinct vessel structure in different tissues. Period of performance: The junior person is expected to perform the assigned tasks at least two days a week on site for a total of 1000 hours per year. Services are to be delivered between the dates of 4/1/2011 through 3/31/2012. Work will be performed at the NIH campus, Bldg. 10, Rm. B1S219 in cooperation with NHLBI/LCE researchers. Reporting Requirements and Deliverables: The selected entity will distribute and present the work on a regular basis to the laboratory and in particular will discuss its potential use of integration needs with the LCE staffs. The deliverable will include compiled computer programs and source codes, comments and usage inside the source code, and relevant documents. Program Management and Control Requirements: The selected entity will meet with LCE staffs weekly on NIH campus to discuss the progress of the project and plans for future implementation. Inspection and Acceptance Requirements: The selected entity will meet with LCE staffs regularly to present the software release and to provide assistance for user training, technical support, report writing, and bug fixings. Government Responsibilities: Office/lab space will be provided on the NIH campus, Bldg. 10, Rm. B1D416, with personal computer workstation and laptops access to NHLBI network. NIH will provide all software and required sample images. The work will be conducted within standard NIH research policy. Intellectual Property Issues: It is understood that nothing herein shall be deemed to constitute, by implication or otherwise, the grant to the contractor (herein "Entity") of any license or other rights under any patent, patent application or other intellectual property right or interest belonging to the NHLBI. Entity retains all intellectual property rights in its software products, copyrighted data file formats, and previously developed code. The specific computer software and source code, and overall system as modified by any procedure by the contracting entity will be the exclusive property of NHLBI; shall be 508 compliant by understanding of, and expertise in, the requirements of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. The sole source determination consideration is due to the fact that the computer software, as described in the SOW, was developed by individuals at CUA as a joint collaboration with NHLBI. Alternative approaches of hiring software programmers to accomplish similar tasks would result in the delay of our project development. Such a government driven process would be more time consuming due to the training, and managing quantified individuals. In addition, certain computer source code required for software modification and system integration is owned by the individuals at CUA. It is important to have a continuum of support and services from the CUA to expedite our project development. The notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. Industry Classification (NAICS) Code is 611310, Colleges, Universities and Professional Schools with size standard of $7.0 million; this is not a small business set-aside.. The acquisition is being conducted under FAR Part 13, simplified acquisition procedures, therefore the requirements of FAR Part 6 B Competitive Requirements are not applicable (FAR Part 6.001) and the resultant purchase order will include all applicable provisions and clauses in effect through the Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 05-49 (January 24, 2011). This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. Interested parties may identify their interest and capabilities in response to this synopsis, by March 28, 2011, 7:30am Eastern Standard Time. The determination by the Government not to compete the proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct future competitive procurement. Inquires to this announcement, referencing synopsis number NHLBI-CSB-(HL)-2011-127-DDC, may be submitted to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, Office of Acquisition, Procurement Branch, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Suite 6042, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-7902, Attention: Deborah Coulter. Response may be submitted electronically to coulterd@nhlbi.nih.gov. Faxes will not be accepted. Responses will only be accepted if dated and signed by an authorized company representative..
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- Place of Performance
- Address: NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, United States
- Zip Code: 20892
- Zip Code: 20892
- Record
- SN02405780-W 20110323/110321234657-eb3130933e90e89a15948bc1324b42e6 (fbodaily.com)
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