SOURCES SOUGHT
A -- Data Science Techniques for Analyzing Human Brain Neuro-dynamics in Functional (fMRI) and Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) Brain Data - Draft SOW
- Notice Date
- 7/24/2018
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 54171
— Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life SciencesT
- Contracting Office
- Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, 6707 Democracy Blvd., Suite 105, Bethesda, Maryland, 20894, United States
- ZIP Code
- 20894
- Solicitation Number
- NIHLM201800082
- Archive Date
- 8/15/2018
- Point of Contact
- Keturah D. Busey, Phone: 3014966546
- E-Mail Address
-
buseyk@mail.nlm.nih.gov
(buseyk@mail.nlm.nih.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- Draft SOW This is a Small Business Sources Sought Notice. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding: (1) the availability and capability of qualified small business sources; (2) whether they are small businesses; HUBZone small businesses; service- disabled, veteran-owned small businesses; 8(a) small businesses; veteran-owned small businesses; woman-owned small businesses; or small disadvantaged businesses; and (3) their size classification relative to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for the proposed acquisition. Your responses to the information requested will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method, including whether a set-aside is possible. An organization that is not considered a small business under the applicable NAICS code should not submit a response to this notice. The National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Library of Medicine (NLM) is conducting a market survey to help determine the availability and technical capability of qualified small businesses, veteran-owned small businesses and/or HUBZone small businesses capable of serving the needs identified below. This Sources Sought Notice is for informational and planning purposes only and shall not be construed as a solicitation or as an obligation or commitment by the Government. This notice is intended strictly for market research. BACKGROUND The fMRI signal is commonly thought to be a measure of neural activity in the brain. However, the blood oxygenation-level dependent (BOLD) signal measured in fMRI depends on complex mechanisms linking neural activities to vascular perfusion and other factors, which are not yet fully understood. A question that arises is, in the BOLD signal, what is really neural and what is not? Therefore, interpretation of the BOLD signal requires further research to address currently controversial issues. To obtain a complete understanding of BOLD signals, researchers need to develop knowledge of the processes that generate this signal at the vascular, cellular, and molecular levels, including developing better models of these processes and their related parameters. fMRI of the human brain requires multiple T2* weighted images, which allows the capture of the differences occurring in the brain during activation and rest (Kwong, 1992), as measured from the BOLD signal contrast. This is however an indirect measure of the underlying neuronal activity. BOLD contrast actually measures the changes in the concentration of oxyhemoglobin and deoxyhemoglobin, which are presumed to follow changes in neuronal activity (Ogawa,1992). Assuming that the neuronal activation in a region of brain requires increased energy sources, the region will requires more oxygen to break down adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the energy source of the cells and tissue. This demand for oxygen is fulfilled by the vascular delivery of more oxygen rich (higher oxyhemoglobin concentration) blood to the area of activation. Since oxyhemoglobin and deoxyhemoglobin have different magnetic properties (oxyhemoglobin is diamagnetic while deoxyhemoglobin is paramagnetic), changes in their relative concentrations result in changes to the local magnetic field, which is detectable in the MR signal. (Paramagnetic materials cause quicker dephasing of the MR signal thus lowering the signal intensity.) The computation of the these local changes is highly dependent on the particular method used to model the way in which the detected signal responds to the blood dynamics, the Hemodyanamic Response Function. OBJECTIVE The two parts of the proposed work are (1) developing methods, including Deep Learning and Data Science techniques which exploit large data resources, to analyze inter- and intra-subject variability of the Hemodynamic Response Function (HRF), a known key factor in measuring the fMRI BOLD (Blood-Oxygen-Level Dependent) signal; and (2) developing methods which support analysis of human metabolite signals in Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) data, and the correlation of these signals with functional (fMRI) human brain data. PROJECT REQUIREMENTS See attached draft statement of work. Anticipated Period of Performance The period of performance will be for base period from September 24, 2018 through September 23, 2019 with one (1) one-year option period. Other Important Considerations This Sources Sought Notice is not a Request for Quotes (RFQ), nor is an RFQ available. All responsible sources may submit a capability statement which will be considered by the National Library of Medicine. Interested firms responding to this Sources Sought Notice must adhere to the following: (a) Provide a capability statement demonstrating relevant experience, skills and ability to fulfill the Government's requirements for the above. The capability statement should contain enough sufficient detail for the Government to make an informed decision regarding your capabilities; however, the statement should not exceed 10 pages. (b) The capability statement must identify the responder's: small business type and size; DUNS number; NAICS code; and technical and administrative points of contact, including names, titles, addresses, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail addresses. (c) All capability statements must be submitted electronically no later than 12:00 p.m. local prevailing time on Tuesday, July 31, 2018. NLM requires capability statements to be submitted electronically through the NLM Electronic Contract Proposal System (eCPS) using the following link: https://ecps.nih.gov All capability statements received via eCPS by Tuesday, July 31, 2018 at 12:00 p.m. local prevailing time will be considered by NLM. For directions on using eCPS, go to https://ecps.nih.gov and click on "How to Submit." NOTE: To submit your electronic capability statement using eCPS, all offerors must have a valid NIH External Directory Account, which provides authentication and serves as a vehicle for secure transmission of documents and communication with the NLM. The NIH External Directory Account registration process may take up to 24 hours to become active. Submission of proposals by facsimile or e-mail is not accepted. Firms interested in responding to this notice must be able to provide the professional services required by NLM outlined in the attached Statement of Work. The offeror shall include all information necessary to document and/or support the qualification criteria in one clearly marked section of its proposal. All responses from responsible sources will be considered. Disclaimer and Important Notes: This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization's qualifications to perform the work. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. After a review of the responses received, a pre-solicitation synopsis and solicitation may be published in Federal Business Opportunities. However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation. Confidentiality: No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation(s).
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- Record
- SN05004706-W 20180726/180724231043-ac4f2d876dd935ec4720a7b7a9ac6fd2 (fbodaily.com)
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