The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), Station Support Contracts and Simplified Acquisitions Branch (SS/SA) on behalf of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) intends to negotiate and award a purchase order without providing for full and open competition (Including brand-name) to Cambirdge University Technical Services Limited, University of Cambridge, Houser Forum 3 Charles Babbage Raod, Cambridge, CB3 OGT United Kingdom, for the analysis of neuropsychology and clinical data.

NORTH AMERICAN INDUSTRY CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (NAICS) CODE
The intended procurement is classified under NAICS code 541690-Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services, with a Size Standard of $14.0 million dollar.

REGULATORY AUTHORITY
The resultant contract will include all applicable provisions and clauses in effect through the Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2005-69, September 3, 2013.

This acquisition is conducted under the procedures as prescribed in FAR subpart 13-Simplified Acquisition Procedures at an amount not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold ($150,000).

STATUTORY AUTHORITY
This acquisition is conducted under the authority of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 13-Simplified Acquisition Procedures, Subpart 13.106-1 (b) (1), Soliciting from a single source and is not expected to exceed the simplified acquisition threshold. Contracts awarded using FAR Part 13-Simplified Acquisition Procedures are exempt from the requirements of FAR Part 6-Competition Requirements.

DESCRIPTION OF REQUIREMENT
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) conducts and supports research on brain and nervous system disorders. More than 600 disorders afflict the nervous system. Common disorders such as stroke, epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, and autism are well-known. Many other neurological disorders are rare-known only to the individuals and families affected, their doctors, and scientists who look to rare disorders for clues to a general understanding of the brain as well as for treatments for specific diseases. Neurological disorders strike an estimated 50 million Americans each year, exacting an incalculable personal toll and an annual economic cost of hundreds of billions of dollars in medical expenses and lost productivity.

The mission of the NINDS is to reduce the burden of neurological disease-a burden borne by every age group, every segment of society, and people all over the world. To accomplish this goal the NINDS supports and conducts basic, translational, and clinical research on the normal and diseased nervous system. The Institute also fosters the training of investigators in the basic and clinical neurosciences, and seeks better understanding, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of neurological disorders.

The objective of this project is to conduct data and statistical analysis of Neuropsychology and Clinical Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) data using Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM) software, computational modeling using Matrix Laboratory (MetLab) software, Application Performance Mapping (APM) software, SPM compatible software, Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software, and Microsoft Excel software.

Specifically, the requirement is to: (1) conduct data and statistical analysis of cognitive and neuropsychiatric data sets; and (2) conduct computational modeling using MetLab.

CONTRACTING WITHOUT PROVIDING FOR FULL OR OPEN COMPETITION (INCLUDING BRAND-NAME) DETERMINATION
The determination by the Government to award a contract without providing for full and open competition is based upon the market research conducted as prescribed in FAR Part 10-Market Research, specifically the review and evaluation of the responses to the sources sought notice published in the FedBizOpps on September 3, 2013, as solicitation number HHS-NIH-NIDA(SS/SA)-3039099, titled Analysis of Neuropsychology and Clinical Data.

Cambirdge University Technical Services was the only respondant to the sources sought notice.

Cambridge University (CU) is uniquely qualified to perform this requirement in that their staff includes a neuropsychologist that has knowledge of the program, the protocols, and the data that was produced from the clinical neurophsycology clinical research studies. CU has the comprehensive knowledge of the fMRI, and the inherent decision making paradigms (along with computational modeling) to systemically deconstruct the mechanisms underlying the impulse control behaviors. In addition, CU has specific knowledge of the studies that have taken place and are ongoing, and experience in sorting through and categorizing the associated data.

CLOSING STATEMENT
This synopsis is not a request for competitive proposals. However, interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to this notice. Responses to this notice shall contain sufficient information to establish the interested parties' bona-fide capabilities for fulfilling the requirement and include: unit price, list price, shipping and handling costs, the delivery period after contract award, the prompt payment discount terms, the F.O.B. Point (Destination or Origin), the Dun & Bradstreet Number (DUNS), the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), and the certification of business size. All offerors must have an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) www.sam.gov."

A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. The information received will normally be considered solely for the purposes of determining whether to proceed on a non-competitive basis or to conduct a competitive procurement.

All responses must be received by September 26, 2013, 12:00 noon, eastern standard time and must reference number HHS-NIH-NIDA-SSSA-2013-3039099. Responses may be submitted electronically to John Flannery at [email protected] or by U.S. mail to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), Station Support Contracts and Simplified Acquisitions Branch (SS/SA), 31 Center Drive, Building 31, Room 1B59, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-2080, Attention: John Flannery, Contract Specialist. Fax responses are accepted at 301-480-1358.

"All responsible sources may submit a bid, proposal, or quotation which shall be considered by the agency."