PRE-SOLICITATION NOTICE OF INTENT

NON-COMPETITIVE

TITLE

Iron-Rhodium sputtering target for contrast agent development

INTRODUCTION

PURSUANT TO FAR Subpart 5.2—Synopses of Proposed Contract Actions, THIS IS A PRE-SOLICITATION NOTICE OF A PROPOSED CONTRACT TO ACTION.   

THIS IS A PRE-SOLICITATION NON-COMPETITIVE NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD A CONTRACT OR PURCHASE ORDER WITHOUT PROVIDING FOR FULL OR OPEN COMPETITION (INCLUDING BRAND-NAME). 

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), Office of Acquisitions, Contracts Management Branch Red, NINDS Section on behalf of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) intends to negotiate and award a contract with AJA International, Inc., 809 Country Way, Scituate, MA 02066 (AJA), for Iron-Rhodium sputtering target for contrast agent development

NORTH AMERICAN INDUSTRY CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (NAICS) CODE

The intended procurement is classified under NAICS Code 334413 - Semiconductor and Related Device Manufacturing with a Size Standard of $30,000,000.

PRODUCT SERVICE CODE

9620 – Minerals Natural and Synthetic

REGULATORY AUTHORITY

The resultant contract will include all applicable provisions and clauses of the Federal acquisition Regulation (FAR) in effect through the Federal Acquisition Circular 2020-07/08, dated 31 Aug 2020.

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.

DESCRIPTION OF REQUIREMENT

The NINDS Functional and Molecular Imaging Section requires one disc of Iron-Rhodium sputtering target to be used as the raw material for making thin films of Iron-Rhodium, a magnetocaloric material which has potential as a switchable MRI contrast agent.

Salient characteristics are as follows:

Iron-Rhodium sputtering target:

Composition: 50/50 atomic percentage

2 inch diameter

3 mm thick

99.9% purity

SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION

The NINDS Functional and Molecular Imaging Section has long been interested in tracking of individual cells with MRI using micron-scale magnetic particles.  One of the problems with using magnetic particles has been that it is sometimes difficult to tell them apart from endogenous objects in the body such as blood vessels. Using particles made from a swithable MRI contrast agents would allow the NINDS to distinguish between such objects and the particles.

The NINDS has had some research success demonstrating a bulk version of this experiment, using large 0.25-1 millimeter particles, showing the large magnetic moment change in response to a temperature change while in an MRI magnet.  In collaboration with Eric Fullerton of University of California, San Diego, the NINDS is now looking to develop the material into smaller particles around 1 um in diameter, a critical size for continuing NINDS’ cell-tracking experiments.

The NINDS and its collaborators have had success and prior experience using the AJA Iron-Rhodium sputtering target product.  This particular product that NINDS requires is extremely sensitive to changes in composition, and so a change in manufacture or a slight change in the properties could have a significant impact on the research results. Therefore, to continue this research, the NINDS requires purchase of this Iron-Rhodium sputtering target from AJA.

In order to prevent any potential disruptions to current research and to maintain the continuity of ongoing NINDS research, AJA is the only one responsible source, and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. (FAR 13.106(b)(1))

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. 

The respondents must submit clear and convincing evidence that their product is equivalent or superior to the product specified in this notice. The response shall include: the unit price, list price, shipping and handling costs, delivery days after contract award, delivery terms, prompt payment discount terms, F.O.B. Point (Destination or Origin), product or catalog number(s); product description; and any other information or factors that may be considered to determine the method of acquisition. The response must also indicate the country of manufacturer.

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 25, 2020 at 12:00 PM Eastern Time and must reference number NIH-NINDS-NOI-20-009748. 

Responses must be submitted electronically to Sneha V. Singh, [email protected],  and must reference the solicitation number NIH-NINDS-NOI-20-009748, on your electronic request.  FAX requests are not accepted.

“All responsible sources may submit a capability statement, proposal, or quotation, which shall be considered by the agency.”