This is a sources sougth notice for service to perform AEP audiograms on captive beluga whales as part of a research project for NOAA, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Marine Mammal Laboratory (NMML) located in Seattle, WA

PURPOSE:
NMML need a contractor to perform AEP audiograms on captive beluga whales as part of a research project funded by the NOAA Science and Technology Program. Audiograms (hearing sensitivity test) need to be collected in captive belugas in aquarium facilities using electrophysiological methods (auditory evoked potential AEP). NOAA does not have the capacity to perform AEP audiograms and therefore there is a need to purchase this service.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS:
Audiograms should be obtained from trained belugas in a U.S. aquarium facility during a controlled noise exposure experiment. Baseline and masked hearing thresholds should be collected to obtain both beluga baseline hearing and masked hearing from different noise sources.

Audiograms must be obtained by auditory evoked potentials (AEP) methods using suction cup surface electrodes. AEP must be measured in octaves and half-octaves from 1 to 150 kHz. Hearing thresholds must be determined statistically using magnitude squared coherence methods.

Baseline and masked thresholds will be collected in trained belugas using sound projections of pre-recorded anthropogenic noise sources provided by the PI. The hearing-test tones should be played from a free-field transducer while free-field anthropogenic noise will be projected by second transducer from different locations. Received levels must be recorded during the experiment to directly measure varying intensities as projected concurrently with AEP collection in order to measure masked hearing thresholds at different frequencies, intensities and directions.

TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS:
The contractor must have demonstrated experience (e.g. publications) in hearing studies with belugas and experience working with captive trained odontocetes, preferably belugas, for AEP collection. Experience in hearing studies with belugas must include working with both captive and wild temporarily restrained individuals.

Equipment must be portable and the contractor must prove demonstrated experience in the collection of AEPs on captive trained belugas as well as wild temporarily restrained belugas with the portable equipment to be used in this study.

DELIVERABLE SCHEDULE:
Data collection must be complete before Summer 2014 and final report submitted before December 2014.

Interested parties must respond to this announcement by August 30, 2013,  All responses must be in writing and may be faxed to 206-526-6025 or email
([email protected]) . This is a simplified acquisition with an
estimated value of less than $150,000. 

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registered with the System for Award Management (SAM). NO award can be
made unless the vendor is registered in SAM. For additional
information and to register in SAM, please access the following web
site: www.sam.gov. In order to register with the SAM and to be
eligible to receive an award from this acquisition office, all
offerors must also have a Dun & Bradstreet Number. A Dun & Bradstreet
number may be acquired free of charge by contacting Dun & Bradstreet
on-line at https://www.dnb.com/product/eupdate/requestOptions.html or
by phone at (800) 333-0505. This procurement also requires offerors to
complete the electronic representations and certifications at the SAM
website. All responsible and fully responsive sources may submit a
proposal which will be considered by the Agency.