Introduction: Pursuant to FAR Subpart 13.106-1(b)(1), the U.S. Army RDECOM Contracting Center, Natick Contracting Division, on behalf of the US Army Warfighter Science, Technology and Applied Research Directorate (WARSTAR), intends to award a firm fixed price purchase order on a sole source basis to: Merrimack College, North Andover, MA 01845. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS. RESPONSES WILL BE RECEIVED FOR FUTURE REQUIREMENT CONSIDERATION ONLY. NO SOLICITATION DOCUMENT IS AVAILABLE. 1. Nature and description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency's needs: Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center (NSRDEC) requires technical and theoretical expertise to support ongoing internal research on (a) how lateral differences in tympanic membrane temperature and individual differences in hand preference can be used as physiological and trait-like markers of neuronal activity, emotional andlor physiological arousal, and verbal and spatial memory; and (b) how unilateral stimulation and bilateral saccadic eye movements can be used to influence cerebral activation, emotional andlor physiological arousal and cognitive processing abilities. Specifically, we need an expert in physiological and trait markers of cerebral activity, and in mechanisms that can be used to alter neuronal activation, in order to aid in the detection and reduction of the negative impact of high arousal states on the processing of verbal and spatial information. This individual must be capable of working with NSRDEC researchers to plan and conduct a series of empirical studies, and of using the results of this work to inform strategies for the attenuation of cognitive decrement caused by high emotional and/or physiological arousal in Soldier performance. Once established, physiological and trait markers of neuronal activity, along with mechanisms for changing neuronal patterns of activation, can be used to develop strategies for minimizing the negative impacts of emotional and/or physiological arousal, including aggressive arousal, on verbal and spatial information processing. 2. A demonstration that the proposed contractor is the only source available to provide these services or goods (i.e. unique qualifications, proprietary rights, etc.): Professor Ruth Propper and her Brain & Memory Laboratory at Merrimac College are uniquely suited to provide the services described above. Professor Propper is an internationally-renowned expert in how communication between the hemispheres of the brain organizes cognitive processes, and how individual differences such as handedness and laterality affect attention, decision making, problem solving, and memory. Professor Propper directs the leading laboratory in the nation for the study of how cognitive processes are organized around different patterns of activity within and communication between the left and right hemispheres of the brain. For instance, Professor Propper and her colleagues have researched the influences of handedness differences on spatial and non-spatial memory gathering, representation, and application. They have also conducted and published a multitude of studies examining how performance on various tasks differs when rapid saccadic eye movements are present versus when they are absent. Indeed Professor Propper is the pioneer of the influential applied and theoretical examination of how rapid saccadic eye movements affect the integration of information between the two brain hemispheres. This work uniquely spans the often disparate domains of basic academic theoretical research and relatively applied government and institutional research, making her the top candidate to support the work being performed by NSRDEC. Further, Professor Propper has a successful track record with the timely completion of milestones and deliverables on prior contractual obligations with NRDEC (i.e., W911QY-09-P-0567). Finally, her work is published in top-tier scientific journals, receives wide attention across institutions and disciplines, and is very highly respected. We can find no other cognitive scientist with Dr. Propper's unique expertise and track record of successful, high-value research with an applied focus on the how individual differences affect the gathering and representation of verbal and spatial information. 3. A description of the market research that was conducted and the results, or a statement of the reason a market research was not conducted: In preparation for this request we sought to identify cognitive scientists with expeliise in brain interhemispheric communication, individual differences, and episodic and semantic memory. Though several academic researchers were found who specialize in human brain function, Dr. Propper was the only scientist with significant experience and success in investigating how to facilitate these brain functions in normal adults. Further, she is one of the only scientists who examine such issues with a particular focus on how mitigation techniques can be developed to facilitate brain interhemispheric communication, patiicularly amongst individuals with low baseline levels of communication. Dr. Propper is backed by over a decade of academic experience, has been intemationally recognized and funded for her research, holds dozens of peer-reviewed publications within her domain of expertise, and is the only scientist who is well-suited and qualified for the present work. 4. Any other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition: While Dr. Propper was selected for the reasons above, we note that this research will involve require access to facilities, equipment and test subjects. It is imperative that the institution be located within a distance suitable for local travel. Merrimac College fulfills this requirement as well. 5. A statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition before any subsequent acquisition for the supplies or services required: There are no actions the Natick Soldier Center can take to remove or overcome barriers to competition. 6. Interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to this requirement to the U.S. Army RDECOM Contracting Center, Natick Contracting Division via e-mail to:
contact@example.gov no later than 5:00 PM (EST) on June 15, 2010. Contracting Office Address: RDECOM Contracting Center - Natick CCRD-NA-SU, Natick Contracting Division Kansas Street, Building 1 Natick, MA 01760-5011 Point of Contact: Steven Streeter, Contract Specialist
+1 (555) 000-0000 contact@example.gov
