AN42--Engineering Support and Data Analysis Services in support of Acoustic Emissions Data

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Office of Research and Development (R&D), Regional Procurement Office (RPO) East in Pittsburgh, PA intends to negotiate on a sole source basis with Georgia Tech Research Corp. The requirement is for Georgia Tech Research Corp. to provide the Minneapolis VA Medical Center with engineer support and data analysis services. These services are in direct support of the project titled, Development of an Orthosis with an Integrated Microphone for Measurement of Knee Acoustic Emissions in Pre-Radiographic Osteoarthritis. These services will directly support the R&D Laboratory at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This contract will have a base period (1 year) and 1 option period (2 years total if option year is exercised). This procurement is being conducted IAW FAR 6.302-1, Only one responsible source and no other contractors will satisfy agency requirements; and VHAPM Part 813.106-1(b), Other Than Full and Open Competition less than SAT for Open Market Items. The Government asserts this is the most appropriate procurement strategy because Georgia Tech Research Corp is the only contractor that can provide these specific services for this project. The services requested are for engineering support and analysis of acoustic emissions captured from a specialized sensor apparatus applied to the human knee. In collaboration with Dr. Omer Inan, at the Georgia Institute of Technology, we are developing a novel knee brace with integrated sensors and using the brace to diagnose arthritis of the human knee while still at a very early, and potentially more treatable, stage. The sensor apparatus was developed by Dr. Omer Inan, who runs the contracting laboratory. Dr. Inan and his group have intellectual property rights to the sensor apparatus and are highly specialized in biomedical application of acoustic sensors. We have expertise in the development of specialized knee braces as well as clinical applications. The contractor shall provide engineering support and data analysis of acoustic emissions data gathered at the Minneapolis VAMC for the project described above as well as scholarly support for the overall project. This will include: (a) collaborative design of a portable knee brace with an integrated microphone / sensor system and its associated electronics for measuring noise from the human knee (b) collation, analysis of, and statistical support for the analysis of acoustic data collected from the human knee and (c) scholarly support, such as writing and editing, during the publication process. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. However, any responsible source who believes it is capable of meeting the requirement may submit a capability statement and supporting documentation to the Contracting Officer no later than Tuesday, February 23, 2021, 4:00 PM, EST. Interest/capability statements may be sent by email to Mr. Robin Simmons at contact@example.gov. No telephone responses will be accepted. A determination not to compete the proposed requirement based upon the responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government.