Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA) Image Processing Services

INTRODUCTION PURSUANT TO FAR Subpart 5.2'Synopses of Proposed Contract Actions, THIS IS A PRE-SOLICITATION NOTICE OF A PROPOSED CONTRACT TO ACTION. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), Office of Acquisitoin, Contracts Management Branch Blue on behalf of the National Institute on Aging intends to negotiate and award a contract for methodological and technical expertise in the processing of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) as well as computed tomography (CT) images for the Balitmore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA). EXTENT OF COMPETITION This acquisition is full and open with no set-aside restrictions. NORTH AMERICAN INDUSTRY CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (NAICS) CODE The intended procurement is classified under NAICS code 621512 with a Size Standard of $16.5 million. REGULATORY AUTHORITY The resultant contract will include all applicable provisions and clauses in effect through the Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2020-01 dated November 12, 2019. This acquisition is conducted under the procedures as prescribed in FAR Subpart 15'Contracting by Negotiation at an amount exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold inclusive of options. DESCRIPTION OF REQUIREMENT Project Description The Contactor shall work in collaboration with BLSA investigators and study staff of the National Institute on Aging to provide image processing services as follows: For each type of brain imaging data the contractor shall retrieve data and co-register all image data into a common coordinate system. Apply image processing tools developed and validated under a prior contract HHSN27101400118C: Define gray matter regions of interest. Targeted regions include the Hippocampus, Posterior Cingulate, Precuneus, and Medial Frontal cortex. DTI Pre-processing. The Contractor will perform and provide the Government with pre-processed image data, yielding fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), principal eigenvector (v1), and tensor (D) images for each subject. Define white matter tracts. The FA maps for each subject will be labeled with a white matter atlas (i.e., the Johns Hopkins - Eve atlas). rs-fMRI Pre-processing. Pre-processing will yield functional connectivity maps for each gray matter and white matter region of interest. The Contractor shall use the defined gray matter regions of interest on structural data for rs-fMRI analysis. Region of Interest Analysis. The Contractor will generate and provide to the LBN, NIA a table of means and standard deviations of rs-fMRI, FA, and MD for all regions of interest. Implement mass-univariate temporal modeling. The Contractor shall work with the LBN/NIA team and their collaborators to select the most promising temporal association inference models (e.g., - causal) to implement in current toolboxes. Characterize temporal inference in simulation. The Contractor shall perform data-driven simulations to verify that the inference method empirically performs according to theoretical predictions and is compatible with standard approaches for multiple comparisons corrections (e.g., false discovery rate [FDR]). Apply multi-modal temporal inference to BLSA 1.5T/3T cohort. The Contractor shall work with LBN investigators to execute structural-functional-covariate analysis in the form of a general linear model (GLM, voxelwise model of the form: Y=? X ) where both the regressors and the regressands may be longitudinally sampled imaging variables. The temporal relationships between sequenced regressors and regressands will be assessed. Additional non-imaging data may be provided for each subject in the form of an Excel document. These will be run as additional regressors. Scanner calibration. The Contractor shall develop and evaluate strategies for scanner calibration/correction, including modeling scanner changes as nuisance variables and using image preprocessing corrections. Develop, validate and apply image processing tools for BLSA MRI of the thigh, CT of the abdomen as well as CT of the leg. Develop, validate and apply image processing tools for BLSA MRI of the thigh, CT of the abdomen as well as CT of the leg. Support method translation to NIA intramural researchers. Purpose and Objectives The purpose of this requirement is to obtain methodological and technical expertise in the processing of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) as well as computed tomography (CT) images. These services will continue the established protocols and statistical approaches for the analysis of white matter correlates of alterations in functional connectivity as well as functional connectivity correlates of white matter alterations in the brain. At the same time, this requirement will develop and implement new image processing techniques for the evaluation of body composition and bone morphometry in the abdomen and leg. The provision of these capabilities will facilitate the continued use of BLSA data in state-of-the-art imaging studies related to cognitive and motor function. Period of Performance The initial contract period will be one year beginning 9/30/20-9/29/21, plus 4 option years. It is anticipated that this contract will be a cost-reimbursement type contract. CLOSING STATEMENT The solicitation will be issued on or about January 7, 2020, and bids or proposals will be due about 30 days after the solicitation release date.