Cognitive neuroscience fMRI data analyst

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), Station Support Contracts and Simplified Acquisitions Branch (SS/SA) on behalf of the National Institute on Mental Health (NIMH) intends to negotiate and award a contract for cognitive neuroscience fMRI data analyst contractor support. 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 541990 -- All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services with associated business size standard $15,000,000. REGULATORY AUTHORITY The resultant contract will include all applicable provisions and clauses in effect through the Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2005-94,2005-95 / 01-19-2017. This acquisition is conducted under the procedures as prescribed in the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 13-Simplified Acquisition Procedures at an amount not expected to exceed the Simplified Acquisition Threshold inclusive of options. DESCRIPTION OF REQUIREMENT Project Description The contractor will assess and analyze data from the ongoing projects and assist in manuscript preparation and publication with the the Section on Development and Affective Neurosciences (SDAN) at NIMH as summarized in the following Statement of Work. 1. Assist in the development and wide-spread implementation of data analytic approaches to task-based and resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) research on anxiety in children; 2. Support implementation of a novel statistical analytic techniques to thresholding activation levels and between-group contrasts in fMRI research in anxious and non-anxious children and adolescents. 3. Provide materials to collaborators so that they might analyze fMRI data on pediatric anxiety disorders and related mental health problems. 4. Perform these duties in collaboration with existing members of the Intramural Research Program. 5. Oversee training of NIMH-IRP staff on the newly implemented research procedures. 6. Work with the NIMH preparing manuscripts that present the results from this work. 7. Perform these duties by applying a range of tools with which the contractor possesses expertise. Purpose and Objectives SDAN seeks to understand how information processing in the brain is different among children, adolescents, and adults who have anxiety and/or depression across the lifespan and compared to healthy volunteers. SDAN research requires diverse expertise in cognitive neuroscience and statistical techniques. SDAN requires collaborative efforts to enhance the impact of research performed on site at the NIMH. SDAN shall obtain contractor support to receive consultation and associated data regarding assessing aspects of brain function that relate to both normal and pathological processing of emotionally salient stimuli. Period of Performance The anticipated period of performance for this requirement will be effective on or around April 1, 2017 through March 31, 2018. The Government contemplates a Labor Hour-type of Purchase Order contract for non-commercial items. Direct labor hours at specified fixed hourly rates for 165 hours is contemplated with an established ceiling (not-to-exceed) amount of 930 hours of contractor services during the performance period. CLOSING STATEMENT The solicitation will be issued on or about March 1, 2017 and bids or proposals will be tentatively due about 10 days after the solicitation release date. Potential offerors may request a copy of the solicitation from the Contract Specialist, Hunter Tjugum, electronically at hunter.tjugum@nih.gov and must reference the solicitation number HHS-NIH-NIDA-SSSA-PSOL-2017-207 on your electronic request. FAX requests are not accepted.