Pixel-Wise Modeling Tool (PMOD) Subscription License

INTRODUCTION This is a notice of intent, not a request for a quotation. THIS IS A PRE-SOLICITATION NON-COMPETITIVE (NOTICE OF INTENT) SYNOPSIS TO AWARD A CONTRACT WITHOUT PROVIDING FOR FULL OR OPEN COMPETITION (INCLUDING BRAND-NAME). The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) intends to negotiate on a sole source basis with PMOD Technologies, for a 12-month base contract, with four additional options years for the Pixel-wise modeling tool (PMOD) Subscription License. NORTH AMERICAN INDUSTRY CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (NAICS) CODE and SET ASIDE STATUS The intended procurement is classified under NAICS code 541519 - Other Computer Related Services with a Size Standard of $34 million. This intended procurement will not be a small business set aside requirement. REGULATORY AUTHORITY This acquisition is conducted under the authority of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 13'Simplified Acquisition Procedures. Contracts awarded using FAR Part 13'Simplified Acquisition Procedures are exempt from the requirements of FAR Part 6'Competition Requirements. FAR Subpart 13.106-1 (b) Soliciting from a single source provides that: For purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold, Contracting Officers may solicit from one source IF the contracting officer determines that the circumstances of the contract action deem only one source reasonably available (e.g., urgency, exclusive licensing agreements, brand-name OR industrial mobilization). The resultant contract will include all applicable provisions and clauses in effect through the Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) Number 2024-03, dated February 23, 2024. DESCRIPTION OF REQUIREMENT The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), Molecular Imaging Branch (MIB) requests to purchase a license subscription for an analytical software tool currently in place. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), Molecular Imaging Branch (MIB) requests to purchase an analytical software tool license subscription which is needed to continue the performance of data analysis for images of positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) on human and animals that the lab acquires routinely. Background Information and Objective: PET imaging plays an important role in understanding the physiology of human brain and body. The mission of Molecular Imaging Branch is to develop various imaging probes for the brain to study neurological and psychiatric disorders in humans and animal models. To help understand the brain receptors function and their various signaling pathway, a sophisticated analytical tool for the imaging data is necessary. The lab has used the same software tool under a collaborative agreement with the company. Recently, the company required purchase of the license subscription. To maintain system function and operability, allow for continued development and enhancements, continued support from the vendor to keep the software working properly as operating systems are updated, and to provide ongoing Purchase Description One (1) license with four (4) concurrent users and includes the following five (5) modules: PBAS, PFUS, PKIN, PXMOD and PNEURO Trade Name: Pixel-wise modeling tool (PMOD) Product's brand name: PMOD Software Publisher/Manufacturer: PMOD Technologies LLC is part of Bruker's Preclinical Imaging Division. Salient Characteristics: 1. Requires the following five (5) modules: PBAS: contain basic image operations such as image conversion, viewing and manipulation PFUS: image fusion / dual modality display and co-registration PKIN: kinetic modeling and quantitation of radioligand binding to targets PXMOD: voxel-wise modeling for exploratory analysis of novel radioligands and targets PNEURO: an analysis pipeline specifically tailored to brain PET images including tissue segmentation / parcellation, PET-MRI coregistration and partial volume correction 2. During the license subscription period, the Contractor provides full tech support. 3. All future upgrades/bug-fix version are also included in the leasing agreement, free of charge. Delivery Date Delivery is expected within 30 days after the award of the contract. Period of Performance The proposed period of performance shall be for 12 months, with four one-year option periods. Base Year: June 17, 2024 - June 16, 2025 Option Year 1: June 17, 2025 - June 16, 2026 Option Year 2: June 17, 2026 - June 16, 2027 Option Year 3: June 17, 2027 - June 16, 2028 Option Year 4: June 17, 2028 - June 16, 2029 OTHER CONSIDERARTIONS: Travel No travel is required for this acquisition. Information System Security Plan Information system security plan is not needed. Data Rights No data rights are required for this acquisition Section 508'Electronic and Information Technology Standards Contractor is not required to develop electronic and information technology standards. Publications and Publicity: The contractor is not required to write publications and conduct publicity. Confidentiality of Information: The contractor will not be given access to confidential information or the exchange thereof. (INCLUDING BRAND-NAME) DETERMINATION The determination by the Government to award a contract without providing for full and open competition is based upon the market research conducted. Specifically, PMOD Technologies, is the only vendor in the marketplace that can provide the product required by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), Molecular Imaging Branch (MIB). The intended source is: PMOD Technologies Industriestrasse 26 Faellanden 8117, Switzerland The essential characteristics of the Pixel-wise modeling tool (PMOD) Subscription License provided by PMOD Technologies, that limit the availability to a sole source is that PMOD Technologies is the only distributor of the current Pixel-wise modeling tool and the (PMOD) Subscription License for the analytical software tool is needed to perform data analysis for images of positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) on human and animals that the lab acquires routinely, and allowing any other vendor to supply this product will negate any contractual agreements with this vendor, and void equipment warranties. The pixel-wise modeling tool limits the availability to a sole source because the vendor is the only company that can provide this software tool and the licensing. The lab has been using the same software tool for the past 20 years without cost under a collaborative agreement with the company. Recently, the company sold, and the free option is no longer available to NIMH/MIB. In order to maintain system function and operability, and allow for continued development and enhancements, support from the vendor is required to keep the software working properly as operating systems are updated and to provide ongoing instruction to users. Furthermore, the software support provided can only be obtained from experts with knowledge of this modeling tool. Continuing with the same license will allow to maintain the existing software development and existing expertise already developed. The propriety format of the files generated from this software is not compatible with proprietary software from other vendors. Therefore, it is essential to continue with the same software product, rather than purchasing an alternative product, so that files and pipelines can be used interchangeably. CLOSING STATEMENT THIS SYNOPSIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS. However, interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to this notice. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. All responsible sources may submit a capability statement, proposal, or quotation which shall be considered by the agency. The information received will normally be considered solely for the purposes of determining whether to proceed on a non-competitive basis or to conduct a competitive procurement. Responses to this notice shall contain sufficient information to establish the interested parties' bona-fide capabilities for fulfilling the requirement and include unit price, list price, shipping and handling costs, the delivery period after contract award, the prompt payment discount terms, the F.O.B. Point (Destination or Origin), the Unique Entity ID UEI), the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), and the certification of business size. Responses must include the place of manufacturing (i.e. address if supply/equipment is a domestic end product and include country of manufacture). All offerors must have an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) www.sam.gov. All responses must be received by the closing date and time of this announcement and must reference the solicitation number, 75N95024R00282. Responses must be submitted electronically to Diedra S. Prophet, Contract Specialist, at diedra.prophet@nih.gov, and Robin Knightly, Contracting Officer, at robin.knightly@nih.gov. U.S. Mail and fax responses will not be accepted.