The U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA) in support of the U.S. Army Medical Materiel Development Activity (USAMMDA) intends to issue a firm fixed contract for the work addressing Joint Warfighter Medical Research - Development of highly Functional, Neurally Controlled, Skeletally Attached, and Intelligent Prosthetic Devices by utilizing the Joint Warfighter Medical Research Program (JWMRP). The development of the prosthetic devices will provide functional recovery of patients with above elbow amputations (AEA) by developing an docking system that is ready for translation to human clinical trials. The design of the AEA docking system will address the challenges found in above elbow residual limbs of modern day warfighters. In accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) the statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition is 10 U.S.C. 2304 (c) (1). The FAR citation is 6.302-1(a)(2) with application at 6.302-1(b)(1)(ii). As directed by Congress in the Department of Defense Appropriations Bill, 2014 Report 113-85, page 190, $100M quote mark shall be used to augment and accelerate high priority Department of Defense (DoD) and Service medical requirements and to continue prior year initiatives that are close to achieving their objectives and yielding a benefit to military medicine. The funds shall not be used for new projects or for basic research. quote mark For this reason, the undersigned determined that the cited statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition is supported and required. This Bill essentially limits the competition to contractor's that have existing Congressional Special Interest Funded Research Projects (contracts or assistance agreements) and have a military relevance. The Bill also states that funds shall be awarded at the discretion of the Secretary of Defense following a review of medical research and development gaps. The strategy in executing the JWMRP was to find highly valued research efforts on a research grant or contract that could meet critical service requirements and that were not being continued through other appropriations. Based on a comparative analysis by the scientific and programmatic reviewers from USAMRMC, approximately 45 JWMRP research projects were selected for a follow-on effort to the previous effort (Contracts and Assistance Agreements.) Western Institute for Biomedical Research's research is the only known research that can be considered when viewed in the context of the statutory mandated program described above. Western Institute for Biomedical Research was identified for its highly promising development of a docking system that addresses challenges found in above elbow residual limbs of modern day military personnel. The results emerging from this project will facilitate the safe and efficacious clinical introduction of devices into the United States, improving the limb function and quality of life of patients in the VA and military healthcare systems and eventually the broader civilian populations with upper extremity limb loss. This sole source requirement is deemed to be available only from Western Institute for Biomedical Research as a follow-on effort. Competing this requirement would result in substantial duplication of costs and unacceptable delays. This notice of intent is for information purposes only, therefore, no solicitation will result from this announcement. All responsible sources may submit a capability statement, proposal or quotation, which shall be considered by the agency. A request for documentation will not be considered as an affirmative response. The purchase will be awarded without further notice. The Point of Contact (POC) for this action is
[email protected].