Utilization of an Analytic Approach Involving an Evolutionary Algorith

INTRODUCTION 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). THIS IS A NOTICE OF INTENT, NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. A SOLICITATION WILL NOT BE ISSUED AND PROPOSALS WILL NOT BE REQUESTED. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), Consolidated Station Support and Simplified Acquisitions (CSS/SA) Branch intends to negotiate and award a purchase order to University of Vermont & State Agricultrural College (UVM) for utilization of an analytic approach involving an evolutionary algorithm developed by UVM without providing for full and open competition (including brand-name). NORTH AMERICAN INDUSTRY CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (NAICS) CODE The intended procurement is classified under NAICS code 541712 with a Size Standard of 500 Employees. REGULATORY AUTHORITY The resultant contract will include all applicable provisions and clauses in effect through the Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 05-76 dated July 25, 2014. This acquisition is for a commercial item or service and is conducted under the procedures as prescribed in FAR subpart 13-Simplified Acquisition Procedures. This acquisition is NOT expected to exceed the simplified acquisition threshold. STATUTORY AUTHORITY This acquisition is conducted under the authority of the authority of FAR Subpart 13.106-1. DESCRIPTION OF REQUIREMENT Purpose and Objectives The purpose of this contract is to utilize the University of Vermont's (UVM) analytic approach capable of capturing intra- and inter-domain nonlinear interactions Intramural Research Program (IRP) of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Neuroimaging Research Branch (NRB) in order to label interactions among neural, genetic, and phenotypic characteristics that are associated with drug use, nicotine consumption in particular. The UVM Complex Systems group has reported an analytic approach involving an evolutionary algorithm called genetic programming (GP) capable of capturing these intra- and inter-domain nonlinear interactions. Preparation and application of this methodology to NRB data, under the guidance of Dr. Stein, is required. This would be of high value for the NIDA Intramural Research Program as our datasets are typically high-dimensional and multi-domain and likely contain numerous nonlinearities (e.g., inter-regional brain interactions; gene x environment interactions). Period of Performance The period of performance shall be for one (1) year after receipt of order. Project Description The Contractor shall apply this unique analytic method to address the following: (1) The Contractor shall determine if these biomarkers for smoking are within the resting state functional connectome (i.e., patterns of resting state neural interaction) associated with nicotine use. The Contractor shall determine if any of these interactions confer insight from a clinical or physiological perspective. (2) The Contractor shall determine if cross-domain interactions exist (e.g., gene-brain) that are associated with nicotine use. (3) The Contractor shall determine if any associations from (1) or (2) allow for spectrum or categorical classification, rather than just binary classification of smokers. Prepared analysis techniques shall be standardized and the Contractor shall provide training for NRB staff in the use of these algorithms. At the conclusion of the contract period NIDA researchers shall be capable of conducting analyses employing this methodology independently. CONTRACTING WITHOUT PROVIDING FOR FULL OR OPEN COMPETITION (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, only the University of Vermont & State Agricultrural College (UVM) is capable of meeting the needs of this requirement due to the unique methods previously developed by UVM. The Complex Systems group under Dr. Garavan's supervision at UVM provides the unique expertise required for the implementation of the proposed computational methodology. No other group has employed genetic programming (GP) in the analysis of fMRI. Their methodology is capable of capturing these intra- and inter-domain nonlinear interactions needed for the analysis required by the NRB. The UVM group has applied GP to define hierarchical network structure in the resting state, adolescent brain. Results of that study, which were presented at the 2014 OHBM conference in Hamburg, Germany (Allgaier et al., 2014) suggested likely differences (some nonlinear) in resting state functional connectome between teenagers who consume alcohol and those who don't within the IMAGEN dataset. The data captured using this methodology will be of high value for the NIDA Intramural Research Program as the datasets are typically high-dimensional and multi-domain and likely contain numerous nonlinearities (e.g., inter-regional brain interactions; gene x environment interactions). The intended source is: University of Vermont & State Agricultrural College (UVM) 85 S. Prospect Street Burlington, VT 05405 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. 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 Dun & Bradstreet Number (DUNS), the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), and the certification of business size. All offerors must have an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) www.sam.gov." 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. 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. All responses must be received by the closing date and time of this announcement and must reference the solicitation number. Responses may be submitted electronically to Megan Ault, Contract Specialist, at [email protected]. US Mail and Fax responses will not be accepted.