HHS-NIH-NINDS-NOI-20-008164

Submitted by patelsnv on
Post Date/ Solicitation Issue Date
Closing Response Date
Proposed Award Date
Project Title
Auditory Stimulation Workstation with Calibration
Contracting Office
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

Contact Points

Primary Contract Specialist

Sneha
Singh
sneha.singh@nih.gov
NAICS Code Number
334516
Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing
Small Business Size Standard
1,000 employees
Delivery of Goods
Delivery and installation must be completed within 90 days after contractor receipt of award.
Set-Aside Status
Not Set Aside
Competition Status
Non-Competitive
Vendor Name
Tucker-Davis Technologies, Inc.
Vendor Address
11930 Research Circle
Alachua, FL 32615
Single-Sole Source Determination
The Auditory Stimulation Workstation from Tucker-Davis Technologies (TDT) has several unique capabilities:
(1) Digital outputs to trigger and time stamp external devices. (2) Tight control of the interstimulus interval which is necessary to ensure accurate analysis of the neural response to different frequencies and intensities of auditory cues. (3) Software is designed for controlling complex sequences of stimului. (4) The recording capabilities records sounds below 10 kHz, which other systems do not. We need the ability to record and play back frequencies from 1 kHz to 80 kHz. (5) TDT’s system is the only system that has a calibration tool for speaker calibration. We require this to make sure that we have a flat response across the entire spectrum.
Background/Description of Requirement

Tucker David Technologies Auditory Stimulation Workstation – RZ6-A

The auditory stimulation system shall present simple and complex sound stimuli, such as tone pips, band filtered noise, and ultrasonic vocalizations. It shall have the ability to build a complex stimulus presentation paradigm containing a pattern of stimulation sequences that can vary in frequency, intensity, duration, and number. The system shall be accompanied by a software and training bundle that helps users (1) easily build stimulation paradigms and (2) develop a play list of frequencies or intensities that generate randomly presented stimuli. The event information, e.g. the stimulus and all its parameters, are saved with the acquired neural signal.   

  1. The auditory stimulation system shall provide a hardware and software platform for providing real-time control over stimulus presentation. It should have the ability to present simple sounds such as tones, clicks as well as complex sounds such as frequency sweeps, modulated sounds and prerecorded sound vocalizations with precise interstimulus intervals.
  2. The system shall include a device for real-time auditory signal processing nd design. It shall include: a hardware interface to a computer for system programming the device speaker amplifiers, microphone amplifiers, speakers for mid frequency to ultrasonic sound presentation (750 Hz-50 kHz) and for ultrahigh frequency presentation (1 kHz-80 kHz).  A calibrated microphone for speaker calibration and recording ultrasonic vocalizations.  Software for speaker calibration. Software for designing and controlling sound production and presentation.
  3. The system shall have the ability to sync to external acquisition devices such as two-photon imaging systems to ensure precise timing between the auditory presentation and the recordings; the ability to upload prerecorded ultrasonic vocalizations and play out complex sound stimuli; and the ability to program complex auditory presentation sequences with precise interstimulus interval.
  4. The Contractor shall provide preconfigured protocols for auditory presentation, speaker calibration. In addition, the Contractor shall provide remote assistance for system setting as well as training on the software. 
     
    The system shall meet these hardware specifications:
     
  1. Real-time system with sampling rate of at least 180 kHz.
  2. Integrated speaker amplifier, microphone amplifier, and programmable attenuators.
  3. 2 channels of 24-bit ADCs and 2 channels of 24-bit DACs for a dynamic range of at least 110 dBV.
  4. Calibration microphone.
  5. Free field speakers with a frequency range of 750 Hz - 80 kHz; closed field speakers for in-ear presentation of sounds.
  6. 16 digital I/O lines and high-speed data transfer to handle uploads and downloads of signals between TDT and PC.
     
    The system shall meet these software specifications:
     
  1. Ability to design and generate simple and complex sounds and load them to the real-time processor.
  2. Calibration software.
  3. Software to control real-time system.
  4. Data base to load preconfigured signals for individual subjects.
  5. API for controlling hardware from MATLAB or Python.
  6. Ability to control stimulus presentation with precise interstimulus intervals of <100 microseconds.

Interested parties may identify in writing their interest and capability in response to this requirement. 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.

All responses must be received by closing date and must reference the announcement. Responses may be submitted electronically to the attention of the contract specialist. Fax responses will not be accepted.

All responsible sources may submit a bid, proposal, or quotation which shall be considered by the agency.