SOURCES SOUGHT
Q -- 3.0 TESLA MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING -MRI
- Notice Date
- 10/6/2011
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 333911
— Pump and Pumping Equipment Manufacturing
- Contracting Office
- NASA/Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Houston Texas, 77058-3696, Mail Code: BH
- ZIP Code
- 00000
- Solicitation Number
- NNJ12ZBH001L
- Response Due
- 10/21/2011
- Archive Date
- 10/6/2012
- Point of Contact
- Cheryl D. Bass, Contract Specialist, Phone 281-483-3476, Fax 281-483-7890, Email cheryl.d.bass@nasa.gov - LaToy J. Jones, Contracting Officer, Phone 281-244-8023, Fax 281-483-4066, Email latoy.j.jones@nasa.gov
- E-Mail Address
-
Cheryl D. Bass
(cheryl.d.bass@nasa.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- This notice is issued by the NASA/JSC to post a Request for Information onTechniques for using 3.0 Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) to assess trabecular andcortical bone mineral density at central sties via the internet, and solicit responsesfrom interested parties. Request for Information (RFI): It is well established that bone mineral density (BMD) loss is rapid (1-1.5%/mo) andsite-specific (axial and load-bearing sites) during long duration spaceflight.This lossoccurs faster in the trabecular compartment than in the cortical compartment. Adecreased BMD can be accompanied by other changes in bone structure which increase therisk for bone fracture and early onset osteoporosis. Bone fracture could have seriousimplications for a long duration mission. Moreover, the risk for early onsetosteoporosis could limit the astronauts quality of life and career length.The current techniques used to evaluate BMD are Dual-energy X-ray Absoptiometry (DXA) andQuantitative Computed Tomography (QCT). BMD has the advantage of abundantepidemiological studies completed with its use, but it only provides integral (combinedcortical and trabecular bone); whereas BMDs of the separate compartments are importantfor distinguishing changes in bone structure vs. the remodeling of bone tissue. QCT hasbeen valuable and informative when used to measure BMD of the two compartments in the hipand spine, but it is a research technology for which clinical implications have yet to beestablished. Both DXA and QCT use ionizing radiation, which is undesirable since astronauts arescanned repeatedly to assess changes over time. It is important to minimize thisexposure as can be reasonably achieved. Astronauts are already exposed to higher thannormal levels of radiation during spaceflight.Therefore, DXA and other X-ray basedtechnologies are not optimal for quantifying the changes in trabecular and cortical bonemineral density.The astronaut population is currently being evaluated with 3.0 Tesla MRI scans forclinical monitoring and ongoing research protocols. NASA is interested in learning ifthere are techniques in development that could use MRI technology to quantify BMD. Theadvantages are the resolution, lack of radiation, and decrease in astronaut crew time byhaving all studies performed at a single site.This Request for Information:1. Is there a non-invasive technique that can utilize standard 3.0 Tesla MRI machines toassess trabecular and cortical bone mineral density at central sties (proximal femur,femoral neck and spine)?2. How does the techniques reproducibility and accuracy compare to current X-ray basedgold standards (DXA and QCT)?3. What is the feasibility of adopting this technique? a. What are the risks associated with the technique? b. What are the initial cost and operational/maintenance cost? c. Are all the required components readily available or is specializedinstrumentation required? d. What errors do you expect from spinal degenerative changes or aorticcalcification? e. How does the technique correct for movement and water mass?4. What information does the technique provide on bone morphometry?5. Is this technique validated for making clinical decisions to improve outcomesregarding fracture risk and early onset osteoporosis (e.g. responsive to therapies,monitoring progression of pathologies)?6. Are there other non-radiation solutions (besides a possible 3.0 Tesla MRI) that couldprovide us this information?This document is for information and planning purposes and to allow industry theopportunity to verify reasonableness and feasibility of the requirement, as well aspromote competition. Prospective offerors are invited to submit written comments orquestions to: Cheryl Bass via e-mail, cheryl.d.bass@nasa.gov, no later than October 31,2011. When responding reference NNJ12ZBH001L - 3.0 Tesla MRI.Comments may be forwarded to Cheryl Bass via electronic transmission.This presolicitation synopsis is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government,nor will the Government pay for the information submitted in response.Respondents willnot be notified of the results.An ombudsman has been appointed -- See NASA Specific Note 'B'.The solicitation and any documents related to this procurement will be available over theInternet. These documents will reside on a World Wide Web (WWW) server, which may beaccessed using a WWW browser application. The Internet site, or URL, for the NASA/JSCBusiness Opportunities home page ishttp://prod.nais.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/eps/bizops.cgi?gr=D&pin=73 It is the offeror'sresponsibility to monitor the Internet cite for the release of the solicitation andamendments (if any). Potential offerors will be responsible for downloading their owncopy of the solicitation and amendments, if any. Any referenced notes may be viewed at the following URLs linked below.
- Web Link
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- Record
- SN02604049-W 20111008/111006234943-1a316b7dfe6c8232fd784a0740d0f059 (fbodaily.com)
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