Pre-clinical Functional Ultrasound (FUS)

PART 1: INTRODUCTION

1. 1. - Background Information

Since 1848 the University of Ottawa has been Canada’s university and the largest bilingual university in Canada.  At the University of Ottawa, we understand our past and our desired future. The University of Ottawa is a major player in the cultural and economic development of the National Capital Region.

The University of Ottawa is one of Canada's leading research-intensive University. The University of Ottawa fosters excellence and success in research, whether the research is basic or applied, of intrinsic value or of commercial importance. The University of Ottawa considers itself to be Canada's university of the 21st Century by launching new initiatives in emerging areas, promoting collaboration within and across faculties, and providing the milieu in which creativity can flourish.

Further information regarding the University of Ottawa can be found on the Web site http://www.uottawa.ca/ 

We hereby invite your company (proponent) to partner with the University of Ottawa in this great project funded by the Canada Foundation for Innovation and the Ontario Research Fund by submitting an offer to this Request for Proposals and by including an in-kind contribution.

Please find attached the Request for Proposals documentation with specifications and the CFI guidelines pricing format to be completed and returned with your proposal.
 

1. 2. - Statement of Requirements

The Unversity of Ottawa is pleased to invite qualified proponents to submit a proposal for a Pre-clinical functional Ultrasound (fUS) to allow enhanced visualization and assessment of the microvasculature in the rodent brain in-vivo. 

The requested functional Ultrasound (fUS) is a critical piece of infrastructure required to allow real-time enhanced visualization and assessment of the microvasculature (with and without craniotomy) in the rodent brain in-vivo.
 
The equipment will enable state-of-the-art approaches for monitoring whole brain hemodynamics (similar to fMRI) in anesthetized, awake, and behaving animals to track direct disease progression with high spatial and temporal resolution. It will be used for tissue imaging especially the simultaneous structural and functional assessment of the brain microvasculature. Importantly, such measurements can be used to define and localize normal brain function and also assess acute dysfunction in models of disease, ageing or degeneration. In addition to quantifying brain activity, fUS will allow us to longitudinally (short-mid-, and long term) visualize and measure microvascular changes by high resolution angiography of the rodent brain in-vivo.

We expect to have on-site training with real animal subjects that will provide proof of concept data for all of the features mentioned above. The training should cover both data acquisition and data processing steps including the registration of aquired data to Allen Mouse Brain atlas. All required software tools including those needed for analysis should be provided with 3 active license keys and upgrades for up to 5 years.

                General Description:

Functional ultrasound (fUS) imaging is a quantitative brain imaging modality that relies on the detection of changes in cerebral blood volume through ultrafast Doppler angiography. The detected signal is generated by the neurovascular coupling effect, i.e., the fact that changes in neuronal activity trigger a local hemodynamic response that can serve as an indirect readout of neuronal activity. Functional ultrasound measures these blood volume changes in the brain microvasculature by detecting the moving blood’s ultrasonic echoes. As brain perfusion is strongly linked to local neuronal activity, this technique allows the whole-brain 3D mapping of task-induced regional activation as well as resting-state functional connectivity. Because these measurements can often be performed through the intact skull of the animal (mice) the technique is relatively non-invasive, while still offering high spatiotemporal resolution and operational simplicity.

In comparison with fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging), a main advantage of fUS imaging consists of higher temporal resolution and complete compatibility with awake and behaving animal experiments. Therefore, the requested fUS will be capable of in-vivo, real-time 3D visualization of vascular anatomy (microvasculature) and functional imaging through brain activity monitoring, without contrast agent, within short acquisition and visualization time, and the substantial potential for improving understanding of angiogenesis and circulatory system-related pathologies.

Specifications and Standards:
 

• Single plane imaging (2D fUS) of a whole animal brain section with an in-plane spatial resolution equal or less than 125μm and a plane thickness of equal or less 300μm.
• Volumetric imaging (3D fUS) of a whole animal brain volume with an in-plane spatial resolution equal or less than 300μm and a plane thickness of equal or less than 300μm.
• Transcranial non-invasive functional mapping of the whole mouse brain without contrast agent.
• A temporal resolution of as low as 500ms should be achieved.
• Large field of view (FOV) i.e., whole brain imaging should be possible.
• The equipment should allow to image anesthetized, awake or behaving animals.
• It should include an ultrasound probe and scanning platform, optimized for the animal model you’re studying (i.e., in an anesthetized, a mobile or head-fixed configuration).

The infrared imager will be housed within the Pre-Clinical Imaging Core (PCIC), located within the Animal Care and Veterinary Service (ACVS) at the Roger Guindon Hall (RGN) at the University of Ottawa.

A separate document with clear answers to all statements in Appendix A and B is desirable.
                        
Specifications listed in Appendix A – Technical Specifications Compliance Form of this RFP are the mandatory minimum requirements for the Pre-clinical Functional Ultrasound (FUS).

Should any equipment included in a proposal be superseded by a newer model during the period between the award of contract and the delivery date, the successful Proponent will be required to inform the University of Ottawa of the new specifications, the newer model pricing will remain the same as what was offered in the RFP. At its sole discretion, the University of Ottawa may opt to make changes from the list of equipment by altering, adding, or deducting some equipment.

 

1. 1. - Timetable

Proponents shall submit their proposals according to the following timetable and instructions.

Planned EventEnd Date
Posting of RFP on MERX       May 11, 2023
Deadline for Submission of QuestionsMay 25, 2023, at 3:00:00 PM LOCAL TIME
Submission Deadline for ProposalsJune 7, 2023, at 3:00:00 PM LOCAL TIME
The University reserves the to change the above-mentioned dates at its sole discretion.

1. 2. - Proposals Submitted Only In Prescribed Manner

 

1. 1. 1. The Proponent’s proposal must be submitted in the following manner:

 

1. 1. 2. The Proponents must submit their proposal using Merx EBS no later than the time and date stated in section 2.2 – Timetable. No other forms of delivery will be accepted by the University.

    
The proposals must be complete and submitted in the prescribed format with the following information:

1. 1. 3. The Proponent must provide two (2) separate attachments (files) containing the Proponent’s proposal labelled in the following manner:

 

1. Attachment #1 Technical/Qualitative Proposal: 40113-8A-RFP-Insert Company Name
2. Attachment #2 Financial Proposal: 40113-8A-RFP-Insert Company Name

 

1. 1. 4. Attachment #1 – Technical/Qualitative Proposal must include the following mandatory documents:

 

1. Appendix A (Technical Specifications Compliance)
2. Appendix B (Rated Criteria)
3. Appendix C (Equipment, Utility, and Environmental Requirements) and all the referenced associated documents
4. Appendix D (Supplemental Information)
5. Appendix E (Reference Consent Form)
6. Appendix F (Submission Declaration Form)
7. Appendix I (Proponent’s Checklist Form)
8. All supporting technical documentation for the proposal
9. Detailed quotation without pricing
10. Bottom of every page of RFP initialled

 

1. 1. 5. Attachment #2 – Financial Proposal must include the following mandatory documents:

 

1. Appendix G (Pricing Structure Form)
2. Appendix H (Price Schedule Form)
3. Detailed quotation with pricing

Bidding and Documents are available on http://www.merx.com. Fees may apply; See https://www.merx.com/public/pricing for more information.