NOI-Muse S3 Athena Headbands and Accessories.
Key Dates
Due Date
-
Posted Date
-
Agency & Value
Agency
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH OLAO
Contract Value
Not provided
Codes & Classification
Solicitation Number
PCA-NIMH-01917
NAICS
334516 - Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing
Classification Code
6640
Additional Details
Documents1
The National Institutes of Health (NIH), Office of Logistics and Acquisition Operations (OLAO), has issued a presolicitation notice (PCA-NIMH-01917) indicating its intent to award a sole-source contract for the procurement of Muse S3 Athena Headbands and associated accessories. This acquisition is being conducted on behalf of the Genetic Epidemiology Research Branch (GERB) of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), in collaboration with the Experimental Therapeutics and Pathophysiology Branch (ETPB) of NIMH and the Metabolic Clinical Research Unit of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive Diseases (NIDDK) at the NIH Clinical Center, Bethesda, Maryland.
**Purpose and Scope**
The primary objective of this procurement is to support ongoing research into the inter-relationships between emotional states and homeostatic rhythms—specifically sleep, physical activity, diet, cognitive function, and physical health—and their physiological and environmental correlates. The research aims to bridge the gap between laboratory-based findings and real-world patterns, with a particular focus on sleep architecture and its implications for mood regulation and mood disorders. The study utilizes a comprehensive mobile ecological toolkit (MET-c) to collect data in both clinical and home environments, thereby enhancing the ecological validity of the findings and reducing the need for overnight stays at the NIH Clinical Center.
To date, the project has successfully enrolled over 50 participants and has already integrated Muse-S headbands from Interaxon Inc. into its protocol, demonstrating their effectiveness in remote sleep monitoring. The urgent need for additional, upgraded Muse-Athena headbands has arisen to maintain recruitment momentum and fulfill the study’s protocol requirements.
**Key Requirements and Deliverables**
The procurement encompasses the following deliverables:
- Forty (40) Muse-Athena Headbands
- Replacement headband straps
- Data services and subscription, including data processing and technical support
The Muse-Athena headbands are lightweight, wireless, and designed for outpatient (home) use, enabling the collection of high-quality sleep data outside traditional laboratory settings. Key technical specifications include:
- Multiple biofeedback sensors (EEG, PPG, accelerometer, gyroscope, fNIRS)
- 4x EEG channels and 4 amplified auxiliary channels
- fNIRS sample rate of 64 Hz with a 5-optode sensor
- Triple-wavelength PPG channel (IR, Near-IR, Red) at 64 Hz, 20-bit resolution
- Three-axis accelerometer (52 Hz, 16-bit resolution)
- Bluetooth® 5.3 wireless connectivity
- Compatibility with iOS 15+ and Android 8+ devices
- Up to 10 hours of recording time per charge
- Validated 5-stage sleep scoring (Cohen’s kappa 0.76)
- Detailed sleep microarchitecture analysis (spindles, k-complexes, deep sleep density)
- Heart rate and sleep metrics, with raw data export (.EDF, .CSV)
- Customizable mobile application for assessments, education, and real-time feedback
- Signal quality index for each channel per 30-second epoch
A one-year warranty for the headbands is included.
**Contracting Entity and Location**
The contracting entity is the National Institutes of Health (NIH), OLAO, a federal office under the Department of Health and Human Services. The place of performance is Bethesda, Maryland, United States.
**Classification and Regulatory Details**
- NAICS Code: 334516 (Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing), business size standard: 1,000 employees
- Product Service Code: 6640
- This acquisition is not set aside for small businesses.
- The procurement will be conducted under FAR Subpart 13.5 (Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items) and FAR Subpart 12 (Acquisition of Commercial Items), with a value exceeding the Simplified Acquisition Threshold but not exceeding $7 million.
- All applicable provisions and clauses in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2024-07 (dated 08-29-2024) will be included.
**Procurement Type and Special Considerations**
This is a non-competitive, brand-name procurement. Based on extensive market research, Interaxon Inc. is identified as the sole source capable of meeting the government’s requirements for these specialized devices and associated services. The Muse-Athena headbands are proprietary to Interaxon Inc., which is also the only provider of maintenance and support for this equipment. No other sources were found to meet all technical and performance requirements after reviewing industry contacts, product literature, and government procurement databases.
**Contact Information**
Primary Point of Contact:
Jaddua Johnston
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 240-569-0006
**Response Instructions**
While this notice is not a request for competitive proposals, interested parties may submit capability statements, proposals, or quotations by April 6, 2026, at 4:00 pm EST. Submissions must reference solicitation number PCA-NIMH-01917 and include sufficient detail to establish the respondent’s bona fide capability to fulfill the requirement. All offerors must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM).
**Summary**
This procurement represents a critical investment in advanced, validated wearable technology to support NIH’s research into the complex interplay of sleep, physiology, and emotional health. The Muse-Athena headbands will enable the collection of high-fidelity, ecologically valid data in both clinical and home settings, supporting the development of interventions and preventive strategies for mood disorders and related conditions. The sole-source determination is based on the unique capabilities of Interaxon Inc. and the proprietary nature of the required equipment and services.