A base plate for a head suspension assembly having a pair of side rails including spring portions. The base plate including first and second portions connected by the pair of side rails and separated by an opening, with the spring portions positioned adjacent to the opening. The base plate configured to receive a microactuator spanning the opening with the microactuator causing relative movement between the first and second portions of the base plate at the spring portions of the side rails, so as to provide fine manipulation of a head slider mounted to the head suspension assembly.