SOURCES SOUGHT
66 -- Stainless Steel Squirrel Monkey Cages
- Notice Date
- 5/24/2013
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 332999
— All Other Miscellaneous Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing
- Contracting Office
- Department of Health and Human Services, Food and Drug Administration, Office of Acquisitions and Grants Services, 5630 Fishers Lane, Room 2129, Rockville, Maryland, 20857-0001
- ZIP Code
- 20857-0001
- Solicitation Number
- FDA_1118602
- Archive Date
- 6/20/2013
- Point of Contact
- James Scott Rawls, Phone: 8705437540
- E-Mail Address
-
james.rawls@fda.hhs.gov
(james.rawls@fda.hhs.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- Total Small Business
- Description
- MARKET RESEARCH PURPOSES ONLY NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL SOLICITATION This is a sources sought notice to determine the availability and capability of small businesses or small businesses capable of supplying a U.S. product of a small business animal cage manufacturer. However, the Government will consider responses from large vendors as well. The associated North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code is 332999 - All Other Miscellaneous Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing; Small Business Size standard is 750 in numbers of employees. BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Background: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), is conducting market research to support the National Center for Toxicological Research (NCTR), Division of Neurotoxicology, Jefferson, AR requirement for Stainless Steel Cages to house 40 Squirrel Monkeys, which will be purchased under a separate, future solicitation. Under the theme of enhancing product safety, in collaboration with the FDA's Center for Tobacco Products (CTP), NCTR will develop animal laboratories for the study of biological processes associated with the behavioral pharmacology of tobacco and related products including nicotine and nicotine-like chemicals. Among other activities, these laboratories will study the constituents of tobacco products that may affect the reinforcing properties of nicotine as they pertain to nicotine's ability to initiate and/or maintain self-administration and vice versa. Towards this end, direct use, non-capitalized scientific equipment animal housing and testing apparatus will need to be procured. More specifically, the Government will purchase equipment and supplies to support 40 nonhuman primate (NHP) Squirrel Monkey (Saimiri Sciureus) species for nicotine self-administration studies. Prior to obtaining research primate subjects, adequate and compliant caging must be obtained. Objectives: The NCTR Division of Neurotoxicology has the need of obtaining appropriate direct use, scientific equipment via animal caging-housing space for 40 NHPs. Animal caging required is such as that outlined in the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, or its' associated caging equipment to support upwards to 40 NHP Group 1 (up to 1.5 kg) species individuals. The species of choice will be Squirrel Monkeys, (Saimiri Sciureus). This division requires at least 3.2 square feet (floor area) and at least 30 inches tall (height from cage floor to cage ceiling)/76 cm (height) per monkey. The Government will employ 2 over 2 minimum cage specifications with modular interlocking capabilities between units. The preferred total width for the 2 over 2 unit is between 40" and 44" (101.6 to 111.8 cm), such that five connected units would require between 200" and 220" of wall space. In order to use cages for both singly or pair housed animals, and to allow singly housed animals to have some access to each other, self-storing and/or integrated horizontal panels with three options are needed: • Solid (no contact with animal in adjoining cage) • Partly mesh and/or barred (allow for grooming contact with animal in adjoining cage) • Partly open (complete access to either side by an animal) Additionally, the enclosure caging should comply with, and provide ability for addition of enrichment means of expressing noninjurious species-typical activities. Enrichment devices may include perches, swings, mirrors, or other increased cage complexities at our discretion to stimulate forging or task-oriented feeding behavior and all the while providing interaction with the care giver or other familiar and knowledgeable person. Statement of Need: Based upon advice from experts that were consulted during our due diligence efforts to establish tobacco-product relevant behavioral pharmacology laboratories at NCTR, and in consultation with staff from NCTR's Veterinary Services Division, appropriate NHP animal housing, feeding and enrichment equipment will be identified and purchased. Considerations of the unique characteristics of the Squirrel Monkey species Siamiri, thus influencing our caging choice are that the species Locomotes on all four limbs (use both vertical and horizontal space). They use their tail for balance and perch rather than sit like other primate species such as our in house Rhesus Macaque. Their perches should be round in shape instead of flat shelves or twin bar to avoid the development of pressure sores on the tail. Additional considerations are that perches should be positioned at multiple levels to maximize three-dimensional use of space within caging environment. Given that they live in large groups (20-200 animals) in the wild, but that these large groups generally have a ratio of one male per 10-20 females, in captivity group housing of males should be limited to two males per group. Finally, cages should provide the ability to attach and/or introduce enrichment devices (e.g., forage board or puzzle board, etc.) to cage front as desirable to include swings, moving perches, or objects hanging within the cage, such as plastic chain or looped PVC tube. Salient Characteristics (Minimum Cage Specifications): • At least 3.2 square feet (floor area) • At least 30 inches tall (height from cage floor to cage ceiling) • 2 over 2 with the following specifications o Modular interlocking capabilities o Self-storing and/or integrated horizontal panels with three options:  Solid (no contact with animal in adjoining cage)  Partly mesh and/or barred (allow for grooming contact with animal in adjoining cage)  Partly open (complete access to either side by an animal) o Panels dividing upper and lower cages shall be partly removable and/or adjustable to allow vertical access between cage compartments for exercise or pair housing o Exterior measurements that do not exceed 44" in width • Stainless steel • Casters that are 1 piece (no parts glued in) • Squeeze back • Two perches (preferably located at different heights) on two different cage walls o Pull bar mechanism for a squeeze back may serve as one perch o Perches shall be rounded and not be flat shelves • Fixed panels shall not be solid panels (barred or mesh for light and visibility) • Bar at top of cage for hanging enrichment items (e.g., hanging plastic chains, etc.) • Front panel shall include access for a pole and leash system, feeders, card holder, water bottle holders o Ability to attach and/or introduce enrichment devices (e.g., forage board or puzzle board, etc.) to cage front is desirable • Guillotine style door with complete swing out capability • Cage lock mechanism • Rear drainage pans Period of Performance: 120 days or less after receipt of purchase order. Timely delivery is important to keep the overall study timeline on track and understanding it's the critical path to our separate requirement for the purchase and delivery Squirrel Monkeys. Responses to this sources sought notice shall, at a minimum, provide capability statements to include current in-house capability and capacity to meet this requirement and a list of three prior completed projects of the same nature within the past three (3) years, including date(s) of sale, description, dollar value, client name, client address, client point of contact name, client point of contact mailing address, client point of contact phone number, and client point of contact email address. Respondents shall indicate DUNS number, organization name, address, point of contact, and size and type of business (e.g., 8(a), VOSDB, HUBZone, etc.) pursuant to the applicable NAICS code identified in this notice. In addition, the Government recommends and would appreciate vendors providing a "no obligation" cost estimate for the above referenced requirements for "information purposes" only. The Government is not responsible for locating or securing any information, not identified in the response. Capability statements are due in person, by postal mail or email to the point of contact listed below on or before June 5, 2013, by 12:00 hours (Central Standard Time in Jefferson, Arkansas), at the Food and Drug Administration, Office of Acquisitions & Grants Services, Attn: James "Scott" Rawls, 3900 NCTR Road, HFT-320, Jefferson, AR 72079-9502 or email james.rawls@fda.hhs.gov. Reference FDA_1118602. Disclaimer and Important Notes. This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization's qualifications to perform the work. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. After a review of the responses received, a pre-solicitation synopsis and solicitation may be published in Federal Business Opportunities. However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation. Confidentiality. No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation(s)."
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/HHS/FDA/DCASC/FDA_1118602/listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Address: HHS/FDA/NCTR, 3900 NCTR Rd., Jefferson, Arkansas, 72079, United States
- Zip Code: 72079
- Zip Code: 72079
- Record
- SN03071746-W 20130526/130524234407-15befd8937a95d46f9252ef345c2f559 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
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