SOURCES SOUGHT
88 -- Market Research for Canines
- Notice Date
- 6/5/2014
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 112990
— All Other Animal Production
- Contracting Office
- Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, Office of Administration, 6011 Executive Blvd, 5th Floor, Rockville, Maryland, 20852-3804, United States
- ZIP Code
- 20852-3804
- Solicitation Number
- HHS-NIH-OD-OLAO-SS14007
- Archive Date
- 7/11/2014
- Point of Contact
- Doris M Vaughn, Phone: 301-402-3351
- E-Mail Address
-
vaughn@od.nih.gov
(vaughn@od.nih.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- 6/5/2014 SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE Number: NIHODOLAO14007 Project Title: The National Institutes of Health (NIH)/Office of Logistics and Acquisition Operations (OLAO) Market Research for Canines Division of Veterinary Research (DVR) This is a Small Business Sources Sought notice. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding: (1) the availability and capability of qualified small business sources; (2) whether they are small businesses; HUB Zone small businesses; service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses; 8(a) small businesses; veteran-owned small businesses; woman-owned small businesses; or small disadvantaged businesses; and (3) their size classification relative to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 112990 for the proposed acquisition. Your responses to the information requested will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method, including whether a set-aside is possible. An organization that is not considered a small business under the applicable NAICS code should not submit a response to this notice." Project requirements. See attached statement of work. Anticipated period of performance. The period of performance is expected to be for one twelve Month base period and Four twelve Month Option periods. a. Other important considerations. See attached statement of work. Submission of Capability Statements and Delivery Instructions: In 15 pages or less any interested and business organizations should submit a capability statement of their organization which demonstrates their ability to supply the services described above and in the statement of work. Respondents should also include any other information that may be helpful in developing or finalizing the acquisition requirements. Responses must reference the sources sought number NIHODOLAOS14007 and include the following: (1) Name and Address of the Company, (2) Size and type of business, pursuant to the applicable NAICS code 112990 (3) Point of contact with name, title, phone, fax and email, (4) DUNS number, (5) Contractors' capability statements should address the services required in the statement of work and the important considerations mentioned above, (6) List of organizations to whom similar types of services have been previously provided. ALL INFORMATION SUBMITTED IN RESPONSE TO THIS ANNOUNCEMENT MUST BE RECEIVED ON OR BEFORE THE CLOSING DATE. THE CLOSING DATE FOR RESPONSES IS DUE on June 26, 2014 @ 10:00 PM EST. All questions and/or comments must be in writing and may be emailed to Doris Vaughn at vaughndl@od.nih.gov. Three (3) copies of the capability statement will be required. (a) When mailing your capabilities through the U.S. Postal Service use the following address: National Institutes of Health, Office of Logistics and Acquisition Operations, (OLAO), 6011 Executive Blvd., Room 539B, Bethesda, MD 20892. ATTN Doris Vaughn (b) when hand delivering, or using a courier service such as: UPS, Federal Express, etc., use the following City, State, and Zip Code: Rockville, MD 20852. Responses by Facsimile (FAX) will not be accepted. 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). Statement of Work 1. Introduction/Background. The National Institutes of Health (NIH), Office of Research Services (ORS), Division of Veterinary Resources (DVR) provides NIH investigators with acquisition, quarantine and conditioning services for all canines used at the NIH facilities. 2. Scope and Requirements: A. General Requirements (1) Independently, and not as an agent of the Government, the Contractor shall furnish all supplies and services (except as otherwise specified herein) and perform the work set forth below. (2) All supplies obtained under this contract shall be monitored by the Contracting Officer's Representative, whose position is defined elsewhere in this contract. B. Specific Requirements The Contractor shall furnish specific breeds of canines which have been purposely bred and raised for biomedical research as specified in their submitted pricing document. The Contractor shall provide and deliver animals that meet specifications established by individual orders. In addition, the following conditions shall be met: (1) Canines shall be purpose bred in an established closed breeding colony maintained by the Contractor to produce healthy laboratory dogs. The Contractor shall be regularly engaged in the breeding, raising, and transport of the specified animals, which are free of physical and heritable defects and are of quality health and temperament as stated herein. (1) The Contractor shall comply with all federal, state and local laws and regulations pertaining to the acquisition, registration, care, disposition and transportation of dogs. (2) The Contractor shall be licensed by the USDA as a Class A dealer of laboratory canines, and shall comply with all standards of the Animal Welfare Act (AWA). (3) The Contractor shall provide documentation of the canine colony health status. (4) The Contractor's husbandry practices and physical facilities shall be maintained in compliance with USDA regulations and the recommendations in the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. (5) Dogs shall be socialized and accustomed to normal colony handling and restraint methods. Dogs that exhibit aggression or biting behaviors upon delivery will not be accepted and shall be replaced by the contractor. (6) Dogs shall be healthy based on examination by the contractor's veterinarian and be accompanied by individual health records, USDA health certificate APHIS Form 7000 and VS Form 7000-6 Record of Disposition of Dogs and Cats. (7) Dogs shall have an individual identifier (ear tattoo, microchip) corresponding with the individual health record (8) Dogs shall meet the specification (breed, age, sex, and weight) of the animal order (9) Unacceptable dogs will be replaced by the Contractor at no expense to the Government. (10) Dogs shall be free of physical and neurological defects, including eye abnormalities, limb deformities or fractures, wounds or heritable defects. Dogs shall be free of endo- and ecto-parasites. Teeth should be healthy and free of periodontal disease. The cardiovascular system should be free of heart mumurs, arrhythmias and pulse deficits. Lymph nodes should be normal size and the animal free of any metabolic or infectious disease symptoms including coughing, nasal and ocular discharge. Dogs should not be pregnant, lactating, lame, or blind unless specified in the animal order. (11) Documentation that all dogs are immunized with the AVMA recommended vaccinations in relation to the age of the dog shall be provided in the individual health records. (12) If requested, the contractor shall test or treat specific animals on a case-by-case basis (13) Dogs shall be of optimal body condition in relation to breed and musculoskeletal size. Dogs shall meet the size and weight of the order without being obese or too thin. (14) Animals shall not be subjected to previous experimental procedures. (15) The Contractor shall follow all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations affecting the transportation of animals and comply with the most recent edition of ILAR's The Guide for Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, the PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, USDA's Animal Welfare Act, and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Regulations for transport of live animals. (16) The Contractor shall be responsible for meeting all requirements associated with shipment and delivery of dogs to the NIH. Transport cages shall be supplied by the Contractor and meet all USDA standards as stated in the Animal Welfare Act. The driver of the vehicle for the dogs shall be qualified to handle and care for the laboratory animals being transported. All vehicles used for transporting animals under this requirement shall be environmentally controlled. The Contractor may authorize an agent or delivery agency to make deliveries to air carriers if the vehicle and drivers meet the specifications stated herein. Animals will not be exposed to excessive environmental conditions outside the acceptable ranges as stated in the Animal Welfare Act and comply with the most recent edition of ILAR's The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. (17) The Contractor shall furnish VS Form 7000-6 Record of Disposition of Dogs and Cats with each shipment of animals as required by the Animal Welfare Act. An individual record for each dog that indicates ancestry, birth date, procedures, treatments, social pairing information and diagnostic results performed shall be delivered with each animal. This record shall correspond with the individual identifier of the animal (ear tattoo, microchip), USDA health certificate APHIS Form 7000 shall be supplied as required by the Animal Welfare Act. (18) Delivery shall be made to the NIH within 3 weeks of order placement unless otherwise approved by the COR. (19) Species Specifications a) Beagles: Shall be male or female, six months to two years of age based on the requirements in the order. The outward physical characteristics and appearance shall conform to the standards for a beagle. Dogs shall be of optimum body conditioning and meet the body weight requirements at time of delivery. Individual health record will accompany each dog and correspond to the USDA number. Dogs shall meet the specifications stated in request for shipment, to include the specified weight ranges, sex and age. b) Cross bred Hound / Mongrel Dogs: Shall be male or female, six months to two years of age based on the requirements in the order. These dogs shall be of a hound cross type body conformation and size. The cross bred hounds and mongrel dogs will have short hair. Dogs shall be of optimum body conditioning and meet the body weight requirements at time of delivery. Individual health record will accompany each dog and correspond to the USDA number. Dogs shall meet the specifications stated in request for shipment, to include the specified weight ranges, sex and age. c) Any Other Breed: - Shall be male or female, six months to two years of age based on the requirements in the order and as available from the Contractor Commercial Price List. A. Animal Guarantee: All animals that are provided to the NIH through this contract shall be guaranteed for seven (7) days. Any animal that dies, or becomes critically ill during this time will be replaced by the vendor at no cost to the government. This guarantee does not apply to animals that die or become ill due to animal care, i.e., bloat, dehydration, or traumatic injuries. Animals shall be guaranteed to arrive alive and be determined in normal good health after arrival at the point of destination. All animals shall be delivered in physically sound and healthy condition and shall be free of wounds, external parasites and clinical signs of disease. Only animals judged healthy based on an examination by a veterinarian during the entry physical, performed within six (6) days after arrival, will be acceptable. This assessment will be based on a physical examination and observation of the animal's general appearance and state of nutrition. Animals with clinical signs of disease will be rejected. Unacceptable animals shall be returned to the vendor at the vendor's expense or a mutual cost agreement or disposition agreement will be decided between the contractor and the government that is acceptable to the COR. Animals judged as unacceptable will be returned to the contractor at no expense to the Government, euthanized at the contractor's discretion, or the contractor may allow appropriate treatment by the Government to render the delivered animals acceptable, with all such cost to be borne by the contractor as a credit to the Government. B. Animal Welfare Assurance The contractor shall obtain, prior to the start of any work under this contract, an approved Animal Welfare Assurance from the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW), Office of the Director, NIH, as required by Section I-43-30 of the Public Health Service policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. The Contractor shall maintain such assurance for the duration of this contract C. Restriction from Use of Live Vertebrate Animals Under governing policy, federal funds administered by the public health service (PHS) shall not be expended for research involving live vertebrate animals without prior approval by the office of laboratory welfare (OLAW) of an assurance to comply with the PHS policy on humane care and use of laboratory animals. This restriction applies to all performance sites without OLAW-approved assurances, whether domestic or foreign. D. Care of Laboratory Animals (PHS 352.280-2) Notice to offerors of Requirements for Adequate Assurance of Protection of Vertebrate Animal Subjects (SEPTEMBER 1985) The PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals by Awardee Institutions established a number of requirements for research ac¬tivities involving animals. Before a PHS award may be made to an applicant organization, the organization shall possess or shall file, with the Office for Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW), National Institutes of Health (NIH), PHS, a written Animal Welfare Assurance which commits the organization to comply with the provisions of the PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals prepared by the Institute of Laboratory Animal Resources. Accordance with PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals by Awardee Institutions, applicant organizations must establish a committee, qualified through ex¬perience and expertise of its members, to oversee the institutions animal program, facilities and procedures. No PHS award involving the use of animals shall be made unless the Animal Welfare Assurance has been approved by OLAW. Prior to award, the Contracting Officer will notify the contractor selected for projects that involve live ver¬tebrate animals that an Animal Welfare Assurance is required. The Contracting Officer will request that OLAW negotiate an acceptable Animal Welfare Assurance with the Contractor. For further information OLAW may be contacted at NIH, Bethesda, Maryland 20892 on telephone # (301) 496-7041. E. Care of Live Vertebrate Animals (OCTOBER 1986) (a) Before undertaking performance of any contract involving research on live vertebrate animals, the contractor shall register with the Secretary of Agriculture of the United States in accordance with 7 U.S.C. 2316 and 9 CFR 2.25 - 2.28. The Contractor shall furnish evidence of such registration to the Contracting Officer. (b) The contractor shall acquire vertebrate animals used in research from a dealer licensed by the Secretary of Agriculture under 7 U.S.C. 2133 and 9 CFR 2.1 - 2.11, or from a source that is exempt from licensing under those sections. (c) The contractor agrees that the care and use of any live ver¬tebrate animals used or intended for use in the performance of this contract will conform with the PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals by Awardee Institutions, the current Animal Welfare Assurance, the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals prepared by the Institute of Laboratory Animal Resources and the pertinent laws and regulations of the United States Department of Agriculture (see 7 U.S.C. 2131 et seq. and 9 CFR Subchapter a, Parts 1-4). In case of conflict between standards, the more stringent standard shall be used. (d) If at any time during performance of this contract, the Contract¬ing Officer determines, in consultation with the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW), National Institutes of Health (NIH), that the Contractor is not in compliance with any of the requirements and/or standards stated in paragraph (a) through (c) above, the Contracting Officer may immediately suspend, in whole or in part, work and further payments under this contract until the Contractor corrects noncompliance. Notice of the suspension may be communicated by telephone and confirmed in writing. If the contractor fails to complete corrective action within the period of time designated in the Contracting Officers written notice of suspension, the Contract¬ing Officer may in consultation with OLAW, NIH, terminate this contract in whole or in part, and the contractors name may be removed from the list of those Contractors with approved Public Health Service Animal Welfare Assurance. Note: The contractor may request registration of its facility and a current listing of licensed dealers from the Regional Office of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), USDA, for the region in which its research facility is located. The location of the appropriate APHIS Regional Office, as well as information concerning this program may be obtained by contacting the Senior Staff Officer, Animal Care Staff, USDA/APHIS, Federal Center Building, Hyattsville, Maryland 20782. F. Inspection and Compliance The COR and or his designee reserve the right to inspect the Contractor's facilities before awarding a contract and at various times through the contract period. Noncompliance with any specification listed may result in cancellation of the remaining portion of the contract. The Contracting Officer or the duly authorized representative will perform the inspection and acceptance of the products to be provided. All defective shipment claims and claims for replacement of animals will be submitted to the Contractor via the COR or alternate COR. The Contractor shall be provided five (5) days to address the complaint, make a determination as to the accuracy of the claim, and inform the COR in writing of their response by facsimile. In instances in which the Contractor disputes the claim for defective shipment, the procedures described in the disputes clause shall be followed. G. Satellite Colonies No animals shall be delivered from colonies other than those approved and in compliance with this Statement of Work. Satellite colonies can be used; however, information as requested in this proposal must be provided for each colony. H. Methods of Ordering The specific species type, sex, age and weight will be designated at the time of each order. Orders will be placed by the COR, approved by the financial approving official and placed through NIH procurement. The contractor shall be provided a Delivery Order (DO) or purchase order number at the time an order is placed. The Contractor is cautioned not to accept an order unless a proper Delivery Order number is provided. When the animals have been delivered to the government, the contractor shall submit a copy of the invoice to the COR for approval prior to submitting the invoice to NIH Accounts Payable. The Government shall promptly enter the DO into NBS at the time the call is placed. As deliveries are made, the receiving information shall be entered into the NBS System. Kristine Eckard and Scott Green are the individuals designated and authorized to place and to receive orders. 4. Deliverables: The contractor shall provide the canines specified on each order within 14 to 21 days, or otherwise agreed upon by the COR or their designee, for each individual order. Orders will be placed by the COR or alternative COR through the Delivery Order (DO) mechanism. Vendors are required to submit the following deliverables as part of each animal order: • The animal(s) according to specifications • USDA Health certificate for each animal delivered • USDA record of sale for each animal delivered • Health report/medical records for each animal delivered End.
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/HHS/NIH/OoA/HHS-NIH-OD-OLAO-SS14007/listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Address: NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, United States
- Zip Code: 20892
- Zip Code: 20892
- Record
- SN03387035-W 20140607/140605235455-bfae7f777759cda17114181099cbb221 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
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