SOURCES SOUGHT
R -- Management, Operation, Professional, Technical and Support Services for NIAID Animal Care Facilities
- Notice Date
- 4/25/2023 11:39:43 AM
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 561210
— Facilities Support Services
- Contracting Office
- NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH NIAID BETHESDA MD 20892 USA
- ZIP Code
- 20892
- Solicitation Number
- 75N93023R00014
- Response Due
- 5/10/2023 12:00:00 PM
- Point of Contact
- Kim Brookens, Phone: 2406692980, Rosemary Gomes, Phone: 2406695374
- E-Mail Address
-
kim.brookens@nih.gov, Rosemary.Gomes@nih.gov
(kim.brookens@nih.gov, Rosemary.Gomes@nih.gov)
- Description
- Introduction This is a Professional Support Services Sources Sought notice. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding the availability and capability of all qualified sources, including small and small disadvantaged businesses, to perform a potential non R&D service requirement. Background The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) was established to conduct and support research to better understand the causes of allergic, immunologic, and infectious diseases, and to develop better means of presenting, diagnosing, and treating illness. In support of this mission, NIAID executes a Strategic Plan for Biodefense Research and Research Agenda for Emerging Infectious Disease. Much of this research depends on the study of laboratory animals. Proper management of the NIAID program of animal care and use is essential for the welfare of the animals, validity of research data, and the health and safety of the animal care staff. The NIAID currently maintains animal facilities in seven (7) buildings on the Bethesda and Twinbrook campuses in Maryland (MD), five (5) buildings on the Rocky Mountain Laboratory (RML) Campus in Hamilton, Montana (MT), and maintains a research section in one (1) building on the Division of Veterinary Resources (DVR) operated NIH Animal Center (NIHAC) campus in Poolesville, MD. The NIAID is responsible for the operation of an NIH shared animal facility used by NIAID along with several other NIH Institutes (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; National Human Genome Research Institute; National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; and National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases). The Scientific Directors of these Institutes have delegated through Intra-Agency Agreements (IAAs), the responsibility and authority for care of animals that are housed in the NIH shared animal facility to the Scientific Director of the NIAID. The NIAID also maintains animals in the NIH central animal facility. All of the NIAID care and use of animals is conducted in compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and guidelines in order to maintain accreditation by the Association for Assessment and accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International (AAALACI). The NIAID experimental animals must be maintained under carefully controlled conditions to minimize research variables and allow the accurate interpretation of laboratory result. Consequently, it is essential that animal colonies be consistently and properly maintained to avoid any situation or condition such as undue stress, disease, animal misidentification, animal escape, etc., the might adversely affect experiments. The proper care of these animals is integral to the research performed at NIH. The current contract # HHSN272201800004C, is with Charles River Laboratories, Inc. Charles River Laboratories, Inc. was selected through a competitive negotiatied acquisition. The period of performance is through September 13, 2023, with an anticipated six month extension of services per FAR 52.217-8, through March 13, 2024.��� Purpose and Objectives The purpose of this Technical and Professional Support Services for NIAID Animal Care Facilities �Sources Sought Notice is to discern whether or not there are other contractors, including small or small disadvantaged businesses, capable of and interested in performing the work described herein. The NIAID does not intend to award a contract on the basis of responses received nor otherwise pay for the preparation of any information submitted. As a result of this Sources Sought Notice, the NIAID may issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) if it deemed necessary and appropriate. THERE IS NO SOLICITATION AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME. However, should such a requirement materialize, no basis for claims against NIAID shall arise as a result of a response to this Sources Sought Notice or the NIAID�s use of such information as either part of our evaluation process or in developing specifications of any subsequent requirement. Project requirements The purpose of this contract is to care for animals at NIH�s research facilities in ABSL1-ABSL4 environments and support the facility and the work being performed therein. Contract support shall be provided on-site at locations that house NIAID research animals to include the NIH main campus in Bethesda MD, off-campus owned/leased facilities in Rockville MD, the NIH Animal Center (NIHAC) in Poolesville MD and the Rocky Mountain Laboratories (RML) in Hamilton MT.� New NIH/NIAID installations that are not designated at the time of contract award shall be so served upon the request of the Contracting Officer and accomplished by a modification of the contract. The Contractor shall provide a wide range of professional, technical and support services to the DIR Animal Care Program required for the proper care, use and humane treatment of laboratory animals, and to provide a wide range of technical skills required for the scientific study and manipulation of animals and animal projects. Functions include: veterinary medical care, animal care, technical support, data management, cost accounting, cage and environmental sanitation, routine maintenance of animal care equipment and supplies, transportation, logistical, and administrative support.� Services will be provided at various NIAID and Government facilities. Support is to be provided to animal projects involving the full range of biomedical research and scientific disciplines and animal species which may include: mice, rats, cotton rats, hamsters, guinea pigs, gerbils, rabbits, non-human primates, ferrets, chickens, frogs, mastomys, swine, goats, sheep, bats and other vertebrates and invertebrates depending upon facility location.� All contract activities must be responsive to the� NIH�s research requirements and comply with AAALACI criteria for accreditation at all times. Requirement and Period of Performance It is anticipated that a performance based, cost reimbursement, term/level of effort, type of contract will be awarded. The requirement will be the successful delivery of 258.00 full time equivalents (FTEs) per year for the Base Period (Year 1) and option periods (Year 2 � Year 5). The options periods may be unilaterally exercised by the Government. The option periods may extend the term of the contract beyond the base period for up to 5 years. In addition to the services outlined above to be provided in the base requirement, options for additional level of of effort of 5 FTEs may be exercised at the discretion of the Government for unanticipated increases in demand that may be exercised up to 5 times in a year. If the Government elects to exercise these options, the Contractor shall provide the resources as stated above. Other important considerations Work under this contract will be performed in multiple NIAID facilities and in compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and guidelines in order to maintain accreditation by the Association for Assessment and accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International (AAALACI). Capability statement / information sought Capability statements submitted as a result of this announcement should demonstrate the offeror�s qualification, expertise and experience, specifically providing evidence as to the capability to immediately perform this requirement.� Capability statements should clearly convey information regarding the respondent�s capabilities, including:� (1) staff expertise, including their availability, experience and formal and other training; (b) current in-house capability and capacity to perform the work; (c) prior completed projects of a similar nature; (d) corporate experience and management capability to deliver comprehensive services of this scope and magnitude; and (e) examples of prior completed Government contracts, references, and other related information. Interested Contractors must submit a capability statement (five page limitation, excluding resumes) describing their company�s experience and ability to immediately perform this effort, which includes the following:� (1) a summary list of similar work previously performed; (2) the professional qualifications and specific experience of staff who may be assigned to the requirement; (3) resumes for proposed key personnel, including the Principal Investigator/co-PI, which reflect education, and previous work relevant to the proposed requirement; (4) a general description of the facilities and other resources needed to perform the work; and (5) demonstrated ability to carry out the work. Capability Statements must not include links to internet web site addresses (URLs) or otherwise direct readers to alternate sources of information.� Font size must be 10 to 12 points. Spacing must be no more than 15 characters per inch. Within a vertical inch, there must be no more than six lines of text. Print margins must be at least one-inch on each edge of the paper. Each response should include the following Business Information: UEI number Company Name Company Address Company Points of Contact (both technical and administrative), including names, titles, addresses, telephone and fax numbers and Email addresses Current GSA Schedule appropriate to this Sources Sought Do you have a Government-approved accounting system?� If so, please identify the agency that approved the system. Type of Company (i.e., large business, non-profit, educational institute, small business, 8(a), woman owned, veteran owned, etc.), as validated via the System for Award Management (SAM).� All offerors must be registered in the SAM, located at http://www.sam.gov/ Responses must be submitted no later than 3:00 PM (E.S.T.), May 10, 2023. Capability statements will not be returned and will not be accepted after the due date. These statements should be submitted electronically (via e-mail) to Kim Brookens, Contracting Officer, at kim.brookens@nih.gov and Rosemary Gomes, Contracting Officer/Team Lead, at rosemary.gomes@nih.gov. These statements should be submitted in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF); however, capability statements in Microsoft Word will also be accepted.� The e-mail subject line must specify HHS-NIH-NIAID-75N93023R00014.� Facsimile responses will not be accepted. Common Cut-off Date: Electronically submitted, tailored capability statements are due not later than 3:00 PM (E.S.T.), on May 10, 2023.� CAPABILITY STATEMENTS WILL NOT BE RETURNED AND WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED AFTER THE DUE DATE. 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. The Government will not entertain questions regarding this Market Research; however, general questions may be emailed to the following addresses: Contracting Officer: Kim Brookens Email address: Kim.Brookens@nih.gov Contracting Officer/Team Lead:� Rosemary Gomes Email Address:� Rosemary.Gomes@nih.gov 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.
- Web Link
-
SAM.gov Permalink
(https://sam.gov/opp/f82b1435ebae482ba71bca746106d512/view)
- Record
- SN06662264-F 20230427/230425230119 (samdaily.us)
- Source
-
SAM.gov Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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