DHHS, PHS, CDC, NIOSH, ALOSH, 1095 Willowdale Rd., Morgantown, WV 26505-2888

99 -- STAINLESS STEEL INDIVIDUALLY VENTILATED RODENT ISOLATOR CAGING SYSTEMS SOL 97-015 DUE 072897 POC Brenda L. Goodwin, (304) 285-5882/Rex S. Wolfe, Jr., (304) 285-5883 THIS IS A COMBINED SYNOPSIS/SOLICITATION FOR COMMERCIAL ITEMS PREPARED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FORMAT IN SUBPART 12.6, AS SUPPLEMENTED WITH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION INCLUDED IN THIS NOTICE. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONSTITUTES THE ONLY SOLICITATION; PROPOSALS ARE BEING REQUESTED AND A WRITTEN SOLICITATION WILL NOT BE ISSUED. This solicitation, Request for Proposal No. (RFP) 97-015, is being issued as a 100% set aside for small business concerns only. The Standard Industrial Classification is 3499 with a size standard of 500 employees. This solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 90-46. Furnish to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Morgantown, WV, the following Contract Line Item 001 -- 19 EACH -- -STAINLESS STEEL INDIVIDUALLY VENTILATED RODENT ISOLATOR CAGING SYSTEMS for the ALOSH Animal Facility, 1095 Willowdale Road, Morgantown, WV, in accordance with the following specifications. Specifications: These 19 stainless steel individually ventilated rodent isolator caging systems shall individually supply each animal cage with HEPA-filtered positive pressure air and shall be constructed for connection to the central HVAC system at ALOSH so that the air from the cages is exhausted from the room. The systems are to come complete with compatible cages, tops, filters, and water bottles as described below. The systems shall be designed to minimize exchange of air between animal cages, provide HEPA-filtered air to each cage, and capture effluent air from each cage for exhausting through the ALOSH central HVAC exhaust so that the caging systems provide individual ventilation and exhaust for isolator cages. Air velocities within the cages shall be a mean of less than 50 linear feet per minute and provide a minimum mean of 30 intracage air exchanges per hour. Each stainless steel caging system shall be able to house at least 70 rat cages with dimensions of at least 115 in2 of floor space and greater than 7 in of height per cage (at least the rat cage housing capacity of Thoren Model #4-70-7-10-1-4-7TM) or at least 70 mouse cages with dimensions of at least 110 in2 of floor space and greater than 5 in of height per mouse cage. Each of these units shall also be able to provide individually ventilated air to mouse cages and to capture effluent air from mouse cages. The switch from housing rats to housing mice should require no more effort than a switch of cages. When fully set up with rat cages, each unit shall be able to house at least 210 rats of less than 300 grams weight under current AAALAC space requirements. The 19 stainless steel racks shall come with at least 2000 compatible autoclavable polycarbonate rat cages, at least 2000 autoclavable stainless steel wire bar cage covers, at least 2000 polycarbonate filter covers, at least 2000 autoclavable polycarbonate rat water bottles with screw-on stainless steel caps each with a device appropriate for the delivery of water to rats in a fashion which will meet AAALAC requirements (sipper tube or equivalent), at least 1330 stainless steel identification card holders, at least 140 compatible autoclavable polycarbonate mouse cages, at least 140 autoclavable polycarbonate mouse water bottles with screw-on stainless steel caps each with a device appropriate for the delivery of water to mice in a fashion which will meet AAALAC requirements (sipper tube or equivalent), a source of HEPA-filtered supply air (HEPA blower unit or equivalent) for each of the 19 caging systems, and connections to connect the 19 caging systems to the ALOSH HVAC exhaust. Each caging system shall be on wheels to facilitate transport. Each of the 19 individual systems must be able to move through 7 foot doors and when set up will not exceed 9 feet in height, 7 feet in length, and 30 inches in width. The caging systems should operate using standard 120 volt electrical outlets and require no more than two outlets per unit. Except for the air supply and exhaust systems and associated gauges, the caging systems must be able to be washed in a standard laboratory animal cage washing system. To assure the continued availability of supplies for these housing systems, the manufacturer must have marketed individually ventilated rodent isolator caging systems for at least 2 years prior to submission of the bid and sold at least 5 units per year during each of those 2 years. The caging systems should come complete with at least a 1 year warranty. The vendor will supply at least a 6 hour, on-sight, training session on the set-up and use of the caging systems at ALOSH within 6 weeks after the delivery of the systems. The vendor shall supply the units within one (1) year of the bid, but not before four (4) months after a notice to proceed with manufacturing is sent from NIOSH. The Government will evaluate based on F.O.B. Destination (Morgantown, West Virginia) and the requirements at FAR 52.214.21 "Descriptive Literature" apply. Proposals/Information provided must demonstrate the unit's ability to meet the specification and that the supplier has at least two years of experience as stated above. Evaluation Factors: Offers will be evaluated for technical acceptability in accordance with the stated specification and experience. Technical proposals and cost or price are of approximately equal importance. The Government intends to make a single award to the responsive, responsible offeror whose proposal is considered to be most advantageous to the Government. Offerors are advised that the following FAR provisions apply to this RFP: FAR 52.212-1, "Instructions to Offerors -- Commercial Items"; 52.212-4, "Contract Terms and Conditions -- Commercial Items"; and 52.212-5 "Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders -- Commercial Items." The following FAR clauses cited in Clause 52.212-5 are also applicable to this acquisition: 52.222-3 "Convict Labor"; 52.233-3 "Protest After Award"; 52.222.26 "Equal Opportunity"; 52.222-35 "Affirmative Action for Special Disabled and Vietnam Era Veterans"; 52.222-36 "Affirmative Action for Handicapped Workers"; 52.222-37 "Employment Reports on Special Disabled Veterans and Veterans of Vietnam Era"; 52.225-3 "Buy American Act -- Supplies"; 52.225-18 "European Community Sanctions for End Products." Proposals are due July 28, 1997, at 2:00 p.m. local prevailing time. Fascimile submissions are not authorized. Proposals should be submitted as follows: (1) one original and two copies of a completed SF 1449, signed by an individual authorized to bind the organization; (2) a Schedule of Offered Supplies/Services containing pricing for the system being offered, published price lists (if applicable) and a delivery schedule; (3) completed Representations and Certifications -- Commercial Items, FAR 52.212-3; (4) descriptive literature and demonstrated experience for evaluation purposes; (5) acknowledgment of amendments, if any; and (6) exceptions to RFP. Submit to: DHHS, PHS, CDC, NIOSH, ALOSH, Attn: Brenda Goodwin, 1095 Willowdale Road, Morgantown, WV 26505. Offers that fail to furnish the required information, or reject the terms and conditions of the solicitation may be excluded from consideration. Award of a firm fixed-price contract is estimated to be made on or about August 8, 1997. Information regarding this notice can be obtained from Brenda Goodwin at (304)285- 5882/5876 or by fax at (304) 285-6083. All responsible sources may submit a response, which shall be considered by the Agency. (0191)

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