National Cancer Institute, Research Contracts Branch, PSCS, 6120 Executive Blvd, Eps/room 638, Bethesda, MD 20892-7227

99 -- MIS. STAINLESS STEEL INDIVIDUALLY VENTILATED MOUSE/RAT CAGING SYSTEMS. SOL NCI-RFQ-70139 DUE 082997 POC Cynthia Brown, Purchasing Agent, (301) 402-4509, Trish Haun, (301) 402-4509 This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for Commercial Items, prepared in accordance with the format in FAR 12.6 with additional information included in this notice. This solicitation, RFQ-NCI-70139 is set-aside for small businesses. The Standard Industrial Classification Code is 3496 and the business size standard less than 500 employees. This solicitation and the incorporated provisions/clauses are those in effect thru Federal Acquisition Circular 90-46. This purchase will be made pursuant to the authority in FAR 13.6 to use simplified procedures for commercial acquisitions. Organizations submitting quotations must furnish a completed and signed provision at FAR 52.212.3, Offeror Representations and Certifications for Commercial Items, with their Quotation. They must also provide descriptive literature which demonstrates that the items are in full compliance with specifications and experience noted below. Furnish the National Inst. of Health, National Cancer Institutes, Office of Laboratory Animal Science, Bethesda, Maryland, the following contract line item 001- 50 each -- Stainless Steel Individually Ventilated Mouse Caging Systems: The 50 stainless steel separately ventilated rodent caging systems shall individually supply each animal cage with HEPA-filtered positive pressure air, and shall exhaust each individual cage. The unit shall have one supply and one exhaust blower module. Air from the cages shall be exhausted in the existing room ceiling drops. The exhaust shall have a 5 inch round hose connecting for the existing HVAC ceiling drops. The systems shall be complete with compatible cages, tops, filters, and water bottles, and PPC-card holders permanently attached to the side of the cages. The systems shall be designed to minimize exchange of air between animal cages, provided HEPA-filtered air to each cage, and capture effluent air from each cage for exhausting through the exhaust blower module allowing the caging systems to provide individual ventilation and exhaust for the 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 96 expanded small mouse cages with dimensions of at least 78 square inches of floor space and greater than 5-1/2 inches of height per cage (at least the mouse cage housing capacity of Thoren Model #5-96-8-12-1-4TM or equal. Each of these units shall also be able to provide individually ventilated air to mouse cages and shall capture effluent air from mouse cages. The 50 stainless steel racks shall come with at least 7000 each #5APPC Thoren or equal cage autoclavable polycarbonate with flapper grommets. The grommets shall be located 2-1/2 inches from cage floor mouse cages, at least 5000 each Thoren Model #5A or equal autoclavable stainless steel wire bar cage cover, at least 7000 each polycarbonate filters, Thoren #5 or equal, covers at least 1400 autoclavable polycarbonate ink water bottles, 50 each Edstrom or equal stainless steel reverse "S", auto watering w/96-A-154 valves, and quick disconnect installed on ladder racks end, 1000 each Thoren 5BMS or equal autoclavable cage cover stainless steel, 12 each wash baskets for ink water bottles, 6 each water bottle cap removers stainless steel. The bottles shall include 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), at least 7000 each PPC identification card holders, permanently attached to side of cages. Shall include a source HEPA filtered supply and exhaust air for each of the units. Each caging system shall operate using standard 120 volt electrical outlets and require no more than one outlet per unit. Except for the removable electrical connecting box, the caging system shall be easily dismantled external and internal surfaces may be washed or become autoclavable. The systems shall allow for easy change form a negative to a positive mode by adjusting the dampers in the blower modules. 2 each -- Stainless Steel Individually Ventilated mouse Caging Systems shall be in accordance with the following specifications: These 2 stainless steel individually ventilated mouse caging systems shall individually supply each animal cage with HEPA-filtered supply and exhaust by using a HEPA-filter blower module so that the air from the cages is exhausted in the existing room ceiling drops. The exhaust shall have a 5" round hose connection. The systems shall be complete with, stainless steel card holders, compatible cages, tops, filters as described below. The systems shall be designed to minimize exchange of air between the individual animal cages, provide HEPA-filtered air to each cage, and capture effluent air from each cage for removing the exhaust air so that the caging systems provide individual air and exhaust for ventilated 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 64 #3 Thoren mouse cages or equal with at least 55 square inches of floor area per compartment or 64 Thoren #2 mouse weaning cages or equal with floor area of at least 110 square inches and 5 inches of height per cage. The unit shall have at least the mouse cage housing capacity of Thoren Model #3-64-8-8-1-4-5TM or equal. Each of these units shall be able to provide individually ventilated air to mouse cages and shall capture effluent air from mouse cages. The switch from duplex type housing to the weaning mouse cage shall require no more effort than a switch of cages. The 2 stainless steel racks shall come with at least 150 total compatible autoclavable polycarbonate Thoren #2 APPC weaning cages or equal, having 2 each flapper grommets at least 150 total autoclavable stanless steel wire bar cage covers Model#2A or equal, at least 150 each polycarbonate filter covers, 2 each Edstrom stainless steel reverse "S", auto watering, with 128 each of A-154 or equal valves, with quick disconnect or equal, installed on ladder rack ends. The 2 systems shall also be supplied with 128 total Thoren #3 duplex cages with two each flapper grommets or equal including stainless steel wire bar covers and filter lids. Shall include a source of HEPA-filtered supply and exhaust air for each of the 2 caging system, each caging system shall be on wheels to facilitate transport. Each of the 2 individual systems shall be able to move through 7 foot doors by 42 inches wide. The caging sytems shall operate using standard 120 volt electrical outlets and require at least one outlet per unit. The plugs shall be twist lock type. Except for the revovable pre-filters, HEPA filters, associated gauges, and electrical box the caging systems shall easily dismantle external and internal surfaces may be washed or autoclavable. The systems shall allow for easy change from negative to a positive mode by adjusting the dampers in the blower modules. 4 each—Stainless Steel Individually Ventilated Rat Caging Systems: shall be in accordance with the following specifications: These 4 stainless steel individually ventilated rat caging systems shall individually supply each animal cage with HEPA-filtered positive pressure or negative with one supply and one exhaust blower module. Air from the cages shall be exhausted in the existing room ceiling drops. the exhaus shall be complete with compatible cages, tops, filters, and PPC card holders 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. The caging systems shall provide individual supply and exhaust to each cage. Air vilocities within the cages shall be a mean of less than 50 linear feet per minute and provide minimum mean of 30 intracage air exchanges per hour. Each stainless steel caging system shall be able to house at least 30 rat cages with dimensions of at least 210 squae inches of floor space and greater than 8 1/2 inches of height per cage. The rat cage systems housing capacity of Thoren Model #6-30-6-6-1-4TM or equal. when fully set up with rat cages, each unit shall be able t house at least 150 rats of less than 400 grams weight under current AAALAC space requirements. The 4 stainless steel racks shall come with at least 180 Thoren #6 APPC or equal compatible autoclavable polycarbonate rat cages with flapper grommet, 180 each autoclavable stainless steel Thoren 6B or equivalent covers at least 4 each Edstrom or equal stainless steel reverse "S" auto watering, with 30-A-154 valves and with quick disconnect installed on the ladder rack ends, 180 -- 3 inch x 5 inch horizontal PPC identification card holders, permanently attached to side of cages. Shall include a souce of HEPA filtered supply and exhaust air for each of the 4 caging systems. Each caging system shall be on wheels to facilitate transport. The caging systems shall operate using standard 120 volt electrical outlets and require no more than one outlet per unit. the plugs shall be twist lock type. Except for the removable electrical connecting box, the caging systems shall be able to be washed or sterilized. The systems shall easily dismantle, external and internal surfaces may be sterilized. The systems shall allow for easy change from a negative to a positive mode by adjusting the dampers in the blower modules. To assure the continued availability of supplies for these housing systems, the manufacture must have marketed individually ventilated rodent 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 1 year warranty. The vendor will set-up and demonstrate proper use of the caging system at NIH 6 weeks after the delivery of the systems. The Government will evaluate based on F.O.B. Destination (Bethesda, Maryland ) and the requirements at FAR 52.214.21 "Descriptive Literature" apply. Proposals/Information provided must demonstrate the unit's ability to meet the specifications and that the supplier has at least two years of experience as stated above. Offers will be evaluated for acceptability in accordance with the stated specifications and experience. Single award t the lowest priced, responsive, responsible offeror whose proposal demonstrate compliance with the specifications and experience is contemplated. Offerors are advised that the following FAR provisions apply to this RFQ: FAR 52.212-1, "Instruction to Offerors -- Commercial Items", 52.212-4, "Contract Terms and Conditins -- Commercial Items"; and 52.212-5" Contract Terms & Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders -- Commercial Items; "Deviation for Simplified Acquisitions". 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 August 29, 1997 at 2:00 p.m. local prevailing time. Facsmile submissions are not authorized. Proposals should be submitted as follows: (1) one original and two copies of a completed SF1449, signed by an individual authorized to bind the organization; (2) a Schedule of Offered Supplies/Services containing pricing for the systems being offered, published price list (if applicable) and a delivery schedule; (3) completed Representions and Certifications -- Commercial Items, FAR 52.212-3; descriptive literature and demonstrated experience for evaluation purposes; (5) acknowledgement of amendments, if any. Submit to: Cynthia Brown. Offers that fail to furnish the required information or reject the terms & conditions of the solicitation may be excluded form consideration. (0217)

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