U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, Contracts Management Division (MD-33), Attn: ORDSC, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711

A -- RESEARCH ANIMAL COLONY SUPPORT SOL PR-NC-98-12086 POC Marsha B. Johnson, Contract Specialist (919)541-0952 or Barbara H. Stearrett, Contracting Officer (919) 541-3113 WEB: Click here to visit the site that has information about, http://www.epa.gov/oam/rtp_cmd. E-MAIL: Click here to contact the Contract Specialist via, johnson.marsha@epamail.epa.gov. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory/RTP, NC, is seeking qualified 8(a) sources for research animal colony support. This support includes operating and maintaining the Research Animal Colony Support facilities, laboratory animal care, cage washing and sanitizing, technical assistance, and quality control/quality assurance necessary to conduct all animal related research projects required by EPA scientists. The EPA research animal facilities are housed in two separate buildings with four separate areas in one building totalling 20,000 square feet and approximately 10,000 square feet in the other building (NHEERL Building). The current animal population fluctuates between six and eight thousand animals consisting of rats, mice, hamsters, guinea pigs, rabbits and reptiles. The total number of animal cages currently sanitized on a weekly basis averages 15,000 to 22,000. The total number of incoming animals currently averages 2,600 per month. The EPA is in the construction phase of its new Permanent Facility in the Research Triangle Park. It is anticipated that construction of this facility will be completed in mid to late summer 2001. At that time the EPA will move most of its research animal facility operations to this new facility. This facility will contain a research animal facility located on five floors in one wing of the Permanent Facility. This facility will contain a research animal facility of approximately 43,774 total square footage. The Government will continue to operate the research animal facility in the NHEERL building. The transition to the new facility will be included in the resultant contract as optional work. The US EPA anticipates awarding a firm fixed-price contract with a cost reimbursement line for supplies from this solicitation. A twelve-month base year with four twelve-month option periods is anticipated. SIC No. 8731 applies and the size standard is 500 employees. To be eligible for consideration firms arerequired to provide (1) written certification/verification of current participation in the 8(a) program; and (2) written certification/verification of compliance with 8(a) competitive mix requirements verified by the appropriate assistant director for minority enterprise development of the cognizant district offices. The solicitation is expected to be issued on or about 12/11/98, with proposals due approximately 01/12/99. A pre-proposal conference on-site at EPA's RTP, NC facility is tentatively scheduled for 12/17/98. The Request For Proposal (RFP) and any amendments will be available only via the Internet World Wide Web at http://www.epa.gov/oam/rtp_cmd. Firms have the responsibility to frequently check the same site where the RFP is posted for any amendments. Posted 11/25/98 (W-SN274762). (0329)

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