A -- PROFESSIONAL VETERINARIAN SERVICES FOR THE EPA AT RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK NORTH CAROLINA

Notice Date

June 12, 2001

Contracting Office

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

ZIP Code

27711

Solicitation Number

X9E141

Response Due

June 27, 2001

Point of Contact

Matt Ake Contract Specialist (919) 541-3112 Chris Baker Contracting Officer (919) 541-2501

E-Mail Address

click on the listed e-mail address to contact the (ake.matt@epa.gov)

Description

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. QUOTES ARE BEING REQUESTED AND A WRITTEN SOLICITATION WILL NOT BE ISSUED. The solicitation number is X9E141, and the solicitation is being issued as a request for quotation (RFQ). The associated North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 541940 which has a size standard of $5.0M to qualify as a small business. This procurement is set aside for a small business. The Contractor shall provide professional veterinary services appropriate to the needs of the EPA Laboratory Animal Resources Program in the research animal facilities, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, and shall review, evaluate and make recommendations to EPA on Laboratory Animal Research Protocols (LAPR's), and on health care issues related to the contractor Animal Care Services. The Contractor shall be board certified in Laboratory Animal Medicine by the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine (ACLAM). The Contractor shall have at least 1 year, or 1 FTE, in government service, either as a Contractor Veterinarian, or as a Federal Employee. The Contractor shall have at least 1 year of experience as a Laboratory Animal Veterinarian working with Scientists in Animal Toxicology, with emphasis on the following research disciplines: neurotoxicology, and reproductive toxicology, teratology and perinatal toxicology, geriatric toxicology, and pulmonary toxicology, immunotoxicology, cardiovascular toxicology, genotoxicology, hepatotoxicology and other target organ toxicology. The contractor shall provide the following services follows: The Contractor shall provide professional veterinary services to include but not be limited to the items below, on a regular scheduled attendance on-site, 3 days per week, primarily Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, for the duration of contract period, 6 months; as well as three additional options, if needed, as required to meet the needs of the National Health Environmental Effects Laboratory (NHEERL). Changes in the schedule must be approved by the Project Officer, or Deputy Project Officer. The Contractor shall perform initial review of all Laboratory Animal Project Reviews (LAPRs) submitted by EPA scientists. Initial review is performed by a Veterinarian before the LAPR and is distributed to the other members of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). The Contractor shall consult with and make recommendations to EPA scientists concerning selection of animal models, proper handling and restraint methods, proper methods of experimental treatment, proper surgical, anesthetic, analgesic and euthanasia methods, and other methods that are prescribed by Animal Welfare laws, regulations, policies or guidelines, as well as by standard veterinary practice. The Contractor shall participate in NHEERL Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee meetings and advise the Committee on Animal Program issues. The Contractor shall advise the Laboratory Animal Care Program on maintaining Accreditation by the American Association for Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care. The Contractor shall advise the Laboratory Animal Care Program on equipping and moving into its Permanent Facility. The Contractor shall make recommendations concerning the animal husbandry programs. The Contractor shall review and make recommendations on the application of currently accepted measures of preventive medicine and therapy appropriate for each species of animal. The Contractor shall recommend procedures for disease surveillance, containment and elimination. The Contractor shall review and make recommendations to investigators on the humane aspects of animal experimentation, such as proper use of anesthetics, analgesics, tranquilizing drugs and methods of euthanasia. The Contractor shall perform appropriate surgical procedures as required (approximately 5 surgeries per contract period) and make recommendations on proper post-surgical care of animals as required. The Contractor shall recommend proper procedures for the operation of a quarantine and isolation facility. The Contractor shall make recommendations concerning the oversight responsibility for a health, sanitation and other quality assurance program. The Contractor shall make recommendations concerning the importing or exporting of rodents from unapproved vendors. The Contractor shall handle the administrative process necessary for the importing or exporting of rodents from unapproved vendors. The Contractor shall be on-site within 2 hours of notification to provide emergency services to any animal found to be ill or injured (approximately 2 times per contract period). The Contractor shall provide for emergency back-up coverage for medical services during periods the contractor and the Director, DAR, are unavailable. The Contractor shall submit a Quarterly Technical Report to the Project Officer. The Report shall summarize actions performed during the Quarter. AWARD -- Quotations will be evaluated and award made based on price, technical evaluation factors and previous performance. There are five (5) evaluation factors. They are: 1) The Contractor shall demonstrate experience in assisting and advising an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. 2) The Contractor shall demonstrate experience and expertise in rodent colony health management, and rodent clinical and emergency medicine. 3) The Contractor shall demonstrate experience and expertise in retaining AAALAC accreditation. 4) The Contractor shall demonstrate experience and expertise in assisting Scientists in Animal Toxicology research. 5) The Contractor shall have evidence of adequate Past Performance working as a Laboratory Animal Veterinarian. This contract shall be awarded for an initial period of six (6) months. There shall be three (3) options of the same length. The Government is under no obligation to exercise any of these option periods. Evaluation of quotations will be made inclusive of options. The following FAR clauses apply to this acquisition: 52.212-4 Contract Terms and Conditions -- - Commercial Items. All offerors are to are to include with their offers a completed copy of provision 52.213-3, Offeror Representation and Certifications -- - Commercial Items. The following additional FAR clauses which are cited in Clause 52.212-5 are applicable to the acquisition: 52.203-6 Restrictions on subcontracting Sales to the Government, with Alternate I; 52.203-10, Price or Fee Adjustment for Illegal or Improper Activities; 52.219-14, Limitation on Subcontracting; 52.222-26, Equal Opportunity, 52.222-35, Affirmative Action for Special Disabled Veterans and Veterans of the Vietnam Era Veterans; 52.222-36, Affirmative Action for Handicapped Workers; 52.222-37, Employment Reports on Special Disabled Veterans and Veterans of the Vietnam Era; 52.222-41. It is requested that the completed Representations and Certifications be included with the proposal. All technical questions are to be forwarded via email to the contract specialist at the following email address: ake.matt@ epa.gov. Quoters should review the Statement of Work for complete requirements and additional information posted with this Request for Quotation on EPA's website at the following address: http://www.epa.gov/oam/rtp_cmd. Representations and Certifications can be found on the EPA Website under "Commercial Buy Clauses". Enter this page and click on FAR 52.212-3 Offeror Representations and Certifications -- Commercial Items (Oct 2000). Interested parties should go to the website and click on the RFQ to check the status of this procurement and to ascertain when and if any amendments have been issued. Please submit two (2) copies of the price proposal to Matt Ake, Contract Specialist, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Contract Management Division MD-33, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711. In addition, please submit three client references capable of commenting on your organization's past performance. Courier delivery address is U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Receptionist-Administration Bldg., Lobby, Attn: Matt Ake (MD-33), 79 Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709. All offers are due by 27 June 2001 at 5:00 p.m. Please allow sufficient time for your mailed quotation to arrive in a timely manner. No telephone or faxed requests will be honored.

Web Link

Click here to download a copy of the Request For Quotation (http://www.epa.gov/oam/rtp_cmd/)

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20010614/ASOL008.HTM (W-163 SN50O6I8)