Amendment 1 Solicitation 1232SA26Q0450.pdf

(x)

1232SA26Q0450

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1 copies of the amendment; (b) By acknowledging receipt of this amendment on each copy of the offer submitted ; or (c) By separate letter or electronic communication which includes a reference to the solicitation and amendment numbers. FAILURE OF YOUR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO BE

RECEIVED AT THE PLACE DESIGNATED FOR THE RECEIPT OF OFFERS PRIOR TO THE HOUR AND DATE SPECIFIED MAY RESULT IN REJECTION OF YOUR

OFFER. If by virtue of this amendment you desire to change an offer already submitted , such change may be made by letter or electronic communication, provided each letter or electronic communication makes reference to the solicitation and this amendment, and is received prior to the opening hour and date specified.

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ARS-1232SA

BELTSVILLE MD 20705

RM 3-2102

5601 SUNNYSIDE AVENUE

USDA ARS ACQUISITION AND PROPERTY D

04/14/20260001

13. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO MODIFICATION OF CONTRACTS/ORDERS. IT MODIFIES THE CONTRACT/ORDER NO. AS DESCRIBED IN ITEM 14.

12. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA (If required) is not extended.is extended, Items 8 and 15, and returning

Offers must acknowledge receipt of this amendment prior to the hour and date specified in the solicitation or as amended , by one of the following methods: (a) By completing

The above numbered solicitation is amended as set forth in Item 14. The hour and date specified for receipt of Offers

11. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO AMENDMENTS OF SOLICITATIONS

FACILITY CODE CODE

10B. DATED (SEE ITEM 13)

10A. MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT/ORDER NO.

9B. DATED (SEE ITEM 11)

9A. AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION NO.

CODE

8. NAME AND ADDRESS OF CONTRACTOR (No., street, county, State and ZIP Code)

7. ADMINISTERED BY (If other than Item 6)CODE 6. ISSUED BY

PAGE OF PAGES

4. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQ. NO.3. EFFECTIVE DATE2. AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION NO. 5. PROJECT NO. (If applicable)

1. CONTRACT ID CODE

AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT

04/14/2026

CHECK ONE A. THIS CHANGE ORDER IS ISSUED PURSUANT TO: (Specify authority) THE CHANGES SET FORTH IN ITEM 14 ARE MADE IN THE CONTRACT

B. THE ABOVE NUMBERED CONTRACT/ORDER IS MODIFIED TO REFLECT THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES (such as changes in paying office, C. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT IS ENTERED INTO PURSUANT TO AUTHORITY OF:

D. OTHER (Specify type of modification and authority) appropriation data, etc.) SET FORTH IN ITEM 14, PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY OF FAR 43.103(b).

E. IMPORTANT: Contractor is not is required to sign this document and return __________________ copies to the issuing office.

ORDER NO. IN ITEM 10A.

14. DESCRIPTION OF AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION (Organized by UCF section headings, including solicitation/contract subject matter where feasible.)

16A. NAME AND TITLE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (Type or print)15A. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER (Type or print)

15C. DATE SIGNED 16B. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 15B. CONTRACTOR/OFFEROR 16C. DATE SIGNED

(Signature of person authorized to sign) (Signature of Contracting Officer)

ERIN M. RIFFEY

STANDARD FORM 30 (REV. 11/2016)

Prescribed by GSA FAR (48 CFR) 53.243

Previous edition unusable

Except as provided herein, all terms and conditions of the document referenced in Item 9 A or 10A, as heretofore changed, remains unchanged and in full force and effect .

Amendment 1 RFIs and additional information.

Offerors must acknowledge this amendment. See instructions in Box 11 of the SF 30.

Due time and date has been updated to 1:00 p.m. Central Time on May 21, 2026.

Updated drawings and pictures were sent directly to attendees of the site showing due to security requirements. By acknowledging this amendment, offerors are acknowledging receipt of the updated drawings and pictures.

The SF 1442 has been updated and has replaced the previous SF1442. Offerors must use the updated SF 1442 in submission of their offers. Offer guarantee is required.

Updates to the drawings include:

• KEYED NOTE 44 was added to A-112, A-113, and A-114.

• This keyed note was added to details 1/A-112, 2/A-112, 3/A-112, 1/A-113, 1/A-

114, and 2/A-114.

• KTR needs to verify location prior to execution.

• No other changes were made to the drawings.

1. Does this scope include resinous flooring (fluid applied flooring)? Only if surfaces are damaged during work.

2. Do the Superintendent, SSHO and QC Manager need to be 3 separate individuals?

Refer to the specification.

3. Can the period of performance be extended after award once the material/equipment lead times are confirmed due to current market conditions for the equipment for this project? Yes, at the CO’s discretion.

4. Please provide the site visit attendee sign in sheet. See attachment.

5. (If building is occupied) Are there any phasing requirements? No. How many people will be in the building? Are there any temporary heating/cooling requirements? No.

6. When do you anticipate on site work starting? Contractors are required to provide a construction schedule.

7. Are third party inspections required? Refer to the specification.

8. Are partitioning, dust containment, and/or negative air machines required for this project? Refer to the specification.

9. Is this containment area work? Primarily Yes. If so, what is the protocol for personnel working in this area? 5:1 escort ratio is required. Insider Threat and Situational Awareness training is required for all escorts. At this time there are no additional biosecurity protocols or PPE requirements. Once containment protocols have been implemented, this could change, however, the date when this will occur has not yet been determined.

10. AG.109 AND CP.114: How tall is the ceiling from the floor for the gaps that need to be sealed? See the following revised Keyed Note 8.

PROVIDE HYDROPHOBIC AND CHEMICAL RESISTANT FOAM WEATHER SEAL WITH

SILICONE FACING AS SPECIFIED AT EXISTING GAP BETWEEN WALLS EXTENDING

FROM SLAB BELOW TO 6” ABOVE THE THRESHOLD AND ACROSS THE OPENING

SLAB ABOVE.

11. Is any of the equipment existing to remain? Refer to the drawing and specifications.

12. Is any of the equipment furnished by NBAF? Refer to the drawing regarding government lab equipment. Contractor to provide all construction equipment.

13. What are the allowable work hours and days? Refer to the statement of work. Work hours can be increased to 0600 – 1800 HRS if requested during project kick-off.

14. Will work in areas within the ABSL-3 or ABSL-4 zones will require advance scheduling? See response to question 6.

15. Are there any project specific safety training, biosecurity protocols, or PPE requirements beyond standard OSHA requirements? See response to question 9.

16. Are any special cleaning, disinfection, or containment procedures required for tools, equipment, or materials entering or exiting the facility? Not at this time. Once containment protocols have been implemented nonporous hand tools can be decontaminated out.

17. Please confirm whether the mockup in Room B4.128 must be fully installed and approved before fabrication for B4.129 may begin. Refer to the notes on sheet A-

205. It would be best to have B4.128 fully approved prior to working on B4.129.

18. Please confirm whether the Government will provide any performance criteria beyond what is shown, such as load ratings, impact resistance, or animal-specific containment requirements. Refer to the specification.

19. Please confirm whether the required stainless steel grade 304 or 316 for chain, anchor plates, and quick-links, as drawings specify “SST” but do not define grade.

Refer to the specification. All SST material minimum grade is to be 304.

20. Is the existing Unistrut is structurally adequate for new waterers, or whether reinforcement is required? Existing Unistrut will support the new waterers.

21. Do the flexible hose quick-disconnect fittings must match existing manufacturer, or if equivalent is acceptable? Match existing or provide an equivalent.

22. Please confirm the required hose reel manufacturer and model, as drawings specify performance but not manufacturer. Refer to the specifications and the stipulated required salient features.

23. Please confirm whether all welds must be continuous or intermittent, as drawings show continuous welds in some details but not all. All welds must be continuous to minimize crevasses for contamination and to maximize cleanability. See spec section 13 19 26, Part 2.7.F for general welding information and Part 2.8 for additional welding information associated with the animal penning system. All welds are to be designed as part of the delegated design process to resist the indicated loads indicated in this specification section.

24. Is this project Buy American? Yes. See FAR 52.225-9, included in solicitation.

25. Will NBAF require mockup testing with live animals, or only dry-fit verification? Dry-fit verification.

26. Are as-built drawings required? Refer to the specification.

27. Referencing Spec Section 13 19 26 Section 1.5 Quality Assurance, sub sections B and C. Please confirm if the experience of the manufacturer and installer need to include work within animal research labs. The Manufacturer shall be a firm with not less than 10 years of successful experience in manufacturing animal penning systems similar in material, quality and design as shown on Drawings and Specifications.

28. Referencing Spec Section 13 19 26 Section 1.5 Quality Assurance, sub sections B and C, is the contractor to provide manufacturer and installer past performance in the proposal submission? This will provide the government information on who the contractor will be using to perform the fabrication/installation and their qualifications for review. Manufacturer information is required with submittal submissions.

29. While at the site visit, NBAF staff mentioned items in the scope of work that were not on the drawings provided to contractors. Will the government be providing new drawing sheets of these additional scope items? Revised drawings have been provided by the CO.

30. Regarding the drawings provided, there are a lot of keyed notes that notate existing items to remain and this makes the drawings very busy and distracting to review. Is there anyway to have the designer remove the callouts of existing items to remain and only include notes on items to be modified or installed under this contract? A request has been submitted to the DOR. There is no guarantee that updated drawings will be provided.

31. Referencing Spec Section 13 19 26 Section 1.5 Quality Assurance, sub section F.

Mockup, please state exactly what specific items will require a mock-up. See the boxed notes on sheets A-205, A-208, A-210, and A-506 for specific mockups that involve multiple components as part of larger assemblies. These large mockups are going to include many of the smaller components that require samples in 13 19 26, Part I. For any smaller components that may not be included in these large mockups, a separate sample will be required (Eg. waterer, ring-grip release pin, hose reel and bracket, etc.).

a. Squeeze areas in ABSL-4Ag animal holding rooms. This must include a quick release mechanism.

b. Squeeze area in ABLS-4Ag necropsy. This must include the hinged gate on the South side and a quick release mechanism for squeeze options.

c. Set up in B4.128/129

d. Head gate

e. Adjustable alleyways approaching the central squeeze chute in ABSL-4Ag necropsy

f. Space fillers for the outside of penning in ABSL-4Ag (closing the gaps between the outside of the gate and the adjacent post and floor).

g. Gate latch for ABSL-4Ag, A-503 1 Drop Fork Latch Details.

h. A-209 2, Rotating Latch Arm Details @ meeting gates

i. A-506 1 Slide Bolt Details for Bi-Folding Gates

32. How many mock-ups per item are to be figured into the proposal. One primary plus two revisions based on functional testing. I don’t anticipate the need to completely scrap an entire mockup and start over. The design drawings are well developed and there will be full shop drawings to review before mockups are created.

33. Please state the length of the government’s review/trial period for each mock-up.

One week.

34. Referencing General Renovation Note #1 on sheet A-101, it states as part of the delegated design, the contractor is to include providing a dolly/trucking device to assist personnel in lifting and moving the various penning panels. Is this dolly device an item only used in construction for moving items around or is this a device that needs to be designed to be left in containment for moving around items in the future? The dolly is to be designed to be left for the end users use.

a. Is the contractor to only provide a single dolly as part of this contract or are multiples required to be constructed? Please confirm. Provide two dollies. A third may be requested but it depends on the size and if they can be broken down for storage.

35. Please state what material rolling wheels on carts, hand trucks, dollies, etc. is required to be made of to not damage existing specialty coating flooring. White, non-marring, phenolic or nylon.

36. Regarding items removed from as part of this contract, please confirm if the contractor is responsible for disposal or is the contractor to transport to NBAF’s offsite warehouse for storage. Please clarify. Transport salvaged materials to the offsite warehouse.

37. Will containment “shower in and shower” out policies come into effect during this contract? If so, when will that process be implemented? Shower out policies are not in effect at this time. Once containment protocols have been implemented this could change but the date when this will occur has not yet been determined

38. Will there be a decontamination policy for tools and equipment under this contract?

See the response to question 16.

39. If decontamination of tools and equipment is required under this contract, please provide the process as this dictates if replacement tools will need to be purchased to replace those destroyed during decontamination. See the response to question 16.

40. Regarding pipe/gate modifications to existing gates on site, is there any special testing requirements to ensure all welds have completely sealed the pipe to ensure contaminants cannot get inside the piping? 100% visual inspection.

41. During the site visit it was mentioned the animal chutes in ABSL-4 Necropsy (B4.142) would need to be bi-directional (ie. Animals need to be able to pass all the way through a chute into the next chute, West to East or East to West). Please describe the intent of why the chutes need to be bi-directional rather than uni-directional. The center squeeze section is bi-directional as animals can come into it from the east and west. The headgate chutes are not required to be bi-directional.

a. Will NBAF be routing animals from ABSL-4 B4.138 into B4.139 (or vice versa) via the chutes to be installed in ABSL-4 Necropsy B4.142? No.

b. The contractor assumed once the animals left the large animal holding rooms, they would be euthanized in the chute nearest the entry of each holding room. Further if we saw correctly, it appeared the existing motorized hoist track did not go to the far east and west ends of the existing chutes in B4.142, but rather down the middle and a little East and West to get to the head gates of the existing chutes. If chutes made bi-directional, how will the facility move the animals once euthanized if the hoist cannot reach the far ends of the chute system? See response above to design/use intent. There are at least 7 major components that need to be addressed.

1. How to narrow the approaches to the center chute (currently over 30” wide) which would be very problematic when handling smaller animals (>900 lbs).

2. How to open and close the “tail gate” once the animal is in the squeeze area. Remember this could also be the head gate for animals coming from the opposite room.

3. How stabilize the moveable head gate.

4. How to maintain the squeeze on the animal.

5. How to get to the animal’s head when they are in the chute.

6. How to open the gate once an animal goes down in the chute.

7. How to get the south gate to swing out of the way to allow the hoist to approach.

42. If security policies to get onsite change throughout the contract and add additional inefficiencies and costs to perform this scope of work, will the contractor be allowed to request an equitable adjustment due to these unforeseen changes? Any equitable adjustments would have to meet all requirements of the applicable FAR clauses. Hypotheticals cannot be answered.

43. Will the contractor be allowed to stage a storage connex on site? A construction trailer/connex will be allowed.

a. If yes, please state where it can be staged and any size limitations. Maximum length of 30 feet.

44. In Holding Rooms (Type A2) on sheet AD102, plan note 10 calls for removal of Unistrut & rigid water piping brackets/clamps at existing waterer location. Plan note 16 on the same sheet calls for removal of the existing waterer and prep for install of the replacement waterer (Unistrut to remain). There are two enlarged demo plans for these types of rooms on sheet AD112 (1/AD112 and 2/AD112). Demo plan note 18 on this sheet is the same for both enlarged details (the wording also matches demo plan note 16 on AD102). Please clarify the contradiction between the demo notes on AD102 and the demo notes on AD112. On AD102, Keyed Note #10 is applicable to only the 10 southernmost Type A2 and Type A2 10x12 holding rooms (AG.131.1 – AG.141.1). Replacement of the Unistrut in the remaining Type A2 holding rooms is not required per Keyed Note #16. Drawings 1/AD112 and 2/AD112 are typical plans for Type A2 and Type A2 10x12 holding rooms. The 10 rooms referenced above (AG.131.1 – AG.141.1) differ slightly regarding the scope of work associated with the waterers as indicated on sheet AD102 by Keyed Note #10. All other work within these rooms is to take place per the typical plans.

Keyed Note #16 needs to be revised on sheets AD102, AD103 and AD 104 and Keyed Note #18 on sheets AD111, AD112, AD113, AD114, AD115, AD116 and AD117 to read as follows to correlated with the Bid Option 02 note on sheet AD101:

BID OPTION 02: REMOVE EXISTING WATERER AND PREP FOR INSTALLATION

OF REPLACEMENT WATERER; EXISTING UNISTRUTS TO REMAIN FOR REUSE.

EXISTING WATERERS ARE TO REMAIN IN PLACE UNDER THE BASE BID.

45. Plan note 19 on sheets AD-112 & AD-114 state to remove and store existing gate-mounted waterers and prep for modification of existing water supply piping. Plan note 13 on sheets A-112 & A-114 state to provide waterer and new water valve at existing supply piping.

a. Is the government wanting to keep the existing (2) gate-mounted waterers (stored per note 19/AD-112)? Or can they be demolished? NBAF ARU staff will keep them.

46. Plan note 18 on AD112 (Type A2 rooms, details 1 & 2) calls for the removal of waterers in these rooms. Plan note 39 on A112 (Type A2 rooms, details 1 & 2) calls for the replacement waterers in these rooms to be priced as Bid Option 02. There is no mention of Bid Option 02 on sheet AD112 for the waterers in Type A2 rooms.

Please clarify Base Bid versus Bid Option 02 for waterers in Type A2 rooms. Keyed Note #18 will be included as part of Bid Option 02 as well (see revised Keyed Note #18 in the response to question 44).

47. There are (4) existing waterers in AG.147.1 called out for removal by plan note 18 on AD112, and (2) additional waterers called out for removal by plan note 19. Plan note 13 on A112 calls for the replacement of (2) of the waterers in this room as part of the Base Bid. Plan note 39 on A112 calls for the replacement of (4) of the waterers to be priced as part of Bid Option 02. There is no mention of Bid Option 02 on sheet AD112 for the (6) waterers in this room. Please clarify Base Bid versus Bid Option 02 for waterers in this room. On AD112, removal of the four waterers associated with Keyed Note #18 are to be included as part of Bid Option 02 (see revised Keyed Note #18 in the response to question 44), and Keyed Note #19 is part of the base bid as currently indicated. On A112, Keyed Notes #13 and #39 are correct as currently indicated.

48. Plan note 18 on AD113 (Type A rooms, detail 2) calls for the removal of waterers in these rooms. Plan note 39 on A113 (Type A rooms, detail 2) calls for the replacement waterers in these rooms to be priced as Bid Option 02. There is no mention of Bid Option 02 on sheet AD113 for the waterers in Type A rooms. Please clarify Base Bid versus Bid Option 02 for waterers in Type A rooms. Keyed Note #18 will be included as part of Bid Option 02 as well (see revised Keyed Note #18 in the response to question 44).

49. Plan note 18 on AD113 (Type B rooms, detail 1) calls for the removal of waterers in these rooms. Plan note 39 on A113 (Type B rooms, detail 1) calls for the replacement waterers in these rooms to be priced as Bid Option 02. There is no mention of Bid Option 02 on sheet AD113 for the waterers in Type B rooms. Please clarify Base Bid versus Bid Option 02 for waterers in Type B rooms. Keyed Note #18 will be included as part of Bid Option 02 as well (see revised Keyed Note #18 in the response to question 44).

50. There are (2) existing waterers in AG.167.1 called out for removal by plan note 18 on AD114. Plan note 39 on A114 calls for the (2) replacement waterers to be priced as part of Bid Option 02. There is no mention of Bid Option 02 on sheet AD114 for these

(2) waterers. Please clarify Base Bid versus Bid Option 02 for waterers in this room.

Keyed Note #18 will be included as part of Bid Option 02 as well (see revised Keyed Note #18 in the response to question 44).

51. Plan notes 18 & 19 on AD114 (Type C rooms, detail 2) call for the removal of (5) waterers in each room. Plan note 13 on A114 (Type C rooms, detail 2) calls for the replacement of (2) of the waterers in each room as part of the Base Bid. Plan note 39 on A114 (Type C rooms, detail 2) calls for the replacement of (3) of the waterers in these rooms to be priced as Bid Option 02. There is no mention of Bid Option 02 on sheet AD114 for the waterers in Type C rooms. Please clarify Base Bid versus Bid Option 02 for waterers in Type C rooms. On AD114, removal of the four waterers associated with Keyed Note #18 are to be included as part of Bid Option 02 (see revised Keyed Note #18), and Keyed Note #19 is part of the base bid as currently indicated. On A114, Keyed Notes #13 and #39 are correct as currently indicated.

52. Specification 22 00 00 - 2.1d calls for shutoff valves to be "full port, 2-lpiece: bronze body, ASTM B584, stainless steel ball and stem, Teflon seats, stem extensions, 600 psi WOG pressure rating." Specification 22 00 00 - 2.14 a and b call for the pipe and fittings to be stainless steel 316L, schedule 10.

a. Question 1: Please advise if the shutoff valves should be stainless steel body to match the pipe and fittings material of construction. Valve body is to be stainless steel.

53. During the 5.5.26 site walk, Contractor noticed that there are two wash down stations in the ASBL-4 Necropsy B4.142 room. These washdown stations do not appear on the plumbing drawing or have a note call out to "remove and replace existing isolation valves serving thermostatic mixing valve hose station with lever operated ball valves as specified."

a. Question 1: Please advise if these two wash down stations are to be included in the project and the existing isolation valves are to be replaced. These two wash down stations are to be included in the base scope.

54. Please provide clarification regarding the process and responsibility for isolating plumbing valves located within the interstitial level. Please confirm whether the isolation of these valves is intended to be performed by the Owner, or if it falls under the Contractor's scope of work? Additionally, is there any specific procedures, access considerations, or coordination requirements associated with this task? The contractor shall coordinate through the COR so the contractor can LOTO/isolate the valves feeding the spaces. The facility plumbing section will show the contractor where the valves are located. The valves are in a non-containment space on the 3rd floor.

55. Detail 4/P-201 indicates flexible hose on the animal drinking water system to the new waters. The 22 00 00 specification does not list a basis of design or requirements for the hose. Please provide basis of design or specification requirements for the new animal waterer hoses. Provide commercial washdown EPDM hose rated up to 200 Deg F, 300 PSI, with 304 stainless steel connections.

Basis of design is Continental ContiTech San-Wash 300 Washdown Hose.

56. Detail 2/P-201 indicates hoses on the new hose reels in the BLS-4 space. Detail 2/P- 201 lists the basis of design model for the hose reel but does not list the model number for the hose and rubber stopper nor does the 22 00 00 specification list a basis of design or requirements for the hose. Please provide basis of design or specification requirements for the new hose reel hoses. Provide Solid Rubber hose stop. Basis of design is Coxreels Part #430. Provide commercial washdown EPDM hose rated up to 200 Deg F, 300 PSI, with 304 stainless steel connections. Basis of design is Continental ContiTech San-Wash 300 Washdown Hose.

57. Please confirm that the penning and gating contractor will handle the modifications to the tool/utility racks and modifications to the water hose guards. Confirmed.

58. Are the existing gate mounted waterers that are to be demolished to be turned over to the Owner or discarded? Refer to response to question 45.

59. Section 8.2 of the scope of work states that all employees shall complete a minimum of two (2) hours of site-specific training provided by USDA personnel.

Additional training may also be required if contractor personnel must enter any biocontainment space.

a. Do you know if any additional training will be required as the project covers ABSL-3Ag and ABSL-4Ag. Will additional training be required? See response to question 9.

60. The solicitation states that normal working hours are 8:00am to 5:00pm. Please advise if your scheduled intended standard construction working hours will be able 7:00AM – 3:30PM. Refer to response to question 13

61. Are there any requirements for off-hours or weekend work? Are there any noise or vibration requirements? Refer to SOW section 3.1.6

62. Are there contamination-control requirements for adjacent occupied spaces? At this time no. Once containment protocols have been implemented, this could change, however, the date when this will occur has not yet been determined.

63. What's procedure for if some material isn't available domestic? Some of the fasteners they specified aren't domestic. See FAR 52.225-9, included in solicitation.

64. Do the sample mockups need to be stainless steel or can they be made of carbon steel? The mock-ups can be made of either, whichever is less costly should be chosen. However one mockup of SS needs to be provided to show the level of detail intended to be provided for the continuous smooth welds. Ideally the mockup would be incorporated into the project and not turned into waste material.

65. Per the government provided drawings and specs, the design intent appears to indicate the squeezes and head gates are designed for large animals. However, at the site visit it was mentioned the desire was for the chutes to accommodate small animals. Please clarify if the design intent is for large animals only? Small animals only? Or both? The design intent is for the chutes to accommodate both large and small animals. For cattle use, a headcatch is needed. For the smaller animals, a squeeze/restraint area without the requirement of a headcatch should be planned.

66. Please specify what all types of animals the facility will be running through the new head gates/chutes (ie. Cows, pigs, goats, sheep, deer, horses). All animal head/neck and physical body dimensions/configurations are different so knowing the species is important for design. large animals (adult pigs, horses, cattle), as well as small animals (small pigs, goats, swine, sheep).

67. Please specify the weight range for each type of animal that is to be processed through the head gates/chutes. Pigs 20-600 lbs., Horses 800-1200 lbs., Cattle from 400- 1400lb lbs., Goats up to 250 lbs., Sheep up to 250 lbs.

68. Regarding a one-size fits all head gate/chute, the contractor feels like this design would be overly complicated and may not end up accommodating pigs given their individual physiology. Therefore, the contractor would like to determine if the government would be amenable to dedicating some of the head gates/chutes to be rated for pigs, another for 50lb-500lb animals and others for 500lb-1,400lb animals (or other negotiated size/weight ranges).

a. There are a total of 8 new head/gates/squeeze chutes between the two large animal rooms. Dedicating a portion of these to specific size animals would make the design per animal type/weight more streamlined and simpler. Is this concept amenable to the USDA? If so, specify how many of each type (pig, 50lb-500lb, and 500lb-1,400lb) for each large animal holding room. The intent is not a one size fits all headcatch itself, but to have panels that could be switched out per species. A sheep/goat headcatch size and a cattle sized (adjustable 400-1400lb) headcatch (see A-211, 3 Modular panel type A) would work, with flat “stop” panels for swine (see A-211, 3 Modular panel type C) or horses (see A-211, 3 Modular panel type B), whose heads will not be caught up for restraint. Headgate Modular panel type A is widely used in the livestock industry as a self-catching headgate. I have personally caught anything from a 100 lb calf to over a ton bull in this type of head gates. They have to be preset for the size animal you will be catching. When using any headgate it is best to have the animal centered in the headgate, thus the need for adjustable sides in the squeeze area.

b. The head gates/chutes in the Necropsy room would have to be modular and parts stored within the room somewhere to handle whatever type/size of animal is being processed at that time. Is this concept amenable to the USDA? If so, please specify where within the necropsy space the chute parts are to be stored (i.e. wall mounted rack or portable storage rack). The panels could be stored within the animal rooms or within necropsy; we are amenable to this concept and would likely need or fabricate a rack to hold them out of the way. The modular component of the squeeze areas are the headgates. They should be one of the three listed on A-211, 3 Modular panel types A, B, and C). The rest of the squeeze area stays the same. These panels should fit in both the necropsy area and as “headgate/gates” in the animal holding rooms. So, we will have 10 locations with interchangeable headgates/gates. The headgate being used would depend on the species in the facility at the time.

69. Regarding testing of the head gate and squeeze chute mock-ups, how will these be tested? Will live animals be utilized? Not necessarily using animals. We have animal models that are life-sized that could inform the evaluation.

a. Where will testing of the mock-ups take place (i.e. at NBAF or some location offsite)? At NBAF outside of containment such as in transhipping animal bay, or off-site at a partner location such as KSU Large animal research center, corner of Marlatt and Denison.

b. What is the criteria for testing? What specific features/functions are you requiring? The chute needs to have a mechanism to adjust the width of the squeeze area to restrain livestock. The mechanism to close the headcatch should be accessible for an operator standing outside of the chute/catch. We are specifically concerned with adequate and humane restraint, smooth surfaces, minimization of pinch-points and small hardware.

70. There was a discussion on the chutes being entered from either direction. Is this the case? Refer to the response to question 41. If so, what size of animal will the chutes be required to accommodate? N/A

71. There was a design discussion about the squeeze chutes having break-away sides if the animal were to go down. Please indicate the design concept for the chutes requiring this feature. The chute/squeeze area door on the side closest to the TTAs must open and release in a way that does not impede lifting an animal carcass out with the hoist. Only one side needs to be easily opened, the other side should be removeable for cleaning but not expected to open chute from that side regularly. See response to question 41 for critical features.

This feature would need to be built into all the squeeze gates with the exception of the north gate on the necropsy squeeze area. I would not call this a break-away, but a “quick release”. Typically, this is a mechanism that will allow the side, or in this case, sides swing open if an animal goes down while being squeezed. What I have seen typically has an inner hinged gate that can be released and will swing open to release the pressure. This is usually triggered by a release handle/pedal. The release has to be from an area out of the swing of the gate.