Attachment 1- Specifications.doc

Attachment 1 - Specifications Bison Handling Equipment

GENERAL INFORMATION

1.0 Scope of Work: Acquisition of equipment to upgrade bison-handling systems used at the USDA NCAH (National Center for Animal Health).

2.0 Background: The mission of the National Center for Animal Health (NCAH) is to understand the pathogenesis of viral and bacterial disease in production animal medicine and develop intervention strategies to prevent economic losses caused by these pathogens. Bison handling facilities are required to complete research objectives that facilitate development of novel intervention strategies for diseases in bison. Bison-handling systems are required to be more robust than cattle handling equipment and require features that protect both animals and staff while handling bison for purposes of sampling, vaccination, or examination to fulfill research objectives and to comply with animal welfare requirements.

CONTRACTOR REQUIREMENTS

3.0 Technical Requirements/Tasks:

· The quote shall include a series of catch pens, half-circle/tub, and adjustable alleyway with a load out section comparable to the attached diagram. (Note that we are only asking for 1 section in the load out rather than 3 as pictured.)

· Quote shall include delivery and on-site installation.

· Quoted equipment shall be made of a minimum 14-gauge metal and painted with all components advertised/designed for handling adult bison.

· The components of the system (i.e. gates and half circle) shall be constructed with vertical bars with sheet or galvanneal metal lining the internal surface such that animals being handled cannot see through the handling system.

· The half-circle (tub) shall be a minimum of 9 feet in height and maximum of 10 feet in height and lined by solid sheet or galvanneal metal inside of the curve.

· The half-circle shall have a pivot post in the center connected to a rotating gate a minimum 82 inches in height and 96 inches in height and approximately 10 feet in length made with a minimum 6 metal bars from top to bottom and covered with solid sheet or galvanneal metal.

· The rotating gate shall have rotation capabilities of approximately 270 degrees allowing it to completely open into the catch pens and close in the circle to approximately the width of the gate opening into the alleyway/load out sections.

· The sides of the half circle shall include mechanisms to lock the rotating gate in place at routine intervals of approximately 2-3 feet of the outer circumference of the gate.

· The half circle shall include a catwalk with a ladder located on its outer circumference for personnel to manage animals within the half-circle.

· Beginning at the exit to the half circle will be a straight alleyway section with a sliding/sorting gate of approximately 82 inches in height and 60 inches in width that opens to the right (into the inner circle of the circular alleyway). It shall be secured to a half-circle have a sliding sorting gate (as described previously and opens into the inner circle of the alleyway) at its opposite end where it connects with a crowd panel/sorting cage which allows separation of animals into either an adjustable curved alleyway or a single adjustable load out section. (Please note the load out section will be of only 1 section which differs from the diagram.) Both the alleyway and load-out section, have solid side walls, and be enclosed at the top and have a catwalk along the inner surface of alleyway and outside surface of the load-out.

· The load-out section shall include sliding gates (as described above) on both the front and back of the load-out section.

· The alleyway shall be divided into 3 sections of approximately 10 feet in outer length each separated by sliding gates (as described above) and be circular such that a 180 degree angle occurs in the alleyway between the half-circle and the chute/palpation cage. The alleyway will connect to a Palco chute/palpation cage with bolt/pin connections at approximately (12 and 38.5 inches ) on both sides with connections for pins/bolts made with 3 inch long pipe welded to the chute/palpation cage frame.

· The catch pens shall be composed of three 8-foot and one 9-foot sections, with each section approximately 8 feet in height with solid sheet or galvanneal metal on the inside surface and a continuous cat walk on both sides of the sections with ladders for access. The total length of the catch pens will be approximately 33.5 feet. Each section shall be separated by a rotating gate with approximately 180 degree movement, and capable of having a rope connected for handling operations. The gates will swing from the left side of the sections (when facing toward the half circle). In addition, the section just prior to the half circle will have a swing gate with approximately 180 degree movement that allows opening into the barn with the swing gate preferably pivoting from the side close to the half circle. The last section of the catch pens will have swinging gate sections opening into the pasture and into an alleyway between field barns with swinging gates having approximately 180 degree movement. It would be preferable if the gate into the pasture pivoted from the connection nearest the fence and the gate into the alleyway pivoting from the building (left) side. Each gate should have a mechanism that allows it to be secured and locked in place in a manner that bison cannot breech. Structure of the catch pens will be interconnected (between and across) for stability such that adult bison will not be able to forcibly separate different sections.

· See attached DRAWING of requirement.

· Quote shall include all delivery and onsite installation to the address listed below.

· Contractor shall deliver the equipment during standard support hours (M-F 8:00-5:00, excluding national holidays).

· Contractor shall fully-assemble the equipment during standard support hours ((M-F 8:00-5:00, excluding national holidays).

4.0 Deliverables / Schedule:

Items shall be delivered and installed onsite within 60 days of date of award.

Key Deliverables

5.0 Security Requirements: A copy of an official government photo ID (Real ID State-issued driver’s license or ID card, passport, green card, etc.) must be provided no later than one week before arrival of contract service technician(s) except in the case of emergency service, were only the name of the technician provided via email or telephone will be necessary. Security access to the NCAH facility will be provided based on this identification requirement.

6.0 Place of Performance:

USDA ARS

1920 Dayton Avenue Ames, IA 50010