36C24E24Q0116 0001_1.docx

Amendment to a Previous Combined Solicitation

Amendment to a Previous Combined Solicitation

GENERAL INFORMATION

SET-ASIDE

Regional Procurement Office East Building 32 Suite 1A1111 1010 Delafield Road Pittsburgh PA 15215-1802

POINT OF CONTACT*

Contracting Officer Ms. Millicent Covert millicent.covert@va.gov (Calls shall not be accepted)

PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

Seattle WA

POSTAL CODE

COUNTRY

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

AGENCY’S URL

URL DESCRIPTION

AGENCY CONTACT’S EMAIL ADDRESS

EMAIL DESCRIPTION

DESCRIPTION

RFQ 36C24E24Q0116

Animal Care Technician Solicitation Correction and Questions & Answers

**Quote submission is extended from Monday, September 9, 2024, to no later than 11:59 EST, Thursday, September 12, 2024.** Quotes shall be submitted via email to millicent.covert@va.gov. Offerors must reference Solicitation 36C24E24Q0116 in the subject line of the email. No telephone requests for information will be considered. Incomplete packages will be considered nonresponsive.

Solicitation Clarification:

Page 6 – Quote Submission Instructions Vendor’s Past Performance – “To be considered part of the Past Performance record, we ask to provide two (2) or more relevant contracts in the last five (10) years.”

Should read “To be considered part of the Past Performance record, we ask to provide two (2) or more relevant contracts in the last five (5) years.”

Q & A:

1. Did the government intend for Attachment 2 - Schedule of Supplies and Services quantities to be 3.0; where would the vendor invoice three times per year for the total amount due?

Yes, the quantity is for 3 technicians for a year of services (estimated salary x 3 technicians).

1. On the weekends, do the Animal Husbandry Technicians work an eight-hour shift.

Yes

1. What is the current work schedule for the Animal Husbandry Technicians including weekend coverage?

Staff are on site every day of the year including weekends and holidays. Individuals generally have 5 day/week 8-hour shifts. Shift start time is arranged with the supervisor, but start between 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m.

1. How many Animal Husbandry Technicians are required to be on-site at a time?

A minimum of 2 people are on-site.

1. Could you please describe the work performed on weekends and Holidays?

Animal observation (health checks), cage changing, cage washing, room maintenance and cleaning, supply restocking, preparation of clean caging, autoclaving, laundry, preparation of water pouches.

1. Is there a safety requirement for coverage by two Animal Husbandry Technicians in the same area/building at the same time?

Work areas are contiguous; two technicians must be on site at the same time.

1. Are the incumbent staff certified by AALAS, if yes, at what levels?

Certification by AALAS is not required but is encouraged. Some staff members are certified at all levels.

1. How long has the incumbent staff been working at this site?

Two have been with the VMU since January 2024, the third since August.

1. Can you provide the incumbent contract number? Can you provide the name of the incumbent?

Incumbent information may be found under Contract 36C26023P1084.

1. Are there any vacancies on the current contract?

No. Current contract will expire September 24, 2024.

1. What is the turnover rate with Animal Husbandry Technicians.

Turnover rate has been low, about 10%. year for the past few years, primarily though, not exclusively from retirement.

1. Are prescription safety glasses covered by the VA.

Yes

1. Along with the TB and Hepatitis B, what other medical tests or vaccinations are required, including allergen questionnaire?

Allergen questionnaire is required. Pre-employment physical exam is required. Tetanus vaccination is required. COVID and flu vaccinations are required.

1. Could a copy of the Occupational Health Screening form be provided?

Yes. See Attachment 4 – Baseline Questionnaire Animal Laboratory

1. Does the VA cover Audiology testing for staff working in high decibel environments?

Industrial Hygiene representative tests the areas for necessary hearing protection; no work areas require hearing protection, though hearing personal protective equipment is available. No audiology testing in provided.

1. Is hearing protection provided by the VA?

Yes

1. There are 3 buildings identified, what are the species used within each building?

Building 23 houses rabbits, rats, and mice. Building 34 houses mice. No animals are housed in Building 11.

1. Are the 3 buildings fully equipped with all necessary equipment for daily operations, for example tunnel and rack washers?

Buildings 23 and 34 have the equipment for daily operations. No animals are housed in Building 11.

1. Is any equipment moved between building? Please describe this process and equipment moved.

Racks and caging and bedding and other supplies may be moved between the buildings. This is accomplished with the use of carts (including ergonomic lift carts for heavy objects) or with items on casters.

1. What type of animal models, in addition to commonly used strains of mice, rats, and rabbits, are used for research? Immunodeficient? Knock-out? Knock-in? etc.

A large variety of models are in use including immunodeficient rodents, knock out, knock in, conditional transgenic animals, cancer models, addiction models, diabetic models, obesity models and more.

1. What is the frequency type of caging equipment is used? sterile cages, sterile feed and bedding, ventilated racks, static cages, etc.?

Caging includes sanitized (washed in rack washer with 180 degree temperature rinse), sterilized in autoclave, sterile (irradiated) feed and bedding. Housing of rodents is primarily in individually ventilated racks, with some exceptions for specific models, as well as metabolism housing, and other specialty housing (substance self-administration, sleep monitoring).

1. What type of cage/rack cleaning equipment is used in the cagewash area? Tunnel washer? Rack washer? Autoclave?

Rack washers and autoclaves are used.

1. What type of cleaning chemicals are used in the cagewash area? Examples: Chlorine Dioxide, Peroxymonosulfate Disinfectant, Quaternary ammonium chloride.

Hydrogen peroxide, quaternary ammonium compounds

1. Supporting AAALAC accredited facilities using rodents and rabbits is very similar and sometimes more compliance regulated due to GLPs etc. Would the VA consider past performance evaluations for similar work performed in commercial and academic facilities in vivariums following the same stringent requirements and sometimes higher than the VA.

Support of AAALAC-accredited facilities is a factor in choosing a vendor for animal care staff.

1. How many animal rooms are in each facility?

This is not information we share.

1. Can you identify the rooms used in the program from the AAALAC program description?

This is not information we share.

1. Is there an ongoing outsourced pathogen surveillance program?

Yes.

1. Are cover pages included in the 10 page limit of Volume 2?

No.

**Quote submission is extended from Monday, September 9, 2024, to no later than 11:59 EST, Thursday, September 12, 2024.** Quotes shall be submitted via email to millicent.covert@va.gov. Offerors must reference Solicitation 36C24E24Q0116 in the subject line of the email. No telephone requests for information will be considered. Incomplete packages will be considered nonresponsive.

See attached document: S02.36C24E24Q0116 0001 - Amendment - Animal Care Technician Services.

See attached document: Attachment 4 - Baseline Quesionnaire Animal Laboratory PDF.

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Amendment to a Previous Combined Solicitation