Questions and Answers_75D301-24-Q-77789_Extension to 08.06.2024.pdf

RFP 75D301-24-Q-77789 - Industry Questions and CDC Answers

Question Number

RFP or Attachment Page Reference

(if applicable) Question CDC Response

RFP, C.3 Scope of Work, pg. 4 Identify the "necessary management and personnel" per the offeror's requirements.

Contractor must use the information provide in the RFP to determine proposed correct staffing needs.

RFP, C.4.1.a Statistical Data… pg.5

Please provide insect census. 16 colonies each colony averages about 1200 mosquitos.

RFP, C.4.1a Statistical Data…, pg.

Please specify what the other species are when stating "other species of animals that may be ordered".

Currently only approved for mice and rabbits, the census sheet lists rats, hamsters, and other species on active protocols. There were talks about birds and chickens not too long ago. Space is not available to house species larger than dogs.

RFP, C.4.1.c Site Plan pg. 5 Please breakdown the size of glassware operations versus animal areas.

1130 sq ft

RFP C.4.2 Hours of Operation pg.5

The standard hours of operation for Contractor work are Monday to Sunday, as follows:...Lists M-F core hours, but not weekend coverage hours. Please provide weekend hours.

Weekend hours are between 7:00am and 12:00 pm for 2- 3 hours

RFP, C.4.2 Hours of Operation,

pg. 5

What is considered as inclement weather in the Ft. Collins, CO area?

Snowstorms, wild fires, heavy rain, and other forecast conditions. Contractor staff will be alerted by Ft. Collins staff of any such conditions as required.

RFP, C.4.3 Emergency Services,

pg. 5

Please provide clarification if the 30-min in-person response is applicable during inclement weather.

Yes, to the extend possible. Contingencies can be discussed as needed.

RFP, C.4.4.2 Animal Handling and Restraint pg. 6

Chemical restraint is mentioned. Is the administration of this performed by contractors or government personnel?

under the direction of Veterinarian

RFP, C.4.4.7 Logbook Maintenance, pg. 8

Are any of the logs maintained electronically? If I understand the question, all records PM's and repairs are electronically kept

RFP, C.4.4.9 Animal Health Surveillance, pg. 9

What types of treatments are animal care technicians expected to perform?

all treatment prescribed by the veterinarian

RFP, C.4.4.10 Environmental Monitoring, pg. 9

What is the environmental monitoring/control system in place at FTC?

This is handled by another vendor. Animal care only receive printouts to make sure the rooms are at correct temperature and airflow.

RFP, C.4.4.12 Special Procedures Assistance

Can a historical list be provided for frequency/quantities of special procedures contractor would be responsible to provide trained staff for to meet the 10-20 minute response time?

This historically only occurs maybe 2-3 year when animal care staff has to train someone on a minor procedure.

RFP, C.4.4.12 Special Procedures Assistance

"within 10-20 minutes of the verbal request"… Can historical data be provided for frequency of these urgent requests?

Maybe 5 times per month, when a researcher may need drugs prepared at last min, which takes about 3-minitues to prepare.

RFP, C.4.4.14 Maintenance…, pg.

Is there a log sheet/book for equipment that is deemed unusable? What happens to that equipment?

All equipment deemed unusable is excessed in coordination with the property custodian.

RFP, C.4.4.16 Maintain Equipment Certification…, pg.

Who is responsible for contacting vendors for equipment certification?

on-site contract management

16 RFP, C.4.4.21 Laundry Services Can historical data be provided on volume? 4-5 loads per week

RFP, C.4.4.23 Maintenance of Clean Arthropod…, pg. 12

How many mosquito colonies are there? Currently 16, but this could change as needed.

RFP, C.4.5 Personnel, pg. 13 Will any on-site training or continuing education courses be provided by the Government?

The mandatory government trainings

RFP, C.8.2. Government furnished property… pg.15

Please clarify outside work requiring coverall, jackets/coats and raingear?

Inclement weather, weather appropriate clothing for Ft. Collins, Colorado, year round.

L11. CDC42.0001 Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS) Requirements (Aug 2021), pg.

Please clarify if the CDC is requesting the CPARS representative's name and information now, in the proposal, or only after award.

In the proposal

QASP, 2. Performance Standards, pg. 2

As stated: "The Performance Requirements Summary Matrix, shown in Table 1 below includes performance standards." The Matrix/Table 1 is not shown in the QASP.

Please provide table.

Table 1 has been added to revised QASP document which will be released at same time as these Questions and Answers.

n/a Will there be a pre-proposal site visit for this solicitation?

No

C.4.4.18 Glassware Operation What is the average hours per day dedicated to glass ware activities?

3 to 4

C.4.4.23 Arthropod maintenance What is the average hours per day dedicated to arthropod maintenance?

C.4.4.24 SPF mouse colony maintenance

What is the average daily census of the mouse breeding colony?

currently 60 cages

C.4.4.24 SPF mouse colony maintenance

What is the average hours per day dedicated to mouse breeding colony?

C.4.5.1. Key Personnel What is the current FTE? 0, Key Personnel are proposed contractor staff.

C.7.1.2 Occupational health What are the required vaccinations for animal care personnel?

this information is provided in the document D30-F-200-002

C.4.4.4. Cleaning animal cages Need rodent husbandry SOP to confirm cage change frequency. Am nearly certain rodent cages are not changed twice a week. That would be excessive.

see SOP (released only to vendors who responded timely to the RFP) referenced in

RFP: D30-F-900-001, D30-F-900-002, FTC-904,

FTC-416.

C.4.4.21 Laundry What is the average hours per day dedicated to laundry?

31 C.4.4.21 Laundry What items are required to be laundered? scrubs, mop heads, towels, lab coats

C.7.2 Safety procedures Does CDC provide dedicated scrubs as a component of PPE?

Contractor supplies dedicated scrubs

33 Need all referenced SOPs provided in a separated email

C.4.4.3. Feeding rabbits Indicates animal care and adjust for weight reasons. This should be directed by veterinary staff. Please confirm that is the intent.

yes

C.4.4.6 disposal of chemical waste

Confirm chemical waste is disposed of by animal care. This seems outside the scope of this proposal and should be handled by a chemical safety person. If it is the responsibility of this contract, training must be provided.

Chemical waste is disposed of by an on-site 3rd party

C.4.4.7 Logbook maintenance Includes a necropsy logbook. This would be a veterinary procedure. There is no reason for animal care to be performing necropsy.

Confirm

As requested by the AV

C.4.4.7 Logbook maintenance Indicates that logbooks are maintained contemporaneously using a pen and initialed and signed. Many of these records are electronic. Confirm need for written vs.

digital.

Written, just signing off in logbook physically located within the facility.

C.4.4.9 Animal health surveillance

Confirm twice daily checks are M-F. Only one check during weekends and holidays. This is the current SOP.

correct

C.4.4.12 Special procedure assistance

Indicates that animal care can restrain with drugs. Confirm that this should be under the direction of the AV. Animal care shouldn’t be permitted to decide immobilization.

correct

C.4.4.14 maintenance and minor repair

Please expand on the definition of "minor" repairs. What are some examples of minor repairs that are expected. In order to provide a program of equipment preventative maintenance and minor repairs, please provide a list of the equipment that this would be expected to impact.

Minor repairs are as follows: Wheel castor replacements, caging repairs, insectary caging repairs, troubleshooting washers, and autoclaves, anything else that may break

C.4.4.14 maintenance and minor repair

States contractor will repair broken cages.

Confirm that this is not correct. Broken rodent cages should be taken out of service.

correct broken cages are discarded

C.4.4.14 maintenance and minor repair

This is currently an electronic submission.

Does it need duplication in writing.

All repairs are submitted by email and all records are kept electronically

C.4.4.23 Arthropod maintenance Need copy of Mosquito Handbook Documents pertaining to Mosquito colony will be released to vendors who submitted a timely NDA.

C.4.4.23 Arthropod maintenance The bulk of the request discusses mosquito care. Then there is one mention of ticks. Are ticks reared in the laboratory?

The investigator rears their ticks.

C.4.5.1. Key Personnel What is meant by IACUC credentials? Project Manager is member of the IACUC -vendor's must be able to provide proof of accreditation to be eligible for award

C.5.1.1 Occupational safety plan what are the expected vaccines required for animal and insectary work at the CDC?

This information is provided in the document D30-F-200-002, provided to vendors who submitted timely NDAs.

C.5.1.1 Occupational safety plan If a new vaccine requirement is added after this solicitation what is the expectation regarding cost recovery for the vaccine (or any other occupational health requirement)

This would be done through contract modification as needed.

F.1 Deliveries or performance Indicates that baseline serum is required. This is not mentioned anywhere else, and is not a common practice. Confirm this is not needed.

Confirmation this is not needed.

NA Does CDC have a current incumbent for this work? If so, can you share who the incumbent is?

Priority One is currently performing under contract 75D30119C05684, expiring 09/21/2024.

NA Does CDC intend to use a new vendor for this work?

This solicitation is released for fair and open competition which will result in an award to the vendor found to be both technically acceptable, at lowest, reasonable cost to the Government.

NA Can CDC provide the current contract number?

Contract number 75D30119C05684

pg. 39 What is the current number of contracting staff/labor categories supporting this work?

Contractor should use the requirements information contained in the RFP to determine correct staffing based on the care of type and number of specimens provided.

pg. 43 Considering proposals will be evaluated using LPTA and the number of proposed staff/LCATS impacts that cost, does the government have an anticipated number of staff that will be required considering the range of tasks in section C?

Contractor should use the requirements information contained in the RFP to determine correct staffing based on the care of type and number of specimens provided.

pg. 43 What are the current performance standards being utilized to compensate the current contractor?

See Section F. Contract Deliverables and review the QASP

pg. 43 What specific performance areas does CDC require/anticipate to make payments?

See Section F. Contract Deliverables and review the QASP

NA Does the CDC have a defined criteria for experience/qualifications, certifications for those staff persons who will be conducting this work?

this information is provide in the RFP, required understanding of AAALAC accreditations (RFP page 4) and Key Personnel (RFP page 13) are required to have IACUC credentials.

L.6 What is the current staffing plan for the Fort Collins Animal Care and Associated Services?

Contractor should use the information provided in the RFP to determine correct staffing for their proposed solution.

C.4.5 Will the government provide specific numbers of personnel, job titles by grade, or level (i.e.:

I, II, III) for the following positions:

managerial, supervisory, and technical personnel?

No, contractor should use the information provided in the RFP to determine correct staffing.

C.8.2 Can the government provide historical costs for contractor furnished other direct costs as referenced in section C.8.2?

No, contractor should determine best pricing based on the information provided in the RFP.

L.3 Will the government consider an extension for the deadline of July 30, to allow offerors a substantial amount of time to respond?

CDC is granting a one week extension to Tuesday, August 6, 2024 taking into account global MS outage on weekend of July 19-22.